Island Fever and Jack Frost

November 20, 2011

Island Fever has taken hold in South Beach once again. And no it's not in Florida or the Bahamas… It's South Beach Yacht Club's winter race series that sends the boats around marks in the South Bay or possibly around the islands of Alcatraz and/or Yerba Buena.

The crew on Synthia Petroka's Hawkfarm Eyrie should get an Island Fever Spirit award. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

Last Saturday's race was short, unencumbered by islands, and within the South Bay, since the weather prediction called for light wind. But the wind filled in from the south and most boats finished around 1400 hours, just in time for the crews of the 22 boats racing to hit the club, have a beer and watch the AC45s on the big screen drifting in San Diego's lighter air. Theme-appropriate plastic lawn flamingoes were handed out to the day's winners. "It turned out to be a nice day to sail," remarked one of the racers. The rain held off until all the boats were put away. Results are available at www.southbeachyachtclub.org.

The Yankee 30 Double Play on the lively one-tack beat from SC1 to red buoy #34. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

Zhenya Kirueshkin-Stepanoff's sprit-enhanced Hobie 33 Akyla crosses the finish line in McCovey Cove. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

The short runway in McCovey Cove makes downwind finishes a challenge and a clean douse a priority. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

Meanwhile, north of Treasure Island, Encinal YC's Jack Frost Regatta started with a postponement and a wait for the wind to fill in, which it did in time for the race committee to get off two good races for 35 boats in five divisions, including one design classes for Wyliecat 30s, Santana 22s and SF30s. For results, see www.encinal.org. Jack Frost takes December off and returns on January 21.