YRA Season Awards

November 20, 2011

On Tuesday Berkeley YC hosted the Yacht Racing Association's Year-End Trophy Party. Maybe it was because of traffic or the Tuesday evening date, but the party was a light affair with only a small contingent of racers showing up. The YRA asked the racers for input on the upcoming season: What kind of racing do you like? How much racing do you want to do? You can contact Laura at the YRA office with your suggestions.

Past Chairman Pat Broderick, Executive Director Laura Paul Muñoz, and current Chairman Gerry Brown of the Yacht Racing Association. ©2011 Charles Hodgkins

Phil Mummah of the Gibsea 42 No Ka Oi told us about how he got the top of the OYRA's SHS (shorthanded) division. "The season started out slow for No Ka Oi. I missed the first race (Lightship 1) but got first place in the second race (Duxship) which was very windy. Many boats dropped out, but my crew mate, Tom, and I beat our main competitor, Thomas Watson's Triton Darwind. The next race was the Farallones race, which is always competitive and one of my favorites. Unfortunately Tom dislocated his shoulder 30 minutes before we left the dock, so he and I spent the day in the emergency room. With two DNCs in the first three races we had a lot of catching up to do the rest of the season.

No Ka Oi in the light air Drake's Bay Race. ©2011 norcalsailing.com

"Because of Tom's injury I had a different crew person onboard almost every race, meaning spinnaker work was challenging. It all came down to the last race, in which the winner between Darwind and No Ka Oi would take all. I flew home early from a business trip in Germany to defend my very small lead. The prediction was for light wind. Darwnd, which is much smaller and lighter, had the advantage, but fortunately we were able to get out the Gate against the tide in the light wind by hugging the north shore and beat Darwind. It was an exciting season down to the last race." No Ka Oi means 'the best' in Hawaiian.

OYRA President Andy Newell and Phil Mummah. ©2011 Charles Hodgkins

Bill Bridges' and Kame Richards' Express 37 Golden Moon won the Champion of Champions trophy, and Kame presented the Schumacher Cup for best performance by a PHRF boat in the Second Half Opener to Michael Quinn's C&C 99 Sheeba. For the results of the HDA, ODCA, OYRA and WBRA series, see www.yra.org/racing/season_standings.html. More photos from the evening are available on Charles Hodgkins' gallery.