August 16, 2013

The El Toro North Americans wrapped up last week in Keneohe, on the east shore of Oahu, a great success with 58 boats showing up on the line. Twenty-one boats were shipped from California to Hawaii on a Horizon Lines freighter in one 40-ft container, which arrived safely on August 1.

The Mainland boats arrive at the host club, Kaneohe YC. ©2013 Jennifer McKenna

Some of the sailors took advantage of a Friday night race to get in some practice. ©2013 Jennifer McKenna

Racing began August 5 in perfect trade wind conditions on Keneohe Bay. Gordie Nash of Richmond YC described the events that unfolded that day. "Racing started today for the 58 registered El Toros in one Senior and two Junior fleets. Today there were two 'practice' races. The Senior Fleet has an age spread from 16 years old to a sailor who competed in the 1959 Nationals, won the 1960 and 1961 Nationals and sailed in the first Nationals held in Kaneohe in 1963...50 years ago!"

Winding up for a start. ©2013 Jennifer McKenna

As the week progressed it became apparent that the locals had the upper hand, winning races with their local knowledge. "Tuesday began with much calmer morning winds," said Gordie. "Juniors left for the race course in 8-10 knot winds, and the course was set up further away from the club but in a more protected part of Kaneohe bay." The Juniors sailed in the morning; the Seniors in the afternoon. "Still the weather mark roundings could be watched from the club lawn. Neil Marcellini of RYC was the best hope of the Mainlanders to go 'tack-for-tack' with the 'kama'aina' (local) Hawaiian youngsters. As with the Senior fleet, the local Juniors are fast sailors who seem to know where the wind shifts are. Mainlanders Neil and Josselyn Verutti of SCYC both did very well. But after three races a Hawaiian had three points and Neil and Josselyn were tied with 8 points.

El Toros on the run. ©2013 Jennifer McKenna

"In the Senior fleet the big news was that Kui Lim did not win both races. Kui was the odds-on favorite to repeat yet another National Championship. Fred Paxton was leading the 'Mainland' fleet, with Buzz Blackett also having a good day's results and just a few points behind Fred. The Senior Fleet's race results may turn out not to present just boat speed but also display how lucky or how well the sailor contends with the big puffs what are also 20-30 degree wind shifts. These shifts can be brutal to a boat's fleet position if it's caught on the wrong side."

At the leeward mark. ©2013 Jennifer McKenna

The Juniors finished racing on Wednesday the 7th – the Hawaiian kids had to go back to school on the 8th. The Seniors kept going for one more day. The event wrapped up with a luau and awards. Dylan DiMarchi of Waikiki YC emerged as the winner of the Senior Fleet, Kiana Heitzman of Kaneohe YC won the Junior Gold Fleet and Tyler Masuyama of WYC the Junior Silver Fleet. You can see www.eltoroyra.org for complete results.

After next year's NAs on Clear Lake, the class wants to go to Santa Cruz in 2015. "The major discussion was how to get the Hawaiian El Toro Junior and Senior fleet to Santa Cruz for the 2015 North American championship series. Says Gordie, "With the help of Mike Ohashi, general sales manager of Hawaii for Horizon Lines Container Shipping Company, Jesse Andrews, Kaneohe YC's Junior Program Director will be lining up his Juniors and getting them ready for another Pacific Ocean racing adventure. Jesse, plus the Hawaii and Waikiki YC directors, are all open to the idea. 2015 could be another 60+ boat El Toro National Championship Series in California!"