April 7, 2014

For Sequoia Yacht Club's Summer Series #1, the weather pleased with perhaps the best racing wind of the year: 10-20 knots, a light flood, and beautiful sunshine. The WNW breeze spread the fleet out nicely on the starting line between markers 3 and 4. A new 8.2-mile course with a variety of upwinds and leewards challenged the fleet and tired the crews, but not so much to prevent a happy gang from staying late at the bar.

Thanks to Sail Fleet Captain Rick Dalton, Dan Doud and Paul Morgan-Witts for replacing marks S and X on a rainy, windy, and big ebb the day before. In Rick's words, the day was like Victory at Sea.

3D tracking on smartphone app RaceQs is now launched, and race management by Jibeset Associates is now successfully in its third round.

In the 10-boat spinnaker division, first place went to Daredevil, Tim Anto's Melges 24; second to Frequent Flyer, Stan Phillips' Farr 30; and third to Melilani, Richard Butts' J/105. In the four-boat non-spinnaker, first went to Ohana, Dan and Sue Lockwood's Catalina 36; second to Iowa, Rick Dalton's Hunter 380; and third to Bella, Ted Eberle's Catalina 42. Race 2 will be on Saturday, May 17. See www.sequoiayc.org.

– John Draeger, Summer Series Captain, Sequoia YC