April 10, 2014

The SSS Corinthian awards meeting preceded the Singlehanded TransPac medical and provisioning seminar at Oakland YC on Wednesday. The race itself was held on March 29, mostly in the rain. The following are some 'sound bites' from the quick ceremony.

Allen Cooper, Race Co-Chair: "We all had fun at the Corinthian – we were wetter than the people on the water."

Pat Broderick, PRO: "As chairman of the YRA I was an honorary CYC member at one time. The Cal 20s were supposed to start at noon, but they decided to start at 1100 instead, which was someone else's start time. They said we could use the same mark, but that wasn't going to work so they set another mark. We know how miserable it was out there but we had to get them out of the way. Thank you for clearing out of their starting area. This race has a longstanding relationship with CYC. We didn't want to sink six or seven of their Cal 20s. Midway through we were informed that CYC is a gun-free club so we stopped using them."

Jennifer McKenna, first place, Doublehanded Non-Spinnnaker on the Santana 22 Zingaro: "We thought about quittting at least three times during the day."

Suzanne Lee and Jennifer McKenna finished next to last. Jennifer calls it 'death from behind'. ©2014 norcalsailing.com

Donn Guay, first place, Doublehanded 162 and over, Zeehond, Newport 30-II: "When I say son of a bitch on the boat, [crew] Dave [Salinovich] answered. We made up time at Blossom Rock."

Gordie Nash, first place, Doublehanded 111 to 159, Mod. Santana 27 Arcadia: "We were on port tack in Raccoon Strait. A starboard tack boat changed course – he wanted us to take his stern. We bore off; he bore off. It was a very dangerous situation. I've seen dismastings happen that way." SSS commodore Jim Quanci mused, "Isn't that hunting out of season?"

Max Crittenden, first place, Doublehanded SF Bay 30, Martin 32 Iniscaw: When Max bought out his boat partner, he renamed Solar Wind. Iniscaw is an island, known in English as Tresco and in Cornish as Enys Skaw, which means elder trees. By any name, it's in the Scilly Isles off the southwest tip of Cornwall. Max and his dad used to sail there.

Mary McGrath, first place Doublehanded 108 and under, J/105 Racer X: This was only her second race at the helm.

Dan Knox, first place Singlehanded Non-Spinnaker, Islander 36 Lunasea: "I always try to get in a division without Gordie."

Synthia Petroka, first place Singlehanded 162 and over, Hawkfarm Eyrie: "I put up a #2 jib, then was milling around at the start when the wind built to 16-18 knots, so I put a reef in the main. I was five minutes late to the start and the wind died. I had to shake out the reef. There were wind shifts, holes and Tony everywhere." Tony Castruccio on the J/30 Wind Speed finished only one second behind Synthia.

Nathalie Criou, first place Singlehanded Express 27, Elise. "Thanks, Taz!! and Wetsu, for showing the way. They got stuck in a wind hole and I went around them." George Lythcott on Taz!! will be competing against Elise in the Singlehanded TransPac this summer.

Darren Doud, first place Doublehanded Multihull, F-31R Roshambo: Jim Quanci observed that the multihulls finished before the wind died. Darren said he had a great race with Mark Eastham's F-31 Ma's Rover, but, "we managed the hole at Southampton better."

Nick and Connor Gibbens, first pace Doublehanded Express 27 won the overall doublehanded monohull award on Shenanigans. Nick shares the helm with teenage son Connor. "I don't have a lot of friends, but I can still get my son to sail with me. He's looking forward to getting his driver's license. I had the wrong sail up all day, but had some luck."

Andrew Zimmerman, first place Singlehanded Sportboat, won the overall singlehanded monohull award and the perpetual trophy on the Olson 30 Warpath. "My rain gear is no longer waterproof," he said. "I considered putting in a reef then was glad I didn't. I was better off with a #3. I follow Greg Nelsen." Greg, who placed third in Doublehanded Sportboat with the Azzura 310 Outsider, quipped, "You passed me before Blossom Rock – what are you talking about?"

Despite the low number of finishers in each division, the SSS generously handed out flags to all 'podium' places. For complete results, see www.sfbaysss.org. The next race on the SSS calendar is May 3's Round the Rocks, which will finish at Richmond YC this time.