September 1, 2014

The 2014 Jazz Cup started the same time as a heat wave over the weekend, and the 102 boats that raced blasted down to Benicia in a variety of wind and plenty of sunshine. This race started as a rivalry between South Beach and the Benicia Yacht Clubs, and no one besides members of those two clubs can win the coveted Jazz Cup, a trumpet made into a trophy, but plenty show up for the race, usually a warm downwind ride to the land of antique shops and wine bars. Early Jazz Cups finished during the now defunct Benicia Jazz Festival, thus the name.

Gordie Nash's Santana 27 Arcadia during the fast leg from the Slot to Richmond. ©2014 norcalsailing.com

At the start near Treasure Island the racers saw 15 knots of westerly up to the windward turning mark. Spinnakers popped up from there all the way to Red Rock, where the wind softened.

Alpha, Don Wan, Green Dragon, and Shut Up and Drive were among the boats in this group just south of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. ©2014 norcalsailing.com

Once around Point San Pablo, the racers found that the wind veered to the south and most chutes went back down and a white sail drag race started all the way to Point Pinole. Some boats were able to carry the spinnaker all the way through San Pablo Bay but it was hard going as the wind increased in velocity but maintained a southerly direction.

Joan Byrne's Olson 911S Heart of Gold was among the few boats that were able to carry all the way through San Pablo Bay. ©2014 norcalsailing.com

After Point Pinole the wind clocked back enough to set once again and carry all the way to the leeward mark just off of Martinez. In the Carquinez Strait, everyone experienced shifty and puffy breeze and many lost or gained in the standings in the last two miles trying to negotiate the typically fluky conditions.

Scott Mack's J/70 Bandit and Kevin Wilkinson's K6 Sporty alongside the oil company pier. ©2014 norcalsailing.com

Leaving San Pablo Bay behind. ©2014 norcalsailing.com

Gerard Sheridan's Elan 40 Tupelo Honey crosses under the Carquinez Bridge in good time to win the coveted funky trumpet. ©2014 norcalsailing.com

After some of the early finishers passed the leeward mark, a temporary inflatable, one boat snagged it and carried it upriver about an 1/8 mile before releasing it again. Even with the new longer course the rest of the boats were able to get around cleanly and finish. But the race committee decided redress should be given to those who knew to ask for it, which upset some of the racers and re-arranged the standings.

The ID48 Bodacious+ lost her spinnaker sheets and finished with her freak flag flying. ©2014 SlackwaterSF

The multihull Jazz Cup winner hailed from Benicia YC: the F-24 Wings owned by Bill and Tammy Cook. The monohull Jazz Cup, the original trophy, went to an entry from SBYC: Tupelo Honey, the Elan 40. Nice acrylic trophies were handed out to the overall winners (multihull and monohull, regardless of club affiliation) and the top division finishers. See results at www.southbeachyachtclub.org.

Beating the heat in the raft-up. ©2014 norcalsailing.com

See more Slackwater SF photos of the finish line here.