September 29, 2014

With the beginning of fall and shorter days comes the end of beer can racing. Richmond Yacht Club's extremely casual Wednesday night series ended last week. The races start and finish off the RYC race deck (a small platform on the inner breakwater), and use the Southampton Shoal platform as the weather mark – so the races are short and sweet and followed by a grill-your-own barbecue.

Only a few yacht clubs continue their beer cans into October: Santa Cruzers keep sailing on Wednesday nights until Daylight Saving Time ends; Coyote Point YC has two more Wednesday nighters; and Monterey Peninsula YC has one more Wednesday Sunset Series race and one more Friday night race.

What follows is a small collection of photos from the 2014 season at RYC.

A Wabbit and a 5o5 attempt to exit Richmond Harbor on April 31. ©2014 norcalsailing.com

Advanced dinghy and skiff racers are welcome to sail in RYC's beer cans. There's no support boats on the water though. This is an RS. ©2014 norcalsailing.com

This International Canoe sailor from the UK was tuning up for the Worlds on September 3. ©2014 norcalsailing.com

The Black Soo Mirage enjoyed one of her last races under the ownership of Ben and Lucie Mewes. ©2014 norcalsailing.com

The Moore 24 Gruntled on September 24. ©2014 norcalsailing.com

After each Wednesday night race, beer can race chair Eric Arens hands out generous quantities of wine bottles to those deemed worthy. However, there is a perpetual trophy. Dick Loomis won it this year with the Yankee Dolphin 24 Old School, which he restored over a period of about seven years.

Dick Loomis will be expected to add to this lovely (and tall) trophy before he passes it along to next year's season champion. ©2014 norcalsailing.com