3 Down, 1 to go… Richmond YC Small Boat Mids

After a long run for the SF Bay fleet of U20’s participating in the Berkley Yacht Club Midwinter series, an opportunity presented itself to request an invitation to the Richmond Yacht Club Small Boat Midwinters this year.  Even though the series mostly focuses on centerboard boats, the Wabbits have long participated, and to paraphrase the race committee response; “this is a series for small boats, and the U20 is a small boat….welcome!”  This series makes sense as all of the boats that used to participate in the Berkeley mids are sailing out of RYC, or next door neighbor Brickyard Cove.  The new series has 10 boats signed up.

Weekend #1: 8 boats on the line

The first weekend of the series started out wet and flat with a delayed start due to no wind, followed by lots of rain and enough wind to get two races started, and then have the wind die again with 1/3rd of the fleet not finishing the 2nd race.  Those that got around the windward mark before the wind died were fortunate enough to finish with help from the current, those that didn’t make it were pointed toward the mark and just watching it get further away as we got swept to Southampton (yes, that was us).

Ben Anderson had UFO, Michael Eisenberg on Toon Town, and Tom Burden on Layla ended the day tied with 4 points each after 2 races.

Weekend #2: 8 boats on the line

The wind was up, and roundups were all around (including some of the lasers, I14’s, and other small boats sharing the same starting area).  The rain came only in light mist on occasion, so the series is looking up as far as conditions go.  After the starts, most were staying right along the pier and making their way to the windward mark where there were big shifts and holes to fight through to get to the mark.  The day ended for some after 3 races, when the race committee hoisted the “U” flag for another start.  Some had already headed in for the day, others started the race and decided they had enough, and headed in leaving just two boats finishing the last race (Salsa’s best finish of the series so far! Haha)

Weekend #3: 8 boats on the line

What a difference!  Sunny skies, wind coming from the warm land to the North, which meant warm breezes, sunny skies, and lots of fun.  The wildlife was out in abundance, and more than I’ve seen in one day.  Clusters of seals, and diving pelicans all around on the way to the course and the way back (I’m sure they were there during the race, but they weren’t next to the jib luff, so I didn’t see them..)  On to the racing. 

There were quite a few exciting moments on the course, and without naming names. 

  1. About to round the windward mark when one of the lead boats dropped their tiller and rounded up towards the other lead boat.  No damage that I could see….as I passed by them (or as they passed me back on the downwind leg for that matter). 

  2. Almost ready to start the first fleet (Wabbits), and one of the U20’s thought the starting pin was too favored, so decided to move it 2-3 boatlengths, with their keel/rudder.

  3. Another boat tried to squeeze in on port tack at the windward mark, and missed it.  Well, missed making the mark, but was successful in making it easy for the rest of the fleet to round as it was caught on the stanchion…

4 races in, and a beautiful day at that.

 Story by Matt Boroughf