U20 Pacific Coast Championships
The California and Nevada U20 fleet turned out eight boats for the Antrim 27/U20/Wyliecat Intergalactics over the October 8th and 9th weekend. The breeze averaged out to about 11 knots (but averages can be deceiving) meaning it blew a glorious late-summer 18 on Saturday, but only could manage 3 knots Sunday, causing that day’s racing to be abandoned after a 2 1/2-hour wait.
Fleet Week was in progress, so we got a great air show with the Blue Angels, a B2 Stealth Bomber, and low-flying United 747s providing a nice distraction. Plus, we got to watch the action with four of our bigger sister ships, the majestic Antrim 27s, starting ahead of the U20 fleet. John Liebenberg bested that quartet on the always quick Always Friday. The Wyliecat 30s rounded out the regatta, sailing their Nationals, won by perennial winner Steve Wonner on Uno.
The first race on Saturday was a game of inches between the Santa Cruz-based Layla, piloted by Tom Burden, and Los Angeles-homeported Toon Town, helmed by Mike Eisenberg. These two boats always battle it out, with Layla finishing a boat length in front in pleasant 10-knot conditions.
Race two saw breeze-on up to 18 knots, and three boats rounded the top mark together after the first beat. Dave Woodside on UAgain mixed it up with Toon Town, who planed out to a lead on the downwind legs, with UAgain in second. Layla faded to third.
The final race went to Toon Town, with Layla babying a disintegrating traveler car to hang on for second. Meanwhile, Too Tuff, the oldest U20 (hull number 2), rode an improving scoreline and reveled in the big breeze, garnering a third place in the race (and the series). Tom Hughes has been consistently improving his performance in the venerable Too Tuff.
New boats, old boats, carbon masts or “tin rigs”—U20s are all very competitive. The tight one-design formula provides great racing, and the class lives up to its “Fast, Fun and Friendly” motto. The eight-boat fleet included at least three couples plus one six-year-old (sorry Torsten if I got your age wrong) among the teams.
A big thanks goes to John Dukat for orgnizing the racing, and to U20 designer Jim Antrim for the signed lofting weights he made and donated for trophies. Next on the Bay Area schedule is the Grateful Dead-themed Great Pumpkin Regatta at Richmond, October 29-30. Dig out those tie-die tee shirts.
