Windjammers 2013

[pogen]

This year the Windjammers Race is running from the StFancy down to Surf City, and will include a shorthanded division. It is the 71st edition of this race. Anyone who had the gear to do the HMB race can do this one, too!

Only a day left to enter before the price goes up -- from $100 to $145. That had better be some damn good chowder waiting for us on the finish line!

They have moved the start to Saturday (it was traditionally on the Friday before Labor Day), so you don't have to miss work. But if you stay for the awards you will wipe out your three day weekend.

Registration info here: http://www.regattanetwork.com/event/7015

Current registrants:

1. Hill Blackett III California Condor Class 40 -12

2. Mark Howe War Pony Farr 36 9

3. David Nabors Temerity Olson 34 99

4. Nathan Bossett Elise Express 27 129

5. Paul Disario Plus Sixteen Olson 911 135

Gotta love the ratings spread!

 

[brianb]

Dave,

Thanks for posting the reminder. Giving this consideration.

 

[pogen]

Well the delivery is a PITA, especially singlehanding. Not sure if I can sleep so close to the coast. I might put in to HMB just to catch a few hrs of shuteye.

 

[Mewes]

In my days of racing to Santa Cruz we got to relax and clean up the boat Saturday. Dang, this is gone now, huh?

 

[brianb]

Well the delivery is a PITA, especially singlehanding. Not sure if I can sleep so close to the coast. I might put in to HMB just to catch a few hrs of shuteye.

The RYC has a cruise out at HMB that weekend. Swing into HMB and raft up with the crowd, have dinner, head back Monday.

 

[pogen]

Ok, up to seven shorthanded entrants.

Why get stuck in the mud in Benecia when you can hang out in the cold and fog off Davenport?

 

[pogen]

Pretty good turnout for the shorthanders for Windjammers, 9 entries, nearly the biggest group.

Hill Blackett III California Condor Class 40 -12
Mark Howe War Pony Farr 36 9
Greg Nelsen Outsider Azzura 310 57
Richard Pipkin Racer X J/105 78
David Nabors Temerity Olson 34 99
Bob Johnston Ragtime! J/92 105
Chad Schwartz La Dolce Vita J 32 123
Nathan Bossett Elise Express 27 129
Paul Disario Plus Sixteen Olson 911 135

 

[BobJ]

... yet according to the SI's shorthanders don't have a start, and autopilots weren't provided for.

I'm not going to be able to race my boat - I have to work Friday and possibly Saturday. At a minimum, no time to prep.

 

[pogen]

Uh, shit, didn't realize the thing about the autopilots. Well, that fucks me up fer sure. And there goes $100, unless they change it rules pronto.

I've been in communication with Beau Vrolyk about the start, pointing out that he now has 9 short handers and zero crab crushers (PHR03; DWL > 199; Flag D). Kind of weird to score a Division with different starting times. We will see what emerges.

I know Jim Quanci told us in an email and then from Windjammers central that they were reaching out to shorthanders to get us our own start. OYRA and Spin Cup both allow autopilots in shorthanded divisions.

 

[BobJ]

I'm sure they'll do an amendment for the A/P's - they had to do that last year (and only ended up with one shorthander).

 

[pogen]

One third of the entries are shorthanders, how times change!

 

[BobJ]

This is all good. Part of including those of us with short hands (or one hand) is having to remember things like autopilots.

Also we tend to read the race documents, since there's no one to do it at the last minute on the way to the start line!

I've been wanting to add another ocean race to the SSS schedule. Maybe this will be it - the logical next step beyond HMB, but still along the coast.

 

[Philpott]

Excellent idea, Mr Race Chair. And what shall we call it? The Surf City race? I would definitely love to do that one. And it would call for a tie dye shirt, neh?

 

[ChadAllan]

I am a new member of the SSS. I think this is a good race to add to the SSS race list. It was a fun race with more interesting navigation issues than shorter buoy races. Returning to SF in different conditions than we had on Sunday will be unpleasant, but the race is interesting and short enough that you can return to SF the next day or stop in HMB for a meal and some sleep.
Chad
J32

 

[BobJ]

Due to work I wasn't able to get my boat ready, but I was invited to jump aboard Racer X (J/105). We've raced together before so this was an easy decision.

We raced in a crewed division against a Santa Cruz-based J/105 and a couple of Moores. We saw 30+ TWS several times and got the 105 up on the step. Only broached once, and finished off the wharf at 19:23. We beat the other 105 by a bunch but one of the Moores corrected out on us, so we were second.

Great seafood at Johnnie's about an hour after finishing (the Mai Tai wasn't bad either) - way better than drifting off of Santa Cruz until after midnight. Support from the host clubs could have been better but overall it was a stellar weekend. (Thanks, Rich and Mary!)

 

[Racer X]

With the resources of SCYC focused on an important local event (Big Brothers-Big Sisters I believe) on the Labor Day weekend, we found the post-race experience to be lacking. If Windjammers could switch weekends with the Spinnaker Cup (Memorial Day weekend) with appropriate resources being available, then this might work well on the SSS calendar.

 

[Philpott]

Why doesn't SSS just add its own offshore race to Santa Cruz? The Surf City Race.