On Mar 24-27 the Sailing World Helly Hanson Regatta Series came to San Diego. This series replaces the long standing Sailing World NOOD regattas and is probably more appropriate as the majority of boats are no longer Offshore and many are not One Design. The International 14s continue to sail this event, again using it as our West Coast Championship event. We sailed in San Deigo South Bay out of Coronado Yacht Club. Always fun to get over to Coronado which feels like a vacation spot even to the local San Diego boats. We had ten boats participating this year which was really only the third significant event sailed in the post Covid era. A few new boats and and few boats we haven’t seen in a while were present. A couple Seattle boats came down with Kris Bundy and Jamie Hansler sailing together on the B6. Dan Kaesler and Evan Walker, sailing only their second 14 event, in a B5 representing ‘Raptor Deck’. The San Francisco fleet sent James Clarkson and Josh Leihe on James’ Hollum, and John Clark and Michael Lazzaro on John’s B6. We also saw Ron Boehm’s ‘Sweet Jane’ B5 reappear sailed by JV Gilmore and ‘Maartin’ Fabiansson, who flew in from Sweden to join the fun. L.A. was represented by Michael Leitch and Elizabeth Campbell sailing their new to them B6 which has replaced the Woody (great trade up guys). And Paul Galvez and Danial Roberts sailing Paul’s B5. The local San Diego fleet was represented by Terry Gleason and JP Barnes sailing Terry’s new Hollum “Dunder Pit” – be sure to ask Terry to explain the name to you next time you see him! Channing Hamlet and Pete Stanton sailing Channing’s Red B6. And finally Brad Ruetenik and Hawaiian import crew Michael Pacholski sailing Brad’s older B5 Astragalus (after breaking a rig the prior weekend on the B6)
The 14s set out to sail 2-3 races on Fri. Pre-race there was an abnormally strong right breeze coming down the bay from the Coronado Bay Bridge as opposed to the normal onshore breeze coming across the narrow sand spit dividing South Bay from the open ocean and the ‘Coronado Roads’. Just as the RC was ready to get the first race going for the F18s, I14s and FDs on the north course some of the more normal left breeze started to come in. Thus, an AP went up and we waited for another 45 min. or so hoping the breeze will normalize. Eventually, the RC split the difference and sent the fleets up under the Navy base off Glorietta Bay in some puffy, shifty breeze. The first race was the start of a fairly consistent race series. Terry and JP won the first of many races in the “Dunder Pit”. Brad and Michael were second in Astragalus, and Michael and Elizabeth were third in their new B6. Do to the delay, we requested the “Distance Race” as our second race so we wouldn’t be out there all evening. We sailed our usual windward / leeward course, then sailed up under the Coronado Bay Bridge past downtown to Fleet Mooring Bouy 19, back to to channel marker 23, back to FM19 doing a couple laps on the city front, then and back under the bridge to South Bay and the finish line. Again, Terry and JP showed their speed and won the race followed by Brad & Michael in second followed by Channing and Pete in third.
We had a short meeting that evening discussing logistics of shipping the fleet to Hawaii for the upcoming Pacific Rim Championships in Kaneohe Bay on Oahu, Hawaii later in April. A container will go from both SF and LA. We also discussed the logistics of shipping boats to the Germany Worlds in Flensburg Germany at the end of July.
Sat. sailing commenced with somewhat more normal South Bay breeze. We sailed four two lap Windward / Leeward races for the day. Initially, the results remains similar to Fri with Terry and JP winning the first race, Kris and Jamie got going with a second followed by Brad and Michael in third. Race two finally changed up and bit with Kris and Jamie in first, Terry & JP settle for second, with Brad and Michael third again. The rest for the fleet continued to mix it up and have some very close racing with finishes all very close, some of the closest 14 racing I’ve seen in a long time. Race three was again a small change with Brad and Michael winning, Terry & JP in second again and then a great showing bye James and Josh finishing in third and showing some great speed. Race four had Terry & JP wining again, followed by Kris & Jamie in second and then Channing and Pete getting in the action with a third.
Sun was sch. for 2 additional races with a possible additional if the wind cooperated. The breeze was more left with some prefrontal breeze coming in. Normally, left breeze in South Bay means go left and get out to the top of the course in more breeze. We tried that a few times and it just wasn’t working like normal. The boats who got to the top right were often coming across the top of the course in a nice right lift which again is not normal South Bay strategy at least not in left breeze. Didn’t much matter for Terry and JP as their speed kept them in front no matter what. “They won another 3 races on Sun. Michael and Elizabeth were up to second in race one with Kris and Jamie in third. On race two The ‘Dunder Pit’ won again, followed by James and Josh getting their second place finish and Brad & Michael getting third. The last race had Terry and JP win again with Paul & Danial getting in on the action with a second place followed by Kris and Jamie in third.
Fortunately most of us got some cold refreshments handed to us by Cameron Puckey and Renee in the chase boat for the sail in. Boats were pack and headed either back to Seattle, SF, LA and for us lucky ones who get to stay in SD. As always, love sailing these boat and the group of people in the fleet who are all very friendly and extremely helpful with ideas and trying to get everyone faster. The fleet continues to be very supportive of the newbies as we all know too well these boats are extremely challenging , but very rewarding to sail. Can’t wait to sail in Kaneohe next month!
Hoist!