Leukemia Cup, Alerions

Leukemia Cup

Frank Glassner chartered the J/120 J/World for the season and scored his first First Place, in Division 1, in Saturday’s Leukemia Cup, hosted by San Francisco Yacht Club. J/World was also the first boat back at the guest dock. Crewman Kevin Sullivan asked Glassner, “Can I borrow your cell phone? Got any more electronics on you?” Sullivan got Glassner over his shoulder then asked, “Who’s going to help me?” Since there was no response, Kevin decided the only safe way to throw Frank in was to go with him! Glassner is building a crew (a fast and fun one apparently), he’s interested in buying a boat, and he’s planning to do Key West Race Week and MEXORC.

Yacht racers are competitive anyway, but a fund-raiser for a good cause (the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) adds another dimension of competition. Participants were invited to raise money, with incentives offered for large contributions. Even skippers who raised as little as $100 were treated to a BBQ dinner, Mt. Gay rum drinks, and swag. The top fund-raisers, in the $8,500+ category, will enjoy a Fantasy Sail with Gary Jobson in San Diego, and much more. Most fund-raisers probably fell somewhere in between, such as Joan Byrne on the Laser 28 Takeoff. Joan said she sent out an email to all her contacts asking for a donation, suggesting $25 “or more or less, whatever you can afford.” She raised more than $1,800, including four anonymous donations, and earning two $200 tickets to Friday night’s dinner with Tom Perkins.

Coyote Point Yacht Club member Torin Knorr was thrilled to raise $10,000. He fed 150 hungry Finn sailors dinner and pancake breakfasts the previous weekend at the Finn NAs at CPYC. A club cruise-out raised another $1,000. Former 49er Steve Young made a generous contribution. Knorr was also happy with his Third Place in Division 7 - this was only his first race on the Catalina 42 Jet Lag, which he bought in April.

The trophy for top fund-raiser went to David Joyner’s Melges 24 Full Throttle, which gathered up more than $50,000! Olympic gold medalist Jonny Moseley and honorary regatta skipper Cambell Nolan, age 8, who is fighting Leukemia, handed out awards to the big people from the big boats, and also to youth sailors who had their own regatta the same day.

Not all the sailors onboard raceboats were regular racers. Some were passengers who had made donations to the cause. The 1D35 Great Sensation was given over for a corporate charter to AXA-Rosenberg, an investment management firm. Yves Chauvin organized the outing with skipper Mario Yovkov, whose father died of leukemia in 1991, at the age of 44. Employees made donations for the privilege of sailing, with matching funds from the company. Some experienced sailors worked with the charterers. “The crew work was excellent. We jelled really well,” said George Hughes, who trained two novices on pit and trim.

For regular racers and novice sailors alike, it was a beautiful, warm, laid-back day all the way around the Knox-area course, with winds topping out around 10-13 knots. For complete results from the regatta, see www.sfyc.org.

Alerion Expresses at Richmond Yacht Club

Seven of the 14 Alerion Express 28s on San Francisco Bay had a seminar last weekend at Richmond YC. They Med-moored, had meetings ashore, then headed out to a practice course near Southampton Shoals.

“Everyone commented on how pretty these boats are,” reported John Dukat. “If you go to the Mystic Seaport Museum and into one of the small boat sheds, you will see how perfectly Carl Schumacher copied Mister Herreshoff’s design - of course imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

“Hate to mention it, but you are looking at a half million simoleons here. (Well worth it!)” Not just for show, these boats have an active racing one design class in the ODCA (see www.yra.org/ODCA). For more on the AE28s see www.sfbayalerion.org.

norcalsailing.com weekend update

September 30, 2007

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