Richmond YC Small Boat Midwinters

Richmond YC operates three race courses for the Small Boat Midwinters, which wrapped up yesterday: the more protected Portrero Channel for El Toros and Optimists; the Breakwater for Snipes, Bytes and Open Class; and the open Bay Southampton course for Lasers, 29ers, Flying Dutchmen, International 14s, Wylie Wabbits, and another Open Class.

Dick Taylor, who ran the middle course just inside the Richmond Breakwater, has done race committee in this series for 19 years. The biggest fleet he’s had was 50 boats. “My fleet handled the conditions well even though it was quite windy. In this series and particularly in the Byte fleet everyone is very supportive. They will help you whenever they can.” Many thanks to Dick for allowing his race committee Whaler to do double duty as a photoboat.

Byte sailor Gaylin Yee has been busy, so this was her first race in a few months. “It’s a nice series. It’s nice to get out on a Sunday, but not when the weather gets too crazy. Today was interesting weather. I felt there were many things I could improve on, but it was just good to get out and figure out how to sail again.” There’s a great shot of Gaylin in our movie - check it out!

Series organizer Gail Yando handed out awards at the club after this final installment in the series. With some effort results can be found at www.richmondyc.org. Click here to go directly to the Small Boat Midwinters page. RYC goes from Small to Big to small again this month. Next weekend the big Big Daddy Regatta crowds will pile into the club, the harbor, and three race courses. Then on the last weekend of the month, small boats will return for the Big Dinghy Regatta.

Sausalito YC Midwinters

Sunday’s Sausalito YC 2.2 nm race around inflatable marks was sailed in a 8-16 knot northerly. Victorious in PHRF 1, Bruce Nesbit of the Olson 34 Razzberries commented on the strong ebb: “We got the first race off when we noticed the windward mark heading west very rapidly, almost ready to finish first. By the time we went around we found out they abandoned the race. So they started it all over again.”

This race marked the last of the series for the Sausalito Midwinters. See www.syconline.org for results. Next up on SYC’s menu: we wait until April 26 for the first of the Twin Island Race series, and April 29 for the first Tuesday night beer can race. Spring really is almost here!