News Beat

Week of May 31-June 6, 2011

Aussie 18 Sailing

Spotted working on her Aussie 18 in the Richmond YC yard was Katie Love, who was prepping for the weekend's racing out of Aquatic Park, hosted by Golden Gate YC on the Cityfront. Katie grew up at San Diego YC and is now attending Cal Maritime. The racing this weekend was wet with little wind. Teams from the Aussie 18 International Regatta will be hosting demo rides on the skiffs for interested youth sailors ages 10 and up on Saturday, August 20. See Pressure-Drop for more details.

Unfortunately, the wind last weekend wasn't ideal for the 18-ft skiffs. ©2011 Sergei Zavarin/http://ultimate-yachtshots.smugmug.com

Woodies Invitational

Rain on Saturday and light wind both days prevailed on the Cityfront, where, along with the Aussie 18s, the fleets of the WBRA were competing in the five-race Woodies Invitational at St. Francis YC. Robin led the Birds, Windansea the Folkboats, Fjaer the IODs, and Three Boys and a Girl the Knarrs. For complete results, see www.stfyc.com.

A Knarr start. They had the biggest fleet with 14 boats. ©2011 Sergei Zavarin/http://ultimate-yachtshots.smugmug.com

Oracle's AC45 Cats Come to the Bay

Throughout the month of June ORACLE Racing will be training in two of the AC45 wingsail catamarans that will be used in the America’s Cup World Series through 2012. They'll train in the vicinity of the intended America’s Cup course. The team will support the event organizers (America’s Cup Event Authority) with public awareness activities starting June 13 and work with the independent race officials (America’s Cup Race Management) to continue trialing electronic systems first tested in New Zealand in April. “We also want to get some good solid training on the waters where the Cup will be contested in the summer of 2013,” commented tactician John Kostecki.

Local Young Sailors in Transatlantic Race

A 30-strong fleet is preparing to compete in the Transatlantic Race starting in late June and early July, traversing 2,975 nautical miles of ocean stretching from the start in Newport, RI, to the finish at The Lizard on the coast of Cornwall.

The Oakcliff All American Offshore Team will be sailing in the IRC 65 Vanquish in the Transatlantic Race. ©2011 Rolex/Dan Nerney

The young sailors making up the Oakcliff All American Offshore Team on the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy’s IRC 65 Vanquish are taking advantage of the Transatlantic Race to expand their skills and build reputations as capable ocean racers. Among the crew on Vanquish are NorCal sailors David Rasmussen, 24, of Novato and Matt Noble, 25, of Richmond, both of whom are members of Richmond YC, and Molly Robinson, 23, of San Francisco, a member of St. Francis YC. Molly was recently featured in a SF Examiner story. For more information, see www.transatlanticrace.org.

Farewell to Rui Luis

Alameda sailmaker Rui Luis of Alameda passed away suddenly on Sunday, after falling in the water at Grand Marina. He was 48. Cause of death has not been determined, and is pending an autopsy report. Rui operated the Rooster Sails loft in Alameda. He and his partner Ruth Sommers raced their Wildnerness 30 Rascal regularly on the Estuary, and they were tough to beat. Our condolences to Ruth and all of Rui's friends in the sailing community.