July 7, 2014

The 6th Annual Westpoint Regatta was run on Saturday, July 5. This year the race was also a part of the YRA Party Circuit Series. Nine divisions with 45 boats participated in the race, including two boats from the Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors (BAADS). Treasure Island Yacht Club provided the committee boat and set the start line off the northeast end of Treasure Island. The first start was at 11:30, and the winds cooperated in getting all divisions off on time. The wind was building from the low teens as each division started the 27.5-mile race from TI to the South Bay.

Once across the start line the fleets were off to windward mark YRA 24 to the east of Angel Island. As the first boats approached the mark, the winds were near 20 knots and the upwind leg was quickly attained. Once around the mark, most boats hardened up and ran close-hauled toward Angel Island. A flood current was building, and the balance between current relief and not losing wind due to proximity to the island needed to be decided, the goal being to round Alcatraz Island with as few tacks as possible.

Two Open 5.70s and an F18 rounded the first mark together: Big Air, This Side Up, and Boudicca. The two Open 5.70s would correct out to first place overall. ©2014 Dustin Fox and Heather Ouellette

As in years past, rounding Alcatraz was a challenge. Luckily the flood tide was still in its infancy and most boats were able to make it around without many problems. The wind was now in the low 20s, and the fleets were soon on their way from the Central Bay to the South Bay. Once the competitors passed 'The Rock', the spinnakers popped and the City of San Francisco waterfront was treated to a colorful display of 30+ boats flying their spinnakers on their way to the Bay Bridge.

The Bay Bridge, however, held big challenges for most of the boats. Just after the bridge the winds dropped considerably below 10 knots and everyone started hunting for the new wind. The majority of boats chose a course that would lead them to the west of the San Bruno Shoal, although a couple of boats chose to sail east. Winds continued light until the majority of the fleet was in the vicinity of Coyote Point, at which time the switch was turned back on and the wind built from the west and soon was once again in the upper teens to low 20s. The boats were now all reaching for the finish.

Here they come. The fleet south of the San Mateo Bridge. ©2014 Fabian Pease

Once past the San Mateo Bridge, it was a downwind drag-race to the finish line. The committee boat was stationed to the east of Redwood Creek channel marker #3. The multihulls were first across the finish line at around 15:00 followed by the sportboats and the faster PHRF boats. The last boat sailed across the finish before 16:30, and the majority of boats headed up the channel for the second part of the event – the party!

Dan Alvarez's JS9000 JetStream corrected out to third place overall. ©2014 Fabian Pease

Once all the boats were tied up at the Westpoint Harbor Marina, the crews were shuttled from their boats to Sequoia YC, where the fleet was treated to a rockin' great time at the Sequoia Island Time Party. Back on shore everyone enjoyed warm sun, great food and drink, wonderful live bands, and post-race camaraderie. This was the first visit to the South Bay for the BAADS boats Orion, an Islander 36, and Tashi, a Catalina 30, and the crews enjoyed the party and post-race activities. The bands played till midnight, and the racers departed on Sunday morning with the start of the ebb tide.

– Tim Petersen, Sequoia Yacht Club

Who Needs a Keel in the Westpoint Regatta?

Four of the 54 entries in the Westpoint Regatta didn't have keels. Our local F18 fleet decided to splash our boats at Treasure Island and participate in the race. The F18 catamarans were the smallest, but fastest, boats in the fleet.

This Side Up on the Cityfront. ©2014 Dustin Fox and Heather Ouellette

The conditions were bumpy but manageable, and the wind was switched on in the Slot. We had a little bit of everything on Saturday: ebb tide, confused seas, raging flood, brisk wind, big holes and a capsize. Tactics played a huge part, but after three hours of racing and 40 miles of sailing, the entire F18 fleet finished within 15 minutes of each other.

“That was some great racing,” said Nick Grebe who crewed on Water Bison. “There were some slow pockets, but we spent the vast majority of the race doing over 15 knots on long trapped-out legs.” Grebe was grateful that skipper Alex van Brunt took the time to teach him the ropes.'

“I put us in the drink hard on the first leg due to a little trip around the forestay,” said Grebe. “Proving that yes, it is entirely possibly to pitch-pole upwind.” After they capsized, they popped back up and started sailing fast.

“All four boats had a shot at the win,” said skipper Rich Vilvens. The lead switched at times, but in the end Phillip Meredith and Erwan Griziaux were the first-to-finish and the fastest boat in the entire fleet aboard Aurora. Rich Vilvens and Jake Sailer put in a strong performance on Capricorn and took second place, while Cherie Sogsti and Greg Retkowski sailed into third place on This Side Up. “This was our first distance race, and we were happy with our performance, especially considering we jibed down the Bay for over two hours with a torn spinnaker,” said Greg.

– Cherie Sogsti, This Side Up, F18

For more, see www.sequoiayc.org and www.yra.org.