New Format Success for Annual Regatta

Sometimes you just have to take a step back and see if something is broken and other times it’s just bent! This is part of what drives the Sailing Committee when they look at existing regatta formats to see if they’re working and look at new events that might fill a hole in the calendar with a format that’s popular with competitors. The 83rd AYC Annual Regatta took place over the weekend with new classes and an update to the courses being run for Sunday’s fleets. Last year although the event was cancelled due to a strong weather system in place, the Committee had moved the regatta from June to July and combined it with the Summer One Design Regatta as both events had lost some steam over the past few years. This year they moved to a two-day, multi circle format that offered on Saturday a River Course for Alerion 28s, Cal 25s, and Harbor 20s, and a Bay Course for J/22s, J/30s, J/70s, and J/80s. Both Race Committees ran three races on drop marks courses after holding everyone ashore under AP for a couple of hours in hopes that the breeze would come up, and to everyone’s delight, a thermal set in and off we went. Thanks to Bay Course PRO Bruce Bingman and River Course PRO Kevin Reeds for their patience and foresight.

On Sunday the J/105s were out on Day 2 of the Bay Course as well as the sole handicapped class, ORC. Two races were scheduled beginning with a drop marks course and wrapping up with a government marks distance race. With a number of courses to choose from, PRO Bingman chose a 11.05NM course that brought everyone back towards the harbor for the finish. Trophies were handed out at a post-race gathering in the Sailing Center on both days with a big thumbs up on the weekend from those in attendance.

Second place in the J/22 Class, Jeff Todd on Hot Toddy. In the J/30 class, Ron Anderson’s Insatiable and Bob Rutsch’s Bebop were 1st and 3rd respectively. Congrats to Peter Bowe on Tea Dance Snake for 1st in the J/70 class with John White’s USA 1162 and Derick Lynch’s Outlaws in 1st and 2nd in the J/80 class. White had V/C Bartlett aboard as well as son Kevin and Sarah Russell. Lynch made it a family affair with sons Chaz and Ryan as crew. A repeat of his 2017 performance, Jim Connelly’s Slush Fund took 1st in the ORC fleet with John White sailing Day 2 on his J/80, in 2nd.

Repeating their 1st place performance in 2017, Cedric Lewis and Fredrik Salvesen wrapped up the J/105 class and will once again have their names engraved on the Elizalde Trophy. In 2nd and 3rd place in the 105s, Andrew Kennedy/Warren Richter and Bob Putnam/Mary Grealy on Better Mousetrap. Kyle and Lee Bollhurst were 1st in the Cal 25 fleet with Jim and Rachel Mead at the top of the heap in the Harbor 20s. New to the regatta this year, the Commodore P.H. Magruder trophy was rededicated to the Harbor 20 fleet for the 1st place finisher in the Harbor 20 class – congrats to the Meads on Meadeor for this honor. No strangers to the podium, in 2nd and 3rd in the Harbor 20s, Peter Trogdon/Margaret Podlich and George Hughes/Bell Carty. Members collected 1st-3rd trophies in the Alerion 28 class – congratulations to Jonah Seiger, Erik and Shannon Dahl, and Jason Goscha for their performance.

Full results are available here.

Click here to see photos from the awards presentation.