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Silly Wabbit! Devil May Hare Corrects to Victory in Delta Ditch Run

June 12 - Delta

On a day that started off wild and windy, and finished up toasty and serene, 112 boats enjoyed a wide range of conditions in the weekend's exciting Delta Ditch Run, co-sponsored by the Stockton Sailing Club and the Richmond YC. A breezy start to the winding 67-mile race ultimately gave way to a fluky southwester, which turned what is usually an annual jibing fest into a race that saw countless sets and douses, and a whole lot of two-sail reaching.

When all was said and done, Bill Erkelens' D-Class cat, Adrenaline, was the first multihull to finish, as well as the first overall, while Jim and Rick Yabsley's Melges 32 Yabsolutely led the monohulls across the finish line. But the big winner was Erik Menzel's Wylie Wabbit Devil May Hare, which not only won its six boat class, but corrected out to first overall. A fresh carrot goes to Devil's crew and a round of applause to the folks at Stockton and Richmond Yacht Clubs, who combined to run another fantastic Ditch Run.


The charge of the ultralight brigade - the 26 Moore 24s were the biggest one design fleet in the race.


Tritrip, a Corsair 750, sailed by Alan O'Driscoll, Karen Flick and Chris Boome, on their way to a second in the multihull division, despite having torn their only spinnaker when we jinxed them by taking this cool photo.


Roger Barnett's, Tuki, a ProSail 40, like the ones seen in The Thomas Crowne Affair, screams past The Brothers, without slowing for either bed or breakfast.


Infinity, Gary Gebhard's Holland 47, spinnaker reaches toward Stockton.


Olive oil man and rancher Ray Lopez demonstrates his affection for the land by driving his Davidson 44 InfraRed up into the tules. Actually, it just looks that way, he was just shaving them.


With Stockton just a short distance away, Aarom Storm's Bear Wabbit battles it out with Bob Bloom's J/35 Jarlen.
Photos Latitude/JR, Herb & Richard
 


Singlehanders Lost Overboard on Both Coasts

June 12 - The Sailing World

The body of 55-year-old Lawrence Joiner of El Dorado was spotted drifting in Raccoon Strait Saturday afternoon, and was recovered at about the same time the Coast Guard found his boat aground on Angel Island with the engine still running. Authorities have yet to release the name and type of boat, and whether or not Joiner had been wearing a PFD.

Meanwhile, the search continues since Saturday on the Chesapeake Bay for the body of 72-year-old Philip Merrill, a prominent publisher, former diplomat, and avid singlehander. Merrill often singlehanded Merrilly, his Bristol 41, usually sailing the same 18-mile route, usually not wearing a PFD.


Entry Packs to Be Sent Out Today for What Might Be the Biggest Ha-Ha Ever

June 12 - Tiburon

If you're one of the 141 people who have already requested an entry pack for this fall's Baja Ha-Ha, be advised they are being mailed out today. One reason you may want to complete the entry and return it is that berths in Cabo are assigned based on the day entries are received. The earlier you enter, the greater the chance you'll get a slip at Cabo.

"Based on the 141 requests received so far," reports Ha-Ha Honcho Lauren Spindler, "it's likely that this year's Ha-Ha will be the biggest ever. At this time last year, we'd only received 108 requests for packets, and yet 150 boats ultimately signed up. With a 30% increase in to-date requests for packets, it's possible we could end up with an even bigger fleet. But only time will tell."

If you want an entry pack for October 30's Ha-Ha 13 from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, with stops at Turtle Bay and Bahia Santa Maria, send a check for $18 to Baja Ha-Ha, Inc, 21 Apollo Road, Tiburon CA 94920.


Six in a Row for Geronimo!

June 12 - Tiburon

Two months to the day after leaving the Bay on a record attempt to Japan, Olivier de Kersauson and an eight-man crew sailed the 110-ft French trimaran Geronimo back under the Golden Gate yesterday - to break yet another sailing record. 'ODK' described this latest record run, from Yokohama to San Francisco, as one of the most stressful in a 30-year ocean sailing career. It wasn't because of too much wind, but too little wind. Leaving Japan on May 29, the entire 4,450-mile course was plagued with light-to-no breeze. And, the crew reportedly didn't see the sun once the whole way. Nevertheless, Geronimo's time of 13 days, 22 hours, 38 minutes, 28 seconds broke the old record by almost 19 hours, set by fellow Frenchman Bruno Peyron and the 82-ft Explorer.

The Japan to San Francisco run completes a very successful 'Pacific Rim' circuit for Geronimo. Under the auspices of the Superyachting Challenge, the big Cap Gemini-Schneider sponsored boat broke all six records she attempted. (See www.cimdev.com.au/superyachting/site/index.php for more.)

Geronimo is currently moored off the Corinthian YC, and will be conducting sponsor sails and undergoing maintenance through at least June 19. She will also take part in next weekend's San Francisco Speed Sailing event off Crissy Field - and if the dock talk is true, may be entering the West Marine Pacific Cup.


Geronimo slides under the Golden Gate at 5:43 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

Olivier de Kersauson (center) and his crew celebrate their latest record at the Corinthian Yacht Club.
Photos www.oceanfilmboat.com


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