'Lectronic Index

Previous 'Lectronic Edition

Masters Regatta

October 16 - San Francisco

Much of the Masters Regatta was sailed in light breeze.
Photo Latitude/JR

Fall conditions prevailed for sailors in the Fremont Bank International Masters regatta, which was sailed off St. Francis YC in identical J/105s on October 13-15. Maybe it was the light breeze, maybe it was chill in the air, but whatever it was, New York YC Commodore George Hinman and his crew liked it. With tactician Chris Perkins aboard, Hinman sailed to a convincing 2,2,1,2,2 (9 point) victory over the nine-boat fleet. Dick Tillman took second with Masters Regatta founder Don Trask in third.

The rules for the Masters are simple: invited skippers must be at least 60 years of age and crew must be at least 45. This pool of talent is surprisingly deep (and growing deeper every year). Skippers this year included such names as Ron Holland, Malin Burnham and Ray Lotto, while crews included the likes of Stan Honey, Sally Honey, Russ Silvestri, John Andron, Peter Vessella, Chris Boome, Dave Hodges and Gordie Nash.

The 'old bold' skippers of the Masters Regatta
Photo Chris Ray/www.crayivp.com

1) George Hinman, 9 points; 2) Dick Tillman, 14; 3) Don Trask, 17; 4) Malin Burnham, 27; 5) Ray Lotto, 25; 6) John Scarborough, 29; 7) Ron Holland, 31; 8) Bruce Munro, 33; 9) Dave Irish, 38.

Complete results: www.stfyc.com.

- latitude / jr

Kings of the Hill

October 16 - San Francisco

Yankee Cup and a Champion of Champions boat or two round Harding Rock

The winners of the various HDA (Handicap Divisions Association) and ODCA (One Design Classes Association) were decided last month. But YRA takes it all one step further with a sort of 'superbowl' for each of those groups: the top HDA boats go head to head in the Yankee Cup, while ODCA winners race off (under PHRF) in the Champion of Champions. Both fleets raced these respective three-race series concurrently off the Golden Gate YC on Saturday.

Flashback to the good old days - IOR one tonners Jeannette and Bodacious went mano a mano in the Yankee Cup.
Photos Latitude/JR

Henry King's beautiful dark blue Frers 40 Jeannette took home the gold in the Yankee Cup, sparring the whole day with another active one tonner, John Clauser's Bodacious. Over in the C of C, Jeff Blowers and his Olson 30 Naked Lady crew didn't get any guns, but they were consistent enough in the mostly light-air racing to win the day.

Complete results for both the Yankee Cup and Champion of Champions can be found at www.yra.org.

Spectra Rep to Be Along for the Ha-Ha

October 16 - San Francisco

"The October Latitude 38 Baja Ha-Ha profile on the crew of Gemini did not mention one important thing," report Les Sutton and Diane Grant of the San Francisco-based Albin Nimbus 42, "that being our affiliation with Spectra Watermakers. Les has been a roving rep for Spectra for five years, doing warrantee work and selling, installing and repairing their products in Central America. Now that he and Diane will be in Mexico for a couple of years, their services will be available in the usual places - south for the winters, north to the Sea of Cortez for the summers. Folks with Spectra Watermakers exchange contact information with Les at the San Diego events and they will track him down for you."

- les sutton & diane grant

Post Earthquake Sailing Just Fine

October 16 - Hawaii

"I'm here on the Big Island," reports Martin Burs, "and can tell you the 6.5 quake we just had was a good rattler. I was in the Bay Area's Loma Prieta quake in '89, and this one felt about the same. But I haven't heard of any reports of injuries or damage to boats. As a matter of fact, I belong to the Na Hoa Holomoku Sailing Club here, and enjoyed a wonderful dinghy sail on Reed's Bay four hours after the quake. Nonetheless, it was yet another reminder that no matter where you go, Mother Nature will have her way."

- martin burs

In the Land of Lutefisk

October 16 - Friday Harbor, WA

John Neal and Amanda Swan Neal are back home in Friday Harbor, WA, after arriving in Sweden last month at the end of their latest - and best, John reported - sail training expedition aboard their Hallberg-Rassy 46 Mahina Tiare III. This season's expedition took them and 47 'trainees' from Victoria, BC, to Ellös, Sweden, in eight legs spanning six months.

Photo Courtesy Hallberg-Rassy

Mahina Tiare III is safely tucked in a boatshed for a winter refit while awaiting next year's itinerary which includes Norway, England, Portugal and Azores. You can read the logs from this season's expedition - or check out next year's schedule - at www.mahina.com.

-latitude / ld