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August Racing Preview

Among the exciting regattas coming up in the month August, we’re particularly paying attention to the following.

The 29er World Championship is being hosted by Alamitos Bay Yacht Club in Long Beach today through August 5. Teams to watch and cheer for include US Sailing Youth Worlds team members Neil Marcellini and Ian Brill from Richmond YC; they just placed eighth out of 116 entries. Many more teams hail from the West Coast; chances are you know one of the racers. Good luck to our local heroes! The 29er is the skiff of choice for teenagers.

29er racing at the US Youth Championships in June at Corpus Christi YC in Texas.

© Will Ricketson / US Sailing

Tiburon YC’s Moseley Regatta will be sailed on August 5. "We’re inviting the Etchells class in addition to all the CBRA classes," writes Cam Tuttle, race chair for TYC. "We’ll be running RC from the water and dropping temporary marks for W-L courses. Complimentary BBQ (probably oysters again!) and snacks after racing; guest berthing is available with advance notice (email me)." Many of the same competitors will sail the next day at the YRA’s CBRA #3 hosted by Corinthian YC; skippers might contemplate keeping their boats in Tiburon for the weekend. Speaking of the YRA, the YRA Series will conclude on Saturday in the Southampton Shoal racing area.

Check out the port-tacker winning this Knarr class start at TYC’s Moseley Regatta.

© Janine Wilford

Lake Washington Sailing Club’s Dinghy Delta Ditch will run from Rio  Vista up the Sacramento River Deep Water Channel to Lake Washington on August 5. Sign up today to save yourself the $15 late fee. Food, music and partying await in West Sacramento. 

Armchair sailors might enjoy following the Rolex Fastnet, which starts on August 6. Of the 390 boats entered, 338 will compete for the main IRC handicap prize; the remainder will race for their own trophies in the Class40, IMOCA 60, Volvo Ocean 65 and Multihull grand prix classes. The line-up includes boats from 25 nations. Are any of our West Coast readers going? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

Balboa YC in Newport Beach will host the 60th Anniversary Lido 14 National Class Championship on  August 11-13. Will Larry Ellison attempt to recapture glory in the class of his youth?

The OYRA and SSS will again join forces for the Drake’s Bay Race on August 12-13. CYC will provide the race committee for the start in Tiburon and finish in Point Reyes on Saturday, and vice-versa on Sunday. In between, racers will spend the night on the hook in scenic Drake’s Bay.

Monterey Penisula YC will host the Mercury Nationals on August 25-27.

Sausalito YC’s Women Skippers Regatta on August 26 is timed to coincide with National Women’s Day. All-women and coed crews are welcome, but no man’s hand may touch the helm. It will be a full day with breakfast at the skipper’s briefing. A single race with multiple PHRF divisions and courses will be tailored to accommodate the boats entered. A live band and a BBQ will round off the day.

Did we skip your favorite August regatta? No slight intended; we’ve simply reached the end of today’s space/time continuum. Drop us a line and tell us a little about it.

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The 2nd Half Opener saw a dramatic photo finish on Saturday, as two Express 37s were neck and neck on the Oakland Estuary in the final stretch to the finish line in front of Encinal Yacht Club.