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March Racing Preview

March is a transition month for sailing. As many Midwinter Series wrap up, some spring classics lead us into Daylight Saving Time (March 12) and the vernal equinox (March 20).

RYC’s turning basin during Sail a Small Boat Day in 2015. Pictured are a Cal 20, a Lightning, an Access Dinghy, an El Toro, a kayak, SUPs, and a Sunfish. RYC volunteers on crash boats help keep the event safe. Kids are welcome if their parents sign waivers.

latitude/Chris
©Latitude 38 Media, LLC

Not a race, but of interest to those who may considering which small-boat fleet to join is tomorrow’s Sail a Small Boat Day at Richmond Yacht Club. Curious sailors can try out a variety of dinghies, skiffs, small keelboats, etc. for free from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This is a lot of fun whether you’re interested in racing or not.

The following weekend, RYC will host the Big Daddy Regatta, with the usual buoy races on Saturday, a big party Saturday night (jukebox tunes by DJ Good Times), and a pursuit race on Sunday. The theme is ‘Performance Tune-Up Regatta’.

Island YC’s Sadie Hawkins on the Alameda Estuary for women skippers will take entries up until the morning of the race, this Sunday.

After a mostly quiet winter, St. Francis YC will be busy with three regatta weekends in a row. March 4-5 will be Spring One Design, March 11-12 will be the third and final stop of the California Dreamin’ match-race series, and March 18-19 will be Spring Dinghy.

On March 10-12, Vallejo’s Cal Maritime Academy will host the Harbor Cup — Los Angeles Harbor, that is. Sailed in Catalina 37s, this is a rare keelboat competition between college sailing teams.

Oakland YC’s Rites of Spring will sail the waters of Central San Francisco Bay on March 11. Divisions are offered for singlehanders, doublehanders and full crews.

The Helly Hansen NOOD Regatta will return to San Diego on March 17-19. San Diego YC and Coronado YC will run the racing on two ocean courses and one on south San Diego Bay, plus one cruising course in San Diego Bay. Classes signed up so far include Etchells, Ultimate 20, Beneteau First 36.7 and 40.7, J/70, J/105, J/120, I-14, Viper 640, Flying Tiger and F18 cats. An ORC class is offered for miscellaneous sportboats. 

On March 18-19 Mission Bay YC in San Diego will host the California Laser Masters Regatta. Then, on March 24-26, California YC in Marina del Rey will host the Laser Midwinters West.

As you’ve no doubt already read in ‘Lectronic Latitude, BAMA has added three shorter courses to the Doublehanded Farallones Race on March 18. The skippers’ meeting will be hosted by Oakland YC in Alameda on March 15. Bring your handheld DSC-enabled VHF radio to participate in a DSC demo.

More fun for doublehanders — and singlehanders — is on tap in the SSS Corinthian Race on March 25. The skippers’ meeting will be held at Island YC on March 22, which is also the deadline to register.

In order to avoid a mosh pit like the one last year at Blossom Rock, the SSS will start the Corinthian Race divisions in order from fastest to slowest.

latitude/Chris
©Latitude 38 Media, LLC

Also on March 25, Sausalito YC will host the Jaws pursuit race. Race chair Doug Ford points out that "It’s ideal for the new-to-racing skipper due to its low-stress start, and offers the instant gratification of knowing how well you’ve done as you cross the finish line." The race will be held in conjunction with an open house, part of the club’s 75th-anniversary celebrations. Visitors and members will enjoy live music and watch the race start and finish — with cannon fire!

Long Beach YC is gearing up for the Congressional Cup on March 28-April 2, but first it hosts the Ficker Cup, a Grade 2 match-racing event on March 24-26.

These are just a few highlights; to see much more, check out our Calendar. Some of the above events will be covered in the April issue of Latitude 38.

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Two Californians traveled to the New York Yacht Club to pick up their reward and recognition for receiving the prestigious US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards.