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Photo of the DayOctober 2 - San Francisco Bay  At the 74-boat Star Worlds, finding sea room and clear air is next to impossible, as the competition is ferocious. Photo Latitude/Andy Star boats were not designed with rubber rub rails, but after watching the Wells Fargo Private Bank Star World Championships on Saturday, it occurred to us that perhaps they should have been. 'Bumper-boat' action was sometimes unavoidable - especially at mark roundings. The event, hosted by the St. Francis YC through Friday on the Berkeley Circle, has drawn a 'Who's Who' of sailing legends to the Bay Area including the winners of nine Olympic gold medals and 20 previous world championships. Among them are Olympic Gold Medalists Mark Reynolds of San Diego and Brazilian Torben Grael, also of Luna Rossa A-Cup fame - both with two golds apiece. The top three in the first race Sunday, were: 1) Hamish Pepper/Carl Williams of New Zealand; 2) Andy Horton and Brad Nichol of the USA; and 3) Rohan Lord and Miles Addy also of New Zealand. San Francisco's own Star Olympian, Paul Cayard is not racing. However, Santa Cruz-based Philippe Kahn is competing, with '93 World Champ Joe Londrigan as crew. Designed in 1911, and designated as an Olympic class since 1932, Stars number more than 2,000 actively racing today worldwide. - latitude / aet |
Sportboats Duke It Out at 'UFEST'October 2 - San Francisco Bay  Although the design is decades old, Express 27s are still a very active class. Competition last weekend was intense. In this photo they are being led by K5, an Antrim 27. Photos Latitude/Andy The Stars weren't the only boats racing last weekend in the East Bay. In the waters off Pt. Richmond, the Richmond YC hosted the first-ever Sportboat Invitational, affectionately dubbed UFEST. The event served as the Nationals for the venerable Express 27s and the contemporary Antrim 27s and Ultimate 24s, with a cadre of Ultimate 20s also competing for their NorCal championship.  The Ultimate 24 leader works to stretch her advantage. Although conditions were moderate Saturday when we stopped by to snap these photos, the competition was intense. At this writing, final results had not yet been posted. See www.richmondyc.org for more info. - latitude / aet |
16th Annual Racer ChaserSeptember 25 - San Francisco  We invite you to advertise in the 2007
Latitude 38 YRA Calendar, a comprehensive full color guide
to Northern California racing. Ideal for any club, class, association
or business wanting to reach local racers. Click
here for details (a PDF flyer will download). |
Mexico-Only Crew List PartyOctober 2 - Alameda Just a reminder that the Mexico-Only Crew List and Baja Ha-Ha Party is this Wednesday at Encinal YC in Alameda from 6 to 9 p.m. Entry is free if you paid to be on the Mexico Only Crew List, and $7 for anyone else. There will be Mexico cruising experts to answer questions, a liferaft demo, free munchies, a no-host bar, and great door prizes such as these hats sent to us by Suzan and Richard Bear's new company Allergic to Cities. Check out their Web site at www.allergictocities.com. - latitude / ld  Allergic to Cities developed a line of decorated apparel for "adventure-driven souls" and sent us a bunch of "Allergic to Land" hats to hand out at the Mexico-Only Crew List and Baja Ha-Ha Party this Wednesday. Photo Latitude/Richard |
Bon Voyage BBQ a BlastOctober 2 - Alameda If you didn't make it to the Bon Voyage BBQ at Marina Village on Saturday, you missed a great time. Known for their frequent potlucks, the tenants at Gate 11 put together a cast-off party for cruisers heading to Mexico this year. Alan Weaver, Harbormaster at Marina Village, generously provided free beer and wine, while party-goers brought so much food the tables weren't the only things groaning.  The Class of '06/07 wave goodbye. Joining the party were veteran globe-girdlers Lin and Larry Pardey, Beth and Al Liggett, and Diana and Jim Jessie. It's not often - outside boat shows - that such an accomplished and well-known group of sailors is seen in one spot, so many party-goers took the opportunity to bend their collective ears.  An exciting new episode of World Cruiser Wife Swap. Can you match the husband with the wife? From left, Larry Pardey, Diana Jessie, Al Liggett, Beth Liggett, Jim Jessie, and Lin Pardey. Photos Latitude/LaDonna But they weren't the only ones sharing pearls of wisdom. David and Betty Lou Walsman, accomplished cruisers who have sailed their Hunter 420 Decade Dance from San Diego to the Pacific Northwest and back again three times, gained some valuable tips from other Mexico vets for their first cruise down south. "Talking with all these folks changed my whole perspective on cruising Mexico," said Betty Lou. "I'm really excited!" We wish them, and the rest of the Class of 2006/07, bon voyage. - latitude / ld |
