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May 17, 2023

Getting Shipshape, and Making the Podium at the BVI Spring Regatta

Sometimes it can be hard to keep your lines straight. In our May feature on the BVI Spring Regatta we got our lines tangled when we said the Cape 31 M2 was owned by Steve Rowland. In fact, Steve chartered M2 from owner Marc McMorris of San Rafael. We wanted to get that untangled and shipshape.

Sailors know it’s often difficult to keep everything organized and shipshape.
© 2023 Latitude 38 Media LLC / John

Regardless, the story went on to describe the thrills and spills of many Californians who made the trek to the BVI for the end-of-March regatta. The story by Michelle Slade starts here:

Seventy boats celebrated 50 years of fabulous sailing and island fun over five days of outstanding racing in perfect conditions at the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival, held March 27 to April 2. The BVI Spring Regatta is undoubtedly one of the most beloved regattas on the Caribbean racing circuit, and this year, the competition could not have been better — nor the conditions: warm turquoise water, temperatures in the mid-80s, and a consistent breeze in the high teens every day. Oh, and super-fun parties every night in the regatta village as well as the Nanny Cay Resort and Marina (the host sponsor) beach bar.

BVI Spring Regatta
In the midst of the BVI Spring Regatta party some yacht racing broke out.
© 2023 Ingrid Abery

This year was notable, not only because it was the 50th edition of the regatta, but because there were more than just the usual handful of West Coast competitors. Ten groups of sailors from the Western United States made it to the BVI for the regatta’s 50th anniversary celebration, including a group of women from the West Vancouver Yacht Club calling themselves the Salish Sisters: Kelly Wharton, Kerry Phillips, Kathy Parslow, Kelly Brix, Lisa Andersen, and Melanie Brisbois, who raced on Spirit of Juno, a Farr 65, in the CSA 1 division.

M2 had a great ride at the BVI Spring Regatta.
© 2023 Ingrid Albrey

“The BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival delivered a sailing experience beyond expectations,” Kelly Wharton said with a big smile. “On the first practice day, the Salish Sisters stepped on our Farr 65 ride and felt like characters out of Gulliver’s Travels. The bow was a football field away, barrel-size winches loomed in the pit, and the Sequoia-wide boom floated overhead. We soon learned that the principles of sailing, whether you have an Opti or a Farr 65, are universal. The skills we had acquired from years of cruising and racing directly transferred to larger boats, albeit with some important caveats. We felt confident in our positions, nailed the starts, and ended every race with smiles and laughs.”

Calling Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Laura Schlessinger, “Dr. Laura,” and her crew aboard Pata Negra took first overall in CSA Division 1.
© 2023 Ingrid Abery

To see other West Coast sailors who made the podium you can read the full BVI Spring Regatta story in our May issue. You can find the printed magazine for your coffee or bedside table at any of these locations.

Check out our new store here.

Good Jibes #91: Sally Honey on Creating Your Future With Sailing

This week’s host, Moe Roddy, is joined by two-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Sally Honey to chat about all things sailing. Sally has sailed in seven 5O5 World Championships, started and built her own company, raced to Hawaii six times, has given back to every sailing committee imaginable, and won the 2022 Newport Bermuda Race.

Sally Honey
Hear about Sally’s passage from the Canary Islands to Antigua, and her time living aboard in English Harbour.
© 2023 Sally Honey

Hear how to stick with sailing throughout your life and career, try out different aspects of sailing, and keep at it and keep getting better, and about her top lessons from sailing and favorite memories from sailing with her dad.

This episode covers everything from racing across the Pacific to life lessons. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear:

  • How many siblings does Sally have?
  • What kind of boat did her dad race?
  • How did she get more serious about sailing?
  • Where did she meet Stan?
  • How many offshore miles has she sailed?
  • What has she learned from racing?
  • How has it been for women sailors racing against men?
  • Short Tacks: What’s the best compliment Sally’s ever gotten?

Listen to the episode on Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts, and your other favorite podcast spots — follow and leave a 5-star review if you’re feeling the Good Jibes!

Learn more about Sally at https://nshof.org/nominees/honey-sally/.

Registration for California US Open Sailing Series Now Open 

Calling all West Coast dinghy sailors and Olympic hopefuls. US Sailing has announced the return of the US Open Sailing Series to the West Coast for 2023, and registration is now open. The three events span the coast of California and include the Olympic and Youth Worlds classes. Established in 2019 and building off the historically important Olympic Class Regattas (OCRs), the US Open Sailing Series provides a domestic regatta schedule and training platform for athletes racing in Olympic and Youth Worlds classes. More information, as well as registration, is available at www.ussailing.org/olympics/usopen.

Winning in Lasers on San Francisco Bay remains as challenging as ever,
© 2023 Lexi Pline

The California schedule is as follows:

San Diego (San Diego Yacht Club)

  • June 16-18, 2023
  • Classes: ILCA 4, ILCA 6, ILCA 7, I420, Nacra 15, 470, 29er

Long Beach (Long Beach Yacht Club, Alamitos Bay Yacht Club)

  • July 14-16, 2023
  • Classes: 470, 49er, 49erFX, Formula Kite, ILCA 7, ILCA 6, ILCA 4, iQFOIL, Nacra 17, 29er, 420, iQFOIL Youth, Nacra 15, Finn, Open Kitefoil.
  • This event is the ILCA North American Championship
iQFoils
The iQFoils will be back on San Francisco Bay.
© 2023 Allison Chenard

San Francisco (St. Francis Yacht Club, San Francisco Yacht Club, Richmond Yacht Club)

  • August 11-13, 2023
  • Classes: iQFOiL, Formula Kite, Open Kitefoil, Wingfoil, ILCA 4, ILCA 6, ILCA 7, 29er, 49er, 49erFX, 470, I420

Each regatta will serve as a qualifier for the ILCA 6 Women’s and ILCA 7 Men’s Olympic Trials, held in Miami in January 2024. The top eight ILCA 7 men and top eight ILCA 6 women who have not previously qualified will earn a spot at the 2024 Olympic trials.

“The US Open domestic sailing series is a critical component of our long-term Olympic strategy,” said Sarah Lihan, co-head of the US Sailing Team. “Building the domestic base as we move into the LA 2028 home games is especially exciting, and the stronger we are as a domestic squad, the better we all perform.”

US Sailing would like to thank sponsors Gill, New England Ropes, YETI, and Siemens for supporting the US Open Sailing Series.

For race notices and registration, click here.

National Safe Boating Week Kicks Off With Water Safety Fair

The 2023 National Safe Boating Week runs from May 20 to 26, and to kick it off, US Coast Guard Station Golden Gate and the Coast Guard Auxiliary will host a Water Safety Fair on Saturday, May 20. This is a family-friendly event focusing on recreational boating safety, and with the coming summer, and its being the Memorial Day weekend, we think it’s a good time for a brush-up on safety and other boating skills and information.

“Boating Safety Week is an excellent opportunity to open our doors to the Bay Area boating community,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Jason McNally, the Operations petty officer assigned to Station Golden Gate. “The San Francisco Bay is the nation’s busiest harbor, with a very diverse boating community. There is always a potential for danger on the water and it’s our job to promote safe boating practices.”

The fair runs from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and there’s plenty of free parking.
© 2023 U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

 

Here are some tips shared by the National Safe Boating Council:

  • Take a boating safety course. Gain valuable knowledge and on-water experience in a boating safety course with many options for novice to experienced boaters.
  • Check equipment. Schedule a free vessel safety check with local US Coast Guard Auxiliary or US Power Squadrons to make sure all essential equipment is present, working and in good condition.
  • Make a float plan. Always let someone on shore know the trip itinerary, including operator and passenger information, boat type and registration, and communication equipment on board before you leave the dock.
  • Wear a life jacket. Make sure everyone wears a life jacket — every time. A stowed life jacket is no use in an emergency.
  • Use an engine cut-off switch — it’s the law. An engine cut-off switch is a proven safety device to stop a powerboat engine should the operator unexpectedly fall overboard.
  • Watch the weather. Always check the forecast before departing on the water and frequently during the excursion.
  • Know what’s going on around you at all times. Nearly a quarter of all reported boating accidents in 2021 were caused by operator inattention or improper lookout.
  • Know where you’re going and travel at safe speeds. Be familiar with the area and local boating speed zones, and always travel at a safe speed.
  • Never boat under the influence. A BUI is involved in one third of all recreational boating fatalities. Always designate a sober skipper.
  • Keep in touch. Have more than one communication device that works when wet. VHF radios, emergency locator beacons, satellite phones, and cell phones can all be important devices in an emergency.

And now for a fun fact! This Friday, May 19, is “Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day.” The day is part of the Safe Boating Campaign, a global awareness effort that encourages boaters to make the most of their boating adventure by being responsible.

“Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day is a great opportunity to share with others your love for boating,” said Yvonne Pentz, communications director of the National Safe Boating Council, a nonprofit dedicated to helping create a safe boating experience for all boaters and the lead organization of the Safe Boating Campaign. “The NSBC can’t wait to see the creative and fun ways boaters wear their life jacket at work for a chance to win a prize.”

Here’s how to participate:

  1. Wear a life jacket wherever you work
  2. Snap a picture
  3. Post the picture on social media with the hashtag #wearyourlifejacketatworkday
  4. Tag the Safe Boating Campaign (@boatingcampaign)

Boaters will be randomly selected to win prizes from the Safe Boating Campaign throughout the day.

Well, we’re in, and here’s a pic to get you all inspired.

safety - Life jacket at work
Taken at Latitude 38‘s Sausalito office.
© 2023 Latitude 38 Media LLC / Monica

Who’s next?

Small Boats Are Fun!
At the recent Pacific Sail & Power Boat Show in Redwood City, we chatted with Andrew Leslie, who told us about the fun he was having sailing aboard an Open 5.70.
Faire de la Voile
The R2AK Race is unique: no motor, no support, all the way to Alaska requiring physical endurance, saltwater know-how and bulldog tenacity where participants navigate, sail, row, and/or paddle the 750 Miles from Port Townsend, WA, to Ketchikan, AK. It starts June 5.