Newport to Ensenada Race With ‘Favonius 2’
Greg Dorn’s San Francisco Yacht Club-flagged Favonius 2 (Transpac 52) raced the 77th Newport to Ensenada Race on Friday. We used the race as another training session for the 2025 Transpac coming up in July.
Conditions were fairly mellow but consistent this year. For our noon start in the Maxi class, we had overcast skies, which slowly burned off to a late afternoon sun and a spectacular sunset. Winds for the majority of the race were 8-12 knots. The top teams all navigated slightly east of rhumb line this year for best routing. We sailed within 2–3 miles of Mission Bay and Point Loma, and the sunset inside the Coronado Islands was spectacular.
Our main competitors Zephyrus (R/P 77) and Fast Exit II (Ker 52) did a great job in the reaching conditions. At 9 p.m. in the darkness south of Rosarito, they had extended to a 5–7-mile lead on us. We were in a strong third for line honors with a half-dozen boats within five miles of our transom.
Just as our navigator Sylvian Barrielle predicted, we were lifted at 10 p.m., jibed onto the port-tack header, and lined up perfectly for the finish line 21 miles away. Zephyrus and Fast Exit barely slowed down on final approach to Ensenada, and both finished around midnight–12:30 a.m. The nighttime wind gods (unsurprisingly) wouldn’t let us pass through so smoothly. We had a few starts and stops inside the last 10 miles to finish third on line honors at 3:05 a.m.
Quick high-fives and cleanup followed, and then it was a skeleton shift on deck as we motorsailed right back to San Diego. An early Saturday afternoon lunch at SDYC was welcomed as we debriefed the race and discussed further improvements for the Favonius 2 crew and yacht. Our next race is the SoCal 300 at the end of May.
Beyond the racing there are the natural wonders captured while sailing south:
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Good Jibes #189: Rolex Los Angeles SailGP — Behind the Scenes, Part 1
This week’s host, Ryan Foland, joins us from the Rolex Los Angeles SailGP event on March 15–16, to go behind the scenes at the world’s most exciting race on water. Tune in as Ryan dives into interesting chats with people on the ground including SailGP’s Head of Event, a traditional maritime sailor, a former professional runner, and a fan at their first-ever sailing race.
Hear how the Sail Grand Prix works, about the unmatched energy leading up to the race, how fast the boats really go, what brings the fans out to watch SailGP, and all the sounds from an unforgettable day of racing, fun, and rowdiness. Tune in here.
Learn more at SailGP.com and connect with Ryan at Ryan.Online.
Cruising Yachts — Open-Boat Weekend in Alameda
Short Sightings — Congressional Cup, National Weather Service, and More
Congressional Cup
Today kicks off the Congressional Cup, the world’s oldest continuously held sailing match-race regatta, and the only match-race regatta in the United States to qualify for World Championship status from World Sailing. The world’s top match-racing skippers start the series today and race through May 4 for the 60th Congressional Cup. This World Championship regatta presented by Long Beach Yacht Club is a premier event on the prestigious World Match Racing Tour.
The roster includes 2023 and 2024 winner Chris Poole, USA (Riptide Racing); Johnie Berntsson, SWE (Berntsson Sailing Team); Eric Monnin, SUI (Capvis Swiss Match Racing); Rocco Attili, ITA (RBYS Racing); Ian Garreta, FRA (MedRacing); Cole Tapper, AUS (CYCA); Dave Hood, USA (DH3 Racing); Björn Hansen, SWE (Hansen Sailing Team); Nicole Breault, USA (second, 2025 Ficker Cup, StFYC); Peter Wickwire, CAN (third, 2025 Ficker Cup, RNSYS/CYC).
National Weather Service VHF Broadcasts
Jeff Berman, owner of the Tartan 4000 Maverick, found that the National Weather Service had posted on ‘X’: “A major systems upgrade will impact our services April 28-30. While routine forecasts and warnings will be issued by service backup offices, NOAA Weather Radio will be offline and some text products will be unavailable. We are sorry for the inconvenience.”
So no weather today but we’ll look forward to the weather returning tomorrow.
One More Shot
A Touch of Classies
Our frequent perusal of boats for sale in the pages of Latitude 38 always turns up some interesting boats for sale. The prices range from “Free” to $2.2 million.
We found a beautiful, Herreshoff-designed Stuart Knockabout, an ideal boat for daysailing with friends in the Delta or elsewhere. Looking more closely, we were surprised to find the boat in our Classifieds was actually located on Cape Cod, which is near the site where she was built by Edey & Duff. She’s far away, but they are sweet-looking and comfortable sailing boats. Maybe it’s time to bring it to the West Coast.
Another interesting find was a “free” 1978 Cal T/2. Actually you can buy it outright or get it free with the purchase of the owner’s $1.5 million home on 8th Avenue in Santa Cruz.
We also saw a 1978 Topper for $500, and a Cal 20 for $900. The $2.2 million boat is a 65-ft Steve and Linda Dashew-created expedition vessel. You’ll find lots more here.
There are many more incredible opportunities for your summer sailing in our Classies and with our excellent brokerage advertisers. Summer is coming!
Mother May I Race in May?
From the Yacht Racing Association
The YRA writes: “Whether you’re a seasoned racer or new to the sport, we’ve got a place for you in the Great Vallejo Race with divisions for all types of boats and all types of racers. After an action-packed day on the water, the good vibes keep rolling with an epic after-party at Vallejo Yacht Club, 3:30-10 p.m., with live music on the deck 3:30-6:30 p.m. DW Edwards and Lighting Up the Soul take the main stage 7-10 p.m. Get all the latest race information and download the race documents here. Fleet assignments and the starting sequence will be available Friday morning May 2.”
Important note: New to the Vallejo Race this year will be radio check-in required on both Saturday and Sunday. Both Saturday and Sunday will have a reverse-order start. Better hurry if you haven’t signed up yet — registration closes today at 5 p.m.
Also, remember the competitors meeting scheduled for 1900 tomorrow, Thursday, May 1. Details here.
Next up for YRA racing, the YRA In the Bay Series will kick off on the Knox course on May 10. The next offshore YRA race will be the Duxship on the 17th. See www.yra.org for more news.
More Offshore Racing
On the same day as the Duxship (May 17), the Singlehanded Farallones will head out the Gate for a solo rounding of the stinky rocks. Sign up by May 14.
California Offshore Race Week will make its way down the coast in stages, kicking off on San Francisco Bay with the Spinnaker Cup on May 24. Monterey Peninsula YC will welcome the racers to Monterey, then send them off to Santa Barbara on the 26th in the Coastal Cup. Santa Barbara YC will receive the racers and then send them off to San Diego on May 29 in the SoCal 300. SDYC will preside over the ultimate finish. Entries can choose one or two legs, or all three.
At St. Francis Yacht Club
On May 3–4, StFYC will host the Sailing League Regatta in their matched fleet of J/22s. It’s an invitational club vs. club series, focused on spectator-friendly events.
On May 10, StFYC will run the US Youth Triplehanded Championship for the Sears Cup Area G Qualifier, which will also use the club’s J/22s.
The Elvstrom-Zellerbach welcomes 5O5, c420, i420, ILCA 4, ILCA 6, ILCA 7, Melges 15, RS Feva, RS Tera, and 29er classes on May 17–18. Today, April 30, is the early registration deadline. This regatta will also serve as the ILCA District 24 Championship. The cutoff for entries will be May 6.
Women’s World Match Racing Tour will begin in San Francisco with the Stage 1 Casa Vela Cup on May 28–31, another regatta to be sailed in the J/22s.
More Regattas in the Bay Area
Sequoia YC’s Rock the Boat Regatta on May 17 will be Race 1 in the YRA’s new Women’s Championship Series. The newly created Bay Area series requires a female helmsperson and tactician, and at least 50% of the crew must be women.
San Francisco YC will host the Elite Fleet Regatta on May 17–18. The regatta is open to J/105, J/88, Moore 24, Knarr, Folkboat, Olson 25 and Melges 24 classes.
The great-granddaddy of all Bay Area regattas will follow tradition on the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. The Master Mariners Regatta will strut its classic stuff on the 24th. See www.sfmastermariners.org.
Lake Sailing
Lake Yosemite Sailing Association’s Spring Regatta will be held on May 17–18.
See https://lakeyosemitesailing.org/spring-regatta.
Next, hitch up the trailer and head north for the Memorial Weekend Regatta on Whiskeytown Lake, which promises a “beautiful mountain lake, warm weather, moderate winds and very few wind shifts.” Whiskeytown Sailing Club hosts on May 24–25.
In Southern California
The world’s top match-racing skippers are sailing in Long Beach today through Sunday for the 60th Congressional Cup. The World Championship regatta, presented by Long Beach Yacht Club, is a premier event on the prestigious World Match Racing Tour. It’s spectator-friendly.
San Diego YC’s Yachting Cup will celebrate its 53rd year on May 2–4 for sailors across a variety of fleets.
The Etchells North Americans will wrap up a long season of Etchells regattas in San Diego on May 16–18, courtesy of SDYC.
Find many more regattas and maritime events in the Calendar section of Latitude 38’s May issue, coming out this Friday, May 2. For more long-range planning, see the Northern California Sailing Calendar & YRA Master Schedule.
San Francisco Sea Scouts Celebrate With Alumni, Family, and Friends
San Francisco’s Sea Scouting program is throwing a reunion banquet for former Sea Scouts of all generations, as well as community supporters, on May 10 at the Elks Club in San Francisco. San Francisco Sailing Whaleboat Association, the main supporting nonprofit behind the San Francisco Sea Scout programs, wrote, “We’d like to bring alumni, family, and friends together for an evening of camaraderie and celebration as we support the legacy of Sea Scouting in our city.” And while the Scouts themselves will open the dinner with a flag ceremony, the event is for adults only.
Guests at this annual fundraising dinner will include honoree Terry Moran, who as a high school student was a member of SSS Viking for three years before transferring to SSS Dolphin, with which he was awarded the Quartermaster rank, Sea Scouting’s highest achievement. Terry went on to graduate from the US Naval Academy and became a naval aviator. Upon retirement from the Navy Terry worked for the Cal Maritime Foundation and founded his own nonprofit organization, VetsBoats, which uses wooden boats to help veterans with PTSD. Currently they are restoring the classic wooden boat Clover. You can read about Terry and Clover in the May issue, out Friday.
Sea Scouts is a program for youth that has had a strong presence in San Francisco for generations, providing an affordable alternative to yacht club juniors’ programs. It is fully funded by donations and run by volunteers. “Our volunteers strive to deliver a premier program for youth aged 11–20 and we need financial support to make it happen. Many of our volunteers came up through the program and earned the highest award for a Sea Scout, the Quartermaster Award. The path is long, taxing at times, and is evidence that the awardee has demonstrated instructional and leadership skills.”
“Please join us for this event!” Details here.
Other former Sea Scouts expected to attend include Rebecca Linger, a member of SSS Navigator for five years; Doug Fischer, who became skipper of SSS Corsair after earning the QM Award; Denis Mulligan, another Corsair QM (the chief engineer who designed the suicide barrier on the Golden Gate Bridge and the new Doyle Drive); Mike O’Callaghan, well known in the Moore 24 fleet, having won an untold number of races (Mike earned QM in SSS Corsair, graduated from California Maritime Academy, and is an engineer on large vessels. Mike also has kept up his association with Sea Scouting and has spent his adult life overseeing the rebuild and repair of their boats for 40 years); Patricia McFadden, SSS Mark Christie; Kevin Lavery, Quartermaster and recently retired USCG commander; Annie Kolatkar, a Mark Christie alum and the author of Young Navigator Books for teens; her brother Mike Peterson was in SSS Flying Cloud and is active in the San Francisco Marina Boat Owners Association; Henry Jotz, alumnus of SSS Viking, owned Jotz Sails and was an El Toro champion. His estate is funding the restoration of a 26-ft sailing whaleboat that will be named in his memory and hopefully will be launched this year.
“The transformative nature of the Sea Scouts program has lifelong impacts on the members who step up to unusual challenges presented to them as they learn to maintain, sail, navigate, and pilot their wooden sailing whaleboats. Service to others and teaching are two of the scouting program skills that transcend sailing. Sea Scouting is a leadership development program, as much as a seamanship program, and their alumni reflect the lessons instilled in them during their formative years. This program isn’t inexpensive to run, but it’s inexpensive for the youth. All support is greatly appreciated.”
Get tickets to the reunion here.
Learn more about the S.F. Sea Scouts here.
Save the Date: Owl Harbor’s Nautical Swapmeet, June 14
