California Mercury Fleet Races Into December

The Richmond Yacht Club (RYC) Small Boat Midwinters, a four-day monthly series from December through March, kicked off on Sunday, December 7. Though eight Mercurys have signed up for it so far, a few had conflicts, reducing the number of boats on the water to five.

Other than being a bit chilly, the sailing conditions were glorious: sunny and an oscillating northerly breeze at around seven knots, with occasional gusts that might have briefly touched 12. With about 90 boats in seven starts, the course was busy! But the race committee did an extraordinary job of keeping the fleets separated and everything moving; the waits between starts were acceptably short and the cross traffic kept to a minimum of occasionally finding your way through a downwind fleet as you worked your way upwind. Offset marks at the weather rounding and a leeward gate kept things from getting snarled up.

The Mercs had great racing, with three different winners in the four races. Charlie McKenzie with crew Jennifer McKimm, and John Ravizza and son Michael, each won one race, and Dave West and Chris Krueger won two. Dave Bacci, sailing with Chris Davis, got all seconds and thirds, giving them second place for the day, one point behind West and Krueger. The Ravizzas dropped out of the last race, costing them six points, and so finished in a three-way tie for third with Charlie and Ben Bradley and Alex Braman.

Thanks to Richmond Yacht Club for hosting such a terrific day on the water!