Everyone Wins at Inaugural Media Cup

The action was hot in and out of AT&T Ballpark on Sunday. Inside, the Giants battled the A’s. Outside, in the Bay, local media personalities ‘battled’ it out aboard sailboats in the first-ever Media Cup. A benefit for both BAADS — the Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors — and the new www.GoSailingSF.org website, the Media Cup was sailed aboard a fleet of 10 volunteered boats including four J/120s, two Catalina 34s and several other local racing boats. Participants included media and sports personalities from CBS 5, Comcast Sportsnet, AM 960, Live 105, KTVU 2, the San Jose Sharks and the San Jose Gold women’s soccer team. There were two races around the South Bay which started and ended in McCovey Cove, as well as a parade of participating boats. While the big boats were off racing, the colorful little BAADS dinghies sailed back and forth across the Cove. The sailing activities were periodically flashed up on the Jumbotron inside the stadium, with announcer Jon Miller explaining what folks were seeing, and plugging BAADS and GoSailingSF.org.

“This was one of the funnest days of my life,” said CBS weather anchor Roberta Gonzales of her day aboard John Wimer’s J/120 Desdemona. (Look for mention of the Media Cup during tonight’s CBS 5 weather broadcast.) The consensus rang true thoughout the après-sail festivities aboard Bay Lady at Pier 40 where contestants and volunteers gathered to enjoy food, a frosty beverage and the after-sail glow. This year, everyone was declared a winner in a 10-way tie. “Next year, it’s game on!” said CBS 5’s Jim Bernard, throwing down the gauntlet to other media to come out and play.

Media Cup organizer Erik Simonson gives special nods of thanks to the San Francisco Giants organization, South Beach YC, South Beach Harbor, all the skippers who volunteered their boats, all the volunteers who helped make the event happen — as well as support from Lucca Ravioli, Half Moon Bay Brewery, Lagunitas Brewery, Sail California, J World, Seashine Boat Cleaning and Detailing, Marine Media Alliance, UK Sailmakers, Skyy Vodka, Dry Creek Wines, Spinnaker Sailing, Pineapple Sails, Comcast Sportsnet. A particular tip of the hat goes to Waypoint Pizza, who delivered hot pizzas to the post-race festivities via a speedy boat ride all the way from Tiburon!