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Get Out the Vote

The Bay Area’s Dan Woolery is up for the Seahorse Sailor of the Month. Make sure to get out the vote!

© Sharon Green

Readers of ‘Lectronic Latitude and Latitude 38 should be familiar with Dan Woolery’s Soozal and her successes in Florida and the Caribbean this winter. Woolery’s Mark Mills-designed King 40 took home wins in IRC 2 at Acura Key West Race Week and the Acura Miami Grand Prix, along with a class B win in the 800-mile Pineapple Cup from Ft. Lauderdale to Montgeo Bay during a three-month trophy-collection mission.

In decades past, Bay Area-based big boat owners were known for their exploits in far-flung locales, sailing under the predominant rating systems of the day. In recent years there’s been a relative dearth of traveling big boat campaigns originating here, despite the fact that the Bay — in particular St. Francis YC’s Rolex Big Boat Series — is ground zero for IRC racing in the United States. Given this context, we were stoked to learn that the Richmond YC’s Woolery got the nod from the sport’s great technical magazine Seahorse International Sailing as a nominee for May’s ‘Sailor of the Month’. Naturally, we’d like to see him win, and not just because he’s a Bay Area guy. We intercepted an email he sent out to his crew following the news:

"Guys, just found out about the Seahorse news. While it’s great to be recognized in this capacity, let’s face it: I only had one role out of the many that contributed to a successful winter in Florida. EVERYONE should be mentioned as none of this would have been possible without ALL of you. Thanks to all again for a winter that Susie and I will never forget."

Seahorse may not have had the space, but we’re happy to oblige. The Soozal crew included: Jeff Rubin, Tom Lihan, Greg Felton, Gary Sadamori, Chris Lewis, Pete McCormick, Matt Siddens, project manager Scott Easom, and tactician Robbie Haines.

Woolery’s competition for the honors — Ericsson 3 navigator Aksel Magdahl — made some pretty gutsy calls, which means he’ll be a tough opponent in the voting on Seahorse‘ website. So click on that link, cast your vote and help bring it home for a Bay Area program!

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