ILCA Sailor’s Reflection on Richmond YC Small Boat Midwinters

The Richmond Yacht Club Small Boat Midwinters series is held across four separate events, with this winter’s racing taking place on the first Sunday of each month, December through March. Jenny Maybee tells the story from an ICLA 6 sailor’s perspective.

This year’s Richmond Yacht Club Small Boat Midwinters delivered a full spectrum of Bay conditions, testing adaptability, endurance and tactical awareness across the ILCA 6 fleet. We miraculously got in all four days of sailing, an unusual winter occurrence. Overall Brendan Choi took first place, I took second, and Ernest Galvan took third.

Day one brought classic winter sailing: sunny skies, solid breeze and crisp, cold air. Four races were completed in steady conditions, with tight racing throughout the fleet and close battles upwind and downwind. We were grateful that the race committee had made the line long enough for both the ILCA 6 and 7 fleets to start at the same time.

Day two shifted dramatically. A slightly stormy and freezing start made staying warm and monitoring your level of shivering part of the necessary strategy. The breeze oscillated between dead spots and sharp gusts, demanding constant adjustment and patience. Despite the challenging conditions, four races were completed, and the day ended in spectacular fashion with clearing skies and vivid rainbows over the course.

Day three saw lighter air, with two races completed. In a crossover between the Bay and the concert stage, both Brendan and I were absent that weekend due to musical commitments — Brendan performed in a violin concert and I attended the Grammy Awards — before returning for the final day of racing.

The fourth and final day delivered near-perfect conditions: sunshine, steady breeze and a strong ebb that rewarded smart current management and confident mark roundings. Four more races wrapped up a competitive and varied series.

Throughout the event, the ILCA 6 fleet enjoyed close place battles, crowded mark roundings, the occasional capsize, and the added complexity of navigating traffic from other fleets sharing the course. Many a lively rule conversation was had due to the close-quarters racing. Brendan put together a consistently strong series to take first place overall, demonstrating impressive speed and control across the wide range of conditions.