January Racing Preview

Like storms in a wet year, the winter season of racing on San Francisco Bay rolls along. More players join the fun during the month of January, starting this Saturday, January 7. That’s the date that Tiburon Yacht Club’s midwinter series begins. The three-part series will continue on February 4 and March 4.

Oakland YC’s seven-race Sunday Brunch Series will kick off on January 15 and conclude on March 26. Brunch itself is offered in the clubhouse in the morning, and guest skippers are welcome to tie up at guest dock #2. Post-race, return to OYC’s Alameda clubhouse for results, daily prizes, and more sustenance.

Attracting sailors from all over the globe, including from California, the tropical waters of Florida will set the stage for Quantum Key West Race Week on January 15-20. Six hundred sailors on more than 90 boats, representing 11 nations, will sail in nine classes. We hope that some of the West Coast-based sailors will let us know how this 30th edition plays out. 

Like last year, KWRW will be followed by the Conch Republic Cup from Key West to Cuba on January 22-February 3. One hopes that, in this second consecutive year, some of the kinks will be smoothed out.

Perhaps the biggest (in terms of entries and parties) of the Bay Area midwinter series will start on January 21-22. Corinthian YC in Tiburon serves as a convergence point for racers from all points of the compass, and the shoreside scene acts as a post-holiday reunion for the sailors. The four-race series will conclude on February 18-19.

According to the organizers, "The Three Bridge Fiasco, conducted by the Singlehanded Sailing Society of San Francisco Bay with more than 350 competitors, is the largest sailboat race in the United States." On January 28 the Fiasco will take singlehanders and doublehanders on a 21-mile Bay tour. What makes it a (sometimes complete) fiasco? Skippers get to choose the direction of starting, finishing and mark rounding; it’s a pursuit race, so mass quantities of boats often cross the line (from opposite directions) all at once; and, in some years, the big currents and fickle winds of winter make it almost impossible to finish at all. The skippers’ meeting will be held at Oakland YC on Wednesday, January 25, which is also the deadline to enter.

These and many more worthy races can be found on our Calendar in the January issue of Latitude 38. Here’s one that missed getting into the magazine:

Trailer-sailors have been invited to the Superbowl Charity Regatta on January 28 in Marina del Rey. It’s open to boats less than 25 feet, ranging from Vipers to Lido 14s to Optis, and three courses will accommodate the diverse designs. The regatta will benefit the Santa Monica Bay Sailing Association. (In case you’re worried about missing the eponymous football game, there’s no conflict, as that other sporting event will be held on February 5).