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Kicking Off a Happy New Year With Sunny Sunday Sailing

After the mostly rainy, gray, foggy holidays, we went down to the boat on Sunday to dry it out and head over to top up the fuel tank at Clipper Yacht Harbor. We’re told a low diesel fuel tank in the winter can let water condense inside, so it’s better to keep it full. Is that right?

We weren’t the only ones taking advantage of a sunny January day. The Bay had many patient, determined racers trying to finish the popular YRA Doublehanded Midwinters #3, and others trying to finish up the Sausalito Chili Midwinters #3. The day delivered it all — except wind. But flat water in warm sunshine is welcome in the middle of winter.

John Squire and crew aboard Andiamo returning from the Sausalito YC Chili Midwinters #3.
John Squire and crew aboard Andiamo returning from the Sausalito YC Chili Midwinters #3.
© 2025 Latitude 38 Media LLC / John

The Sausalito Yacht Club has 30 boats competing on the Knox course for their five-race midwinters starting in November and ending in March. You can see Sausalito YC Chili Midwinter results here.

The Alerion 41 Ilaria returning from the YRA doublehanded race #3.
The beautiful Alerion 41 Ilaria returning from the YRA Doublehanded Race #3.
© 2025 Latitude 38 Media LLC / John

The Alerion 41 Ilaria was one of 34 boats signed up for this year’s YRA Doublehanded Series racing on the San Francisco Cityfront. It was flat water and light air, so just nine boats managed to finish. Unfortunately, Ilaria wasn’t one that made it to the finish line, but they did make it out onto the Bay for a beautiful day.

The San Francisco millpond hosted a lot of patient racers on Sunday.
The San Francisco millpond hosted a lot of patient racers on Sunday.
© 2025 Jeff Berman

Jeff Berman caught the intensity of yesterday’s Bay racing in the photo above. It looks calm, but you can bet that onboard there was intense effort and concentration.

Adam James and crew return from the Sausalito Midwinters aboard his J/100 Northern Bear.
Adam James and crew return from the Sausalito Midwinters aboard his J/100 Northern Bear.
National Biscuit was determined to finish the Sausalito YC midwinters.
National Biscuit was determined to finish the Sausalito YC Midwinters.
© 2025 Latitude 38 Media LLC / John

Everyone who started the Sausalito Chili Midwinters managed to finish. But it did take persistence. National Biscuit kept the chute aloft long enough to round the last mark and head to the finish line.

Pelicans waiting at the dock at Spaulding Marine Center.
Pelicans waiting at the dock at Spaulding Marine Center.
© 2025 Latitude 38 Media LLC / John

While fueling up at Clipper Yacht Harbor, we noticed these three Spaulding-built Pelicans looking nice and awaiting their next chance to sail.

Starting the year flying the new 2025 Summer Sailstice burgee.
Starting the year flying the new 2025 Summer Sailstice burgee.
© 2025 Latitude 38 Media LLC / John

Sailing in the new year started on a sunny note, with many good days of racing and sailing ahead. The Singlehanded Sailing Society’s Three Bridge Fiasco on January 25 is always a good one for single- and doublehanders and already has 185 boats signed up. San Diego is preparing for Etchells mania, starting with the Bill Bennett Cup on January 18-19. (More on the Etchells later.) If you’re looking to find the next event or series to join, check Latitude 38’s 2025 racing calendar, where you’ll find enough events to fill your sails for the entire year.

Note — for some very odd reason we managed to get 11 out of 12 months labeled right — October ended up being October 2024! It’s so often the big print that gets missed in proofreading. We trust by the time we get to October, everyone will know that it’s a typo and they haven’t suddenly traveled back in time.

But for now, the weather looks sunny for all of next weekend’s midwinters. We just need to pray for enough wind.

 

Sailing

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