Konocti Cup Sailed on Clear Lake

Our 41st Konocti Cup was conducted on Saturday, April 25, on Clear Lake, and spring conditions prevailed. While the two divisions totaled only nine competitors, the Wylie Wabbits use this venue as part of their road series, and the four that came to sail are familiar and friendly faces.

Long gone are the days of 60 boats, three divisions, sponsors, trophies, and even a darn committee boat. But our little podunk club loves to sail and celebrate the day as well. Spring sailing on our huge lake aways likes to present a variety of conditions, and Saturday was no exception.

Leads changed often enough for everyone to feel they had a shot. In a practice run earlier in the week, my team completed the same circuit in a bit over two hours without any drama or strain. It took twice that on race day.

With fills and lulls throughout the day, the competitors would stretch out and regroup throughout the races. What is normally a 26-mile race was shortened to a Half Cup plus one mark, approximately 16 miles. It also was an uncommon east/southeast breeze, so local knowledge and typical tactics were useless.

One racer observed that we had about four separate races, as the fleet would regroup at the next wind hole, then continue on. It was also shifty enough to emulate Grandpa’s stories of walking “uphill both ways to school” as the winds would fill from opposing directions.

The First to Finish Trophy was won by Richmond Yacht Club’s Kwazy, and Colin Moore then used the trophy for our salad bowl in the after-race festivities. Kwazy Wabbits! The close racing allowed some local boats to correct ahead, with the Olson 25 Ohana, helmed by Kim Desenberg, taking the overall win.