Master Mariners Regatta

It would be hard to imagine more ideal conditions for the annual Master Mariners’ Regatta, sailed last Saturday. With mostly clear skies and 20-25 knots of steady breeze over much of the course, even the heaviest boats on the roster of entries could move along the course at hull speed with all their rags flying. 

As photographers, shooting the Master Mariners is one of our favorite annual assignments, as the fleet comprises a veritable floating museum of vintage sailboat designs. From small wooden classics like Birds and Bears to large, elegant schooners, the beauty of this year’s fleet was astounding. One look at the meticulously maintained brightwork and polished bronze hints at the countless hours of work that goes into each and every entry in preparation for this race, which for many entries is the most important outing of the year.

The race contained the usual amount of drama, with torn sails, broken gear and even a man overboard (who was quickly rescued, thank God), and a roaring party at the Encinal YC afterward. We’ll have a complete report in the July edition of Latitude 38, but for now we’ll let the pictures do the talking.

For results and more, see www.mastermariners.org.