Picture-Perfect Start to Island Yacht Club’s Midwinters

Island Yacht Club’s Island Days midwinter series got off to an exciting start on Sunday, November 10.

As skippers began to check in via radio, some questioned if they’d make the start in the very light wind conditions. Twenty-eight boats registered for the race, and they all made it. The wind shifted and began to pick up right at the start. There was a bit of bumper-boat action providing a rocky start for some, but not the Columbia 5.5s.

Having been towed up the Estuary by EYC’s rear commodore, Brent Draney, they arrived in unison. We joked that he’d brought the wind with him as the start flag began to sway in the breeze.

Roja (Sail #1) skippered by Chris Davis, Italia (Sail #11) skippered by Javier Jerez, Maverick (Sail #14) skippered by Ken Bodiley, and Rogue (Sail #27) skippered by Ryan Nelson were all a sight to see! With a few tacks and maneuvers back and forth they prepared for their start. The horn blew and they were off, a picture-perfect start to kick off the series, leaving the race committee in awe.

Island Days midwinters continue the second Sunday of each month through the winter. At the finish it was Chris Davis on Roja in first, Ken Bodiley on Maverick in second, Ryan Nelson on Rogue in third and Javier Jerez on Italia in fourth. You can see full midwinter reslts here.

Author Eileen Zedd is a former commodore of Island Yacht Club and the harbormaster at Alameda Marina.