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Racing Returns to St. Francis Yacht Club

“It’s so great to have some racing going on at the St Francis again!” says photographer Chris Ray, a member and volunteer at St. Francis Yacht Club. Racing shut down at the Cityfront club in March 2020 and resumed on April 22, 2021, with Thursday Night Kites (Johnny Heineken is leading the series after three races), followed by an Intraclub pursuit race on April 24 (John Buestad’s Knarr Alinea topped the 20-boat fleet). Then, on April 28, the club’s Wednesday Evening Series began, with racing for three fleets.

J/22 start
The J/22 start. See more photos here. Bruce Stone, Nicole Breault, Maggie Bacon and Laura Levy won Race 1. “There were some Juniors teams among the J/22s,” says Chris. Breault, by the way, ranks #3 in the world among women match racers — and #1 in the US. In open rankings (male and female), she’s #7 in the US and #39 in the world.
© 2021 Chris Ray
Knarr start
Knarr start. See more photos here. Randy Hecht’s Niuhi won Race 1. It was a ‘sporty’ evening for beer can racing.
© 2021 Chris Ray
Folkboat start
Folkboat start.  See more photos here. Eric Kaiser, Kurt Hemmingsen and Andy Hale won Race 1.
© 2021 Chris Ray

The Wednesday Evening Series continues each week through August 25. StFYC followed up on May 1-2 with a US Match Race Qualifier, also sailed in the club’s J/22s.

Drone shot of J/22s match racing
Match racing on Saturday, May 1. Seven invited teams competed. Oliver Toole and his crew of Kelly Toole, Jack Ortell and Craig Healey won the regatta.
© 2021 Chris Ray

Next up for the club is the Elvstrom Zellerbach for invited one-design dinghy classes. See www.stfyc.com for more info about racing and other goings-on at StFYC.

race committee on the wharf
The race committee for the USMRC Qualifier.
© 2021 Chris Ray

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