Sailboat Racing Heating Up in June
From the Yacht Racing Association
The YRA’s Farallones Race will sail this Saturday, June 6. Register by 5 p.m. PDT today, or sit on the dock crying! This is the only Farallones Race that allows full crews. As of this morning, 10 boats had signed up.
The YRA and HMBYC invite offshore sailors to head down the coast in the Half Moon Bay Race. “Our only Offshore Destination Regatta, the Half Moon Bay race is an exciting and fun event, taking boats out the Golden Gate, down the coast, to Pillar Point, where the fantastic hospitality at Half Moon Bay Yacht Club greets racers. An always popular, always delicious paella dinner waits for everyone after the race. To enter, sign up as a Single Race Entry in the Offshore Series, and select the June 20 Half Moon Race as your race day.” Remember that offshore races have special equipment requirements, which can be found at https://yra.org/coastalser. Register on Jibeset.
The Women’s Championship Series will kick off its sophomore year with Encinal YC’s Shirley Temming Regatta on June 27.
On Sunday, June 28, the YRA’s Doublehanded Series will continue with Race #3, the Island Tour.
Fleet Regattas on San Francisco Bay
This weekend, June 6-7, Encinal YC will host a regatta for J/105, J/88 and Express 37 fleets, and Sausalito YC will host the Spring Classic Boat Invitational for Knarrs, Folkboats, Birds and Bears.
San Francisco YC will run the Hart Nunes Regatta for Mercurys on June 13-14.
On June 19-21, St. Francis YC will host the Junior Heavy Weather for Optis and RS Teras. The Slalom will be that Friday. The following weekend, June 26-28, StFYC offers a Woodies Invitational for Alerion 28s, Folkboats and Knarrs.
Continuing this section’s theme of one-design events, South Beach YC will welcome J/105 and J/88 fleets on June 20-21.
More in Northern California
Santa Cruz YC will host the International 14 NorCal Championship on June 6-7.
The Delta Ditch Run will return for its 35th edition on Saturday, June 13. “If you haven’t done the Ditch Run, you are missing one of the most fun events on the West Coast,” says the YRA newsletter. “Round up the crew and join the fun. It should be another great 65-mile downwind run from the Richmond Yacht Club, up the Bays and rivers, to the Stockton Sailing Club.” Not only a destination race to a great party in a warm venue, the Ditch is a destination weekend for travelers from all over the western United States. You’ll see boats that trailer down from the Northwest, up from Southern California and west from landlocked lakes. See https://stocktonsc.org/on-the-water/regatta/ddr. Sign up by Sunday, June 7, to save a late fee. Registrations close on at midnight on Wednesday, June 10.
The Singlehanded Sailing Society will start the Great Pacific Longitude Race (LongPac) on June 20. The race is open to both singlehanded and doublehanded crews. For singlehanders, it’s a qualifier for the 2027 Singlehanded Transpacific Yacht Race. (Registration is already open for that, too!) Boats have one week to complete the 400-mile course. Be sure to read the Notice of Race and Safety Equipment Requirements carefully.
The US Sailing Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship for the Ida Lewis Trophy will come to Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation in Redwood City on June 29-July 2. The regatta will use 29er skiffs and Club 420 dinghies.
In Southern California
Del Rey YC’s Berger/Stein Series will conclude on June 6-7 with a Catalina weekend, the Cat Harbor Layover and Eagle Rock-Marina del Rey Race.
California YC in Marina del Rey will host the C420 State Championships on June 13-14.
San Diego YC’s qualifier for the US Sailing Area J Sears Cup Triplehanded will be on June 23. The following weekend, June 27-28, SDYC will host an Olympic Classes Regatta.
Epic Journey in the Pacific Northwest
The Race to Alaska will begin with Leg 1 (the Proving Ground) on June 14, from Port Townsend, WA, to Victoria, BC. Leg 2, to Ketchikan, AK, will depart Victoria Harbor on June 17. The website, www.r2ak.com, provides hours of entertaining reading.