True Test of Skills: Kasio Cup at South Beach Yacht Club
South Beach Yacht Club (SBYC) has debuted what may become the new “must-do” regatta for San Francisco Bay racers. Debuting March 14–15, the Kasio Cup PHRF-rated competition comprised four starts, with three short heats on day one and a long run on day two. Competitors faced skills challenges: Saturday dictated that all racers either stage a 720-degree turn on one race leg, or do six tacks on a leg. For Sunday’s pursuit, spinnaker-division sailors were tasked with executing a 720-degree turn (twice around) on at least one leg of their choosing. Luke O’Malley, vice commodore of SBYC, admits this event is a tongue-in-cheek response to the Rolex Big Boat Series. “We wanted to create an event that felt distinctly South Beach and competitive on the water, but a little less formal, more playful, and open to creativity.”
Late-winter conditions do not always yield rip-roaring race speeds on the Bay, so with the AP flag already flying, PRO Suni Petersen knew flexibility would be needed, courtesy of Saturday’s 0–1.4-knot breeze and 2.9 ebb forecast. Saying to herself, “This race is never going to happen,” Petersen sprang into action by kicking off with an announcement over the radio: All boats, turn your engines on and get to the windward mark. “It was really funny, they were all rushing to turn on their engines. Some radioed with, ‘What speed can we go?’ to which we answered, ‘Any speed you want.’” Once to the windward mark, racers caught the ebb and floated toward the finish between the pin and the RC boat. Not every boat crossed successfully. The Sea Scout vessel Georgie Girl drifted over sideways, as did several others. Another reached the leeward mark (located near the Bay Bridge), but with the current pushing its stern over, went stern-first around the leeward mark; conditions were even more punched-up with Sunday’s 3.1 ebb. In fact, a day’s act of heroism saw the mark-set team rescue a fatigued kayaker caught in the ebb.
Awarded that weekend were seven Casio watches, chosen for durability and masterful performance in harsh environments, just like SBYC sailors. In Saturday’s Non-Spinnaker division, Fog Dog (Chris Nicholson, Catalina 32) took first. Second was earned by Parisian (Raymond Schulz, Ericson 35), and third went to Georgie Girl (Diana Teves, Mariner 36). The Saturday Spinnaker division saw Mermug (Zack Phillips, Beneteau First 42s7) claim first. Butcher (Dave Corbin, J/88) nabbed second, and third went to Nuckelavee (Pearl Prisco, Melges 32).
The Sunday Pursuit Race was won by Pressure Drop (Richard Bryant, Beneteau 36.7), with Fog Dog earning second and Mermug sailing to third place. O’Malley and organizers’ objectives were achieved, reporting ample fun chaos on the course, plus masterful flexibility from RC staff, who decided to mark the occasion with a special award class. “In addition to first, second and third prizes, we rewarded racers based on what actually happened out there, including ‘Most Creative Way To Round the Leeward Mark,’ given to the boat rounding stern-first, and ‘Best Use of Crew,’ handed to Butcher for rocking his vessel to the mark,” cited O’Malley.
SBYC rear commodore Corbin (also skipper of Butcher) summed up things: “The Kasio Cup is named as an antithesis of the Rolex Big Boat series and carries significant meaning. I’ve raced both, but the tactics varied significantly; for example, rocking the boat to get to the mark and developing new skills to get through extreme current and low wind. Most races would have been canceled, but we all pushed through with enthusiastic vigor and creativity.” Andi Orion, Northern Light, Santana 35, lauded organizers for turning a no-wind day into a fun race to the finish, despite being at the mercy of the current. “It was the first time seeing two boats on the same leg pointing in opposite directions. We love racing with SBYC because they think outside the box and make any day on the Bay beautiful; we had never heard of people turning on the engine at the start line.” The crew’s grinder, Duke Austin, quipped, “The age of sail taught us patience. The age of engines taught us power. Today we raced with both.”