A Warm Spring Equinox Leads Into Weekend Sailing

If the warm California temperatures haven’t convinced you to head down to your boat, today’s vernal equinox should cement the deal. March 20 is the day the sun crosses the equator on its way north, along with whales and cruisers who are thinking it’s time to return from Mexico to California. It also means the evening sun is out longer, midwinters are ending, and summer beer can racing is starting soon. Berkeley Yacht Club (also in today’s ‘LL) and Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club are the early birds that have already started their series. The others aren’t far behind. Make sure you sign up and put a beer can series on your summer sailing calendar.

Ninety days from now is the official start of the summer sailing season and another sailing date for your sailing calendar: the 26th annual Summer Sailstice, held on the solstice weekend. Put your personal sailing plans, or your club or class event, on the Summer Sailstice map to make sure you and your dock neighbors have numerous opportunities to get your boats out of their slips this coming season.

The snow vanished early this year, the first northbound whales are stopping by, and Bay Area weather is calling out. This weekend’s race schedule is busy, with the SFYC RS21 Spring Regatta, the StFYC Intercollegiate Regatta, J/105s and J/88s out of SYC and many more races around the Bay and Estuary, and the Banderas Bay Regatta that is currently underway in Mexico.

The weather is warm, the sun is high, and the time is right to enjoy it on a sailboat.