Latitude 38 January 2015

VOLUME 451 January 2015 WE GO WHERE THE WIND BLOWS THE YEAR IN PREVIEW — What the heck? It's 2015 already? How did that happen? Oh, well. A new year always brings a about resolving to spend more days wealth of new opportunities for fun on out on the water than ever before? the water. You'll see what we mean when Think of it as a big New Year's pres- you pick up a copy of the just-published ent to yourself. 2015 Northern California Sailing Calen- Below are a variety of worthwhile dar and YRA Master Schedule — available events that jumped out at us. But by online and at many Latitude 38 distribu- all means take some time to peruse tion points in the Bay Area. the calendar on your own. As you peruse this 92- page resource, you'll see January that there are both serious • 1/22-25 — The and not-so-serious races second annual Pro- scheduled throughout gressive San Fran- the year for just about cisco Boat Show every type of recreational will feature new and sailboat imaginable: one- used boats in the design races, wooden water at McCovey boat races, dinghy races, Cove and a vast ar- schooner races, single- ray of marine exhibi- handed races, double- tors and activities handed races, coastal inside the Pier 48 races. you name it. venue. In fact, the Coast Guard • 1/31 — Although tells us that more ma- staged in mid-winter, rine events are given the Singlehanded permits in the Greater Bay Sailing Society's Three Area than in any other region of the Bridge Fiasco draws more entries country. than any other local race. But it's Of course, not all sailors care about also the most frustrating. Out of competition. If you don't give a hoot 328 starters, only one boat fi nished about racing, or are new to the whole the 21-mile Bay tour last year. sailing scene, there are plenty of non- race events you might want to circle, February such as boat shows and Latitude 38 Crew • 2/21 — Looking for a fun event List parties and cruising rallies. with a great community spirit? Check about any sort of sailing endeavor: day- No matter how you defi ne your pas- out Robgatta, a memorial to longtime sailing, racing, co-chartering or cruis- sion for sailing, we invite you to join us Latitude 38 racing editor Rob Moore. It's ing. for a quick romp through the 12 months a fundraiser for lung cancer research, of 2015, and highlight events to tran- and day three of the two-weekend Co- April scribe to your 'must-do' list. And if you're rinthian Midwinters, 1/17-18 & 2/21- • 4/9-12 — With an impressive ros- into making New Year's resolutions, how 22. ter of worthwhile seminars, fl eets of new boats to view, and dozens of ma- The annual Master Mariners Regatta is a spec- March rine suppliers exhibiting their wares, tacle of nautical beauty — and one of the only times most of these classics race. • 3/3-7 — Why not take a break from no sailor should miss the West's largest the rat race and fl y down sail-only show, Strictly Sail Pacifi c (at to Puerto Vallarta for Oakland's Jack London Square). the four-day Banderas • 4/18-19 or 4/25 — How about Bay Regatta, the biggest sampling racing on a sunny inland cruiser-focused regatta lake? Folsom Lake YC’s Camelia Cup is in Mexico? It's easy to on 4/18-19, and Konocti Bay SC’s Ko- fi nd a ride. nocti Cup is on 4/25 (trailerable boats • 3/7-8 — The Big Dad- and dinghies). dy Regatta at Richmond • 4/24-26 — Got sailing friends in YC is always big fun. Sat- the 'southland'? Join them for one of urday buoy racing and SoCal's biggest annual sailing events: big party; Sunday pursuit the Newport to Ensenada Race. race. • 4/26 — Opening Day on the Bay • 3/11 — Latitude 38’s marks the symbolic start of the spring Spring Crew List Party and summer boating season. You at Golden Gate YC is the should be out there. place to make connec- tions if you're looking May for crew or a ride on just • TBA — If you plan to cruise any LATITUDE / ANDY LATITUDE 12 MONTHS OF SAILING FUN world, but with a course from Rac- coon Strait around the Carquinez Bridge and back, it's guaranteed to be big fun. • 7/11-12 & 7/18-19 — Thanks to the return of rain to parched California, the trailer-sailors will return to Huntington Lake for the High Sierra Regatta: 7/11-12 for centerboarders and 7/18-19 for keelboats. • 7/13 — We're getting serious now: First starts of the Transpac from L.A. to Honolulu. • 7/18 — And now, not serious at all — except about having fun. Bay View Boat Club's well-loved Plastic Classic is the only local race that utilizes a "T" mark. August • 8/1-2 — The YRA (Yacht Rac- ing Association) hosts the 2nd Half Opener, a mixed-fl eet race out to Point Bonita with the fi nish line in the Estuary and a great party at Al- ameda's Encinal YC. • 8/22-23 — A favorite event of OYRA racers, and now SSS racers as well, is the Drake’s Bay Race, a relatively short but often challeng- ing offshore jaunt. The scenery is dramatic. (Not into racing? Consid- er a cruise to Drake’s Bay and an overnight on the hook — but pick a LATITUDE ARCHIVES LATITUDE different weekend!) The Great Vallejo Race typically brings out a June colorful parade of spinnakers heading north • 6/3-4 — If you're up for an offshore September across San Pablo Bay. It's great fun! challenge, consider entering the Coast- • 9/4 or 9/5 — Jump offshore with part of the Delta this spring or sum- al Cup from San Francisco to Santa the 73rd annual Windjammers Race to mer, you won't want to miss the kickoff Barbara — the longest coastal race on Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor (9/4). (There's of the seventh annual Delta Doo Dah the calendar. a cruising division in addition to rac- cruising rally (details to come in early • 6/6 — Throw up the chute and run ing divisions.) Or sail inland to Benicia 2015). all the way from Richmond to Stock- • 5/2-3 — Drawing a huge fl eet of ton in the annual Delta Ditch Run, a Water warm enough to swim in here in the Bay Area? Sure, just head upriver with the Delta both hardcore and minimally serious 67-mile sprint with a great party at the Doo Dah and join the fun. racers in a wide variety of boats, the end. Great Vallejo Race has been a much- • 6/20 — Whether anticipated springtime tradition for you sail a dinghy or more than 100 years. a superyacht, you'll • 5/22 — Take a break from Central want to join mariners Bay sailing and race down the coast to all over the world in Monterey in the Spinnaker Cup. sailing and partying • 5/23 — Catch a ride or view from on Summer Sailstice, the sidelines, but don't miss the annual which celebrates the Master Mariners Regatta, which show- longest day of the cases the Bay's splendid fl eet of vintage year. wooden sailing craft. • 5/23-24 — Looking for an escape July from the Bay Area on Memorial Day • 7/11 — You can weekend? Trailer your centerboard boat tell by its name that up to beautiful Whiskeytown Lake in the Midnight Moon- the Shasta-Trinity National Recreation light Marathon Mad- Area for the annual Whiskeytown Re- ness isn't the most gatta, with camping nearby. serious race in the HICKMAN JAY THE YEAR IN PREVIEW (9/5) in the annual Jazz Cup. November • 9/17-20 — For serious racers, the • 11/1 — One of the most unusual Rolex Big Boat Series is the most pres- Bay regattas is also great fun: the Jack tigious regatta held on the Bay. Even & Jill + 1 race is a triplehanded women if such focused racing is beyond your skippers' regatta hosted by Alameda's skill level, it's fun to watch the action Island YC on the Estuary. from the yacht club spit off San Fran- cisco's Marina Green. December • 9/19-20 — Every year more wom- • Early to mid-December. One of the en get involved with every aspect of most festive Bay Area boating tradi- our sport. Upgrade your skills or start tions is participating in one of the re- from square one at the Women’s Sailing gion's many lighted boat parades. If you Seminar at Island YC. want to make an impressive showing LATITUDE / CHRIS LATITUDE though, we suggest you start planning October Dressing in costume and acting out your way in advance — some regulars go all • 10/6-12 — Fleet Week began as a character's role is part of the fun at the Great out with Santa on the bow and reindeer time to view and honor US Naval ves- Pumpkin's after-race party. in the rigging in order to impress the sels and their crews. For sailors the big in March, with the addition of pumpkin judges. Of course, simply watching the deal is getting out on the water with hunting and nautical trivia while rac- action from shore is great fun too.

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