Saturday, March 14, 2015

San Diego NOOD Regatta Preview

J/70s sailing under spinnaker(San Diego, California)- If it’s March, it must be Helly Hansen San Diego NOOD regatta time!  The popular event continues to be a key element of the Southern California sailing calendar, particularly for the larger J one-design classes in the region.  With ninety teams registered, thirty-one of those boats are sailing in J/classes; including J/70s, J/105s and J/120s. Hosted by the San Diego Yacht Club from March 13th to 15th, the sailors will enjoy the red-carpet treatment and friendly atmosphere that has become synonymous with one of the friendliest sailing clubs anywhere.

In addition to the one-design events, the North Sails team is heading to San Diego to support those sailors who prefer a one-day race format.  As a result, you won't miss out on the NOOD fun. Join them on Saturday, March 14, by participating in the North Sails Rally Race- - a fun, one-day event for newer sailors, racer-cruisers and teams who don't have the whole weekend free to race.

As for the one-design J/classes, the J/70s are continue to see growing participation in every West Coast  event because many teams are focusing on their preparations and training for the upcoming J/70 North Americans in September hosted by San Diego YC.  In fact, the fifteen J/70s are the largest class in the regatta for the first time, a sign of growing momentum out on the Pacific Coast.  Top teams include CAKE (Scott Deardorff from Santa Barbara, CA); COOL STORY BRO (John Brigden from St Francis YC in San Francisco); DFZ (Eric Kownacki & Tom Jenkins from San Diego); JENNIFER (Chris Kostanecki from San Francisco); SLOOP JOHN B (Tom Garrett from Newport Beach); SOGGY DOLLAR (Dave Vieregg from San Diego YC); David Ullman sailing USA 32 from Newport Beach, CA; and ZERO TO 60 (Karl Pomeroy from Newport Beach).  This will be a tough class; you could place any one of these crews on the podium!

In the J/105s, seven boats will be vying for their trip to the Caribbean in the fall, too!  Top boats include Jon Dekker’s AIRBOSS; Steve & Lucy Howell’s BLINK!; the dynamic duo of Tom Hurlburt & Chuck Driscoll on BLOW BOAT; Gary Mozer’s CURRENT OBSESSION 2 from Beverly Hills, CA; and Dennis Case’s WINGS.

The J/120s are showing up in force with a solid ten-boat fleet, many of whom have won not just the NOOD regatta, but also many of Southern California’s top offshore trophies.  Certain to be in the hunt for silverware will be teams like John Laun’s CAPER, Chuck Nichols’ CC RIDER, Mike Hatch’s J/ALMIGHTY, John Snook’s JIM, Tom & Teri Manok’s POLE DANCER, and Gary Winton’s SHENANIGANS.   For more Helly Hansen San Diego NOOD Regatta sailing information