(Los Angeles, CA)- Every Memorial Day since 1981 sailors in southern
California have competed in the Around Catalina Island Race. Catalina
Island, located about 22 miles from the coast, has been a long time
destination for celebrities, tourists and adventure seekers who want to
explore the somewhat rugged terrain. The sailing community utilizes the
island for its' secluded coves, world class diving, fishing, and as a
mark on the race course. Keith Magnussen from Ullman Sails Newport
Beach provides the following report:“Of the many races that circumnavigate Catalina Island in one way or another, the Around Catalina Race is one of my favorites.
Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club and Dana Point Yacht Club share the hosting responsibilities making this joint venture even more popular. This race starts inside the harbor, exits Angels Gate, around Catalina and finishes in Dana Point.
There are a few segments to this race and each year I try to improve on my decisions since experience plays a huge role in what we do. We are gearing up for Transpac on the J-125 Timeshaver and this was the final race before we finish boat preparations and start in July. First decision was how far west to go before committing to crossing the channel. We made a few tacks up the breakwater to cover my long time nemesis on Horizon, Erik Shampain. Once again, I did what I said I would not do. We went another quarter mile and paid the price as we found ourselves in a huge header half way over.
Crossing to Catalina this time was beautiful. Good weather and decent breeze saw us arrive at the West End of the island no later than 4pm. Could this be a quick race?
Our approach to the island was less than desirable but we worked hard to make up the distance. We switched from our light headsail and into the heavy number one headsail. This was great practice for Transpac since this is the first five hours of that race!
Getting around the West End can be tricky. The wind can get very light and San Clemente Island can have a huge effect on wind direction and velocity. We found ourselves jib reaching for a few minutes. We then set some other reaching sails and into the big 2A spinnaker. More importantly, we were having a good time. The backside of the island gives off a calmness and acts as a barrier to all that is busy on the mainland.
People always ask me what I like about sailing and my answer usually includes the J-125. Wind was approaching 20 kts and we were finally getting into what I really liked, planning. Not many boats can break free like the J-125 and it is an experience all to itself. The feeling is sensational and you can tell by the smiles that we are truly experiencing something exceptional.
Part
of what makes this race so inviting is the scenery. You will usually
find yourself sailing away from the East End of Catalina Island as the
sun is setting. This can really set the stage for a beautiful sunset.
In our case we were focused on the Horizon team which we were closing in
on relatively quickly.Horizon has a great team under the leadership of Erik and John Shampain and it was to no surprise that they waited until just after sunset to make their turn towards Dana Point. We do the same and in the process lose our visual sight of them. The clear night meant that Horizon's running lights blended into the busy Southern California coastline.
We thought we liked our position for the final push to the finish. Unfortunately as we closed in on the 5 mile check in we realized this might not have been the way to go. Around eleven pm we passed a boat so fast we thought it was a cruiser coming back from Catalina. The mystery boat ended up being Horizon who was stuck in a hole.
Fast-forward an hour and they pass us as we get stuck in a hole about 200 yards from the finish line. Passing lanes were open now and Flaca, another SC-50, took full advantage and passed both Horizon and us!
Frustration turned into words as we all crossed the finish line. I think the Horizon guys were feeling more frustrated than us since they seemed to have a sure thing only to lose it in the final moments.
In the end, it was another fun race and a learning experience. We are truly feeling confident about the 2015 Transpac and are looking forward to getting the boat on the step again. Third in class for Around Catalina Island, not bad!” Please watch their J/125 sailing video here. For more J/125 Around Catalina Island race sailing information
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