Congratulations to J/33 TIGGER, J/124 FORGIVENESS, J/105 ESCAPADE(Santa Barbara, CA)- ThE SB-KH distance race that spans 81 nm has been a tradition for Santa Barbara and King Harbor for nearly 40 years. The blast around the Channel Islands offshore down to King Harbor is never an easy race, but it's clearly the most fun when the fleet starts off on a blast reach, sets the kites at the first turning point off the Channel Islands and head SSE toward Los Angeles under spinnaker, surfing constantly on the ginormous Pacific swell. This year it was nearly a record run, making for epic rides sledding downhill towards the finish with many boats finishing by midnight! 86 boats sailed, 20 J's participated including 9 in the PHRF SPrit class and 5 J/105s raced one-design, nearly 25% of the entire fleet!
The winner in the one-design J/105s loving the fast slide south was Santa Barbara YC's Mark Noble sailing ESCAPADE, Tom Bollay's ARMIDA from Santa Barbara YC was second and third was Chuck Spear's TWELVE BAR BLUES.
In the PHRF B Class, Fred and Ann Cottrell on the J/33 TIGGER from Kings Harbor YC won their class by five minutes! Third was Bill Webster on the J/37 SIDEKICK from Kings Harbor YC and seventh was Eric McClure on the J/35 MACS from Alamitos Bay YC.
In PHRF C Class Larry Leveille from Santa Barbara YC once again proved why he's a champion sailor on his J/29 RUSH STREET, finishing second in class by just two minutes and scoring yet another "pickle dish" for the packed trophy shelves at home.
There was an overwhelming contingent of J's sailing the Sprit PHRF Class. First boat home and winner on corrected handicap was Joe Simpkin's J/124 FORGIVENESS from Cal YC. Second was Gary Winton's J/120 SHENANIGANS from Coronado Bay YC about 10 minutes back corrected, third was Bryce Benjamin's J/109 PERSISTENCE from Cal YC, fourth Tom Cullen's J/120 BLUEBIRD from Santa Barbara YC and fifth was Tom Brott's J/109 ELECTRA from Seal Beach YC.
Finally, the J/125 TIMESHAVER sailed by Viggo Torbenson from Dana Point YC got line honors but finished third overall handicap in Sprit ULDB Class. For more Santa Barbara-King Harbor Race sailing information
