(Santa Barbara, California)- The 9th annual Fiesta Cup will take place
on July 17th to 19th at Santa Barbara Yacht Club and will host J/70’s
amongst other one-design classes. Amongst the cognoscenti of sailors on
the “left coast”, this is a regatta not to be missed. In fact, you
might even consider it for your “bucket list” of California sailing
events. Here’s why.For starters, the SBYC knows how to throw a party and a great regatta. Regatta Chairman- Jane Watkins (who has seen it all from back in the J/24 days) will be working with SBYC Regatta PRO Shawn Hughes to make sure that every need of all the sailors is met with enthusiasm, grace and dignity. With the J/70s growing increasingly in popularity on the west coast, many of the past SBYC J/24 sailors who’d been left for dead are jumping onto the party mode and planing mode boat of the future- the fun, simple J/70. Even Pat O’Toole, the locally famous J/24 North American Champion, has hopped aboard and is sailing a new THREE BIG DOGS in the Fiesta Cup!
Secondly, while SBYC sailors love racing offshore in the kelp beds and dodging the numerous sea lions (all very critical local knowledge stuff), there is an awesome luau-styled barbecue that caps off an amazing day of racing Saturday. With live music and cooks that help you with your D.I.Y. selection of fish, chicken, brats or burgers, it’s a “can’t miss” event on the local social calendar for all “Santa Barbarians”!
Who’s
coming?? Almost a “who’s who” of sailors frequenting the west coast
circuit. For starters, on Friday, July 17th, none other than the famous
Chris Snow (his son- Nevin- is now more famous as a top college sailor/
match racer) from North Sails will be conducting a J/70 clinic from 1400
to 1600 hours. So, call SBYC and join in for some interesting pointers
on how to sail a J/70 fast, even if you’re just thinking about sailing
J/70s in the future!As for the sailors themselves, well, other than rock star Pat O’Toole and the “big dogs”, you have other locals who’ve demonstrated good performances at the top of the class such as Scott & Susan Deardorff’s CAKE, Kenny Kieding’s SMOKE & MIRRORS and Andrew Nunn & Mike Drammer’s ECLIPSE. Joining them from out-of-town will be Joel Ronning’s CATAPULT from Wayzata YC in Minnesota (2nd in the 2014 J/70 Worlds in Newport, RI); Jeff Janov’s MINOR THREAT from Malibu, CA; Steve Wyman’s NUNUHUNU from Dana Point YC; and Dave Vieregg’s SOGGY DOLLAR from San Diego YC. For more J/70 Fiesta Cup sailing photos- Taggart Lee For more Fiesta Cup sailing information
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