(San Diego, CA)- The San Diego Yacht Club kicks off its annual Hot Rum
Series this coming weekend. The event marks the end of their yearly
offshore season for aficionados of sailing across the greater Southern
California region. Boats participate from afar as Mexico and San
Francisco as the “last hurrah” for the year. Typically, the weather is
quite remarkable, with the WNW “sea breezes” kicking in around noontime
when the racing starts. The PHRF Pursuit style race means the smallest,
slowest boats start first in the lighter winds and head out of the
harbor start, past Point Loma, offshore to a triangle buoy race,
finishing back in the harbor. Starting later in stronger winds, it is
not entirely surprising that the larger boats with their towering rigs
often win as the winds filter down over the high peninsula of Point
Loma. Nevertheless, it is a fun-loving format, always a picturesque sail
sometimes punctuated with giant U.S. Navy nuclear carriers (1,200 feet
long) or U.S. Navy 688 Fast Attack Class submarines entering or exiting
the harbor with the sailboats keeping clear and maneuvering around them…
such fun and frolic on San Diego Harbor!In the fleet of eighty boats are nineteen J/Teams that range from the J/70s (22 feet) up to the J/145 (47 feet). As has been the case for years, the largest contingent is the J/105s, with leading teams like Dennis Case’s J-OK, Rick Goebel’s SANITY, and Jeff Brown’s SWEET KAREN joining the fun. In addition, three J/120s are in the mix, such as Janet Mostafa’s BARAKA, John Laun’s CAPER, and Ernie Pennell’s MAD MEN. The balance of the J/Teams include Gene Pitkin’s J/109 GERONIMO, Chuck Bowers’ J/29 RHUMB RUNNER, Tim Lynch’s J/30 RUFFIAN, Fred Hawes’ J/46 ANONA, Tom Garrett’s J/70 SLOOP JOHN B, Rudy Hasl’s J/145 PALAEMON, and Don Fulton’s J/35 BLUE LUNATIC. Sailing photo credits- JOY Sailing. For more San Diego YC Hot Rum Series sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.
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