Canadians Crowned J/105 Masters Champions!

(San Diego, CA)– The 2019 International Masters Regatta got off to an entertaining start today. After a slight course adjustment to the south and the first race of the weekend, the sailors and their crews were gifted an extra-long lunch break with a view. Just around 1200 hrs, the U.S. Navy rained down on the South Bay course during an airdrop exercise, presenting the sailors and spectators with another San Diego airshow.

Meanwhile, down on the water, 11 boats skippered by seasoned sailors over the age of 60 were putting on their own show of fast, competitive and close racing. It was the perfect fall day in San Diego to impress the out-of-towners from the East Coast and Canada. The conditions saw a breeze of 12 to 15 knots and not a cloud in the sky.

Day 1- Beautiful opening day
Finishing the first day in the lead was Canadian Andy Roy with 12 points, the only International team at the event. Following Roy was Tad Lacey with 11 points in second and the famous two-time America’s Cup winner Gary Jobson with 15 points in third.

Roy proved that consistency was key in a successful regatta. Managing to stay fairly consistent with his scores, Roy never finished below fifth place. He slowly crept his way to the top, finishing the fourth and final race of the day in first.

“We were over early in the first race which wasn’t a great way to start, but we made a pretty good come back towards the end. Staying in the lower, single digit numbers is what we were going for. Last year we did this race and stayed closer to the 8s and 9s. So far this year we kept our races clean, got a clear lane on the first windward leg, and had good speed up and down,” Roy explained.

Only one point behind Roy was Lacey, showing off his experience with two bullets; one in the second race and one in the third. Roy and Lacey often found themselves neck and neck today. In the second race, the two boats went head to head on their approach to the first weather mark. In the third race, Lacey finished only a foot or two ahead of Roy.

“Roy and I were really close in the third race, but we stayed in front of them. The two of us were well out in front and the race was really between the two of us. That’s when we inched him out. He’s a great sailor. Now we’re going to get a good night’s sleep and do it again tomorrow,” Lacey commented.

Several sailors today deserve notable mentions for their outstanding performances during the day. Jobson (3rd) started off race four with an OSC and managed to pull himself back into fourth place by the end of the race. Chuck Sinks (4th) took a hard turn in race two, finishing 8th, but kept their spirits high to finish with a second and third and the final two races. Bill Peterson and Scott Harris both kept their name on the top half of the score sheet, moving in and out of the top of the fleet throughout the day.

It’s to go without saying that SDYC’s International Masters Regatta brings some of the best to San Diego and that was easy to see with the incredibly close racing and skillful tactics out on the water. Despite the distractions and visitors to the course, each one of them proved that they belonged there with the rest.

Day 2- Fleet "Moving" Day
It was “moving day” and the skippers were getting more comfortable making their homes on the score sheet and moving in on their competitors. After the second day of the regatta, there were major position shifts in the results.

After Saturday’s races, Roy was still in first with 27 points, with Chuck Sinks moving up to second with 29 points, and Lacey holding on to third with 37 points.

The master skippers and crew were greeted with light winds and glassy water as they headed down to South San Diego Bay this morning. After a short AP to wait for the breezes to fill, teams were soon sailing in 10-13 knots. Similar to yesterday, the South Bay course was blessed with clear skies and temperatures in the high 60s.

The first race of the day was dominated by Mary Brigden-Snow. Snow held her position until the last leg of the race when Roy was able to pull ahead into first, leaving the all-female team narrowly in second. Brigden-Snow kept her momentum going all day, finding herself at the top of the fleet in several races. The team finished at the top again in race seven with a third and in race eight with a second.

“We had a little more time to get ourselves sorted out today. We got our starts going, my crew is amazing and it was fun seeing us get a little momentum. As JJ [Fetter] says ‘keep her rumbling’ so I’ll be staying focused on the rumbling while my crew keeps doing a great job. Hopefully we can keep on doing some of that tomorrow,” expressed Brigden-Snow.

Sinks and his crew moved around the score sheet quite a bit as well. The team finished the first day of the regatta in fourth place tied with Gary Jobson. In race six, Sinks battled it out with Scott Mason and Roy to take the first-place finish. He climbed his way to the top of the fleet by the end of the day but not without more competition from Jobson. In the final race of the day, Jobson took the lead around the first weather mark. Sinks caught up and rounded the leeward mark first while Jobson got caught on the outside, spinning to make it through gate. Sinks was able to keep a solid lead on the rest of the fleet, taking his second bullet of the regatta.

“We had pretty good starts today in both races that we won, which gave us a lot of space to do what we wanted to do. The team did a phenomenal job as usual. We’re happy to be where we are with three more races left. We’re all having a good time and we’re all still talking to each other, so, so far so good,” said Sinks in high spirits.

Scott Harris also came ready to play today, especially in race seven when he was leading the fleet by about a minute. With Harris’ strong, unbeatable gain, the real race was for second place. Bill Peterson, who was standing mid-fleet yesterday, made an impressive comeback, fighting against Brigden-Snow in the second to last race to take second place. Peterson was able to improve his position by a few places to fourth place.

The day ended with a high-note for many, especially for the San Diego Yacht Club’s home-teams. To celebrate wins and join in on friendly camaraderie, skippers, crews and their families enjoyed the International Masters Regatta traditional Saturday night banquet. Each skipper took to the stage where they could recap their successes and roast their fellow sailors and crew… always one of the greatest laughs at the regatta.

Day 3- Another sunny, pretty day?
The regatta saw three beautiful, windy days of sailing in breezes up to 13 knots each day. By the last race, the South Bay course had white caps and extra chop. Andy Roy finished in first place overall with 41 points, followed by Scott Harris in second with 47 points and Chuck Sinks in third with 49 points.

In race nine, the first race of the day, the win went to Gary Jobson, who battled his way back up the score sheet through the day, ending in fifth place. In race 10, Harris proved his master status with the bullet and a solid lead on the rest of the fleet. “We started a little slow at the beginning of the weekend, and then we just got better,” Harris said laughing. “We brought Jon Pinckney on board who sailed in the regatta last year, and learned a lot from him over the course of the weekend. One of which was to play the backstay more."

Harris will be back at the San Diego Yacht Club next weekend for the 105th Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Cup where he will be sailing with his son. “We’ll go for first this time,” joked Harris.

In the final race, race 11, Roy and his crew got back into the game. After a fifth and an eighth in the first two races, Roy was only one point ahead of Sinks going into the final race. It all came down the start. The team got under Sinks and was able to control their fate for the rest of the race, sealing their regatta win.

Roy and his fellow Canadian sailors headed back up to Canada on Monday morning, where they’ll be retiring the boat for the winter and breaking out the skis for the season.

After the races, the skippers and their crews gathered on the Front Deck of the San Diego Yacht Club where they were presented with their awards. The teams enjoyed dockside cocktails and ended the weekend with good camaraderie. The 2019 International Masters Regatta was an unpredictable, highly competitive regatta between experienced sailors over the age of 60. Many of the men and women sailing this weekend have national, world, and Olympic titles paired with their names. During the IMR, these sailors get to rejoin old friends, teammates and competitors for three days of sailing in the beauty that is South San Diego Bay.  Sailing photo credits- Mark Albertazzi/ San Diego YC   For more J/105 Masters Regatta sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

J/105 Masters Regatta Preview

(San Diego, CA)– One of San Diego Yacht Club’s most prized regattas returns to South San Diego Bay October 18-20, 2019: The International Masters Regatta (IMR). An invited, legendary group of eleven Master sailors from around the country come for a three-day battle in a rotation of J/105s.

The title of the event originates from the rule that participating skippers must be over the age of 60. For those on the cusp, the International Masters Regatta can be seen as a rite of passage after their long, hard-working sailing careers. This year, the entry list features some of the most accomplished sailors in the sport, some returning to the competition from previous years. Returning skippers from 2018 include David Gould, Tad Lacey, William Petersen and Andy Roy.

The list of competitors includes; Mary Brigden Snow, Scott Harris, David Gould, Gary Jobson, Tad Lacey, Scott Mason, William Petersen, Andy Roy, Chuck Sinks, Terry Timm, and the founder of the event- Don Trask.

The winner of the 2018 IMR was Dave Perry. Following closely behind were returning skippers Andy Roy (2nd) and William Peterson (3rd)– back to claim their name on the trophy. Roy plans on coming back with the same crew, which seems like the right decision based on his results.

“We have the same crew as last year, all old sailing buddies from Toronto. Of particular note is our main trimmer, Scott “Scooter” Collinson. We’ve done many miles on the water together including: America's Cup trials, Admiral's Cup, Canada's Cup, multiple Farr 30 Worlds, and a host of other regattas. Also on the crew is David Jarvis- former Volvo Ocean Race crew. Fraser Howell, Rob Emery and Andrew Van Nostrand have raced competitively for many years and are all very good sailors,” Roy explained.

New to the Masters Regatta are skippers Terry Timm, Chuck Sinks, Scott Mason, Scott Harris, and Mary Brigden Snow (the only female skipper in the regatta).

Timm expresses his excitement in anticipation of the Masters, “Sailing has been my passion ever since being exposed to the sport on an E-Scow on Torch Lake in Northern Michigan while attending Camp Hayo Went Ha. The thrill of leaving port sailing to the starting line or cruising in the Caribbean never ceases. Being invited to sail in the SDYC International Masters Regatta is very special and much appreciated. Many of my best friends are San Diego sailors that get to enjoy a world class sailing venue every day of the year.”

The International Masters Regatta, while known for its competitive sailing, is also known for its fun atmosphere and camaraderie. Regatta Chair Tim Fuller talks about the event. “The camaraderie between the skippers and crews is really fun that weekend. The overall sailing ability out on the course is always impressive and the races are always very close.”

“One of the best traditions of the weekend is the post-race social Roast on Saturday night. The skippers introduce their crews and needle around with the other teams. It’s high-spirited and fun to be a part of,” said Fuller.

Anyone interested in watching the races can find them in San Diego Bay. The schedule of events for the sailors begins on Friday with breakfast, followed with racing and a dockside social in the evening. After Saturday racing, there will be a regatta banquet for participants and after racing on Sunday, the awards will be presented.

In 2013, the perpetual trophy for the International Masters Regatta was gifted and dedicated by Malin and Roberta Burnham at the regatta banquet. The trophy is a beautiful original art piece created by Don Freedman of Nantucket Island and features a nautical inspired clock detailed with ships’ instruments.

Thank you to our local J/105 owners for lending their boats to make the International Masters Regatta and the Sir Thomas Lipton Cup Challenge happen.  For more J/105 Masters Regatta sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

International J/105 Masters Regatta Preview

(San Diego, CA)– One of San Diego Yacht Club’s most prized regattas returns to South San Diego Bay from October 18th to 20th- the International J/105 Masters Regatta. An invited, legendary group of eleven Master sailors from around the world come for a three-day battle in a rotation of J/105s.

The title of the event originates from the rule that participating skippers must be over the age of 60. For those on the cusp, the International Masters Regatta can be seen as a rite of passage after their long, hard-working sailing careers. This year, the entry list features some of the most accomplished sailors in the sport, some returning to the competition from previous years. Returning skippers from 2018 include American’s David Gould, Tad Lacey, William Petersen and Canada’s Andy Roy.

The competitors for the 2019 edition include the following invited skippers: Mary Brigden Snow, Scott Harris, David Gould, Gary Jobson, Tad Lacey, Scott Mason, William Petersen, Andy Roy, Chuck Sinks, Terry Timm, and Don Trask (the founder of the original Masters Regatta sailed in J/24s at St Francis YC in San Francisco, CA).

The winner of the 2018 IMR was Dave Perry. Following closely behind were returning skippers Andy Roy (2nd) and William Peterson (3rd) – back to claim their name on the trophy. Roy plans to come back with the same crew, which seems like the right decision based on his results.

“We have the same crew as last year, all old sailing buddies from Toronto. Of particular note is our main trimmer, Scott “Scooter” Collinson. We’ve done many miles on the water together including: America's Cup trials, Admiral's Cup, Canada's Cup, multiple Farr 30 Worlds, and a host of other regattas. Also on the crew is David Jarvis- former Volvo Ocean Race crew. Fraser Howell, Rob Emery and Andrew Van Nostrand have raced competitively for many years and are all very good sailors,” Roy explained.


New to the Masters Regatta are skippers Terry Timm, Chuck Sinks, Scott Mason, Scott Harris, and Mary Brigden Snow (the only female skipper in the regatta).

Timm expresses his excitement in anticipation of the Masters, “sailing has been my passion ever since being exposed to the sport on an E Scow on Torch Lake in Northern Michigan while attending Camp Hayo Went Ha. The thrill of leaving port sailing to the starting line or cruising in the Caribbean never ceases. Being invited to sail in the SDYC International Masters Regatta is very special and much appreciated. Many of my best friends are San Diego sailors that get to enjoy a world class sailing venue every day of the year.”

The International Masters Regatta, while known for its competitive sailing, is also known for its fun atmosphere and camaraderie. Regatta Chair Tim Fuller talks about the event. “The camaraderie between the skippers and crews is really fun that weekend. The overall sailing ability out on the course is always impressive and the races are always very close.”

“One of the best traditions of the weekend is the post-race social ‘Roast’ on Saturday night. The skippers introduce their crews and poke some fun with their friends on the other teams. It’s high-spirited and fun to be a part of,” said Fuller.


Anyone interested in watching the races can find them in San Diego Bay. The schedule of events for the sailors begins on Friday with breakfast, followed with racing and a dockside social in the evening. After Saturday racing, there will be a regatta banquet for participants and after racing on Sunday, the awards will be presented.

In 2013, the perpetual trophy for the International Masters Regatta was gifted and dedicated by Malin and Roberta Burnham at the regatta banquet. The trophy is a beautiful original art piece created by Don Freedman of Nantucket Island and features a nautical inspired clock detailed with ships’ instruments.

A huge “Thank You” to the local J/105 owners for lending their boats to make the International Masters Regatta and the Sir Thomas Lipton Cup Challenge happen. Follow the J/105 Masters Regatta here. Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Perry Crowned 2018 J/105 Masters Champion

(San Diego, CA)- A dozen international masters skippers from America and Canada assembled on the green lawn between San Diego YC and the Malin Burnham Sailing Center to pick up their spinnakers and get their boat rotation sheets for the first day of racing on the fleet of matched, one-design J/105s. The sailors were looking forward to three gorgeous days of sailing on San Diego’s South Bay- an oasis of perfectly flat water ringed by a barrier island on one side and miles of US Navy dock yards on the other.  The weather forecasts held true to form in classic S.D. fashion, “marine layer/ fog” in the mornings, clearing by midday, with sea breezes building in from the southwest and varying from 6 to 13 kts. In the end, Dave Perry from Pequot YC won the day with a crew “borrowed” from Dennis Case’s old J/105 WINGS championship team in San Diego.  Here is how it all went down to determine the 2018 International Masters Champion.

Day One
Light winds in the morning resulted in a 30-minute postponement, but the wind peaked at 12 knots by midday with temperatures in the low 80s. Cloudless skies and flat water made for ideal racing on the windward leeward course on beautiful south San Diego Bay.

Dave Perry and Tad Lacey, both International Masters Regatta veterans, held their position in the front of the fleet and finished with a tie of 12 points. However, Perry’s win in Race Three was a crucial element to his standing, moving him into first place and putting Lacey in second. Holding the third place position was John Andron, winner of Race Two.

Perry explained how he feels about coming in first on Day One. “It’s fun to be racing with really good people, not only my crew, but the other competitors on the course. Everyone on the boat knows the game and is always doing their job.”

SDYC Member John Reiter sailed onboard with Perry today. “Several of us have sailed together in this regatta on these boats five times. This year we put back together the old band, added Alex Camet, who sailed with us last year, and got together a great crew. Dave does not have to worry at all about what’s happening on the boat. It’s easy for him to just relax and sail.”

“There was more current than everyone thought. The boats that went out of the current were always gaining from the left. We remembered that eventually and did well. We had no real mistakes today,” he continued.

Newcomer Julian Bingham from Mobile, AL made an impressive comeback today winning Race Four after finishing towards the bottom of the fleet for the first three races. “The competition is extremely tough here and it really makes for nice sailing. We seemed to get going reasonably well at times, but the racing was so close, the mark roundings were difficult to manage and we lost a few boats… It takes a little while to get a feel for the boat, the guys were trimming a little better and everything started to go well for us in Race Four. Hopefully one time wasn’t luck!”

Day Two
There’s an old adage in sailing: If you’re not over early every once in a while, you’re not pushing hard enough. Day Two was full of action, particularly at the start line. A handful of boats jumped the gun and were penalized with OCSs. At this point in the regatta, the Masters are looking to put points on their competitors by getting a good start and an early lead. But, this strategy took a toll on second place sailor, Tad Lacey.

Conditions for Day Two were variable compared to Day One. The races started on a course axis of about 250 degrees. The wind steadily backed 50 degrees to the left throughout the day with numerous mark changes. The Race Committee adjusted the weather mark three times before the start of Series Race Eight. By the end of the day, the breeze faded from a peak of 9 knots to an average of about 6 knots for the final race.

Dave Perry and his crew sailed competitive races, coming in first during Series Race Six and second in Series Race Eight. Perry continued to hold his first place standing at the end of Day Two with 26 points. Tad Lacey was in second with 38 points and Andy Roy was in third place with 44 points.

Watching from the sidelines was San Diego Race Director Jeff Johnson. “It’s really important at this point in a three day regatta to make moves on your competitors. With Perry and Lacey tied for first at the finish of yesterday, Lacey needed to gain points on Perry. The best way for him to have done that would be to get a good start and dominate the first leg. Unfortunately for Lacey, he pulled the trigger too early 50% of the time today. It’s really hard to come back from that.”

Another standout in the results was a three-way tie for third between Andy Roy, Bill Menninger and Jon Andron, all finishing the day with 44 points. Roy won the tie breaker by taking second place in Series Race Seven.

Bill Menninger, winner of the 2016 International Masters Regatta, explained how he was going to get pull ahead of the tie on Sunday. “The competition is getting stiffer every year… We’re going for all firsts tomorrow and with that we might have a chance to win. Our only strategy is to sail fast!”

After the races, the sailors enjoyed the famous SDYC Banquet on Saturday evening. Race Chair Alli Bell talked about the traditions of the Banquet, “every year at the Banquet we hold a roast between all of the Masters. All of these competitors have known each other for so long. It’s fun for them to come and reminisce about old times in a way that sometimes is a little teasing. Plus, you learn a lot about them that you didn’t know before!”

Day Three
The breeze for Day Three started off similar to Days One and Two with light winds from the south. The morning’s foggy skies burnt off just in time for the regatta, but made for some unique photo opportunities on the way out to the course. The wind picked up and peaked at 9 knots midday, again making for ideal racing conditions on South Bay.

Two new sailors to the International Masters Regatta also proved themselves with smart, intense sailing this weekend. Andy Roy, coming from Royal Canadian Yacht Club, started off Day One in fourth place and moved one step up the ladder each day, finishing in second place and earning his spot on the podium. California Yacht Club’s Bill Peterson saw a similar climb finishing in third place by the end of the regatta. Both sailors were new to the J/105.

Roy returned to the docks after the races thrilled with his position. “We’re really blown away. I’ve never been in a J/105 until the regatta. I owe this success to the crew, these guys are really good and they made it all happen. It was a bit of a learning curve for me. I learned a lot the first day about handling the boat and picked it up the second day. If I get invited again, I’ll absolutely be back.”

The real win here at the 2018 International Masters Regatta was watching old friends sail and race against each other in friendly competition. In a SDYC Sailcast episode with Dave Perry a few weeks prior to the Masters, he touched on the event. “It’s all about people who have played the sport intensely in their youth. We all have families and businesses now, and this Masters event helps us all come back together. It’s like we’re all twenty again. We go out there, bash heads and sail hard. We’re all kids again, but we have a lot more stories to tell.”

After the final race, all twelve J/105s motor-sailed back to the Club to clean up before the Awards Ceremony where Commodore Dorgan presented the trophy. “The regatta was fantastic. It’s an honor to have twelve incredible sailors join us for this prestigious event at the San Diego Yacht Club. The volunteers around the Club made for a seamless weekend and the shore side crew did a fantastic job equalizing all the J/105s. Thank you to the owners of the Tug Tussler and the Dock Crew who managed the floating dock allowing for quick, easy rotations in between races.”

Five-time U.S. Match Racing Champion Dave Perry started the regatta off strong and in the lead on Day One. Then, on Day Two, Perry never let the momentum die. Numerous sailors jumped the gun and were forced to restart while Perry’s seasoned skillset and stacked San Diego crew got off the line clean and kept Perry at the top of the score sheet.

When asked about the most important aspect of his win, Perry responded, “The day I put together my crew.” Perry had several local SDYC members return from last year and added previous friends he has sailed with in the past. “When they all said yes was the best day of the regatta,” he continued.

Perry came to the San Diego Yacht Club this weekend from Connecticut where he sails at Pequot Yacht Club. He is known all around the country as an expert on the racing rules of sailing and as a Match Racing guru. Perry is a member of the Sailing World Hall of Fame and has dedicated much of his career volunteering with US Sailing, currently serving on its Board of Directors. He is a true ambassador for the sport of sailing.

“I’m at the [San Diego Yacht] Club a lot, but I’m usually here to teach, not to race. Similar to match racing, there were so many situations just one-on-one in this regatta, like coming into the start and coming into the windward mark. If you teach something, you’re always thinking about it. I have a good visual image of the race course,” Perry explained.

Race Chair Alli Bell worked behind the scenes all weekend to put together an outstanding weekend for the visiting Masters and thought the entire weekend was phenomenal. “It’s pretty cool to see a home town crew win. Dave came pretty close last year and had an unfortunate breakdown in one of the races, taking him out of the top three. I think this is some really good vindication for him and I’m really happy to see someone who’s a big contributor to the sport of sailing do so well this weekend.”   Interview with Dave Perry    Sailing video highlights of Race 11   Follow the J/105 Masters Regatta on Facebook here   For more J/105 International Masters Regatta sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

J/105 Lake Ontario- Winning Attributes of a Successful Fleet

(Toronto, Ontario)- Winning Attributes of a Successful Fleet- contributed by Doug Bullock, J/105 Class President.

On Lake Ontario, we have a relatively short six-month sailing season from May to October. So to be a successful fleet, you have to have the right combination of boat, culture and schedule to attract and retain owners and crew.

J/105 Fleet 4 Lake Ontario has been a very successful fleet, and I thought I would share what I believe for us are the winning attributes of the J/105 as a boat, the culture of the Class, and our own approach to each season’s schedule.

Our schedule looks for a balance of our racing life with our other life that really helps owners get the crew out and committed for the summer. Our goal is to hold two regattas per month while ensuring that every other weekend and every long weekend are free. This creates a balance that owners, and especially crew, love because it allows them to enjoy other activities during our short summers. It is a winning formula we have used for years.

As for J/105 culture—it is one thing to get people out racing and another to ensure their total experience for the weekend is a good one. There are two essential ingredients of every weekend regatta, the racing and the social.

With the racing, the J/105 Class nailed it with the Corinthian approach to the Rules, and while our fleet is very competitive, it is the camaraderie between owners and crew that is Corinthian to the core. It is this culture of our Class that I believe is one of the true attractions that keeps our fleet alive and vibrant.

With the social, it is the “off the water” receptions, BBQs and dinners that help ensure a regatta is remembered as a good time. This is where the camaraderie of sharing knowledge and helping each other to do better reflects the true Corinthian culture of the J/105 Class. We always work at ensuring everyone attends with free dinner and drinks tickets, live bands and fun games, like Flip Cup, Bocce Ball, and Beer Pong.

Then there is having the right boat, and here the J/105 is nothing short of awesome. It was a revolutionary one-design when it came out in 1991 with its asymmetrical spinnaker on a bow sprit, huge cockpit, sleek low profile hull, and it is still one hot boat to race today 26 years later. It is easy to sail, yet challenging to master.

We have 21 boats in our fleet, and it is the largest one-design big keelboat on Lake Ontario. Most of the boats have been in the fleet over 15 years, and while the owners may change occasionally, the boats remain. It is just the right boat for us.

I am going into my eighth year of owning a J/105, and while I am never on the podium at our regattas, I never tire of participating in the racing. A great start, a well-executed duck or perfect mark rounding give me huge satisfaction. When everyone on my boat is having fun, we have completed the regatta to our best ability and at the end of the weekend everyone had a good time, then I am one happy skipper.

To continue the success of J/105 fleets everywhere, we need to support the one-design nature of the J/105 boat and ensure there is always a balance to all our fleet activities while embracing our Corinthian culture.

StFYC Yachtsman of the Year- Nicole Breault!!

(San Francisco, CA)- St Francis YC Names “Yachtswomen of the Year”!  

Nicole Breault awarded the Jerome B White Trophy, awarded annually, for St Francis YC’s “Yachtsman of the Year”! 

There are many famous yachtsmen that have been awarded that trophy- such as Tom Blackaller, to name one. Nicole is the first woman, ever, to have a plaque on the trophy.

Nicole Breault has been an important role model in motivating women to improve their skills and lose their fear of taking responsibility on board. She created and coached the immensely successful women’s Learn to Sail program in the spring, the women’s Learn to Match Race program in the summer, and was an on-going supporter and leader of the Wednesday night J/22 program, which has attracted younger people to join the Club and has enabled many regular members to come out of retirement and go sailing.

In addition to coaching, she was either skipper or main/tactician winning nine major regattas this year on both coasts:

• St. Francis YC Spring One Design (main/tactician)
• San Francisco J/Fest (main/tactician)
• San Francisco YC Resin Regatta (main/tactician)
• Cedar Point YC One Design Regatta (main/tactician)
• Storm Trysail Block Island Race Week (main/tactician)
• Hinman Grand Masters Team Race (skipper)
• Buzzards Bay Regatta (skipper)
• Storm Trysail Ted Hood Regatta (skipper)
• American Yacht Club Fall Series (skipper)

She also serves as national grading secretary for US Match Racing, a time-consuming job given the numerous events around the country, is an active participant on the US Match Racing Committee where she chairs the Women’s Match Racing Subcommittee and is the top-ranked woman’s match racer in the U.S.A. Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Campbell Crushes J/105 Masters Regatta

(San Diego, CA)- The 2017 edition of the J/105 International Masters Regatta produced nearly an entirely fresh new slate of masters skippers from around the USA and Caribbean.  The twelve seasoned skippers had their hands full also sailing in an entirely new location- south of the Coronado Bridge in the wide-open South Bay.  It was a refreshing change for those who had sailed in the past in the corner of San Diego Harbor- defined by the USS Midway on the city-front, one of the big 1,200 ft nuclear carriers docked at North Island, and the Sheraton Airport Hotels to the north; it was riddled with huge current issues and even worse boat traffic and wackier wind shifts.

Demonstrating that he had not lost his touch over time, native southern Californian Bill Campbell simply smoked the fleet of past offshore and dinghy champions; compiling five 1st, four 2nds in eleven races to take the crown of Chief Master with just 24 pts total, easily the lowest average score in Master racing history.  Here is how it all unfolding over the course of three days.

Day One- Friday
It was a long day of sailing on the first day of the event.  Four races were completed after an initial postponement.  Competitors were eager to get going, however, racing was delayed due to a J/105 breakdown on the way out to the race course. Luckily, a replacement boat came quickly and Race Committee was able to start race one at 12:30pm. With some slight changes, Race Committee ran course 4 throughout the day in mostly 10 knots of wind and flat water.

According to PRO Susi Graff, "We had a great day today because there was a lot of wind, and at one point we saw 18 knots of breeze. The wind direction kept swinging from 250 to 280, but we were able to basically put the course where we wanted to. I think the racers had a good time. They were fast!"

Dr. Laura Schlessinger (Santa Barbara Yacht Club), the only female skipper in this year's Masters Regatta, said she experienced a bit of a learning curve on the first day of racing. "These guys are formidable and I better have a bigger breakfast tomorrow. I'm not used to the J/105s, they are a completely different animal to me, but I sure liked when the wind came up. When I heel, I'm happy!"

David Irish (Little Traverse Yacht Club) traveled to San Diego all the way from Michigan to compete in the Masters Regatta, and is keeping a positive attitude after day one. "Today had its moments. We had some good results, good performances, and some disappointments. We're doing a lot better than last year though and we enjoyed a good, long day of racing."

Though racing was tight, local Bill Campbell (SDYC) was undoubtedly the star of the day, winning three out of four races. Dave Perry (Pequot Yacht Club) was the only skipper able to beat Campbell, though Campbell remained close behind him and ultimately finished that race in second place.

Perry recounted the day and what happened in race three, his winning race. "Today was perfect racing conditions with a lot of close competition. For race three, we were in an orange boat and that boat was sailing really nicely. We had a good start, went out to the left, rounded the mark behind Doug Rastello's team, passed them right before the gate, and never looked back."

The provisional leaderboard after four races had Campbell on top, followed by John Andron (St. Francis Yacht Club) in second, and Doug Rastello (Newport Harbor Yacht Club) in third.

Day Two- Commodore Swimming Day
Saturday’s racing started out with a lot less breeze.  With the wind at a light 5 knots, the Race Committee PRO started the first race on time at 11:30am. By race two, the wind was up to about 10 knots, a speed that continued throughout the rest of the day for the most part, similar to Friday. Luckily, the weather worked out largely as forecasted this weekend; the breeze filled in from the left and SDYC RC got one race in at 250 deg. before the breeze moved to the right.  Four races were run for the day, all windward-leeward, with the final race a course “3” so the windward finish was much closer to home.  Competitors were back to the dock by 4:30pm to get ready for the anticipated Saturday night regatta banquet.

SDYC Waterfront Director Jeff Johnson commented that, “Race Committee has been thrilled to run these races in San Diego South Bay. Having a full race track is awesome. We think it keeps the boats from collisions that they have been plagued by in the past.”

Saturday was full of surprises, mainly during race 6 which featured an epic comeback from Bill Campbell (SDYC), and a start that landed the SDYC Commodore in the water. Yes, you read that correctly. The SDYC Commodore John Reiter, crewing for Dave Perry (Pequot Yacht Club), and the boat rep on board both visited the Masters "dunk tank" during race 6!!

Reiter told the soon-to-be-classic tale back at the dock after sailing. “After the start we tacked immediately on to port. We got going and we were cruising along and the next thing you know there was a puff and Dave yelled at us to hike hard. I leaned out over the lifeline, it snapped, and the boat rep and I just went straight in the water! I was holding on to the cushion that goes over the wire so I just started using it as a pool noodle until we were able to get back on the boat!”

Once back on board, both sailors dried off in the wind while continuing to sail. Perry ended up finishing 11th that race, and went on to win race 8 later in the day.

Meanwhile, defending Champion Bill Menninger (Newport Harbor Yacht Club) noticed a pattern in the results between the 2016 and 2017 running of the regatta.

"We had a better day than yesterday, but it has been very similar to last year. We were seventh on Friday last year, then fourth on Saturday, and we finished today in fourth. All Bill Campbell has to do tomorrow is get three 10th places and then we will be right there!"

Joking aside, Menninger learned a lot yesterday, which he was able to apply to today to help him move up a few spots. "We did a little better today and went a little faster. We learned from what other boats were doing yesterday, basically pulling the jib in tighter and that helps an awful lot. So, our boat speed was much better and we got off the line faster.”

Bill Campbell proved that his performance on Friday was not a fluke, and he won races 5 and 7 on Saturday. In race 6 he rounded the first weather mark at the back of the fleet and worked his way up to second by the last leg, ultimately finishing second. Campbell is still in the lead by 20 points after day 2, with Jon Andron (St. Francis Yacht Club) in second, and David Irish (Little Traverse Yacht Club) in third.

Day Three- Campbell Dominates Finale
The final day could not have been a more picturesque day out on the water. Under the bright sun in South San Diego Bay, the twelve sailors (some not so bright & bushy-tailed after Saturday night’s bacchanalian dinner) completed the last three races.

The one weather complaint today was lack of wind at the scheduled start time. The SDYC RC postponed racing for an hour until the breeze came up to 5 knots and they were able to start the first race. There was a huge wind shift to the right at the end of the first race, so Race Committee re-set everything for the second and third races. Due to timing, Race Committee made the call to only run 11 races total, and they sent competitors on a long three-legged race for race 11 in order to get back to SDYC for the awards ceremony.

By day three of racing, Bill Campbell (SDYC) and Jon Andron (St. Francis Yacht Club) were pretty much locked in for first and second places. However, it was incredibly tight between third through fifth places going into the last race. Tad Lacey (San Francisco Yacht Club) placed fourth in race 11 which solidified his third place podium finish, just one point over defending champion Bill Menninger (Newport Harbor Yacht Club).

This is Lacey's first time racing the International Masters Regatta as a skipper, though he has crewed it several times before. "We had great races today. We went from 7th place last night to 3rd place overall by the end of today and I owe it all to my crew. They did a fabulous job on the course, calling the wind, trim, tactics, everything. It was a great day."

Andron placed second overall and was the winner of race 10 today. "We had a fun weekend, but we were all racing for second place. Bill Campbell is a well-deserved champion and he sailed beautifully. My favorite race was the race we won. It was puffy and streaky and we were able to be in the right place at the right time."

With five bullets over three days, Bill Campbell was a powerhouse this weekend, earning his first place finish by 23 points. In addition to Lacey, this was also Bill's first time skippering the Masters Regatta, though he crewed for Richard du Moulin last year and for Malin Burnham a few years back.

Campbell has been sailing J/105s for a while now, but attributes his success in this regatta to his crew. "We were fortunate and lucky in many respects. I had a great crew: Al Pleskus on the bow, Chuck Sinks and Andy La Dow trimming, Dwight Allgood in the pit, and Vince Brun as tactician and helping in the back of the boat steering. It's easy when you have a bunch of great guys working for you. We had a wonderful time and we were fortunate to have a couple of great starts and races. We were able not to lose boats, but always to gain boats if we had to."

Interestingly enough, Bill was not the only talented Campbell out on the San Diego Bay this weekend. Bill's son Andrew, the 2008 Olympian and Team Oracle USA America’s Cup sailor, was racing the Extreme Sailing Series for Team Extreme San Diego. Luckily, the Extreme Sailing Series was just up the bay off Harbor Island and Bill's wife Sherri was able to split time on a spectator boat between events to be able to watch her husband and son!

Event organizers would like to thank everyone involved in this year's International Masters Regatta for all of their hard work on and off the water.  The International Masters Regatta would like to thank its event sponsors: Helly Hansen, SD Boatworks, and Cutwater Spirits.   Follow the J/105 Masters Regatta on Facebook   For more J/105 International Masters Regatta sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Menninger Top Dog @ J/105 Masters Regatta

(San Diego, CA)- This year’s International Master’s Regatta, hosted by San Diego YC from October 21st to 23rd, produced far more drama for the masters sailors than anyone might have predicted.  There were different leaders after virtually every race and, at one point on the final day, three teams were tied going into the last race- Bill Menninger, Rich du Moulin and Jon Andron!  Panic on the high seas!  In the end, it was Menninger’s team from Newport Harbor YC that took the Masters crown.

Day 1
Richard du Moulin led after sailing just two races on the first day.  The SDYC Race committee was only able to run two out of the four scheduled races due to extremely light winds. The wind was at 0 knots at noon which delayed the start of racing by about 2 1/2 hours.

Race one started a little before 2:30pm and five boats were OCS at the start- competitors were noticeably anxious to get going.  The right side of the course was clearly favored upwind. Richard du Moulin (Storm Trysail Club/Larchmont Yacht Club) gained a giant lead upwind which he was able to keep at every mark rounding. Chuck Nichols (SDYC) and Chuck Driscoll (SDYC) were trailing in second and third for most of the race. After du Moulin won the first race handily, Nichols secured second place and Dick Tillman (Melbourne Yacht Club) finished third.

This was du Moulin’s first Masters Regatta and the first for most of his crew. They worked well together and spent a lot of ocean miles- in fact, du Moulin raced the Transatlantic with four of them last year. “It was a great day out there for us. The Race Committee did a good job of getting two races off. We stayed as clear of people as we could and then just tried to go fast. It was a lot of fun!”

At the end of race one, the wind was at 6 knots and patchy, causing the race committee to shorten the course during the middle of the second race. In a repeat performance, du Moulin led the second race, though by a smaller margin-- only about one boat length ahead of Don Trask (St. Francis Yacht Club). Chuck Nichols finished third.

Don Trask, the founder of the regatta, has been to every Masters Regatta, starting as crew before he was old enough to skipper. Trask grew up sailing the heavy winds of San Francisco, but now lives in North Carolina where the wind conditions are light and similar to today. After racing, Trask confirmed, "It’s hard to sail in the light air. It’s always really tricky.”

Day 2
The second day featured more wind than the first day of racing. The twelve masters sailors experienced conditions that were more typical of San Diego on Saturday afternoon in the City Front racing venue.  There was enough wind on the course to start racing shortly after noon. The wind stayed constant until about 3:00pm when it died down to about 4 knots in the middle of the last race. Despite the dying wind at the end of the day, the SDYC Race Committee was still able to hold all four scheduled races.

Jon Andron (St. Francis Yacht Club) started the day off strong and won the first race. Andron was the only skipper to start on the right side of the course and gained a lead that he was able to keep for the entirety of the race.

Andron explains some of the challenges involved in today's races. "I chose a good lane at the start. The starts are dangerous in the light, shifty wind. If you go an eighth of a knot slower, a guy will roll right over you before you get going.”

Bob Fisher (Royal Lymington Yacht Club) won the second race also by starting well and keeping that momentum going. "My strategy was getting a good start and going the right way. I want to keep plugging these bullets, having a good time, and meeting with old friends- that’s what this is all about!”  Fisher’s crew consisted of Porky (from Lymington, England), Brent Draney, John Claude, Buzz Blackett and Kame Richards.

According to Fisher, “we did have our ups and downs.  Thankfully, Porky kept up the flow of “advice” and that was important.  Kame was fresh from winning his class in the Big Boat series and was as good a spinnaker trimmer as I have ever had and communicated well.  Buzz maintained a perpetual calm on the foredeck, as did Jean Claude on the jib trim, while Brent was a brilliant organizer.

Starting was our weak point. But, on Race 4, it came to our aid when we were forced to tack away from the Committee Boat and went into a stronger heading breeze on the “mainland” shore.  We surged into an early lead and protected it from there to the finish- hence the bullet!  Despite the frenzied inadequacy of the wind, it was a good regatta once again.”

Bill Menninger (Newport Harbor Yacht Club) won the third race after passing Chuck Nichols (SDYC) on the downwind leg. When asked to describe his strategy, Menninger shared, "I go fast and tried to get to the right a little bit. We’re getting off the line better because there’s more wind.”

The conditions were difficult for many skippers, even for local San Diego sailors like Chuck Driscoll (SDYC). "It’s been challenging to say the least, especially using the different boats with the wheel steering, I’m used to a tiller on a J/105. The wind direction is also challenging. The second half of today went a little bit better. We got a third and then a second. So we’re happy with the way the day went.”

Richard Du Moulin (Storm Trysail Club/Larchmont Yacht Club) won the last race of the day and was, again, leading the regatta overall after the first six races.

Day 3
After pulling themselves up from 7th to 4th place on Saturday, Bill Menninger (Newport Harbor Yacht Club) and his team posted two bullets today to climb to the top of the 12-boat fleet to win San Diego Yacht Club’s International Masters Regatta. Menninger was sailing with Scott Mason, Jon Pinckney, Steve Schupak, Robert Kinney, and Shawn Patrick.

Sunday’s conditions were unusual for San Diego, featuring cloudy and sporadically rainy skies with little wind at noon. Racing was delayed for about an hour and a half due to 100-degree wind shifts, making Race Committee unable to set a course. Eventually, the wind settled to more typical conditions and Race Committee was able to run two of the four scheduled races.

The delay in racing provided plenty of time for the skippers to reminisce with their crews about past races in their careers, a central theme of the International Masters Regatta. Chuck Nichols (SDYC), the winner of the 2013 Masters Regatta, describes the International Masters Regatta as “a bunch of old characters that come back and talk to you about sailing. It reminds you of how great they were and still are.”

Race one got underway just before 2pm, once the wind was up to five to six knots. The fleet was split at the start, but the right side of the course was clearly favored upwind. Menninger had the lead at the first weather mark and was able to keep his lead throughout the entire race as the wind picked up to about 10 knots. Jon Andron (St. Francis Yacht Club) and Don Trask (St. Francis Yacht Club) were behind Menninger and eventually finished second and third.

Racing was slightly delayed before the second race so that a proper course could be set in shifty conditions. Three skippers–Menninger, Richard du Moulin (Storm Trysails Club/Larchmont Yacht Club) and Jon Andron (St. Francis Yacht Club)– were in a three-way tie for first place overall going into the last race. The anticipation was visible once the race started and six boats were immediately OCS. Menninger was not among them, which helped him gain a commanding lead. Menninger was able to keep this lead and sailed across the finish line as the 2016 International Masters Regatta champion.

This is Menninger’s first time winning the International Masters Regatta and also the first win from a Newport Harbor Yacht Club skipper. Menninger will be back at SDYC next weekend for the 102nd Challenge for the Sir Thomas Lipton Cup where he will crew for Jon Pinckney on the Newport Harbor Yacht Club team.

Menninger reflected at the end of the weekend, “My overall strategy for these three days was to get better every race. My starts were not very good at the start of the regatta, but they got a lot better by the end. Sailing aside, my favorite part of the Masters Regatta is the camaraderie of the guys that you’ve raced against your whole life, or new guys that you haven’t sailed against yet.”

du Moulin, who had led the event through the first two days of the competition, posted an 8-2 today to slip to second overall, one point off the lead. du Moulin was sailing with Barrett Holby, Bill Campbell, Peter Bauer, Chris Reyling, and Gerard Girstl.  Completing the podium was Andron sailing with Shawn Bennett, Tom Ducharme, Spuds Whidden, Dave Kelly, and Allie Rowe.   Sailing photo credits- Cynthia Sinclair/ SDYC  For more International J/105 Masters Regatta information

J/105 Masters Regatta- The Real Preview

(San Diego, CA)- It may be “horses for courses” in this year’s International Master’s Regatta, hosted by San Diego YC from October 21st to 23rd.  Many of the sailors are past World, Continental and National Champions in various classes, some like heavy air, many prefer lighter air.  San Diego Harbor can be a challenge and even on foggy mornings with a gentle breeze, the mighty thermal that develops from the massive heating over the mountains inland can produce 18-22 kt winds late in the day.  In any event, everyone will likely have their shot at glory depending on the weather conditions.

Masters co-chair, Tim Fuller (owner of the J/125 RESOLUTE), describes the tone and energy of the regatta. "This prestigious event brings together many of the “who’s who” of sailing in years past. The minimum age of the skipper is 60, and the crew is 45. In 2015, SDYC’s heralded Malin Burnham and his top shelf crew took home the Masters trophy after a challenging series of races and weather. It’s safe to say that the Masters competitors have learned to balance their competitive instincts and a good time back on land after the races. No question those folks can tell sailing stories in the comfort of the bar until the cows come home!”

Fuller also explained why the event is raced in these boats: "For those that may not know, both the International Masters Regatta and Lipton Cup regattas are sailed in J/105’s- 35 foot one-design racing sloops. A few years ago SDYC made the bold decision to take over as host for these events and supply all 12 owner-provided J/105’s with identical club-owned sails and other on-board gear. This combination of identical hulls and sails makes for fair competition.  And, all the rigs are identically tuned by an expert “tuning crew”.  That fact does not go unnoticed by the talented skippers and crews assembled to wrestle over the coveted Lipton Cup and Masters trophy. Because of SDYC’s continued commitment, and the support of local J105 boat owners, these regattas are assured success well into the future."

The event is loaded with a cast of characters, all of whom are champions past and present and can drive any boat fast.  Here’s a quick backgrounder on them.

Jon Andron, with Shawn Bennett as tactician, hails from St Francis YC. An accomplished sailor for many years, Jon has completed 15 Transpac races, is a former 505 North American Champion and sailed on Intrepid in the 1970 America's Cup. Jon will be vying for his first win of the Masters trophy that was last won by St. Francis in 2008 by skipper John Kilroy

Rich du Moulin, with Barrett Holby as tactician, from Larchmont YC.  Richard is from Larchmont Yacht Club has been racing an Express 37. With family and friends, he has won Block Island Race Week, the Vineyard and Block Island Races, and many other events. He also has four first places and four third places in eight Newport Bermuda Races. His lifetime goal is a record thirty Bermuda Races and he says, “My next will be 25….if I can race as long as Malin Burnham I might get to 34!” Richard has also raced the Transatlantic Race, Fastnet and Rolex Sydney Hobart. Richard founded the Storm Trysail Club's Junior Safety at Sea Program which has held over 100 seminars for more than 5,000 junior sailors over the past 20 years.

Tom Ehman, from New York YC, is the winner of the 1976 Championship of Champions and the founder of the San Francisco Yacht Racing Challenge that will be sailed in Super 12s. Tom started working with America's Cup in 1980, and has served many roles including rules advisor, team executive, event manager, and chairman of the Challenger Commission.  Plus, he was Executive Director of US Sailing for over 10 years.

Bob Fisher, with Nigel Brooks as tactician, is from Royal Lymington YC. Bob, a.k.a. “the Fish”, has a background sailing on #EastCoast waters and has won multiple Hornet and Fireball National and World Championships. He is also a previous winner of the Little America’s Cup and has been a navigator on several challenges across the #Atlantic.  Bob is perhaps most famous for his acerbic editorials on all things America’s Cup, is a Yachts & Yachting columnist, and has published several extraordinary books on sailing and the AC.  While many will debate this point, the Fish can be credited with having “hatched” several of the world’s top sailing journalists in their youth- Stew Alexander and Tim Jefferies (both now top dogs at The Independent and The Daily Telegraph, respectively).

Dave Irish is from Little Traverse YC in Harbor Springs, MI. David has extensive sailing leadership background as a three time past president of US SAILING, former Vice President of ISAF (now World Sailing) and founder of the Irish Boat Shop, Inc. in #HarborSprings and #Charlevoix, MI. In 2013, David was awarded the Nathanael G. Herreshoff Trophy for outstanding contributions to the sport of sailing, and in 2015, he was inducted to the Little Traverse Yacht Club Hall of Fame.  As a sailor, Dave has won the Chicago-Mackinac Race in his division so many times over the past 50 years, he’s lost count!

Bill Menninger, with Jon Pinckney as tactician, is from Newport Harbor YC in Newport Beach, CA. Bill, and a former Governor's Cup - Balboa Yacht Club Winner from the mid-70s, now concentrates on local sailing races including the Harbor 20 Sailing Club Championship. He has also gravitated towards team racing in recent years, winning the US Championship and many other prominent events. Bill frequently sails with his son, Michael, and so far, the two are the only father-son winners of the Governor’s Cup. Bill and Michael will crew NHYC’s Lipton Cup team together at SDYC the weekend following the Masters Regatta.  Bill’s biggest moment of fame sailing the J/24 World Championship in San Francisco was winning the infamous “long-distance” race ahead of Stu Johnstone, John Kolius and John Kostecki!

Dick Tillman, with Tracy Usher as tactician, is from Melbourne YC in Melbourne, FL. Dick last raced the Masters Regatta nine years ago. Among other accomplishments, Tillman was member of the 1976 #Olympic Team and was a 1965 #Rolex Yachtsman of the Year recipient. He wrote a book about sailing and racing Lasers in 2005 and was the 2002 World Lasers Masters Champion. Considered one of the greatest masters sailors of all time, Tillman will be vying for his first win of the Masters Regatta Trophy

Tom Webster, with John Rumsey and Danny Thompson as tactician/ strategists, is from Barnet Bay, NJ. Tom was a South Atlantic Yacht Racing Association Penguin and Y-Flyer Champion and a National Junior Champion in the early 1960s. Tom has sailed with numerous sailors in many events over the years, but has focused the last 20 years of sailing on helping other people in the sport. In 1996, Tom was awarded the ISAF silver medal in Brighton, United Kingdom for contributions in the sport. He has served as a chairman in past NA Finn and NA Europe Class Regattas as well as the 1998 MUMM 30 World Championship. In the early 2000s, Tom was a protocol officer in the #Sydney and #Athens Olympic Games. Most recently in 2013, Tom served as an America’s Cup protocol officer for Golden Gate Yacht Club, the defender of the cup.

Don Trask, with Paul Cayard and Chris Snow as “snack-ticians”, is from St Francis YC in San Francisco, CA.  Don hardly needs any introduction, nor does Paul Cayard.  Nevertheless, it was Don who founded the idea for this amazing regatta.  He is also a Laser Masters winner, won numerous J/24 Westerns, built the J/24 and Lasers for years (into the largest one-designs in their respective categories on the Left Coast).  The original Masters were held at St Francis YC for years on J/24s.  But, that was getting a bit tough on the old guys.  So, in a “master’s stroke”, Don decided “let’s do it in J/105s instead!”  Indeed, it was a brilliant improvement.  Now guys like Don and “the Fish” can still steer at 80+ years old!

Chuck Nichols, with Andy La Dow as tactician, is from San Diego YC in San Diego, CA.  Amongst other numerous accomplishments in sailing, Chuck has been Commodore of  SDYC and has campaigned his J/120 CC RIDER actively for nearly two decades, winning just about every major Southern California regatta in the process.

Doug Rastello (a.k.a. “Rat”), with famous yacht design Bruce Nelson as tactician, is from Newport Harbor YC in Newport Beach, CA.  Doug notably raced 470s for years at a World Championship level against the likes of David Ullman and others.  In addition, Doug also raced successfully in the world of match racing, participating in many of the top events, like the Congressional Cup in Long Beach, CA.

Don Martin is from Royal Vancouver YC in Vancouver, BC and is a successful offshore and one-design sailor in the spectacular waters and bays in the shadows of the magnificent Olympic peninsula to the southwest and the Canadian Rockies in their backyard.  For more International J/105 Masters Regatta information

J/105 Masters Regatta Preview

(San Diego, CA)- For the fifth consecutive year, San Diego Yacht Club will host the International Masters Regatta (www.sdyc.org/masters), from October 21-23, 2016. Originally established in 1975 by St. Francis Yacht Club member Don Trask, the regatta was previously sailed in the San Francisco Bay for a number of years until SDYC began hosting the prestigious event in 2012. Invited skippers must be over the age of 60 and crew members must be over the age of 45.

The regatta is sailed in a round robin format using equalized J/105 boats. The intended race area will consist of typical windward-leeward courses set on San Diego Bay with plenty of viewing opportunities for spectators along the waterfront. Sunday will feature a change in the racing format with an around the bay random leg race to finish up the regatta. There will be a practice day on Thursday, October 20.

Historically, this invitation-only international race has united several of the best master sailors from around the world including Paul Elvstrom, Bill Buchan, Malin Burnham, Don Trask, Peter Harken, Lowell North, Ron Holland, George Hinman and Chris Dickson. World Champion sailor, Malin Burnham, who was recently inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame, was skipper of the 2015 team- the defending champions of the regatta.

Twelve teams from all around the world will compete in this year’s regatta. Skippers Dick Tillman, David Irish, Douglas Rastello, Tom Webster, Richard du Moulin, John Andron, Don Martin, Chuck Nichols, Bob Fisher, Tom Ehman and Bill Menninger are seeking a chance to bring the 2016 Masters Regatta title home.

Many of these sailors have been invited to participate in this regatta before, including skipper Dick Tillman from Melbourne Yacht Club. Among other accomplishments, Tillman was member of the 1976 Olympic Team and was a 1965 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year recipient. The last time Tillman raced in the Masters Regatta was nine years ago.

For the seventh consecutive year, skipper Bob Fisher from the Royal Lymington Yacht Club in the United Kingdom will race the Masters Regatta. Fisher expressed that he keeps coming back to sail this event because his opponents "provide good sport afloat and great companionship ashore."

This event will feature three days of competitive sailing with a dockside social on Friday night and a Saturday night banquet for competitors and guests after racing. The awards ceremony will take place on Sunday after racing on the front deck.

In conjunction with the Masters Regatta, SDYC’s Taste of Point Loma will take place on Thursday, October 20 on the Sail Wash Lawn. Masters competitors, guests and SDYC members are invited to sample signatures dishes and beverages from almost 30 local restaurants in the Point Loma area.

Tim Fuller, co-chair of the 2016 regatta, is looking forward to the race. "International Masters Regatta is a special event and it’s an honor to host so many greats from the sport of sailing in one place. Every year, we look forward to this event."

The International Masters Regatta would like to thank its sponsors: Ballast Point, Helly Hansen, North Sails, & Pacific Gate San Diego.   For more J/105 Masters Regatta sailing information

“Master” Burnham Wins J/105 Masters Regatta

(San Diego, CA)- From October 23rd to 25th, the San Diego YC hosted the J/105 Masters Regatta for the third consecutive year in a fleet of matched J/105s supplied by the generosity of their local fleet.  A dozen legendary master sailors from around the world sailed inside San Diego’s beautiful harbor along the city waterfront.

The weather over the weekend cooperated beautifully on Friday and Saturday, with the classic WNW seabreezes providing the fleet with five good races.  However, the racing on Saturday was concluded early due to a minor dust-up at the windward mark when three boats got wrapped up and engaged in a slow motion pirouette that left one boat without a usable pole.  Sunday dawned with overcast skies and lots of clouds with a stalled frontal system preventing any hope for the classic seabreeze.  Despite several attempts to get a final race going, Regatta Chairman Jeff Brown and SDYC’s Jeff Johnson (Regatta Manager) concluded it was time to stop for the day and bring the fleet home for the awards.

The racing was close and the sailors enjoyed racing the matched fleet of J/105s.  It was clear from the beginning that Malin Burnham’s crew, that included Star/Etchells and offshore champions Vince Brun and Benny Mitchell on board, were going to set the tone for their regatta by easily winning the first race!  Not bad for the 88-year-old skipper, a former Star World Champion himself.  Second in the first race was Sandy Purdon from San Diego YC and third was Jon Andron’s team from St Francis YC.

After the first day of racing, Andron was leading with a 3-1 followed by Burnham with a 1-4 and Gary Jobson’s team in third with a 4-2.

Saturday dawned with the potential for a perfect, sunny day with plenty of breeze.  Mother Nature delivered in spades, providing postcard perfect sailing with breezes building into the high teens by the third race of the day.  Starting out Saturday’s performance exactly how they started Friday morning, Burnham’s team put their stamp on the regatta by posting a 1-2-4 record to ultimately win the regatta with just 12 pts total!  Andron’s crew had a slow start to the day but improved every race to score a 6-4-2 on the day and secure second overall.

Behind the two leaders, it was “clear as mud” who was going to take the final spot on the podium.  In the fray were Purdon, Jobson, defending Champion Augie Diaz, Don Trask, Chuck Nichols and Bob Fisher.  It was rough going as virtually every mark rounding and every finish line produced yet another roller-coaster ride for these teams.  Positions changed dramatically at each corner and consistency was not a term one could use for their scorelines.  In the end, Purdon’s 8-5-6 was enough to grab the bronze.  Just two points back was Jobson’s east coast team that closed with a 4-8-10.  Then rounding out the top five was the “Cuban Comet”-  Diaz’s team that closed with an 11-3-3 to secure 5th overall.

Regatta Chairman Brown thanked the small army of SDYC’s famous volunteers (50+) that looked after the needs of the famous participants.  He also thanked sponsors JK3 YACHTS, McCarthy Holthus and TESLA Motors (who were providing test drives in their cool electric cars).  For more J/105 International Masters Regatta sailing information

Hamburg Upsets J/22 Schanzenberg Cup

(Lubecker, Germany)- For the past three years, the Lübeck Segler Verein (LSV) has hosted the Schanzenberg Cup using the International J/22 Class sailboats.  The regatta is a unique regional “challenge” trophy amongst Germany’s leading yacht clubs.

In glorious sunshine and wind, contrary to the weather reports all week, the LSV managed to get in four races in sailing conditions that ranged from 4-10 kts all Saturday.  Sadly, despite best efforts, there was no way to get in any racing on Sunday due to a complete lack of wind.

The native Lübeck sailors proved both on land (barbecue tips, especially!) and on the water they were good hosts. So, the challenge trophy "Schanzenberg Cup" was awarded this year to Hamburg. Kai Freese from Hamburg sailed all four races to an impressive record, including two 1st and one 2nd places. They clearly won ahead of the best Lübecker crew this time around!

Next year the LSV plans the expansion of the event to three race days from Saturday to Whit Monday and hopes it is an even better event than this year.  Report contributed from “mojo4rookies.”   For more German J/22 sailing information

“The Commodores” Crowned Masters of the Universe!

(San Diego, CA)- This year’s J/105 International Masters Championship was sailed on San Diego Harbor and hosted by the San Diego YC.  The eleven teams that participated were again treated to near perfect “Chamber of Commerce” weather conditions, with each morning starting out with the proverbial “marine layer” (e.g. fog) and clearing by the noon starting time for yet another WNW 8-12 kts sea breeze with plenty of sunshine.  As many of the teams had learned from previous years sailing in the harbor race course off the spectacular San Diego city waterfront, going left seemed to pay off about 85% of the time!

Taking advantage of that “local knowledge” were none other than “The Commodores” (not the famous singing group!)  sailing on Chuck Nichols’s team from San Diego YC.  With a trio of SDYC Staff Commodores aboard, it was hard to imagine how they ever made decisions going around the race track; nevertheless Nichols’s team surely knew the local formula for the harbor as they amassed a nearly un-assailable lead after the first day of racing, winning three races, taking three seconds and finishing with a total of 40 pts in eleven races to take the overall 2013 crown as the "master of masters"!  Second was past Masters Champion John Jennings from St Petersburg, FL.  Jennings had StPYC fellow member Mark Ploch sailing with him and after a slow start on the first day, gave chase to “the commodores” and finished just eight points back with 48 total for the event.  After an even slower start than Jennings, J/105 designer Rod Johnstone (sailing with son Jeff J) from Stonington, CT’s Wadawanuck YC sailed the best last day of any team, tallying a 1-3-1-9 to finish with 53 pts to leap into third place overall.

Rounding out the top five for the regatta were St Francis YC Staff Commodore Bruce Munro’s team taking fourth overall and yet another StFYC member, Jon Andron and crew, taking fifth by virtue of winning a tie-breaker over last year’s Masters Champion— Dennis Case of San Diego YC.

Of note was the commendable first year’s performance by Sally Honey, the past two-time 505 World Champion, sailing with her husband Stan Honey and fellow Yale Sailing Team alumni Peter Isler.  Had it not been for one unfortunate altercation at the windward mark in race two, the Honey’s were contenders for the top three after five races.  As many master sailors have learned sailing in such a talented fleet, the Honey’s realized it’s quite difficult to maintain a high-average finish in the tricky, shifty weather patterns of San Diego harbor.

While the sailing saw plenty of action and blistering hot competition, the on-shore social festivities are perhaps the highlight of the regatta and why many Masters enjoy coming back every year to catch up with one another and, hopefully, meet some news ones that have joined the “almost over-the-hill gang”.  Again, local San Diego YC host and Chairman for the event, Jeff Brown and his lovely wife, did a fabulous job organizing and managing the logistics and volunteers for all participants.  Jan Dekker (owner of the J/105 AIRBOSS) did a fantastic job looking after all twelve J/105’s, thankfully donated by their proud owners for the event.  As past regatta founder and chairman for years, St Francis YC’s Don Trask, noted that he was quite proud to have the event in the capable hands of San Diego YC’s team of sailors and volunteers and was hoping that he might again be “invited” back next year!   SDYC J/105 Masters sailing photo credits- Bronny Daniels (www.joysailing.com) and Bob Betancourt   For more J/105 Masters International Regatta sailing information