RYC 2020 Small Boat Midwinters
Light Air Fun at the January Small Boat Midwinters
by Tom Burden
Small boat racers kicked off the Twenties January 5th at the Richmond Yacht Club Midwinters, with sparkling, crisp light-air racing at its best. This perennial classic series, always one of the biggest draws on San Francisco Bay, attracted a fleet of 94 dinghies and small keelboats.
Out on the Southhampton Course, Jayden Benedict aced the 15-boat Laser fleet with three bullets, with Victoria Chen likewise posting two wins in the Radial fleet. There was spirited but lethargic racing among Ultimate 20s, Wylie Wabbits and Mercury keelboats.
A fleet of seven Thistles, powerful, light-air speedsters designed in 1945, featured four wood boats, including current leader Dan Clark. Four even more ancient 110 keelboats (the original sportboat and Wylie Wabbit inspiration from 1939) lent an even more “Modern Stone-Age” feel, complete with the latest black North 3Di sails. Susan Burden photographed the Southhampton course action. See and download over 300 shots of your boats at www.tom-burden.com.
The El Toro fleet, numbering 15 Seniors and seven Juniors, managed to sail five single-lap races in the Potrero Reach Channel. Brutally tough racing among the top six Seniors resulted in the usual suspects, defending champ Michael Quinn and Art Lange, leading the pack. A surprise standout was Rowena Carlson, a Sabot star and Cal 40 ocean racer from San Diego. She went fast in her new Moore (once owned by the late, great Jim Warfield) and looked right at home in the Toro.
Lots more racing drama is left in the series! You can join the fun February 2nd and March 1st, as entry fees have been slashed. Trophy presentation with pu-pu’s and a complimentary drink ticket for all racers after the racing ends March 1st.
Out on the Southhampton Course, Jayden Benedict aced the 15-boat Laser fleet with three bullets, with Victoria Chen likewise posting two wins in the Radial fleet. There was spirited but lethargic racing among Ultimate 20s, Wylie Wabbits and Mercury keelboats.
A fleet of seven Thistles, powerful, light-air speedsters designed in 1945, featured four wood boats, including current leader Dan Clark. Four even more ancient 110 keelboats (the original sportboat and Wylie Wabbit inspiration from 1939) lent an even more “Modern Stone-Age” feel, complete with the latest black North 3Di sails. Susan Burden photographed the Southhampton course action. See and download over 300 shots of your boats at www.tom-burden.com.
The El Toro fleet, numbering 15 Seniors and seven Juniors, managed to sail five single-lap races in the Potrero Reach Channel. Brutally tough racing among the top six Seniors resulted in the usual suspects, defending champ Michael Quinn and Art Lange, leading the pack. A surprise standout was Rowena Carlson, a Sabot star and Cal 40 ocean racer from San Diego. She went fast in her new Moore (once owned by the late, great Jim Warfield) and looked right at home in the Toro.
Lots more racing drama is left in the series! You can join the fun February 2nd and March 1st, as entry fees have been slashed. Trophy presentation with pu-pu’s and a complimentary drink ticket for all racers after the racing ends March 1st.