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74th Annual Stampede |
2021 October 9
Here's the poster that Susan Burden created for this regatta, which shows me winning the Green Bottle Race in 2019. Wacky breeze from the wrong direction caused the cancellation of this year's Green Bottle and Soda Special backwards races.
by Tom Burden
One of the oldest one-design dinghy events on San Francisco Bay, Richmond Yacht Club’s annual Running of the Bulls is an October tradition since 1947. And when you can hear the Blue Angels jets performing loud aerial acrobatics overhead for the Fleet Week celebration, you can bet the El Toro fleet is competing on the Richmond Riviera.
With COVID-19 protocols in place, only vaccinated sailors were competing. Normally held on a Sunday, the regatta was rescheduled for Saturday to accommodate the Junior Sailing Program. No doubt more could have participated had it been set for Sunday. Alas, the weather turned out to be more dramatic on Saturday allowing for a fun and fast-moving race.
The racing began with the first Stampede race, the All Throwers for everyone, held in the calm Potrero Reach waters near Parents Point. Our regatta included a 16-boat Senior Fleet plus four Juniors, all racing as one group. The breeze was a northerly, from the “wrong” direction and blowing over the hills of Point Richmond, so big, tricky wind shifts were happening constantly-very challenging conditions! Michael Quinn, junior Amanda Wheeler and I all got great starts, and Packy Davis showed impressive speed in a mid-1970s wood Smith El Toro. I stayed near the middle of the course, played the shifts, and worked my way to the front to win the race.
With COVID-19 protocols in place, only vaccinated sailors were competing. Normally held on a Sunday, the regatta was rescheduled for Saturday to accommodate the Junior Sailing Program. No doubt more could have participated had it been set for Sunday. Alas, the weather turned out to be more dramatic on Saturday allowing for a fun and fast-moving race.
The racing began with the first Stampede race, the All Throwers for everyone, held in the calm Potrero Reach waters near Parents Point. Our regatta included a 16-boat Senior Fleet plus four Juniors, all racing as one group. The breeze was a northerly, from the “wrong” direction and blowing over the hills of Point Richmond, so big, tricky wind shifts were happening constantly-very challenging conditions! Michael Quinn, junior Amanda Wheeler and I all got great starts, and Packy Davis showed impressive speed in a mid-1970s wood Smith El Toro. I stayed near the middle of the course, played the shifts, and worked my way to the front to win the race.
Here's the start of All Thrower's Race #1 with the entire fleet. The wind is blowing from the "wrong" direction!
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Next, we were separated into four weight classes for the Bull Throwers, with the Flyweight division going first, followed by Middleweights and Heavyweights. I was in my usual spot in the over-180-pound “Brahma Bull” division, battling for one of two spots in the Bull Throwers Final Race, which would happen after lunch. This was our shot at “El Sacko de Manuro,” a truly coveted Bullship award! These Bull Throwers elimination rounds finished inside the RYC harbor for max spectator drama. Lunch on shore was graciously provided by our PRO, Vickie Gilmour, who also donated her Grand Banks 32 for use as our Race Committee vessel. After our lunch break Potrero Reach looked like a different world. A big ebb had stirred up waves and turned the center channel into the Weather Mark Express; just start at the pin end, sail out on starboard tack and board the train. The wind had clocked west and stabilized, so the strategy was simple for my little brain to wrap around. Mike Quinn won the race, but I stayed close in second place to seal the regatta victory. |
Our Committee Boat, VIckie Gilmour's Grand Banks 32, Fats.
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PRO Vickie Gilmour holding the Sacko de Manuro.
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The Bull Throwers weight division finals included both the first and second place winners from each weight division. Mike Quinn was the winner of the coveted Sack of Manure, I was second and Fred Paxton was third. Due to uncooperative wind directions, we had to forego the Soda Special and Green Bottle Races, the two iconic events that feature backwards racing in an El Toro. But we look forward to having all the wonderful El Toro events next year for the 75th Annual Stampede. This is the longest running event held at the Richmond Yacht Club. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped make it a success. |
Read about the 2019 Stampede on our website HERE.