Beer Can Racing Is Back!
by Tom Burden
June 10, 2020
We’re off to the races! Beer can racing is now underway at Richmond Yacht Club (RYC) at last! Wednesday, June 10th was a balmy, silky, warm, enveloping evening. It almost felt like Kaneohe Bay, with about a 10 to 12 knot breeze at the starting line.
There was a 25-boat signup limit, and it looked like we hit that limit with a great turnout in four divisions. The Under 30' non-spinnaker division featured a blazing start by a very happy looking mask-wearing Gruntled Moore 24 and several Alerion Express 28 day sailors. Among the starters were four Laser Radials. Emilio Castelli put on a clinic like he usually does.
June 10, 2020
We’re off to the races! Beer can racing is now underway at Richmond Yacht Club (RYC) at last! Wednesday, June 10th was a balmy, silky, warm, enveloping evening. It almost felt like Kaneohe Bay, with about a 10 to 12 knot breeze at the starting line.
There was a 25-boat signup limit, and it looked like we hit that limit with a great turnout in four divisions. The Under 30' non-spinnaker division featured a blazing start by a very happy looking mask-wearing Gruntled Moore 24 and several Alerion Express 28 day sailors. Among the starters were four Laser Radials. Emilio Castelli put on a clinic like he usually does.
Green Buffalo is just a little too close to the line with 30 seconds to go.
In the B division, Over 30' Non-Spinnaker, a large green Cal 40 managed to box out the fleet. Jim Quanci was just a little bit too early and gyrated wildly but to no avail. He was OCS and had to do a big circle around the red mark. Meanwhile Billy and Melinda Erkelens waited like the predators they are in their Hobie 33 and swooped in for the kill.
A trio of J-Boats blasted off in the Under 30' Spinnaker division. The J-70 took the start at Channel Marker 8 followed by a J-80 and J-24, Evil Octopus. The Over 30' Spinnaker division was a small fleet including Rufus Sjoberg's Rufless, a fully crewed Melges 32. The division also included Bob Johnston's Surprise!, an Alerion Express 38, and Baselea, a large condominium with sails.
J-Boats blast off
After all four groups had started, the whole fleet rounded the end of the breakwater and spread out across the course, tacking upwind to the Bob Klein Buoy. The whole fleet sailed dead downwind in the dying breeze in beautiful evening light. The photographs just took themselves. What a great way to start the 2020 sailing season after our hibernation due to the Coronavirus!
After all four groups had started, the whole fleet rounded the end of the breakwater and spread out across the course, tacking upwind to the Bob Klein Buoy. The whole fleet sailed dead downwind in the dying breeze in beautiful evening light. The photographs just took themselves. What a great way to start the 2020 sailing season after our hibernation due to the Coronavirus!
Photo Gallery
Photos by Tom Burden
