Keeping Warm in Winter

This time of year is difficult for me because the next three months we only get to race one weekend a month. What can we do to stay warm?

I try to get out and practice at least twice during each month. It’s rather difficult for me to drag my son with me, so most of the time I am single handed. Below is my routine and maybe we can get a few more ideas or questions in the comment section below?

Practice starts. I will go out to M mark and then find a mooring ball that will make for the best starting line for the wind that day. I have two starting approaches, port approach for when I want the pin and the committee boat start.

I will start my watch for a two minute count down and keep it rolling until I get tired of the exercise. Then I decided the type of approach I will be practicing and do a couple of circles in that area of the starting line. At about 55 seconds to the start I set up at the starting line and try to hold the boat stationary for about 30 seconds. Experiment with your placement to hold position. Make a clear countdown from 15 seconds down to zero while you accelerate to full speed. This gives you some idea how long, and from what starting angle you can get to full speed in the approximate wind.

Now you have just completed one of your starts time to practice mark rounding.

Mark rounding. After the start go to weather for about five boat lengths then turn downwind and head for your mark. For me its M mark, next I will round the mark in full race mode as if I am returning to the weather mark. After you round the mark, look back, you should be able to see how well you rounded. If you see you are about two boat lengths wide do it again. You want your port stern quarter almost touching the mark as you sail on the new up wind leg. While rounding, I stand up and pull in my main sheet with two hands and balance the tiller with my legs. Find out what works best for you.

Be sure to note, if the tide is coming in our out and notice the difference in your rounding.

After you have rounded the mark go back to starting. Do this about five times and you will get your adrenaline pumping and feel like accomplishing something. Every so often, I will pick a weather mark and just concentrate on my up wind speed as a type of break.

Start practicing now and if you can fit in five practice days between now and Midwinters

you might just achieve that next goal sooner than you think.

If you would like to join me sometime drop me a note.

Sea ya

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Len Bose

FOR SALE: 2006 45' Jeanneau Sun Odyssey

The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey has one of the most popular layouts of any sailboat on today's market. The sloop rig with roller furling main, genoa and self-tailing electric winches makes short handed sailing a breeze. Equipped for cruising with 75 h.p. Yanmar diesel, ample fuel & water capacity, refrigeration & freezer, radar, autopilot, GPS, open transom, hot and cold cockpit shower, Prosine inverter, microwave oven. Her owner has spared no expense to keep this near-new sloop in Bristol condition. For further details call LISTING AGENT LEN BOSE for an appointment to inspect this Bristol Yacht ASKING $ 274,500. 

2013 Newport Beaches Most Interesting Yachts

Newport Beach's 20 most interesting yachts. This story is done in fun and coincides with other lists, from the 100 largest yachts to the world's wealthiest people down to the Daily Pilot's 103 list.

I spent a couple of days cruising the bay checking out boats that I have seen over this past season. I checked in with shipyard owners, yacht insurance companies, mechanics, and marina owners. My choices were made based on boats that I feel are interesting and demonstrate the character of our harbor. 

Most of the boats I have selected are custom and have been in the harbor for a long time. To be honest with you, I am just hoping to get the listing on these boats or, at least, be invited aboard. Please enjoy!

Newport's 10 Most Interesting Power Boats.

10. “Watt R Winery” 22’ Custom Duffy Electric Boat. She was customized by Newport Shipyard with a hard top, teak trim, satellite TV, underwater lighting, heater, windless, wine cooler, head and one very large horn. She can be seen every Thursday afternoon on a harbor cruise and is berthed at the Balboa Bay Club.

9. DRUMBEAT 49'  She was built to a Kernan yacht design with a type of commuter boat styling. She was finished by a team led by Richard Crow from Orange Coast College and is now owned by one of our harbor's best yachtsmen. Often seen cruising the harbor or returning from weekend runs she seems to move through the water with little effort. She spent the previous year cruising Mexico. Berthed on the end of Lido Isle.

8. 1970 Derecktor 69’ “RHAPSODY” was originally built as the EXACT for Burr Bartram and was used as the New York Yacht Club's committee boat for the 1983 America's Cup races in Newport, Rhode Island. The famous vote concerning the Australian winged keel was held in her salon during that race. She built of aluminum and was refitted in 1997. She was seen most of the summer at the end of the Balboa Peninsula.

7. 2005 San Juan 48 “SALUTE”. I first noticed her in Catalina this summer at whites landing. Her gorgeous lines and dark blue hull is a real head turner. She is a twin diesel boat with two staterooms. My favorite feature are the two large settees in the cockpit that provide the perfect  Catalina experience. Owners are very hands on and do most of the maintenance them-self’s. She is berthed off Harbor Island Drive.

6. “Sea Chase” 47’ Lyman Morse built in 1991. I do not have that much information on this custom boat. She is hull # 1 of a Hunt design and kept in Bristol Condition. What I do know about the boat is that the owner and his wife handle the boat perfectly and are seen on bay cruises and runs down south. This masterpiece can be seen just north of BCYC before the bridge.

5. GALATEA. She is a 53-foot heavy displacement trawler. She was designed by Art DeFever Sr. and built by Paul Lindwall in Santa Barbara for Bill Hanna. You should notice the Hanna name from the cartoons we still watch. She is powered by a single Caterpillar D333 that pushes her 105,000 pounds displacement through the water in expedition fashion. GALATEA was seen cruising the harbor and at Moonstone this year. She is berthed on the Balboa Peninsula.

4.  Both boats are owned by the same owner and have been restored to their original design. The boat on the outside is “CRACKER” a 1956 31’ Rybovich Sportfisher hull # 24 and re-powered with Cat Disels. The boat on the inside is “FOURBELLS” a 1955 36’ Rybovich hull number # 17 also re-powered with diesels. Both boats will be used for local fishing and cruising to Catalina. Quote from the owner “Project of Love”

3. “Following Sea” The original owner was a member of Newport Harbor Yacht Club who commissioned Ray Hunt to design a 52’ yacht for extended offshore cruising. Built by Dick Bertram in 1964, the construction was cold molded plywood and was said to be the lightest fastest cruising sport fishing boat on the west coast with a cruise speed of 20 knots. Restored by one of Newport’s biggest boat builders, she can be found in the NHYC mooring field. She always receives the highest praise from the best yachtsman I know in town.

2. “ DORADO” 1960 33’ Dittmar & Donaldson.She was built in Costa Mesa and has lived in Newport Beach most of her life. About seven years ago she found the perfect owner to give her the attention she requires. Recently BYC Opening Day overall entry award winner. She can be seen in Avalon or Whites Cove in Catalina. She is berthed in the back bay.

1. “ SHANAKEE” 78’ Nordland Ed Monk design splashed in 2008. Designed for passages off the Pacific Coast and the glacial runways of the Inside Passage. She was constructed with high-techcomposite structure and just screams perfection.  Built with a sailors eye, her beauty will last longer than the best French wine.  If she is in town you can find her on the Lido Peninsula or Moonstone cove in Catalina.

2013 Newport Beach's 10 Most Interesting Sailboats.

10. Amante 1983 Choate 48’ Peterson design. This years Newport High Point Series winners. Good thing there are three bothers that race her together because one person could not kept all of the pickle dishes she has won over the last over the last 31 years. Berthed on Lido Isle

9. “DEERFOOT” 64 Dashew design built in 1980 in New Zealand at the Salthouse Brothers yacht yard. This is hull number one of the long history of Deerfoot yachts. The owner continues to keep her in pristine condition with a recently taller rig. She is one of the first big sailing yachts you will notice while coming into our harbor.

8. “ BLACK ALERION” 38’ Alerion is sailed almost every Thursday afternoon. This Carl Schumacher design can be spotted from one end of the bay to the other with her full-roached main. Sailed single-handed most of the time you always have to put down what your doing as she sails by. Located on Lido Island.

7. 38’ Double Time. Alan Andrews design for performance cruising and club racing. If I was to guess she is close to twenty years old and looks and performs as if she was splashed this year. The boat is seen in three to four races each year and over in  Howlands cove in Catalina. She is kept on a mooring in front of BYC. 

6. 52’ 1992 Hinckley Sou’Wester Hull number #2 “Dauntless Dauntless”. Hinckley made 17 of these 52's with only two of them on the west coast at this time. One is kept in Marina del Rey and is owned by Michael Eisner the other is here in Newport Beach at the Balboa Marina. She is a Hinckley, you have to love it.

5. The 1964 Calkins 50 Zapata II has returned to the market with a fresh set of Ullman sails and a new asking price of $ 155,000. She has a long history of being one of the most pristine boats in Newport Harbor and shows pride of ownership from bow to stern. Originally she was built as a sister ship to the famous Trans Pac racer “Legend”. Built of strip planked mahogany over oak frames by American Marine in Hong Kong with her displacement coming in at only 22,000 pounds. She is for sale and if you would like to see her just give me a call.

4. “METHETABEL” 76’ Pedrick Design built at Admiral Marine in 2000. Built of all composite materials after 13 years she is still “state of the art.” Last seen at Newport Harbor Yacht Club and at whites in Catalina. Berthed just west of the NHYC. She is one of the most elegant vessels I have seen in our harbor.

3.  “MANAAKI” 40’ Friendship designed by Ted Fontaine. She will leave you speechless has she glides down Newport Harbor most weekends with the whole family aboard. Truly one of Newport gems! She is berthed on south side of Lido and kept under a full cover. Hands on owner with true corinthian spirit.

2. “TEAL”  42’ Hinckley Daysailor built in 2007 to a Bruce King design. I first noticed this boat pulling into Moonstone on a warm summer afternoon with ensign, club burgee and private signal all flying perfectly. Often seen sailing the harbor and outside. She is berthed next to the NHYC.

1. “WINDWARD PASSAGE” 73’ Built on the Beach in the Bahamas in 1968 to an Alan Gurney design. Best known for Transpac greatest single performance and with a crew list from the Sailors Hall of Fame. Alan Andrews designed Keel and Rudder revision by Westerly Marine and Paint at Newport Shipyard within the last three years. She is berthed at the Ardell Marina. “In every sailors heart there is a piece of WINDWARD PASSAGE”.



Thank you for reading my column and I hope to sea ya on the water.

Len Bose
(714) 916-0200   boseyachts@mac.com

The Harbor Report: Hoping to build local race participation

One of Newport Beach's 2013 most interesting yachts. (Len Bose / November 27, 2013)

By Len Bose

November 27, 2013 | 3:55 p.m.

Over the past 10 years, the participation in local races of our big sailboats, often referred to as "keel boats," ranging in size from 20 to 60 feet, has been rapidly declining.

Our concern has been with our spring and summer series. A series is a number of races spread over different weekends. We are at a point where all our local clubs are considering not hosting their respected series. So, in an effort to increase attendance, fleet captains from our local yacht clubs met recently to discuss this issue and share ideas.

My take from the meeting is that we need to step up our efforts in marketing the races and start looking for different types of events to host. Over the next couple of months, I will be working with Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club fleet captain Paul DeCapua in developing a marketing program that will send the boat owner a personal invitation to sign up to our series, a phone call and follow-up emails.

The Newport Harbor Yacht Club took this approach two years ago and had a huge turnout for its Ahmanson Cup Series that year. The numbers are still out there, and, from my count, we still have more than 60 boats that could participate in our outside events.

My hopes are that each club will share its prospects lists and encourage its members to participate in the Newport High Point Series. This will allow each club to host a large event in the hope of increasing its own series attendance.

What I need from the boat owners and, more importantly, the crew members is that they accept our phone calls, enter next year's Newport Beach High Point Series and ask their skippers to race in our local events. When you start to draw up your racing calendar for next year, please consider our local series. Send me your ideas on the types of events you would like to race in, or tell me why you have stopped racing locally.

Let's move on to something that I enjoy reporting on each year at this time: Newport Beach's 20 most interesting yachts. This story is done in fun and coincides with other lists, from the 100 largest yachts to the world's wealthiest people down to the Daily Pilot's 103 list.

I spent a couple of days cruising the bay checking out boats that I have seen over this past season. My choices were made based on boats that I feel are interesting and demonstrate the character of our harbor.

Most of the boats I have selected are custom and have been in the harbor for a long time. To be honest with you, I am just hoping to get the listing on these boats or, at least, be invited aboard.

Here are three of my descriptions to entice you to my blog: lenboseyachts.blogspot.com. I am going to leave their names out to see if you can guess which ones I am referring to.

Boat No. 1:

She was customized by Newport Harbor Shipyard with a hard top, teak trim, satellite TV, underwater lighting, heater, anchor windlass, wine cooler, head and one very large horn. She can be seen every Thursday afternoon on a harbor cruise and is berthed at the Balboa Bay Club.

Boat No. 2:

She has a long history of being one of the most pristine boats in Newport Harbor and shows pride of ownership from bow to stern. Originally she was built as a sister ship to the famous Transpac racer Legend.

Boat No. 3:

She will leave you speechless as she glides down Newport Harbor most weekends with the whole family aboard. Truly one of Newport's gems! She is berthed on the south side of Lido and kept under a full cover.

Sea ya.

LEN BOSE is an experienced boater, yacht broker and boating columnist.

The Harbor Report: The best of 2013 on the harbor

Buddy Richley accepting The Newport High Point Trophy

By Len Bose

November 22, 2013 | 6:45 p.m.

As we wait for winter to finally arrive at our harbor this year, two things stay constant on our calendar.

The first is that it's time for me to pull out all my Christmas Reyn Spooners and recognize this year's harbor award winners. This past weekend was the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club and Balboa Yacht Club award banquets.

For me, these banquets are the perfect way to enter the holiday season. You gather around your sailing friends, reflect on the previous season and look at the awards that you want to compete for in the upcoming season. Half the thrill is reviewing the trophies and looking back at the past recipients.

The Newport Beach High Point Series trophy was presented at the Balboa Yacht Club awards banquet this past weekend. This year's winner is Amante, sailed by the Richley family, with Buddy Richley accepting the award.

Buddy will end up being presented this same award at the Lido Isle Yacht Club's awards banquet and the Assn. of Orange Coast Yacht Clubs' awards presentation. The idea of this harbor tour is to remind our PHRF racers that this is the big kahuna of awards. The history of the trophy dates back almost 20 years.

Some of the big winners at BYC this year were Erik Berzins, winning the Pluck Award for volunteering and working hard around the club. Greg Newman took home the Leo V. Collin Perpetual for competing in the Beer Cans, Twilights and Sunkist.

This award has always been a favorite of mine and always brings to mind one of my favorite people, Leo Collin. Enjoy the Irish coffees, Greg, because if I recall, part of the award is all the fixings to make Leo's favorite drink.

BYC Sportsman of The Year Harrison Vandervort 

The most sought-after award at BYC is the Sportsman of the Year, which dates back to 1939 and is given to the racing skipper who consistently displays outstanding sportsmanship. Past winners include Barton Beek, Bill Ficker, Bill Taylor, Dave Ullman and Alex Irving. This year's winner is Harrison Vandervort. At the age of 16, he is, I believe, the youngest person to have won this award. Congratulations, Harrison, and well deserved.

I attended the BCYC ceremony last weekend and have to give a big shout-out to Lori and Andy Everson, who are the award chairs. I have been to many of these events and, without exception, I have never had a better time than I did last weekend. It felt as though I was at an old sailing club event with constant laughter, slaps on backs and smiling people filling the room.

BCYC Com. Bussy Award The Pickell Family

This year's big winners at BCYC were the Pickell family, taking home the Commodore Bussey Award for the most active yachting family. It was fun to watch the kids, Samantha and Derek, receive their different junior awards and Sarah Pickell receive the Willie Williamson Memorial for being the most generous senior to the Junior Board earlier in the night. Watching the whole family come up for the Bussey award was one of those priceless moments.

Rhonda Tolar took home most of the sailing awards this year for her Farr 40 Wild Thing. My good friend Mary Bacon received Officers and Directors 1962, the award of merit for outstanding service to the club, for the second year in a row. Mary is a great mentor, and I hope to get my name placed on that award someday.

Marry Bacon accepting BCYC Dir. 1962 award of merit

The big award at BCYC is the Elmer Carvey Memorial (until 1982 the Balboa Bay Club Yachtsman of the Year), now awarded to the yachtsman who most contributed to the organized yachting community. Past winners of this award have been Cooper Johnson, Jim Emmi, Ted Kerr, Hobie Deny, Lorin Weiss and Peter Haynes — the list reads on and on and includes Newport's best yachtsmen.

This year's winner is Len Bose, and I cannot describe how honored I am to place this award on top of my trophy case.

There are more awards to come with the Newport Harbor Yacht Club's annual meeting and Lido Isle Yacht Club's awards banquet. And let's not forget that Harbor 20's Fleet 1 will also be passing out some pickle dishes soon.

Len Bose receiving BCYC the Elmer Carvey Memorial 

Good times, good friends and one fantastic harbor.

Sea ya.

LEN BOSE is an experienced boater, yacht broker and boating columnist.

FOR SALE: The Perfect Double or Single Handed Race Boat

NEW ASKING PRICE $ 89,000   Owner is ready to SELL! 

"Relentless", the 2009 Transpac Division 6 class winner (competing double handed) has been painstakingly optimized for short handed and Cat 1 offshore sailing.  The boat has been stored on it's trailer since August of '09, and looking for a new owner that sees her potential and value for the asking price.  No expense was spared to make this the most competitive 35 footer on the west coast!

Those expenses include '09 North Sails 3DL square top main, 3DL #1 jib, Code 0, A1, A2, A3, A4 kites and spinnaker stay sail.  The original 1D factory deck layout was simplified, and engine controls were extended to the cockpit for use by the helmsman.  All standing rod and running rigging were replaced, as well as new Harken ST primary winches added.  A 30" "pig snout" prod designed by Bruce Nelson and built by Fitzgerald Racing was added.  Two carbon spinnakers poles were built 2.5' longer than the standard 1D class poles, along with a custom carbon "saddle" inboard end pole attachment at the gooseneck level.  An aluminum reaching strut was added.  Spinnaker luff lengths were extended with custom halyard exits and stainless chafe guards.  A custom offshore "wide yoke" tiller was built making it more comfortable to steer for long periods.  The boat is equipped with a Simrad tiller pilot, a custom racing dodger, and a starboard side pipe berth below.  All on-board electronics, distribution panel and ships wiring were updated or replaced including VHF, SSB, GPS plotter,  CD/stereo and LED interior lighting as well as a solar panel for battery charging.  Aside the boats upgraded racing elements, Relentless was painted inside and outside, including the mast and boom, using Algrip paint.  The bottom was faired and painted with Sea Hawk anti fouling paint.  Stanchion bases were sleeved thru deck to minimize possible leaks.  All thru deck fasteners were G10 fiberglass sleeved to eliminate both water in the foam core and deck compression.  New Sumbrella black covers were added.  The Triad trailer was strengthened, sandblasted and painted and looks great!  Oh' yeah a new bronze head was installed below, and a 20 gallon water bladder was added.  The owner though is most proud of the woodwork that was added or reworked below......go figure.

If you are looking for a proven, turn key offshore racer then look no further than the highly customized 1D35 "Relentless."

FOR SALE: ZAPATA II ASKING $ 155,000

The Calkins 50 Zapata II has returned to the market with a fresh set of Ullman sails and a new asking price of $ 155,000. She has a long history of being one of the most pristine boats in Newport Harbor and shows pride of ownership from bow to stern. Originally she was built as a sister ship to the famous Trans Pac racer “Legend”. Built of strip planked mahogany over oak frames by American Marine in Hong Kong with her displacement coming in at only 22,000.

Take the time to preview Zapatta II at your soonest convenience and let her fulfill your boating dreams.

2013 Newport Beach High Point Score Board

Amante 2013 Newport High Point WINNER!

                                      Mids             66           Ahmanson     Leukemia       14 Bank

1.  Amante                                          12                14                   7                     18                         = 51

2. Linstar                                                                13                   8                      25                        = 46

3. Pussycat                      11                6                                        4                     16                         = 37

4. Cirrus                           7                 9                   9                                           9                          = 34

5. Exigent                                           15                 8                                           10                         = 33

6. Adios                            9                                                                                  20                         = 29

7. Dare                                                13                                                              15                         =28

8. Tango                          10                14                 3                                                                       = 27

9. HeartBeat                                        10                                                             14                         = 24

9. Whistler                                            1                  1                                          22                         = 24

9. Whisper                                                                                                            24                         = 24

12.Wild Thing                                                         12                  9                        2                         =23

13. Marisol                      11                 2                                       6                                                   =19

14.Violetta                        5                                                           5                     7                            =17

15. Varuna                                                                                                             14                        = 14

16. Berserk                                                                                                            13                        = 13

17. Rhythm                     6                      4                                                                                         =10

17. Maidan                                                                                                            10                        =10

19. Lickity Split             4                       3                                     2                                                  =9

20.RD4                           3                     5                                                                                          =8

20. Bolt                                                 8                                                                                          =8

20. Harmony                8                                                                                                                   =8

23. TNT                                           7                                                                                                =7

24. Free Event                                                                                                           6                      = 6

25. Reliance                                  2                                                                           3                      =5

25. Lucky Star            2                                                               3                                                   =5

25. Patriot                                                                                                                  5                     = 5

28. Michegaas                                                                                                           3                     = 3

LINSTAR 2013 Newport Harbor High Point 2nd Place

PUSSYCAT 2013 Newport Harbor High Point 3rd Place

The Harbor Report: High Point Series ends on high note

By Len Bose

October 11, 2013 | 3:05 p.m.

This past weekend, with warm weather and gale force Santa Ana winds forecast for the morning and diminishing by the afternoon, racers cautiously prepared for Saturday's 14 Mile Bank Race. Fortunately, the devil winds were subsiding as race time approached, with 25 boats showing up for the start.

Even with the lingering threat of gale force winds, the thought of a 20- to 25-knot run out the 14 Mile Bank was exhilarating. How we would have worked our way back upwind to the finish line would have proved challenging. As luck would have it, the Santa Ana winds were pushed inland by the southwest sea breeze, and the competitors made it around the course with little to no mishaps.

Other than it being the last race of the season, the fact that it was the final race of the 2013 Newport Beach High Point Series might also have accounted for the good turnout.

The series started in February with the Midwinter Regatta hosted by the American Legion. Other races of the series included the first race of the "66" Series, the Newport Harbor Yacht Club's Ahmanson Cup and the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club's Leukemia Cup Regatta.

The High Point Series, overseen by the Assn. of Orange Coast Yacht Clubs, dates to 1990, when Chuck Holand, aboard Amorous, ruled the harbor. Over the years, other names — like Jim Kerrigan, Joe Degenhardt and John Szalay — appeared on the trophy more than once.

With the decreasing number of participants in our local PHRF fleet, which consists of large sailboats, I thought it would be a good idea to promote this event through my column to encourage more participation. I asked the AOCYC if we could present the award during one of the local clubs' awards banquets.

My next idea was to create an additional award of a custom burgee, made by Nikki's Flags and framed by the Newport Frame Co. Not to pat myself on my back, but after three years, it might just be working.

Richley Family Buddy, Tim, Steve

I asked Buddy Richley, the skipper of the Choate 48 Amante, how long he had known about the High Point Series. "About four years now," he replied.

Amante was a close second to last year's winner, Tango, and when I asked Buddy about his crew's participation over the series, he explained that all of his crew wanted to sail in the different races.

"We normally do not sail in the BCYC event or the 14 Mile Bank Race, but because we were in the hunt to win, we made sure we were on the starting line," he said.

After going through this year's race results, the Richley family, aboard Amante, appear to be the 2013 High Point Series winners with strong finishes in the "66" Series and Ahmanson Cup. In second place was John Shulze's J-109 Linstar, followed by Szalay's Peterson 34 Pussycat in third place. For complete results, go to lenboseyachts.blogspot.com.

I have always felt that the city of Newport Beach should help sponsor this event by donating six annual parking passes to the winner. The owner of the winning boat would then hand out the passes to the crew.

I am going to continue my efforts next year by asking the Harbor Commission to help me work through the process. Another idea I had is to have the owner of the second-place boat present the award and have a type of tug-of-war over the trophy with the first-place winner.

If you have any other ideas on how to improve the attendance of this event, please call or drop me a note.

Sea ya.

LEN BOSE is an experienced boater, yacht broker and boating columnist.

Harbor 20 Winters Series

I hope all of you Fleet 1 Harbor 20 sailors enjoyed your off season? The way I read our racing calendar New Years has passed us  already and we are into 2014.

The first race of the 2014 High Point Series was Balboa Yacht Clubs Sunkist sailed on November 2nd . Racers where greeted by the sunny warm 70 degree, Indian Summer still lingering into the late fall. In fact, it was so warm that Gary Thorne decided just to step right into the bay about half hour before the first start.

Thirty boats showed up on the starting line with three boats in C’s, nineteen boats in B’s and eight in A’s. The normal reaching starts off the BYC racing tower turned into weather starting line with the wind coming in from the south. This always makes for good excitement with the clubs and harbor masters dock an immediate obstruction. 

Fortunately the winds where light and it was easy to sail away from the dock. Although the deputy on duty, in the harbor department, felt the fleet was sailing to close to the emergency dock and demanded, over the public address system, that the fleet stay one boat length from their dock. 

In B fleet Steve Kent took the first place points. B fleet is always extremely strong in the Sunkist with nineteen boats entered. Most of the fleet are sailors looking for that first place finish to return back to A fleet.

In A fleet, looking at the final results five of the eight racers tied for first in points and a tie breaker procedure was used . In the first race of the day, five boats crossed the finish line within a boat length of each other. In the second race the breeze filled into about ten knots. Ed Kimball came out of the first tack in the lead and sailed the whole race extremely smart and held it to the end. After his pre race dunk, Gary Thorne warmed up and placed second in the last race to take second for the day. Both Ed and Gary took home pickle dishes. 

November 3rd Sunday was the start of the Newport Harbor Yacht Clubs Winter Series. With thirty two Harbor 20’s making it out to the starting line. The breeze was again on the light side and out of the south. C fleet had 2 participants with Diane Menninger taking the helm of D Art and Mark Conzelman aboard Shana’s Secret. The largest fleet was again B fleet with nineteen boats. Carter Ford was able to consistently find the breeze up at the weather mark, in front of NHYC, and sailing by himself he was able to stretch out, from the fleet, on the runs. A fleet had eleven boats looking for the breeze at the weather mark. Coming out the mooring field and finding that lane without adding two extra tacks seemed to be the ticket to rounding the weather mark in the top part of the fleet.

My son Andrew and I won the day and for what its worth this is what I noticed on the course. We had two weather marks one in front NHYC and one over more to the right, closer to the Lido channel. I noticed more breeze on the left side of the course and told myself if we where using the left mark I would lean that way after the start. With the starting line being fairly square I wanted the top third of the line and a clean lane. This seemed to work for me because in all three races we rounded the weather mark in the top three.

Good times on the water and looking forward to next months winter series. NHYC winter series is the next high point race on December 8th.