On the Harbor: From BCYC Taco Tuesdays winners to Long Point Race Week

(L-R) BCYC’s Wendy Kerr, Linda Buchanan, Commodore Rhonda Tolar and Tammy Boivin

By LEN BOSE

With 28 days left of summer left, I have started reflecting back to May 10 when we started BCYC Taco Tuesdays. This series runs for 16 weeks and it seems to slip by faster than my last commission check. What always seems to stay constant is Commodore Rhonda Tolar and her crew of volunteers that make the after-sailing festivities memorable. This and the thought of another trip to paradise allows me to feel I still have a good hold of summer sailing.

During the 16 weeks of Taco Tuesdays, the Tolar crew goes out to find 50+ items each week to give away as raffle prizes. The big catch this year was the fleece vests with the club burgee embroidered. I just so happened to have been one of the few who won a vest. Giveaways can be anything from Ullman Sails bags or T-shirts to a box of Hot Tamales. The raffle starts to become a competition between tables. Sitting at the different tables are the crews from the different boats with one table for the Harbor 20s.

I recall one evening this summer that the Choate 48 Amante, which is the best attended table in the room, must have received more than 75% of the raffled items. “This has never happened before, this is hilarious,” Tolar said as her eyes watered from laughter. There was the cute little girl that won the bottle of expensive tequila and traded it for two cupcakes. I recall her father wiping his tears away when he realized he could not keep the tequila. This raffle keeps the after-party energized along with an increased attendance throughout the night. This week’s party must have had more than 200 people staying for the raffle after the awards.

I am reflecting back to the start of summer and just how important these parties are to our sport along with just how memorable they are to me each year. These events mean something when you can meet with your fellow competitors who understand you just completed another summer while giving you something to look forward to next summer.

This summer’s winners were: Best in PHRF A – Destroyer; Best in PHRF B – Rhythm; Best in PHRF C – Ventus; Best in H20 A – Shana’s Secret; Best in H20 B – Spirit and Best in H20 C – Dragon Lady. Best Overall PHRF – Ventus and Best Overall H20 – Shana’s Secret.

Now, let’s talk about this weekend’s Long Point Race week with 40 boats entered. Noteworthy boats include: Dave Clark’ Santa Cruz 70 Grand Illusion; Craig Reynolds’ N/M 68 Bolt and Roy Disney’s Andrews 68 Pyewacket. This event always brings in the West Coast’s best boats. I’ve heard some prominent boats were declined entry, because they had not signed up for the event by the cut-off date. Bet they won’t forget next year. After two years without racing, along with last year’s event without the parties, this event will be wound up tighter than a Code 0 halyard. That’s rather tight for my none-sailing readers.

This season, I have decided to circle back to where offshore sailing began for me aboard the Choate 48 Amante. Hanging out with this crew I will have to work hard to make sure I make the Saturday night party. There have been many years that I was done after the Friday night parties, hence why the saying, “Start like a thoroughbred, finish like a mule” has been best to explain my weekend.

The Long Point Race week consists of a three-race series. Friday’s race to the island. Saturday’s race along the face of the island and Sundays’ return race. Saturday’s sail is without a doubt my favorite of the year. It typically starts from Long Point around Ship Rock, at the Isthmus and ends up back at Ship Rock. Sailing up to Ship Rock always has its challenges, although the real fun does not start until we have rounded the rock and all the colorful spinnakers start to pop open like a late summer flower bloom.

The backdrop of the island and all the colorful spinnakers remind me of a quote, “Life is not measured by the moments of breath you take but by the breathtaking moments.”

Over the past 15 years, much attention has been focused on the competitors’ escort boats. Boats reaching the status of megayachts await the racing teams with a full staff, five-course meals and a three-page wine list, and let’s not leave out the hot freshwater showers for all the crew members. Less than a dozen of the teams go to that extravagance, yet many of us – the little guys – still seem to be having just as much fun as the one-percenters. The event is quickly becoming who has found this season’s most unique inflatable pool toys rather than being on a megayacht. We have started the tradition of a parade route starting within the smaller moorings and tow our inflatables in a parade route that takes us outside to where the larger boats are kept after Saturday’s race. Here we come with our inflatable docks, ducks, islands and flamingos with cold beverages in hand, along with infectious laughter. We’re all tied up together, being pulled by a small powerboat. Another part of this race I am looking forward to.

Where is that lady?

Sunday’s race can be difficult because of two days in the sun, along with that mule finish thing I do. It’s a great time for a nap on the deck of the boat, but that’s not always the fastest way home.

At the time of this writing, the forecast is for a lighter breeze under 15 knots; which if I was a betting man I would place my money on Roy Disney’s Andrews 68 Pyewacket taking the overall win.

Sea ya.

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Len Bose is a yachting enthusiast, yacht broker and harbor columnist for Stu News Newport.