If you think that you would be interested in sailing your tuna in a
spinnaker series next year, please respond with your preferences.
This year the spinnaker series is a bit sparse, and last year I would
often show up to find that I was only one of 2 or 3 boats to be
racing. Below is my thinking on what/why/where etc... Please give as
much feedback as you can so that we can bring back this part of our
season.
Thanks,
Pete
Rationale: The more experienced members of the fleet need this type of
racing in order to stay engaged and challenged by the class. Less
experienced members of the fleet will want a venue to learn how to fly
a spinnaker.
Considerations: Spinnaker races should be scheduled at times that do
not conflict with the existing white sails series. Class members have
expressed a preference for single day round the buoys events with 2 or
3 races. There are also a number of sailors in the fleet who enjoy
racing short handed. Need to be careful with scheduling since the
pool of potential participants is smaller.
Goal: 4 to 6 race days for a total of roughly 10 races that is
predominately shorter round the buoys racing but includes some short
handed and longer races as well. Minimum of 5 boats at every event.
Races
March/April: Wheeler Regatta (2 races) - Held in the Berkeley Circle.
Seems ideal for the series, but has not been a race we have
traditionally done.
Early May: Vallejo (1 race) - Long, requires knowledge of currents
and wind to win. Traditionally highly attended.
Mid July: The Super? (3 races) - Work with the Bay View Boat Club and
John Super to run a regatta using their windward mark. The potential
for a fun regatta at a very reasonable cost during a month when we
don't have other racing scheduled. Super seemed excited about the
idea of this race.
Late October: Great Pumpkin (3 races) - This race has traditionally
been strongly attended. Held at Southampton shoals, the wind is often
light.
2 Throwouts.
Potential Additional Races:
Three Bridge Fiasco - Mid January, short handed, often don't finish
because of wind.
Double Handed Lightship - Weekend before Wheeler Regatta, would be
nice to get out of the bay.
Vallejo 1/2 - Fall, singlehanded, good attendance in 2006.
Midnight Moonlight Madness - Mid July. Steve Buckingham would
definitely do it, but might be the only one.
The plastic classic and the lipton cup are on the same day. The
events split the fleet and I am hesitant to include either because of
this.
Please feel free to suggest other races and changes to any of the above.
