Sarcoma Cup
Written by Nik Vale (USA 277) Tuesday, 31 August 2010 11:41
The Weather Mark
Photo by Erik Simonson from Pressure Drop
The Open 5.70 has had a great summer on San Francisco Bay. With 4 new boats in the Bay Area since April the fleet has experienced an astonishing rate of growth. All 8 of the Northern California boats were present at the Sarcoma Cup - an annual sailing regatta that benefits the non-profit BeatSarcoma, Inc., which raises money for Sarcoma research. This year the event was hosted at Berkeley Yacht Club and with 14 boats (6 of which made the journey from Southern California) the Open 5.70 fleet was the second largest one-design fleet at the event.
While Saturday's forecast was for 15-18 knots, it quickly became clear that San Francisco's wind machine was getting ready to turn on. With virtually no breeze prior to the first gun, the quickly shifted to the NW for sustained wind at 25+ knots, gusting 30 knots.
Sail Flow wind graph from Pt. Blunt, Angel Island on Saturday August 28th 2010
The conditions were challenging and the teams were competitive. All the Open 5.70s were racing with teams of 3 to provide weight on the rail upwind, some extra hands around the corners and plenty of eyes downwind looking for traffic and leeward marks as the boats reached speeds of 15+ knots.
In his first one design race on the Open 5.70, since he bought the boat back in April, Tom Baffico and his crew of 15+ years (Nick Burke and Synthia Petroka) sailed the boat really well on their home turf. After finishing 4th in the first race they continued to get two bullets ensuring them the overall win.
The Southern California boats showed that they could hold their own away from home. Sailing in conditions way above the SoCal norm the usual suspects Jerome Sammarcelli and Tracey Kenney were at the front of the pack finishing 2nd and 4th respectively overall.
USA 290 getting a puff downwind
Photo by Erik Simonson from Pressure Drop
Local Open Sailing rep Barry Demak also had a good weekend on the water. Having spent a good amount of time sailing on the Open 5.70, both on his own boat since April and as crew on other boats prior to that, this was actually the first time Barry had skippered in such a large fleet. His crew helped him finish consistently at the front of the pack to ensure that USA 190 took 3rd place overall.
With the Open 5.70 only requiring 3 people finding crew isn’t usually difficult and for some teams they kept it all in the family at Sarcoma Cup. Michael FitzMaurice on USA 229 raced with his teenage son and nephew, Rich Festa on USA 286 raced with his son, and USA 190 was sailed by Janet Kerby, her husband Damon and their son in law Paul Dorsey.
As a testament to the Open 5.70 the conditions never came close to the boats limits, however, the same could not be said about all the sailors. There were only a couple of retirements during the course of Saturdays racing - no more than any of the other fleets. At the end of the day, pushing our limits is part of the reason we do this. But knowing our limits - what is fun and safe for each of us - is a big part of "seamanship".
Southern California Sailors on the road...
The Open 5.70 fleet at the dock at Berkeley Yacht Club
Sundays race was a very different affair - a pursuit race. The breeze was similar to Saturday with a little less intensity in the puffs. The chosen course turned out to be very close to windward leeward - a reaching leg would certainly have favored the Open 5.70 as handicap racing with such a short water line upwind is usually a challenge. On SF Bay, it's important to be conscious of when to play gradient current, when to play wind gradients (direction and pressure) and when both matter. Of course the local sailors chose the better strategies - despite initially sailing in less breeze through adverse current to get to the shore of Angel Island it paid off in spades compared to the boats that sailed towards the city front. For everyone in the fleet, especially those who travelled from Southern California, breaking the “round the buoy” mold keeps things fresh and gives everyone an opportunity to experience more of what the Bay has to offer as a sailing venue.
Overall the Sarcoma Cup was a great success for the fleet. This is the second year in a row that the Open 5.70 fleet has participated and it has become a regular fixture on the racing calendar. Berkeley Yacht Club did a fantastic job of managing the event on the water, at the dock and at the bar!
For more coverage from the event check out Latitude 38s 'Lectronic Latitude, NorCalSailing and Pressure Drop...
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Results (Sun) |
High Point Rankings |
Kattack | Photos |
High Sierra Regatta
Written by Nik Vale (USA 277) Monday, 26 July 2010 06:00
The High Sierra Regatta stands out as one of the more unique events on the Open 5.70 racing calendar. There is no Yacht Club just a tent in a parking lot, there are no bars with appetizers just fire pits and smores, there are only 3 races and no one knows the word protest. As a result you get a more laid back regatta in one of the most beautiful sailing venues in California.
Smallest Boat, Largest Fleet
Written by Nik Vale (USA 277) Tuesday, 06 July 2010 07:41
Photo Credit : David McBride
Long Beach Race Week is one of the largest events on the Southern California racing calendar. It has also been the host for the Open 5.70 Pacific Coast Championships for the last two years. For the 3rd Pacific Coast Championship boats travelled from all over California to compete and try to take the title from the two time winner – Team Festa. There were 15 boats on the start line – the largest one-design fleet at Long Beach Race Week which had a total of 140+ boats competing on three race courses.
Cal Race Week
Written by Nik Vale (USA 277) Monday, 07 June 2010 21:29
Picture courtesy of Sam Haythorn Photography
The Great Vallejo Race
Written by Nik Vale (USA 277) Tuesday, 04 May 2010 07:42
The Great Vallejo Race is the Season Opener in San Francisco. Once again, the race was a success with many boats and plenty of fun during and after the race. With 6 Open 5.70 in San Francisco in the bay, we still managed to have 3 boats from the bay and Semi-Aquatic who made the trip from So. Cal.
With pretty much no much wind, all the Open 5.70s were late on the start...some more than others. However, The Great Vallejo Race is a fun race so even if you're late at the start, most boats would still start and the goal is purely to make it on time at the YC for the party.
Spring Keelboat Regatta
Written by Nik Vale (USA 277) Monday, 12 April 2010 00:00
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Les Storrs Regatta
Written by Nik Vale (USA 277) Friday, 02 April 2010 00:00
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SCYA Midwinters
Written by Michael Gough (USA 186) Monday, 22 February 2010 18:06
2010 High Point Rankings
Written by Nik Vale (USA 277) Monday, 08 February 2010 10:05
Here are the current Overall Standings for the 2010 High Point Series [PDF].
Three Bridge Fiasco
Written by Michael Gough & Marc Finot Sunday, 31 January 2010 18:05
"The wind was all over the place, the currents were ripping and we managed to find plenty of dumb things to try. But we finished early for a 3BF and had a wonderful reach all the way back up to Brickyard and had the boat put away before dark."
The insane Day 1 of the Champagne Series
Written by Jerome - USA 275 Monday, 25 January 2010 18:24
Day 1 of the Champagne Series is probably one of the "prettiest" race in marina del rey. Why? Well, most of the time, Los Angeles gets hit by lots of rain, and if we are lucky, the sun comes out during the weekend and offer for the racers (us) a beautiful view of Los Angeles, surrounded by mountains covered with snow...and NO SMOG.
Arizona Birthday Regatta
Written by Nik Vale (USA 277) Monday, 18 January 2010 17:29
USA 275 & USA 277 from Open Sailing spent the weekend racing at Lake Pleasant in Arizona. The rumors about the party atmosphere proved to be very accurate, however, the rumors about the wind were also true.
2010 High Point Calendar
Written by Nik Vale (USA 277) Friday, 01 January 2010 00:00
Here is a list of all the High Point regattas for the 2010 season. You can sign up on this Class Association website and then let all of the owners know which races you are planning to attend by registering. You can also download a PDF here (so that you can print it out and put it on your refrigerator!)
End of Season Celebration
Written by Nik Vale (USA 277) Wednesday, 30 December 2009 13:10
We would just like to thanks everyone that took the time to attend the End of Season Celebration either in person or via telephone. Overall the meeting went well and we are looking good for 2010. We elected the Class Association Officers for 2010:
Matchless Match Racing
Written by Nik Vale (USA 277) Saturday, 31 October 2009 00:00
Great Pumpkin Regatta
Written by Michael Gough Saturday, 24 October 2009 00:00
The 2009 version of the Great Pumpkin Regatta set up to be another Autumn drifter with the forecasts calling for three to five knots but thankfully little current. But the Day One, around-the-buoys racing turned out to be a great day for working on changing gears, with the first race in four or five knots, the second in just slightly more and a third in twelve to fifteen.
Women at the Helm
Written by Gigi Barbes Saturday, 19 September 2009 00:00
September 19-20, 2009, Marina Del Rey, CA
Hosted by South Bay Yacht Racing Club & ASMBYC
Skippers: Karyn Jones, Elizabeth James, Nancy Roe, Tracey Kenney, Gigi Barbes
WOW/WAH! Yes, it was totally awesome! Open 5.70s were together for the first time in this year's "Woman At The Helm" as a One-Design Fleet!
Jazz Cup
Written by Michael Gough Saturday, 05 September 2009 00:00
110 boats showed up for this year's Jazz Cup Regatta. It's 26 miles, mostly downhill, including a just barely able to hold the kite reach for the first six that the Open excelled in. By the time we hit the Richmond San Rafael bridge we were grinning from ear to ear. Most of the boats had sagged way to leeward of us and were beating back up towards us. And we were right in the middle of the channel in a 3 knot flood tide!
Harris Regatta
Written by Gigi Barbes Saturday, 29 August 2009 00:00
Harris Regatta, August 29th & 30th, hosted by California Yacht Club.
Tracey Kenney and Gigi Barbes, their coincidental color coordination inspired swiftness.
You couldn't miss us on the first day of the Harris Cup clad in bright pink. I promise it wasn't planned. Six Open 5.70s competed, and Tracey Kenney and I represented the only all-women's 5.70 with a pretty palate.
Sarcoma Cup
Written by Nik Vale (USA 277) Saturday, 22 August 2009 00:00
Saturdays races were your typical windward/leeward courses around inflatable marks. The Open 5.70s were on the southern most course racing with the J105s, and some PHRF classes which included the Viper 640 and Ultimate 20.
One Design Regatta
Written by Nik Vale (USA 277) Sunday, 16 August 2009 00:00
To fill the gap between the One Design Weekend and the Harris Series the One Design Regatta is the perfect one day event for a little one-design practice. Since this is the vacation season a few of the local owners had chosen to make the most of the warm water and had set sail for Catalina. This left four Open 5.70s to battle it out for afternoon in Marina del Rey.
One Design Weekend
Written by Nik Vale (USA 277) Saturday, 18 July 2009 00:00
SCCYC has come to be known as the Open 5.70 club as the owners that have had their Open 5.70s the longest are members there. The One Design Weekend regatta is one of the bigger events on the SCCYC racing calendar. In the past the Open 5.70s have been racing at Huntington Lake (a conflict that needs to be addressed for next year) but this year they decided to keep things local and race in Marina del Rey.
Long Beach Race Week
Written by Nik Vale (USA 277) Sunday, 28 June 2009 00:00
Long Beach Race Week is one of the biggest events on the Southern California racing calendar. This is the 2nd time that the Open 5.70s have held their Pacific Coast Championships at this event. The venue is ideally suited to the Open 5.70 with breezy conditions and protected waters inside the extended break water.
Cal Race Week
Written by Nik Vale (USA 277) Sunday, 31 May 2009 00:00
Cal Race Week is one of the largest sailing events in Marina del Rey, CA. The Open 5.70 class showed up with 8 boats making it the 2nd largest one-design fleet at the event.
Corinthian Cup
Written by Nik Vale (USA 277) Saturday, 23 May 2009 00:00
The Corinthian Cup is a small race taking boats from Marina del Rey down to King Harbor for a party and BBQ before racing back the following day.
The Great Vallejo Race
Written by Michael Gough Saturday, 02 May 2009 00:00
If 20 plus miles of sailing against a 3 knot ebb in light air with occasional rainfall surrounded by 250 other boats is your idea of fun then the to Vallejo leg of this year's Great Vallejo Race was the place to be. Three intrepid 5.70s made it to the start line along with 11 other boats in the Vallejo 5 group (PHRF 120-150).
Don Wan Regatta
Written by Nik Vale (USA 277) Saturday, 18 April 2009 00:00
This weekend was the first San Francisco One Design Regatta for the Open 5.70s. With 5 boats on the line, the owners could not wait to go out and practice boat speed boat for boat.
Les Storrs Regatta
Written by Nik Vale (USA 277) Saturday, 21 March 2009 00:00
The Les Storrs regatta is hosted by SCCYC. There were 28 boats including two Open 5.70s out racing in light and shifty conditions.Tracey Kenney on her Open 5.70, "Hat Trick", sailed well beating the other Open 5.70 in all three races taking 2nd place overall in the regatta.
Three Bridge Fiasco
Written by Michael Gough Saturday, 31 January 2009 00:00
Theo and I had a perfect Three Bridge Fiasco Start. We brought down a little puff from the outside and rode it up to Blackaller feeling like we knew what we were doing. We came to the mark on port but there was plenty of room because some huge tri think was blocking all the starboard boats. We rounded in great shape and reached our way right into the parking lot half way across the Gate.