2001 Schock Invitational Regatta, October 6 & 7

Sailors from Eugene, Sacramento, Long Beach, Newport Beach and the Fremont area journeyed to San Francisco Yacht Club for the third edition of the Schock Invitational Regatta.  Racing was held on Richardson’s Bay where winds ranged from very light to medium with generally overcast skies and temperatures in the 70's.

The regatta turned out to be a two boat contest between John Papadopoulos (Newport Beach) and Freddie Stevens (Long Beach).   The following describes, from John's point of view, the racing.

The first race was a straight windward/leeward course.  Freddie Stevens had a slight advantage up the first beat but John won the weather mark rounding and held his lead for the remainder of the race.  Race 1 to John.

In race 2 - twice 'round windward leeward.  A similar battle unfolded with John leading after the weather mark.  On the final down wind leg, John makes a tactical boat handling errors at the leeward end of the leg that let Freddie pass by unchallenged.  Race 2 to Freddie.

Race 3 - a triangle followed by windward leeward course.  The wind was getting light.  Freddie won the race to the weather mark and proceeded to sail the wrong course.  John, not far behind, quietly made way to the reaching mark, passing Freddie in the process.  By the time Freddie realized his error, it was too late. Race 3 to John.  End of Day 1.

Going into day 2, John leads Freddie by 1 point.  The Sailing Instructions leave open the number of races to be sailed AND provide a throw out should 4 races be completed.  If Freddie beats John in Race #4 and no more races are sailed, Freddie will win on the tie breaker.  Freddie was solid in his game plan and won Race #4 with room to spare.  But it was clear that we'd get more races in.  So, with the score tied at 6 points a piece, it was like starting from scratch!

John and Freddie started employing match racing tactics pre-start.  Partly by being forced right by John, Freddie went to the right side and found - to John's dismay - that the right was paying out better pressure and angle.  Race 5 to Freddie.

It now came down to winning the start and having the freedom to go right.  Freddie, again, wins that game and wins the right and wins Race 6.  Only in the 7th (and what turned out to be final) race did John succeed in winning the right side - which led to his win in that race.  As a side note, Freddie's port shroud failed on the last weather leg - and thus his DNF.

In the end, Freddie wins by a single point of John Papadopoulos and takes home not only a first place trophy AND the Western Regional Championship title from 1999 and 2000 defending Western Regional Champion John Papadopoulos.

Congratulations Freddie and thanks to all those that came to San Francisco for a nice weekend of racing.