Fleet # 43 (Ventura, CA) Winter Series

Hosted by Anacapa Yacht Club

January 31, February 29, and March 28

Sunday March 28th Racing Report by Eric Bohman

Fleet 43 was greeted with 15 to 20 knot Santana winds the morning of its last winter series and had it not been for the perseverance (i.e. long drive) of Dave Carroll, his daughter Stephanie and Chris and Ann Marie Collins we may have called it a day before we even got on the water.  But given the fact that they made the commitment to drive to Oxnard, we lived up to our commitment to host a regatta and what a day it turned out to be.  The moderate Santana soon turned into a 6 to 8 knot southerly that gradually swung to the west as the day progressed.  The nice part was that even though the sea breeze eventually filled in, the 75 to 80 degree weather remained to make it an epic day on the water.

With a short double windward/leeward course in place, and with nine boats on the line for the first start, Eric and Tiffany Bohman took the first race but close behind was Dave and his daughter Stephanie with Chirs and Ann Marie making a nice comeback after being over early to place third.   Chris and Ann Marie easily took the second race with Bohman/Bohman taking second and Carroll/Carroll third. The afternoon would see these three battle it out for the top three spots, with Geno Beville (Oxnard’s up and coming junior sailor) Eric Chowanski and Bob Ritchie helping to mix it up.   The day ended with eight races being sailed and Carroll/Carroll winning the last race and Bohman/Bohman coming from behind to finish in a photo finish with Collins/Collins to take second.

Fleet 43 and the Anacapa Yacht Club thank Dave, Stephanie, Chris and Ann Marie for making the trek to Oxnard and invites all of you to our first Spring event which will be Sunday April 25.  Please contact Mike O’Neill (805) 207-8215 or Eric Bohman (805) 217-1903 if you are interested.  Also, for those who are local, we will begin our Tuesday night series April 6 with the first start at 6 p.m. off of the launch ramp in Ventura Harbor.

Saturday January 31st Racing Report by John Papadopoulos

11 or 12 boats showed up for the first day of a new event for a newly reactivated fleet!  Nine of the boats were from the Oxnard/Ventura/Fleet 43 area and two boats journeyed up from Newport Beach.  Sunny, warm, and winds averaging 15 knots with gusts up into the high teens!  A few teams found that it's faster to have a sloppy tack by uncleating the jib sheet early  than to capsize due to a backwinded jib while a few others learned that rusted shrouds aren't fast either - especially if they decide to part mid race.  About 7 short course races were completed in the harbor adjacent to AYC so those that broke down or came in early could watch the rest of the racing from the dock or from inside the club house.  All-in-all, everyone was very glad to get out and sail amongst a group of fellow Lido 14 sailors.

Photos of January 31st Racing by Mike Geer.  Click to enlarge.

Regatta Information

Skippers meeting at 12:30 (Lunch not provided).

Sailing from 1:00 - 4:00 PM.

Fund raising BBQ after racing. Burgers and hot dogs for $3.00 single or $10.00 family, cash bar.

Hoist (with external sling) and boat ramp facilities available.

Basic directions from Los Angeles area:
- 405 N to 101 West. (for about 40 minutes)
- Exit Victoria Ave. (just past Johnson Drive exit. if you get to Telephone Rd. you've gone too far.)
- Stay on Victoria for about 5 miles.
- Once you have passed the intersection of Victoria and Channel Islands Blvd., look for the giant dry-sail area on the right.
- Anacapa Yacht Club is at 3821 Victoria Ave.

Contact: Mike O'Neill (805) 207-8215