2006-2007 Sunkist Series

Hosted by Balboa Yacht Club

November 4, December 2, January 6, February 3

Unofficial Results.  Please check back.

Two throw outs provided.

Day One Report by John Papadopoulos

After the first installment of racing at Balboa Yacht Club's Sunkist Series, local sailor John Papadopoulos is leading by one point.  Light winds and moderate current played in important part in the strategies of racers.  In the first race, with current flowing "downwind", traditionalists sought current relief by tacking as soon as possible to sail along the navigation channel along Balboa Island, ducking in and out of the adjacent yacht mooring fields as was occasionally needed.   As is all to common when racing up the narrow (about 4 boat lengths) channel, it's pretty common to have to duck other boats, tack because you'll run aground or run into a moored boat, and, of course, sail on a header now and then.  Occasionally someone (usually the leader) gets to sail the wind more than the environment and that's what Kurt & Anne did - breaking away.  The rest of the boats sort of flagellated in the channel and the Wieses simply extended their lead.  Race one was handily won by the Wieses.

In second race, the Balboa Island "channel" wasn't played as aggressively - sailors stayed out in the open water.  Kim McRae led most, if not all, of the way around the course.  John Papadopoulos barely hung on in second place, surviving a charge from Kurt Wiese.  Kurt, who was in third place of the race, didn't realize that a 3rd would have given him four points and the "victory for the day".  Kurt rolled the dice and lost at the leeward mark rounding, fouling John Papadopoulos and possibly one other boat in an attempt to get and hold an inside overlap.  After taking a penalty turn, he ended up finishing 7th - moving him down to 4th overall for the day.

Daily first trophies were presented to each competitor that won a race.

As was the case the past several years, the first day of racing at the Sunkist Series has also been coupled with the Children's Hospital of Orange County Regatta.  Racers could sign up for the Sunkist and for CHOC and double their chances at trophies while sailing the same races.  The idea, of course, is to get competitors to donate funds for CHOC, and that worked quite well.  Totals for the CHOC entrants weren't available but it's known that John Papadopoulos, with Iris Asbury as crew, won the CHOC regatta.

Day Four Report by John Papadopoulos

Today we had light to medium winds and a VERY large outgoing tide.  The traditional strategy of tacking at K mark and sailing back to the shores of Balboa Island for relief from current was used by most boats however I had Stephanie Faillers crewing for me for the day and I had promised her a very low stress day on the water - which meant no close handed tactical racing, fewer tacks, etc.  That also meant staying out in the open channel where there was more current - a taboo during outgoing tides!  Fortunately, I had investigated the course prior to the race and had found that the wind was really rotten on the tack back to Balboa from K mark and that the wind out in the open was considerably nicer!  So it wasn't too hard of a pill to swallow to stay out in the open waters.

By the time we got to about M mark (on our way to O), it was clear that my strategy had given me a several boat length advantage over everyone else.  So the challenge was to see if I could hang on while still playing my conservative (i.e. non tactical) strategy.  I had to play the middle against both Kurt and Walter which eventually left me hanging on one tack that let one of them get by.  I don't recall where or how but I was able to pull back up into first place and held on to the finish.  All three of us were very close to each other at the final leeward mark rounding.  Kurt had been in second at the leeward mark but Walter took a low road (it's a reach from K to the finish) to the finish and must have just nipped Kurt near the end.

Between races I had reviewed the series scores and confirmed that for practical purposes, I had won the regatta...but I then started to think of really bizarre scenarios where I might end up in second place if I didn't sail.  So off we went for the second race of the day. I managed a really nice midline start that got me out out in front by several boat lengths and again I used the same strategy as before played out in the current (but better wind).  I had been leading Kurt and Walter and, again, was having to cover both boats.  I could see that we were slowly losing our lead as I was occasionally having to sail on a header to cover both Kurt and Walter or to keep out of the mooring area near Mark O.  Eventually I lost enough that I couldn't cross Kurt when I was on port tack - so I ducked him and gave him the lead.  It's pretty easy to do this when you know you've won the regatta - the key for the long run is to know when it's OK to duck and when it's better to lee-bow.  More on that some other time.  So Kurt rounded the weather mark first, with me in second and Walter in 3rd.  It looked like Kurt was working pretty hard to keep his lead so I didn't spoil his efforts by telling him that I had won the regatta or that he was sailing downwind with his centerboard half way down!  And perhaps best of all, I was able to keep my promise to Stephanie. Thanks to all the competitors that showed up and a special thanks to the regatta organizers!