2007 District 1 (So. Cal.) Championships

September 8 & 9 at Lake Casitas, California

Hosted by Fleet 43

This regatta used a unique format to ensure plenty of fun and challenge to all.  There were two series of races - The Island Series, and a Buoy Series.  The Island races were around a fairly large island - optionally taken to port or to starboard.  The Buoy Series were traditional windward/leeward races with downwind finishes and optionally one or two laps.  The Island series was scored using a form of averaging of scores, with the total being added to the buoy scores to come up with a total for the regatta.  For example, Team O'Neil/Oliver had Island scores of 4, 2, and 3 (9 total) and their Island score was 3.  They had 23 points for the buoy series and a combined total of 26.

The racing started off with an Island race (to Starboard) which meant that first timers had no idea of what to expect, where to go, etc.  Some teams were undoubtedly surprised with the variability in direction and strength of the wind as the fleet rounded the island.  The only warning was some remark about the Devil's Reach (or some such name) at the skipper's meeting - with grins on several local teams ensuing.

The island was separated from the mainland by a canyon that was probably a couple of hundred yards wide.  As winds barreled down the steep slopes of nearby hills, they would hit the water and leave plenty of ripples to tell you where they were and where they were going.  You could be looking at a patch of ripples and you would be thinking of what was going to happen and BAM!,  you get slammed by a puff - long before you expected.  Conversely, you'd see plenty of ripples and get no puff!  It appears that the blasts of wind were skipping across the water, leaving a spotty trail of ripples.  Quick reactions were the standing order for the day.

The buoy races were sailed with the weather mark adjacent to the island or in the mouth of the canyon separating the island from the mainland.  In either case, it was certain that there were going to be wind shifts.  On a beat to windward, you might find yourself increasingly headed - so you tack.  Sometimes the header was just the windup to a BIG lift - making the tack a mistake.  Of course you were given the most agonizing confirmation of this phenomenon - the fleet screamed by you!  Not tacking on every header turned out to be an important strategy.

John Papadopoulos and crew Stacie Brandt were the regatta leaders after the first day of sailing but gave up their lead in a big way in Race 7 when they got messed up when the wind switched over to the "sea breeze" as the fleet approached the weather mark, handing over the lead to the Bohmans in this no throw-outs regatta.

The Bohmans showed incredible consistency in these very trying conditions, once in a while by using that that most venerable of racing skills called luck, but mostly by using their racing teamwork - as was evident by the races they won from start to finish.  Congratulations to the Bohmans on their victory and a big thank you to all that helped put on this fun event.

+John

You can learn more about the lake by visiting http://www.lakecasitas.info/

Click on this link for the Notice of Race (Adobe PDF)