21-Finn registered for the SDYC hosted 2019 Finn Pacific Coast Championships making this regatta the biggest regatta on the west coast this year, just behind the recently completed North American Championships hosted by MBYC last month.
Gorgeous San Diego conditions were quick to develop with nice breeze filling in very early with the first race getting underway with relative new-comer to the Finn Fleet (and new SDYC member) Michael Entwistle winning the first race! Michael was being coached along with a few others by Finn Champion and legendary coach, Darrell Peck and his tips were felt by the entire fleet! The second race was won by Mike Dorgan, who was also leading the 3rd race until he and the overall contender Eric Anderson go stuck out on the right side at the top of the last beat to only be ‘be-calmed' in a rather large part of the course w/an adverse current and zero breeze… allowing Greg Morton, Randy Benton, and Isao Toyama to split from the leading pack to the left w/ more breeze, w/ Morton winning the race by over a leg! Eventually, the rest of the fleet finished the race in time for the breeze to re-build close to 10 knots and race #4 was won by Eric Anderson w/ Greg Morton sailing "Pickle Dish" leading the regatta overall after day one.
Finn sailors were met at the dock and launch ramp after sailing w/ our wonderful staff with trays full of the regatta-sponsored Ketch Brewing "Kolsch" Beer- which ALL the Finn sailors enjoyed while de-rigging their boats. Saturday night dinner was served on the Spinnaker deck while enjoying the tunes of a newly-formed-group of Finn sailors (‘Band name' still yet to be determined) playing well into the evening, entertaining sailors, guest, race committee members and friends of the Finn Fleet alike. Even some of the sailors and guests were brave enough to sing along on stage with what ended up being a really fun evening.
On Sunday the high pressure was back in her normal position over the Pacific with a building steady sea breeze allowing for the veteran race committee to display the "O" flag for ‘unlimited pumping downwind' for the first couple of races. The young sailors like Eric Anderson were very excited to have O flying so they could flex their young muscles downwind and take advantage of the free pumping… The first race on Sunday Greg Morton and Mike Dorgan lead at the weather mark, with Eric Anderson rounding 4th or 5th but was able to sail past a few boats downwind to round the leeward gate and last weather mark in 2nd to pump past for the race win for race # 4 and 5. Going into the last race, three Finns could win the regatta, Eric Anderson leading, following by Mike Dorgan and overnight leader Greg Morton rounding out the top three. The last race got underway again in a very nice breeze with the O flag flying and all three of the leaders were at the top mark at the same time… Downwind was exciting with the leaders separating from the fleet w/ Anderson leading at the last leeward mark, and Dorgan close behind. The last beat proved to be a close dual between Dorgan and Anderson, trading sides and trying to gain boats while watching the other…. Dorgan won the last race w/ Lee Hope having a great last beat to finish close behind but it was too little too late to catch Eric Anderson who held onto the regatta win and the PCC Title! After racing on Sunday, the Finn Fleet were treated to more Ketch Brew, along w/ appetizers and beautiful Rey Spooner Custom SDYC Racing Fleet Hawaiian shirts as awards, capping a wonderful weekend.
Overall Top Five:
1.) Eric Anderson
2.) Mike Dorgan
3.) Gregg Morton
4.) Michael Entwistle
5.) Chuck Rudinsky