This past weekend, San Diego Yacht Club hosted the 2016 Beneteau Cup in ideal conditions- sunny and mid-70s with steady winds between 12-14 knots. Longtime race organizers, Rick Day and Barrett Canfield confirmed that with almost 50 boats participating, this event has become the largest Beneteau Cup in the world.
Prior to the weekend racing, South Coast Yachts and UK Sails provided a classroom training session at SDYC on Friday night. The classroom training combined a comprehensive address from the two sponsors, an enthusiastic Q&A session and opportunities for Beneteau sailors to get to know each other. The Friday night training is important because it sets the tone for the race- the sailors are there to have fun, but they will have help along the way as they learn how to use their boat in a more competitive way.
Rick Lyons, PLYC, has participated in the Beneteau Cup in previous years and won the Cruising Class 2 division in last year’s race. “I was happy to be part of another great Beneteau Cup put on by South Coast Yachts and hosted by SDYC. It’s an annual event that Lisa and I (and crew) look forward to every year. Every time I race, I learn more about my boat and how to improve its (or my) performance.”
Coronado Roads was full of constant activity on Saturday once racing began. For about three hours, the course was filled with boats and spinnakers as the sailors raced, some with coaches and crew on board to help those new to racing. The Cruising Classes ran two triangles, and the First Series ran three windward-leewards. After Saturday’s racing, almost 350 people congregated on SDYC’s Sail Wash Lawn and deck to celebrate the first day of racing with delicious food and live music from The Lifted Tack.
Sunday featured a more scenic Random Leg course through San Diego Bay with great views of Harbor Island, Shelter Island, Point Loma, and downtown. SDYC's deck was lively on Sunday afternoon after racing concluded as sailors recounted the weekend. Adding to the fun energy of this event is the presentation of atypical awards such as Best Dressed Crew and Newest Boat in addition to class winners.
The 2016 race was separated into four classes of Beneteaus. Harbor Sailboats Racing won the Cruise Class 1 in their Oceanis 41, Sweet Denyse, while Lowell Potiker, SDYC, won the Cruise Class 2 in his Oceanis 55, Sereine. Chick Pyle, SDYC, won the First 36.7 Class and First 36.7 West Coast Championships on Kea and Rick Harris, CorYC, won the First Series on his First 40.7, Sweet Okole.
Potiker, the overall winner of the Cup as well as a class winner, reflected on the weekend. "Participating in this year’s Beneteau cup was a privilege. I am extremely proud of the performance of our fantastic crew and of Sereine, our Oceanis 55. My greatest thanks however extends to our Club for the wonderful job they did hosting the Cup event and to South Coast Yachts for making a fun and exciting weekend for all of the participants and guests."
More than just an occasion for Beneteau sailors to get their boats out on the water, this event is unique because it helps local San Diego sailing businesses gain new customers when these participants are introduced to racing and everything that racing entails. It also brings together sailors from all over Southern California with some participants traveling from as far as Dana Point, Newport Beach and Los Angeles to compete.
Rick and Barrett would like to thank SDYC, Race Committee and Protest Committee for their hard work and support over the weekend. The race organizers were grateful for everyone who was involved with making the event run so smooth, especially SDYC members Lanny Cornell and Cathy Reynolds who provided the beautiful boat, KEET, for use as the Race Committee signal boat.
The Beneteau Cup organizers would also like to thank their 2016 event sponsors: Alltech Yacht Solutions, Beneteau America, CRC Marinas, Downwind Marine/Sailing Supply, Fiddler's Green Restaurant, Harbor Sailboats, Novamar Insurance, PacWest Marine, Rigworks, Shelter Island Boatyard, South Coast Yachts, SN Coastal Properties Team, Sunglass & Optical Warehouse, Sunroad Resort Marina, and UK Sailmakers.