January 1, 2011 dawned bright and wonderfully clear with the temperatures eventually warming to the mid 50s. The long standing New Year's Day Regatta has a reputation of being a light air event. This year did not disappoint. Anticipating that the wind is usually light, and late filling in, the start time this year was moved from noon to 12:30 PM. The wind was still late showing up but the 2011 New Year's Day Regatta finally got underway after a 30 minute postponement.
The wind varied around the course averaging 6 to 7 knots over the three hour race and gradually veered to the west. One hundred boats sailed this great traditional gathering to kick off the new year (up from 94 last year). Party all you like the night before because the rewards for this event are simply the good times spent with friends and family doing what we love…sailing.
No entry fee, come if you like, and everyone it is winner! Happy New Year!
Looking forward, February will bring us the third of four Etchells Worlds Qualifying events. If you want to see some world class sailing, you don’t have to wait for June (when we host the Etchells World Championship) because it is happening during the One Design Weekends each month leading up to the Worlds. February also brings the SCYA Midwinter Regatta, and more Match Racing.
March will be an 'All Star' month with the first week alone featuring the week long international RC 44 fleet, the successful Islands Race from Newport to San Diego, and the final One Design Weekend which will wrap up Worlds Qualifying for the Etchells Fleet.
To be sure, we will be busy in the Race Office. Anyone with a New Year's resolution to 'help out more' can certainly pitch in with the Race Committee. While the spring sailing season is very busy, we are using each of these early events to tune up our game for the summer season when SDYC plays host to the Etchells World Championship.