As you read this, the smoke from the starting gun will have just cleared the air in Long Beach and 35 race machines are now on the ocean course in the 2014 Islands Race. Tune into Yellowbrick Tracking to follow the action live and online! The racers are now on their way to the West End of Catalina, where they will make a left turn and head towards San Clemente Island. They will sail down the "backside" of San Clemente, make a left turn around the Southern end of the island then head for San Diego, finishing Saturday afternoon just outside the Zuniga Jetty. The sails will come down and the Island Racers will head into the welcoming arms of SDYC's world famous hospitality. Put your hands together for to Regatta Chairman S/C Wayne Terry who worked hard to make this event a success together with the Islands Race co-sponsors, our friends at Newport Harbor Yacht Club. Stop by the prize giving ceremony Saturday around 1530 to congratulate the winners.
"Aye yai yai yai let's head to Puerto Vallarta!" It is hard to believe, but next week is the start of the 32nd race from SDYC to mainland Mexico – Puerto Vallarta! 24 boats are scheduled to hit the starting line – a fantastic turnout. The PV '14 Organizing Committee is continuing to come up with a new surprise almost daily for the send off fiesta party. Don't miss it… we'll see you on Thursday the 13th @ 1800 @ SDYC. It's only $10! (make your reservations online)… and yes, rumor is the world famous "tequila hostesses" will be there with delicious samples.
Send your favorite PV Team off in style… the PV '14 Race gear is off the charts this year, check it out at the Ship Store. Sport your PV '14 gear at the "starting parties" on Shelter Island planned for both the Friday March 14 and Saturday March 15 starts… music, traditional Mexican libations, up-close to the starting line race action, +++ check the PV '14 website for details… THEN follow your favorite PV Team online with YELLOWBRICK all the way to PV. Good luck racers!
March 11 Commodore's Dinner Series: I bet if you added up all the miles the various crews at the San Diego Crew Classic cover while racing in Mission Bay over April 5-6 weekend, and put them end to end, it would stretch from SDYC to Puerto Vallarta (1,100 miles)… Remind me to ask Sean Jenkins, President, of the 2014 San Diego Crew Classic our speaker that question next Tuesday the 11th of March @ 1800.
I bet Sean will have the answer. C'mon down to SDYC have a little dinner and learn all the inside scoop about what makes the largest regatta in San Diego, the San Diego Crew Classic, work. This year is the 41st running of "Crew Classic" – an iconic event in San Diego. I'll see you there. Make your reservations today. Hurry, this one will be a sell out!
Good sailing,
Chuck Sinks
SDYC Commodore