Hello Sailors, Parents, and Coaches,
On behalf of our Junior Board of Directors, I’d like to thank each of you for participating in the 2020 Junior Invitational Regatta; and congratulate all of Team SDYC on executing and performing very well at what was certainly a challenging event on the water!
This week on the San Diego Yacht Club Sailcast features President of South Coast Yachts and Beneteau Chair Barrett Canfield, to talk about last weekend’s Beneteau Cup regatta, his involvement with Beneteaus, and his sailing experience.
The conversation starts withhost Alli Bell wondering how Barrett got into sailing. He tells her about sailing in his childhood, experience in windsurfing, and how he turned his love of boats into his current career… including his time in St. Thomas. In 1995, Barrett started his career in Beneteaus.
Barrett talks about the Beneteau Cup and how to make it fun and exciting for families. He discusses the importance of getting kids on the boat and teaching them the love of sailing. “The most enjoyable part is hearing the responses from the new people about how it’s changed their lives,” he said.
The two continue to chat about the Beneteau community in the San Diego Bay, the optimism of the getting boating back to normal, and some of the new sensitivity to safety during the regatta. This weekend’s Beneteau Cup was the only Beneteau Cup in the U.S. this year, according to Beneteau America. Barrett also talks about the Rendezvous America with the Beneteaus. Barrett talks about this years event, how it looked a little different than the normal party, but how it was still a great event on Catalina.
The conversation ends with Barrett talking about what’s next for him, including getting back to the Caribbean and growing the South Coast Yachts company more. Alli also asks him her famous question of what advice he has to anyone looking to do the types of thing he does. “Go out and get involved,” he starts.
Twenty-five Finn’s flocked to San Diego Yacht Club this weekend for two days of the 2020 Finn Pacific Coast Championship. Among those sailors were those new to the fleet, those known for the fleet, and many active, enthusiastic competitors excited to be out on the water in their single-handed boats. Seven races were sailed out in the Pacific Ocean on the popular course of Coronado Roads.
Third time was not a charm…
The 2020 Helly Hansen National Offshore One Design (popularly known as the ‘NOOD’) Regatta has been officially canceled. Initially scheduled for March 20-22, while COVID cancelations rippled through the event world, it was abruptly rescheduled to a second date Sept 5-7. By mid-August, public health concerns continued to press on event cancelations, so SDYC and NOOD once again moved the event to a third date, September 25-27, with a deadline of Friday, Sept. 11 to make a final determination.
On Wednesday, September 9, the office of San Diego County Supervisor spoke of their ongoing efforts to control the spread of the virus and public activity that might be conducive to spreading. A single line of policy declaring “recreational boating … is allowed for members of a household.” was not addressed or rescinded. Thus, that precludes most of the regatta boats that rely on multiple crew, coming from multiple households, and necessitates that the 2020 event be canceled. The 2021 NOOD will be scheduled for its traditional calendar slot of March 19-21, 2021.
There has been nearly five months of a Covid-19 sailing lull for most San Diego and other national fleets due to the San Diego County guidance restricting recreational boating to crew of the same household. However, one fleet - the Finn fleet - heads back to the race course for the Finn Pacific Coast Championship (PCC) at the San Diego Yacht Club. On Saturday and Sunday, September 12-13, an expected 25 Finns will compete on the Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Zuniga Jetty.