This weekend, the 29er class held its annual “29er Mid-Winters West" at Coronado’s South Bay. Coronado Yacht Club hosted this event again, with the assistance from Ayres Hotels. This event also served as “The Hamlin Series #3” in the SCYYRA series as well as 29er PCC Series, which scores both helmsman and crews separately, on a cumulative basis.
Twenty two (22) teams competed including teams from Canada, Pacific North West, Florida, Connecticut, Northern and Southern California. Top male and female sailors in the US competed, including the current US representatives going to the ISAF Youth World Championships this year in Ireland, current U.S. Youth Champions, as well the current European Champions. There were “five all girl teams” competing from Connecticut, California, Washington state and Canada. Visiting teams were hosted by Coronado families who treated the teams like their own!
Over the three days, 12 races were held. On Friday the wind ranged from 8-12 knots in steady breeze, and 4 races were scored. Willie McBride held an “after sailing debrief” and focused on safety aspects of “trapping” for the teams. On Saturday, 6 races were scored in 7-9 knots of breeze. On Saturday evening, world champion ( 505, I-14 and 18’ skiff) Howard Hamlin, gathered the sailors aside for a BBQ debrief consisting of the top 3 teams answering questions about the sailing that day including their various trim settings. Howard administrated the panel discussion with the philosophy "you make yourself better if the entire group gets better, based on sharing information" -- hence the NA 29er class' debriefs after sailing.
The top two teams were all embattled going into the last day. Racing started in 16-18 knots of breeze in the first race, then the breeze kicked up to 18-20 with gusts well over 25 kts. After race #2 was scored, the sailors were sent in due to the storm blowing in, with over 25 kts of breeze and building. In the end, Zach Downing and Andrew Cates of San Diego won the event, followed by Dane and Quinn Wilson of Santa Barbara. Third place went to Patrick Snow and Storm Brown of San Diego. It is noteworthy that teams from 4th-7th were only separated by ten points! The top all female team were Adele Whitmyer and Katie Kelley from Connecticut.