The SDYC Vixens thank you for your support of our participation in the 2024 Linda Elias Memorial Women’s One Design (LEMWOD) regatta hosted by Long Beach Yacht Club and held in the Catalina 37s. This regatta is one that has often posed challenges for SDYC, for one reason or another. As you know, last year, we put a team together at the absolute last minute, had two people drop out for medical and personal reasons, were not able to get together and practice, and did not have a tactician or receive any coaching. Needless to say, and as you know, our results proved the adage that preparation prevents poor performance, and we did not do well at the regatta. Although our on the water performance wasn’t great, we had a few outcomes that were more important than winning: Our team came off the water as a cohesive unit and determined to do better in 2024. Multiple women on our team became regular racers, competing in all different types of boats throughout the year. SDYC gained a new member in Heather Furey.

Competing in the 2024 Snipe World Championship was an experience I’ll remember for a lifetime. As a sailor representing the United States, along with my crew Shira Golub, we were not only challenged by the competition but inspired by the dedication and sportsmanship of sailors from around the world. The difficulty of the event was no surprise, considering the level of skill within the Snipe Class, known for drawing some of the finest sailors in the world, including past world champions and former Olympians.

Thank you for your recent support of the SDYC Lipton Cup team.  The Lipton Cup is a well-known event hosted by SDYC and is regarded as the top West coast fleet racing event among national and international yacht clubs. 

Like SDYC, the New York YC knows how to host a boat race, this time it was their biannual Resolute Cup, which is the defacto Keelboat Amateur Championship of the USA. 28 all-amateur teams met in mid-September in Newport, Rhode Island (the other Newport) to battle it out in white boats & white sails, rarely exceeding the 5.2kt hull speed of a Sonar. I joke, but this really is the best part of the game of sailboat racing - 20 boats on the line, equalized sails & rigging, every team for themselves to determine the champion. It takes the SDYC Lipton Cup model and basically doubles it... quite impressive both on the water and on the social side, and a giant tip of the hat to NYYC and their team of volunteers & staff to pull it off.

Three SDYC members recently competed in the International 14 Worlds in Torbole Italy.  Cameron Puckey on his Hollum designed I-14 and JP Barnes sailed with me on my Bieker 6 I-14. 

The 2024 International 14 World Championships were held on Lake Garda in Torbole Italy. Torbole is next door to the better known Riva Del Garda. Both clubs sail on the same water which is on most all sailors bucket list of locations to sail, certainly in the skiff sailing crowd. Seventy boats from six different countries were present.

The 7th annual San Diego Olympic Classes Regatta (OCR) rolled out on a perfect June weekend. The classic San Diego "June Gloom" burned off quickly and a nice westerly filled in for the majority of both days. With winds ranging from 7-14 kts, and modest little swells running down the course, 28 sailors in three classes completed seven races on a trapezoid course located just south of Point Loma on the Coronado Roads.