The 2019 International Masters Regatta got off to an entertaining start today. After a slight course adjustment to the south and the first race of the weekend, the sailors and their crews were gifted an extra-long lunch break with a view. Just around 1200, the U.S. Navy rained down on the South Bay course during an air-drop exercise, presenting the sailors and spectators with another San Diego airshow.

Meanwhile, down on the water, 11 boats skippered by seasoned sailors over the age of 60 were putting on their own show of fast, competitive and close racing. Finishing the first day of the IMR in the lead is Andy Roy with 12 points. Following Roy is Tad Lacey with 11 points in second and Gary Jobson with 15 points in third.

21-Finn registered for the SDYC hosted 2019 Finn Pacific Coast Championships making this regatta the biggest regatta on the west coast this year, just behind the recently completed North American Championships hosted by MBYC last month.

Gorgeous San Diego conditions were quick to develop with nice breeze filling in very early with the first race getting underway with relative new-comer to the Finn Fleet (and new SDYC member) Michael Entwistle winning the first race!  Michael was being coached along with a few others by Finn Champion and legendary coach, Darrell Peck and his tips were felt by the entire fleet!  The second race was won by Mike Dorgan, who was also leading the 3rd race until he and the overall contender Eric Anderson go stuck out on the right side at the top of the last beat to only be ‘be-calmed' in a rather large part of the course w/an adverse current and zero breeze…  allowing Greg Morton, Randy Benton, and Isao Toyama to split from the leading pack to the left w/ more breeze, w/ Morton winning the race by over a leg!  Eventually, the rest of the fleet finished the race in time for the breeze to re-build close to 10 knots and race #4 was won by Eric Anderson w/ Greg Morton sailing "Pickle Dish" leading the regatta overall after day one.

While some may claim beginners luck, the first place team, Far Niente, of the 2019 Farr 40 World Championship earned their win with an amazing team and by going back to the fundamentals.

Brand new to the Farr 40 class, Vince Brun and Drew Freides, Far Niente co-owners, have only been sailing in the fleet for 10 days prior to taking the win in Long Beach, California this week from Wednesday, October 2 to Saturday, October 5, 2019.

Drew Freides commented on their win. “It was a learning experience the entire way. This was the 10th day we’ve sailed the boat and we’re sailing against guys who have been sailing these boats for over 10 years. We put together an amazing team with some of the best including Vince Brun and Eric Doyle, focused on the fundamentals, tried to get good starts, sail smart and sail clean.”

One of the San Diego Yacht Club’s most coveted trophies is back up for grabs, going home with the winning team of the Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Cup on October 25-27, 2019. Eleven yacht clubs that battled for the title in 2018 return to South San Diego Bay for a rematch. In the running are: San Diego Yacht Club (2018 winners), Balboa Yacht Club, California Yacht Club, Chicago Yacht Club, Coronado Yacht Club, Long Beach Yacht Club, Newport Harbor Yacht Club, Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, San Francisco Yacht Club, St. Francis Yacht Club, and Southwestern Yacht Club.

The Lipton Cup is sailed in a fleet of J/105s, graciously loaned from local J/105 owners, with rotating boats between each race allowing for fair, even racing. The first warning signal is scheduled for 1125 each day.

The USA Finn Association (USAFA) is proud to announce a new USAFA Travel Grant Program. This program is tailored to help young Finn sailors to travel and participate in Finn regattas around North America. All the USAFA members in good standing who didn’t reach their 26th birthday on the first day of the eligible event may apply for a grant. USAFA obligates to reimburse up to $400 in travel expenses for the eligible sailors. For more details about how to apply for the program visit: http://www.finnusa.org/usafa-https://islandsrace.com/documents/

J/Boats of all types are invited to the 2019 J/Fest Regatta. Any J/Boat is eligible to participate, and all are welcome to race in One-Design or J/PHRF classes.

The event features two days of racing, a BBQ/party on Saturday evening, and trophy ceremonies on Sunday following racing.

Eighteen teams are entered so far, with one-design classes for J/22s, J/70s, J/105s and J/120s, plus two J/145s entered in the J/PHRF Division.

In the J/105 class, you have class leaders like Rich Bergmann's ZUNI BEAR, Jan Dekker's AIR BOSS, and Steve & Lucy Howell's BLINK participating. And, in the J/120s, many of the top crews are entered, such as John Laun's CAPER, Ernie Pennell's MAD MEN, Chuck Nichols' CC RIDER and John Snook's JIM.