2015 Yachting Cup ends with a dramatic day of racing

by SDYC on 4 May 2015 There's one word that competitors won't be using to describe the final day of racing at the 2015 Yachting Cup, boring. Sunday's racing saw split head sails, shrimped kites, and a sailor in the water all in one race.

Ultimately, it was Neil Fraser's Mexican Divorce that was selected as the overall winner for the 43rd annual Yachting Cup. With 11 different fleets and heavy competition throughout each, the Organizing Authority had quite a tedious task in selecting the overall Yachting Cup winner.

Fraser, who is based out of South Bay Yacht Racing Club in Marina del Rey, competed in the Division B class on Mexican Divorce, a 1D35. The Organizing Authority had two basic criteria that needed to be met before any competitors were eligible for selection as the overall winner. First, the competitor needed to have sailed all three race days. Second, they needed to win their fleet.

The title was not an easy one for Fraser and his crew to take, as competition cranked into full gear for the final racing day. Conditions were much stronger than Saturday's racing, with white caps on the ocean courses and breezes ranging from 12-15 kts.

In Race seven of the Far Roads venue, Bud shrimped a spinnaker kite while Blue Blazes and Velos both split head sails. Inside the bay, Creative broke a rudder, keeping them from finishing the last race of the day.

With fast sailing, sunny skies and plenty of action, this day was truly a testament to how exciting San Diego sailing can be.

The fleet winners are Victor Wild's Bud (Class AA), Tim Fuller's Resolute (Class A), Neil Fraser's Mexican Divorce (Class B), Chuck Nichols's CC Rider (J-120), Chick Pyle's Kea (Ben 36.7), James Wert's Twister (Class C), Rick Goebel's Sanity (J-105), Tim Fuller and Vince Brun's BL!SSS (J-70), Michael and Kathy Roach's Poco Loco (Class D), Thomas Brott's Electra (J-109) and Curt Johnson's Avet (J-80).

Sixteen members of the PHRF San Diego Fleet racing in this weekend's Yachting Cup also competed in the Ed Cotter PHRF Championship Perpetual. Their results from this weekend will contribute to the overall PHRF series. The class winners are Blue Blazes (Class One), Justice (Class 2A), Geronimo (Class 2B), El Sueno (Class Three), Poco Loco (Class Four) and Cimarron (Class Five).

Yachting Cup and the San Diego Yacht Club would like to thank all of their sponsors for all of their contributions to this regatta: First National Bullion, JK3 Yachts, Mount Gay Rum, Pirate’s Lair, El Jimador, Spinlock, North Sails, Downwind Marine Sailing Supply, Jackson Design and Remodeling, Ballast Point, SD Boatworks, Anchor Gloves, Harken, Cynthia Sinclair and Joysailing.com.