The Rites of Spring 2014 - Spring has sprung!

by Erik Simonson on 19 Mar 2014 Light airs, a full moon ebb, and a forecast of 5-10 knots with temps in the 70's greeted sailors on San Francisco Bay this Saturday. Being the middle of March, chances of the wind making an appearance are good this time of year and as the City was getting it's Irish on, the luck was with the sailors!

The Rites of Spring ran by host Oakland Yacht Club had a minor delay as wind made its way to the start at the Oly Circle, and sent The fast boats out to course six, Start; Harding, Blackaller then finish for an 11 nm Bay tour. The three Fleets, PHRF 144 and less, (spin and non spin) (nine) boats total plus the nine boat multihull's worked their way to the increasing wind and ebb, and enjoyed brisk conditions and a crowded City Front before bearing down on Treasure Island and the Bay Bridge and the the finish.

The women's full crew, women's and men's single handed, DH non spin and spin classes rode out the day on the slightly shorter but much less congested Course one, Start, Quarry Point, Harding, Blossom then finish. All boats did get a nice taste of spring conditions, especially west of Alcatraz as the ebb continued to build and a freshening southwest ushered in by the marine layer reminded us of its near proximity to settling into our summer pattern.

The first to finish of all boats was Greg Nelsen's Outsider, double handed with Napoleon Baltonano, completing the 11 nm Course one in 2h:13m:02. Chris Harvey and Bob Hyde sailed Mojo, aka 'the Happy Dog' to a first in the multi class. The new to him Farrier F-25C has split time between SF and Colorado and is only one of 50 or so built. 'Its way lighter and way stiffer than my old boat' Chris comments. Andre Zimmerman and his Olson 30' Warpath was the fastest around the Course one, completing the course in 2:03:52.

For full results click here.

Other winners:

Robert and Ansel Boyton on the Yankee 30 Sea Witch winning DH Spin PHRF >145

Bill Mohr-and Mike Bernt on the J-124 Spirit of Freedom taking DH non spin <145

Ray Ivine and Quintin Boe sailed the Catalina 34 Crews Nest to victory in DH non spin >145

The sole sailor to show up for the ladies singlehanded, Jackie Philpott on her Cal 2-12 Dura Mater

The sole women's full crew on Mad Max, the Santana 22 with artsy design was crewed bay Megan Dwyer, Katie Kirk and Trude Renwick

Rounding out the divisions, Ralph Morgan and Debra Clark took line honors in the three boat Alerion Division aboard Ditzy