International 18ft Skiff Regatta underway on San Francisco Bay

by Erik Simonson, Pressure-Drop.US on 27 Aug 2014 A much smaller gathering at this International 18 Regatta than in most recent years, due primarily to over extended schedules, eight teams hoisted sail and carried on the tradition of the International 18's on San Francisco Bay. The wind and tide played their usual havoc on sailors as the flood gave way to ebb combined with occasional ferry and cargo traffic to send launch ramps the competitors way.

Without a bundle of Aussie boats present this year, the local crews have a chance to shine and this year, the locals are having great runs and keeping the well-used and well-loved boats sailing well and not sidelined due to injury. Only Brett Van Munster and crew with ASCC are representing OZ.

Event founder, and guy who can never sail enough, Howie Hamlin landed at SFO over the weekend after a hard fought campaign at the 505 Worlds in Kiel, Germany, only to find that his ACE boat was held up in Houston due to a shipping snafu, and had to rally to get his spare up to SF in time to make the start. The boat, well used and without the latest in sails is putting Howie and crew into unfamiliar territory, working through the pains of nursing a rental unit with stiff competition. John Winning, the godfather of Aussie 18's, was also supposed to sail this week, but alas, his kit was also in the same wayward container...

The Kiwis managed to send two reps, Events Clothing with local prodigy, Skip McCormack steering for cousin, 500x removed, Josh and Nick Catley, the other Kiwi boat is Graham Cately's Maersk Line, which made it all the way from Auckland, no problem...