Wind lovers find a way on a light-wind day

by Rich Roberts on 23 Jun 2007 As with most of the competitors, Acura presents Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week appealed to Alex Rasmussen for its vigorous and reliable sea breeze.

'We like breeze, so we don't like to leave Santa Barbara,' he said after posting a second and a third on Day 1 Friday of the inshore regatta co-hosted by the Long Beach and Alamitos Bay Yacht Clubs to lead the regatta's largest fleet, the J/105s, by a single point over Doug and Pam Werner's Javelin from San Diego. 'Honestly, my goal was just to be in the hunt.'

Never mind that the wind didn't blow up to its reputation, starting at 4-5 knots and reaching 7 or 8 through the first two of seven races scheduled over a three-day weekend. The early leaders dealt with it---and maybe hoped for more wind Saturday and Sunday.

There were nine perfect days among the 126 boats in 16 classes competing on three windward-leeward courses. One perfect boat was Dick Velthoen's J/35, Rival, from Ventura, driven to a pair of wins in PHRF 4 class by his longtime friend, Paul Defrietas.

The J/35 is an older boat, 'but the team did a great job of having it prepared just right,' Defrietas said. 'We thought there would be more wind from what we saw bringing the boat down here, but with me driving it's easier with light wind, if it's not too light.'

The biggest boat here, Mike Campbell and Dale Williams' Kernan 70, Peligroso, scored a 1-2 with the owners alternating on the helm for a one-point lead in the Fast 50 class over Alec Oberschmidt's Reichel/Pugh 50, Staghound, the defending champion. Roger Sturgeon's new Rosebud, an STP 65 that won Class A over Peligroso in the First Team Regatta at Newport Beach last month, arrived too late in the day to race Friday while undergoing hydraulic repairs but will be on the water Saturday.

Roland Fournier's Blue Moon 2 from Long Beach also swept in the J/80s, leading at every mark.

'We sailed clean and sailed the shifts,' Fournier said. 'We watched the compass, and when we got headed we tacked.'

But the key, he said, was that 'my 14-year-old son Ian told me where to go.'
Racing continues Saturday and Sunday starting at noon, conditions permitting.

Class leaders (After 2 of 7 races)

FAST 50 (9)---Peligroso (Kernan 70), Mike Campbell/Dale Williams, Long Beach, 1-2, 3.
FAST 40 (8)---The Doc (Dr. Laura Schlessinger), Santa Barbara, 1-1, 2.
SPORTBOAT (7)---Tie between Nemesis (Melges 30), San Diego, 2-1, and Pendragon (Melges 32), Howard Lewis/Bruce Cooper, Dana Point, 2-1, 3.
PHRF 4 (10)—Rival (J/35), Dick Velthoen/Paul Defrietas, Ventura, 1-1, 2.
PHRF 5 (9)---Hitchhiker (Laser 28), Doug Johnstone, Marina del Rey, 1-1, 2.
FARR 40 (7)---Skian Dhu, Dirk Freeland, 1-3, 4.
J/105 (15 boats)---Free Enterprise, Alex Rasmussen, Santa Barbara, 2-3, 5 points.
BENETEAU 36.7 (5)---Bella Vita, Martin Burke, King Harbor, 1-1, 2.
SCHOCK 35 (8)---Tie between Power Play, Steve Arkle/Tom McQuade, Marina del Rey, 1-3, and Mako, Dave and Don Michaelis, Long Beach, 2-2, 4.
J/109 (5)---Tie between Commotion, Tony Wetherbee, Balboa, 1-3, and Linstar, John Schulze, Balboa, 2-2, 4.
MELGES 24 (10)---Pegasus 505, Dave Ullman, Balboa, 1-1, 2.
FLYING TIGER 10 (8)---Elusive, John Pacquin, San Diego, 1-1, 2.
CATALINA 37 (5)---Team Legeman, Charlie Legeman, Long Beach, 1-1, 2.
J/80 (7)---Blue Moon 2, Roland Fournier, Long Beach, 1-1, 2
J/29 (6)---Coyote, David Randle, Santa Barbara, 1-2, 3.
RANDOM LEG (7)---X Rated (Sloop), David Fell, Long Beach, 1.