82nd SCYA Midwinter Regatta 2011 - Winter storms challenge racers

by Rick Roberts on 21 Feb 2011 82nd SCYA Midwinter Regatta 2011 - The Southern California storm system made it challenging for skippers and crew Saturday and Sunday in the 82nd annual SCYA Midwinter Regatta. Heavy rain, water spouts and potential lighting strikes added a little more excitement than anyone had bargained for in this traditional event.

Text Box: Jeff Janov looks under the boom of his Farr 40, Dark Star, as he sails to a first place finish in the 2011 SCYA Midwinter Regatta. One boat, Steve Arkle’s Schock 35, Power Play, didn’t even make it to the starting line when it ran aground on the rocks while it was being motored to Long Beach Harbor Friday afternoon.

'I wasn’t on the boat,' Arkle explains, 'I had a boat delivery guy bringing it over from Marina Del Rey. He had just passed Point Fermin and was outside the breakwater by Cabrillo Beach when the engine quit. There weren’t any sails up the wind and waves washed the boat up on the breakwater. The lifeguards got him off the boat but the wind and surf were too strong to pull the boat off the rocks.

'Saturday morning the crew and myself went down to Cabrillo Beach and gathered parts and pieces of the boat off the beach and had a moment of silence in its memory. I’m thankful no one was hurt.'

Text Box: David Bassett-Parkins (at helm) brought home his One-Design 48, Emirage II to first place overall in PHRF A. As for racing action, Saturday the breeze of 5-8 knots bounced back and forth making it tough for the teams to find fastest way around course. After only two of three scheduled races, a squall came up, bringing with it water spouts and a potential for lighting strikes. The race committee abandoned the last race of the day and made sure everyone got off the water safely.

Sunday had more wind with 8-12 knots throughout the day and the seas had calmed down allowing the boats to focus more on racing each other rather than the weather.

Jeff Janov took first place honors in the Farr 40 fleet, and for the second year in a row got to take the perpetual Alan Andrews Trophy home to Cal Yacht Club.

'Saturday was so crazy,' Janov said, 'and we were happy with the two second place finishes we had. Far Niente had two bullets for the day and we were glad for them since they’ve put in a lot of hard work on the boat.

Text Box: Todd Wheatley (at helm) gave full credit to his crew in getting first place in PHRF B in the 2011 SCYA Midwinter Regatta. 'Today there was a little more pressure and we came on strong posting two bullets in the first two races. In the last race we sailed conservatively. It was a fantastic weekend.'

David Bassett-Parkins finished first overall in the PHRF A class with his One-Design 48, Emirage II.

'Saturday we had 40 degree wind shifts,' Bassett-Parkins said, 'and it was all we could do to keep up with the shifts. Today was much more steady. We went left all day long and it was a pretty good day… except for the last race when we were over early.'

Finishing in first overall in PHRF B was Tom and Todd Wheatley’s Frers 39, Gator.

'We sailed our own race this weekend,' said Todd, 'and stayed out of trouble. We have a good boat and a great crew.'

Ron Simonson’s Jeanneau 44, Sleeper, was first overall in PHRF C and Bob Marcus and Bruce Bennett’s Schock 35, Code Blue, took first place in their One-Design class.

Final Results

PHRF A
1. David Bassett-Parkins, Emirage II, 1D48, Alamitos Bay YC
2. Tom Payne, Déjà vu, 1D35, Cabrillo Beach YC
3. John Snook, Jim, J/120, Long Beach YC

PHRF B
1. Tom & Todd Wheatley, Gator, Frers 39, Alamitos Bay YC
2. Tom Brott, Electra, J/109, Seal Beach YC
3. Taylor Grant, Blur, Columbia 30SY, Newport Harbor YC

PHRF C
1. Ron Simonson, Sleeper, Jeanneau 44, Cabrillo Beach YC
2. Pete Woodsworth, Old School, Tartan 10, Seal Beach YC
3. Cole Price, Southern Comfort, Olson 30, Alamitos Bay YC

Farr 40 Class
1. Jeff Janov, Dark Star, Cal YC
2. Frederic Scheer, Far Niente, Cal YC
3. Dirk Freeland, Skian Dhu, Santa Barbara YC

Schock 35 Class
1. Bob Marcus/Bruce Bennett, Code Blue, Alamitos Bay YC & Seal Beach YC
2. Larry Emerson, Shaka, Cortez Racing Association
3. Duphily/Kramer/Benjamin, Impulse, Alamitos Bay YC

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