Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

Aldo Alessio Regatta - Three days of tight racing

by Erik Simonson, Pressure-Drop.US on 27 Aug 2014
Whiplash - 2014 Aldo Alessio Regatta Erik Simonson/ pressure-drop.us http://www.pressure-drop.us
Three days of tight racing with a buoy ocean combo made for a superb weekend during the 2014 Aldo Alessio Regatta hosted by the StFYC this past weekend. With nine different courses that would take the fleets out to Bonita twice on Friday, beginning with a flood for the first rounding in 12-15 knots, and then switching to a boisterous ebb with 15-18 outside the Gate and much more inside. The fleet, sailing course 5 would leave Harding to starboard the Alcatraz to port then down to the red number four buoy east of Point Blunt before sailing back uphill to Blackaller before finishing in front of the StFYC.

Zan Drejes helped pull together a team and a boat of Tom Sieble to compete in while his Sig 45 Vamonos recovers from broken mast syndrome, had some of the crew from his other boat, the Mod 70' Orion aboard to crew the borrowed J-125, Andy Costello's Double Trouble 'Really loved the course selection,' said Zan, 'It kept crews on their toes and always something interesting. We didn't sail on Saturday because Tom had other things on the schedule, but Sunday's race was fun too, with the ride out to Point Diablo and then below Alcatraz, back up to Yellow Bluff, back to X down to 21 again then up to Blackaller before the finish, was great.'


The racing was surprising tight for Friday's race with multible position changes for the 111's who mixed in quite closely with several ORR and PHRF boats that were not Swifsure, Whiplash or Double Trouble. The later played 'chase Swiftsure', which out waterlined the others considerably, but could not get quit enough separation to avoid Don Payan and crew on the MC 38 correcting out by 08:55 in PHRF and 00:03 in ORR!

In the ever competitive J-111 divison, no boat had a bigger comeback than Rob Thies's J-111 Aeolus which had a couple snafus during the first trip out the Gate on Friday and was at the back of the fleet as they headed towards the first leeward mark, but was in third when the fleet reentered the Bay on lap 2: 'We had some hiccups early and the breeze was light which did not allow us any opportunities on the first lap. But when things picked up a bit, we were able to reel in boats that had trouble with the building breeze and big ass bay ebb' alluded Aelus crewman Bryan Edwards.






2014 Aldo Alessio Regatta © Erik Simonson/ pressure-drop.us http://www.pressure-drop.us
2014 Aldo Alessio Regatta © Erik Simonson/ pressure-drop.us
Click here to read more.
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic RangeCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERNorth Sails Loft 57 Podcast

Related Articles

Cape 31 European Championship in Palma day 1
Shotgunn opens strong on light-air first day The opening day of the Cape 31 European Championship saw the fleet head out full of anticipation, eager to get the event under way and make the most of the breeze forecast to arrive around midday.
Posted today at 5:50 pm
Allocation of entries for the 29er Worlds in Kiel
All countries will be allocated a minimum of three entries The 29er Class has not restricted entries for the World or European Championships in the past but due to the expected popularity of the Worlds in 2026 in Kiel we feel it is necessary to do an Entry Allocation. This is very difficult to do fairly.
Posted today at 4:45 pm
American crews join the 2025 Rolex Middle Sea Race
Sailors will weave around Sicily's dramatic coastline, through the Strait of Messina The 46th annual Rolex Middle Sea Race, a 606-nautical mile journey beginning and ending in the breathtaking Grand Harbour of Valletta, Malta, will set sail October 18, 2025 in an event hosted by Royal Malta Yacht Club.
Posted today at 4:43 pm
Exiting new product for METS
A+T Instruments is proud to be supplying instruments for some of the most advanced yachts The marine world gathers at METS in Amsterdam. A+T is proud to be supplying instruments for some of the most advanced new-build yachts. Watch the video to see how we can help you with your next project.
Posted today at 4:00 pm
A Day at the Allen Factory!
New and innovative products, cutting-edge manufacturing techniques The Allen factory, based in Southminster, Essex in the UK, makes many of the deck hardware and fittings that we use in our sailing, be that on dinghies or keelboats.
Posted today at 11:00 am
2025 Aloha Classic Grand Final day 2
The battle intensifies as the world's best close in on the crown Perfect trade-wind conditions returned to Ho'okipa today for Day 2 of the 2025 Aloha Classic Grand Final, delivering a full day of 5 Star competition as both the men's and women's draws charged toward Finals Day.
Posted today at 10:12 am
Fireball World Champion interview
Yves Mermod and Maja Siegenthaler talk about their Olympic journey too After their close fought win at the Fireball Worlds in Garda we caught up with the Champions Yves Mermod and Maja Siegenthaler to find out a bit more about their Olympic journey and why and how they ended up competing for a Fireball Worlds in 2025.
Posted today at 9:05 am
Sam Haynes eyes third Rolex Sydney Hobart win
The CYCA Commodore and defending champion will return for the race's 80th edition Sam Haynes, Commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) and defending Overall champion of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, will return for the race's 80th edition.
Posted today at 6:27 am
The International Masters Regatta renamed
To honor late founder, Don Trask The 2025 International Masters Regatta, which as of October 14, 2025 has been officially renamed the Don Trask International Masters Regatta, is set to return to San Diego Yacht Club October 17-19.
Posted today at 5:57 am
Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race Day 6
Counting down the miles The Sydney to Auckland Ocean Race (S2A) is now into its fifth day and the crews of two boats are counting down the miles to the finish line as they look forward to arriving into Auckland, thoughts turn to what they will do on arrival.
Posted today at 12:12 am