MBYC Spring Sail Regatta

Post date: Apr 06, 2016 5:26:10 AM

Our first road warrior event took place on March 19th, 2016 - the Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club's Spring Sail Regatta. Following is a race report courtesy of Jack Caldwell. Thanks Jack!

This last weekend we had a chance to mix it up with the very friendly and welcoming Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club of Bellevue, (free parking, free moorage and some free food.

The logistics of prepositioning our boats at their dock on Friday so they would be ready for the Sat. Morning 10AMrace start was rather interesting in that on Sunday while attempting to set up for retrieval our access was blocked due to a marathon, alternate plans had to be made on the fly. Our recent discovery of the fine Mercer Island boat ramp (good dock, bargain $11 launch fee and with plenty of covered parking under the I90 Bridge) and with its proximity to the marina and good security was the most convenient ramp for launch and retrieval of our boats.

Skippers,Stephen Jensen, Jim Miller and Jack Caldwell (in order of their finish) represented our fleet. The race start on Sat. was postponed due to lack of wind and because of that we only got in two races instead of the anticipated four races. Sunday the race committee had planed 1 race but since we were short changed on the previous day they decided to do 2 races.

The light puffy wind that arrived favored our boats which do so well in those conditions. The committee had given us, (the slow boats), the third start after the anticipated "faster boats" got there starts 5 and 10 minutes before us. It was rather gratifying to catch up and pass the 1st and 2nd starting boats. Stephen overheard a skipper of a J24 saying to his crew that "I'm being passed by a San Juan 21 that started 10 minutes after me."

It's that kind of comment that'll get those crew members thinking they need pick up a San Juan 21!