March 2014

Sergei Podshivalov and crew Randall Landaiche won their division in the annual BAMA Double Handed Farallons race this weekend. Javelin beat out 8 other boats and completed the 55 nautical mile course just 15 corrected-minutes ahead of Achambault A35 Mirthmaker. This year’s event was a bit of a drifter, with multiple DNFs across all classes. Check out the write-up on Pressure Drop for photos and back-story.

Ryan Simmons picked up where his dad left off last season and drove Blackhawk to a win in the Spring One Design regatta. Conditions started out light, but became idyllic as the wind gained strength to the 12kts to 15kts range. Unusually for San Francisco, the breeze was warm enough for many crew members to stow their heavy foulies and enjoy shirt-sleeve sailing under clear skies with just the briefest hint of fog under the Golden Gate.

Tides were in a flood to ebb transition on both days, yielding generally wide lanes and plenty of space on the race course. As the ebb built during the later part of the racing day, the beach became a strong attactant to downwind boats, an effect that lead to some close quarters action and a brief, but non-damaging, grounding as Alchemy took a wrong turn and ended up stuck in the sand by the yacht club.

Blackhawk pulled off their win ahead of a well-sailed Mojo. Godot, Akula and Jam Session rounded out the top five.

Check out drone video of the action and don’t forget to sign up for JFEST.