LA Yacht Club & SCYA
96th Annual SCYA Midwinter Regatta
February 14-15, 2026
The 96th SCYA midwinter regatta produced a small fleet but provided good weather and fun sailing. Six Mercurys were on the line, with new owner Bill Shopp sailing 572. Dave Shoemaker and Greg Clark brought out 475 out of yard after an extended lay off.
Race 1 conditions saw the wind from 190-200 all day, with a wind speed of 8mph. The leg was .5 mile toward the breakwater, twice around finishing downwind. Mike Burch led from start to finish followed by Tom Priest, and Randy Smith. Race 2, the wind died down to about 5mph.The fleet mixed it up in race 2. Don Whelan, with John Buestad found a shift on the first run and approached the gate just ahead of the group, but hit the mark and did their turn. Burch went on to win the race with Dave Shoemaker 2nd, and Bill Schopp 3rd. Race 3 had Don Whelan leading up the first beat, but Burch rounded the mark in 1st. After a run and second beat, things were still close on the run to the finish. Randy Smith made some ground, and the first 3 boats were almost bow to bow crossing the line, with Burch winning and Smith 2nd, and Whelan 3rd . We decided to have Race 4 on Saturday, since forecast was looking for light wind on Sunday. This was a one lap course with Burch winning (again) followed by Smith and Dave Shoemaker
Sunday did have lighter wind from 160-170 degrees, with 5-7 mph in race one, and 5 mph or less in race 2. The wind did not favor the left as some expected and was shifting more than Saturday. Burch got a poor start on the line, and going right put him back near the lead. Randy Smith went on to win race 5, followed by Burch, and Dave Shoemaker. Race 6 mixed things up a little more, however Burch won again, Schopp was 2nd, and Tom Priest was 3rd. One of us could not figure out the shifts on Sunday as shown by the scores. Beside Burch winning 5 of 6 races, the fleet mixed it up and we had good racing.
Thanks for Randy Smith and John Buestad to make the trip south from SF. A few of the LA Fleet members were absent, while preparing for the upcoming San Diego to Puerto Vallarta Race.
A big thank you to LA Yacht Club for their excellent work on the water.
by Don Whelan
