2019 Race Archive
Last weekend two NorCal teams (Doug Baird, Lyn Hines), 3 SoCal teams (Bob Burns, Park Densmore, Mike Burch) made the trip to Santa Barbara, as well as Santa Barbara GT, for the Cinco de Mayo Regatta hosted again by the Santa Barbara Sailing Club. The Santa Barbara Sailing Club was very enthusiastic to have Mercury's participating since they made up one of the largest fleets for the regatta except the Laser qualification trophies.
The Carmiggelt Regatta was a success thanks to a break in the weather and the Encinal YC race committees willingness to launch races.
Because the predominant wind was crossways to the normal fetch of the Estuary,
Seven Mercurys sailed with two brand new crews out of RYC, Charlie Mckenzie, new to Mercury Class and Dan Brandt, the RYC sailing coach. The 2019 Mercury Nationals at RYC is creating significant buzz in that very active small boat sailing club as these new competitors evidence.
Sailing in gray and occasional light rain the first race was a drifter, half sausage course (downwind finish at s/f line, wind out of south. Jim Bradley wins start, West finds a groove with new suit of prototype North Sails (first suit of Mercury sails in nearly half a century!) and wins first race. Randy Smith second, Jim and Kathy Bradley third. Two more dropped out with one directly headed to the great EYC bar looking over the Estuary.
Due to high wind and unsafe on the water conditions, racing on both days was cancelled.
Thanks to the Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club for again hosting this regatta.