Just Swell! MBYC Cat Fight, San Diego, California, by Connie Brown
What is cold (51 degrees), has a sizable storm swell, rains and has sun? A
great weekend of Cat racing! On Saturday wind direction was due
west at 270 degrees and blowing in the teens with swells from trough to
peak from 8-10ft. Event coordinator, Carl Teyssier, noted that it was, “an
educational day for skippers and crew”.
I had a different platform for this year’s Mission Bay Yacht Club Cat Fight.
Usually, I would be hanging off the side of a cat catching a stiff breeze
but this year I had a great ride on a 36ft Monohull Committee boat photographing
the days events and the photo opts kept coming.
The swells on the first day crested one right after the other and sent several
committee boats riders to the side rails more then once. Racing was a hard
and fast. With several boats capsizing and a few completely turtled, some
needed chase boat assistance. By the end of the second race on Saturday,
more then half the boat had heading in. The other diehard teams wanted more.
The Race Committee obliged.
Sunday’s racing conditions were lighter and made for a perfect day of ocean
sailing with winds of 8-10 knots and beautiful blue skies and lighter swell
conditions.
Cats raced in three groups: (A) I-20’s and Tornado, (B) F-18’s, (C)
Portsmouth H-20, Prindle18.2 and Nacra 5.8. With such a large selection
of Cat’s and extreme conditions the boats were rarely at the start line
tight and I only heard only one call on the water for right away during the
race.
The team of Charlie Beeson and Roger Floyd had a great day weekend on the
I-20 and finished first in Group A. Group B, F-18’s, top finishing team was
Dan Delave and Jeff Fortuna. Jeff Collins and Doug Shifley took top honors
in Group C on the H-20.
Results: Group A: First Place, Charlie Beeson/Roger Floyd. Second Place,
Mike Dobbs/Glenn Brown.
Group B: First Place, Dan Delave/Jeff Fortuna. Second Place: Dennis Key/Phillip
Dow
Group C: First Place, Jell Collins/Doug Shifley. Second Place: Leo Luh/Anna
Glassel
Next MBYC Cat Fight is scheduled for May 6th-7th.
Connie Brown
Full Tilt Photo & Design