Report by Rick Roberts, LBYC
Long Beach Yacht Club was only one of more than 30 West Coast yacht clubs to host the 81st SCYA Midwinter regatta Saturday and Sunday but certainly must have stood out from the rest where man and machine on 34 boats were tested in consistent winds of 15-20 knots both days.
Several spinnakers shredded, hardware broke and one crewmen received minor injuries when the six-foot swells and choppy seas added to the challenge.
Onboard Zoltan Katinszky’s Farr 40, White Knight, a crewman was down below stowing the spinnaker after a take-down when he lost his footing, hitting his head hard. The boat immediately pulled out of the race and took him to the dock where he was transported to an area hospital. He was later released and was reported as doing fine.
But through it all, most everyone came back to the docks safe, sound and happy that they had the opportunity to participate in this legendary regatta.
Taking top honors in the competitive Farr 40 fleet was Jeff Janov’s Dark Star from Cal Yacht Club. Janov ended the day Saturday four points ahead of fleet favorite David Voss and his boat Piranha. Janov stayed ahead of Voss throughout the day Sunday, keeping those same four points between them to take the win.
“There was never a moment when we knew we could take it easy,” Janov said. “Piranha and Skian Dhu were my biggest threats and it was a tight, close regatta.”
Finishing second in the Farr 40 class, Voss gave full credit to Janov and his crew.
“They’re to be congratulated for their win,” Voss said, “They practiced a lot in the off season and it shows.
When asked if he had a plan going into the day to cover Janov, Voss replied, “We worked on sailing our own boat well and I think we did a good job. If you sail your own boat well, results will come.”
Steve Arkle’s Power Play won the Schock 35 class.
“Everyone knows me as ‘Sparkle,’” Arkle said. “My middle initial is P, so S.P.Arkle… get it?
“These were classic Long Beach conditions with favorable winds and great sailing. Where else in the world do you find conditions like these?”
Chris Mewes and his J/109, Shadowfax, took first in PHRF B.
“We did a pretty good job,” Mewes said, “but had to be careful of some of the other boats that weren’t used to the stronger winds. We gave them space on the roundings and it worked out well. The race committee did a great job and the racing was excellent.”
Ron Simonson and his Jeanneau 44, Sleeper won PHRF.
“My boat thrives in these kind of winds,” Simonson said. “We kept changing sails and actually went through our entire on-board inventory of sails this weekend.”
Simonson and his crew were so good that in the fourth race they bounced back from being over the starting line early to win.
Veteran ocean racer Mike Priest, who is working with Voss’ Farr 40 program, best summed up the weekend when he said, “This is real sailboat racing.”
Final Results
PHRF B
1. Chris Mewes, J/109, Shadowfax, Navy YC Long Beach
2. Gordon Leon, Trip 33, Alpha Papa, Cabrillo Beach YC
3. Tom Payne, 1D35, Déjà Vu, Cabrillo Beach YC
PHRF C
1. Ron Simonson, Jeanneau 44, Sleeper, Cabrillo Beach YC
2. Bruce Jones, CF37, Sheila, Seal Beach YC
3. Scott McDaniel, J/105, Off The Porch, Seal Beach YC
Farr 40
1. Jeff Janov, Dark Star, Cal YC
2. David Voss, Piranha, Cal YC
3. Ray Godwin, Temptress, Long Beach YC
Schock 35
1. Steve Arkle, Power Play, South Coast Corinthian YC
2. Dave Michaelis, MAKO, Alamitos Bay YC
3. Duphily/Kramer/Benjamin, Impulse, Alamitos Bay YC
Complete results are available at www.lbyc.org.