<\/p>\n
Report by Rick Roberts, LBYC<\/span><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Several spinnakers shredded, hardware broke and one crewmen received minor injuries when the six-foot swells and choppy seas added to the challenge.<\/p>\n Onboard Zoltan Katinszky\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Taking top honors in the competitive Farr 40 fleet was Jeff Janov\u2019s 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. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere was never a moment when we knew we could take it easy,\u201d Janov said. \u201cPiranha and Skian Dhu were my biggest threats and it was a tight, close regatta.\u201d <\/p>\n Finishing second in the Farr 40 class, Voss gave full credit to Janov and his crew.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re to be congratulated for their win,\u201d Voss said, \u201cThey practiced a lot in the off season and it shows.<\/p>\n When asked if he had a plan going into the day to cover Janov, Voss replied, \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Steve Arkle\u2019s Power Play won the Schock 35 class.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone knows me as \u2018Sparkle,\u2019\u201d Arkle said. \u201cMy middle initial is P, so S.P.Arkle\u2026 get it?<\/p>\n \u201cThese were classic Long Beach conditions with favorable winds and great sailing. Where else in the world do you find conditions like these?\u201d<\/p>\n Chris Mewes and his J\/109, Shadowfax, took first in PHRF B.<\/p>\n \u201cWe did a pretty good job,\u201d Mewes said, \u201cbut had to be careful of some of the other boats that weren\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Ron Simonson and his Jeanneau 44, Sleeper won <\/span>PHRF.<\/p>\n \u201cMy boat thrives in these kind of winds,\u201d Simonson said. \u201cWe kept changing sails and actually went through our entire on-board inventory of sails this weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n Simonson and his crew were so good that in the fourth race they bounced back from being over the starting line early to win.<\/p>\n Veteran ocean racer Mike Priest, who is working with Voss\u2019 Farr 40 program, best summed up the weekend when he said, \u201cThis is real sailboat racing.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n Final Results PHRF B 1. Chris Mewes, J\/109, Shadowfax, Navy YC Long Beach<\/p>\n 2. Gordon Leon, Trip 33, Alpha Papa, Cabrillo Beach YC<\/p>\n 3. Tom Payne, 1D35, D\u00e9j\u00e0 Vu, Cabrillo Beach YC <\/p>\n PHRF C 1. Ron Simonson, Jeanneau 44, Sleeper, Cabrillo Beach YC<\/p>\n 2. Bruce Jones, CF37, Sheila, Seal Beach YC<\/p>\n 3. Scott McDaniel, J\/105, Off The Porch, Seal Beach YC<\/p>\n Farr 40 1. Jeff Janov, Dark Star, Cal YC<\/p>\n 2. David Voss, Piranha, Cal YC<\/p>\n 3. Ray Godwin, Temptress, Long Beach YC<\/p>\n