Home	Nationals Regatta 10/1/22

This year our traditional Nationals Regatta venue, Golden Gate Yact Club, was not available, so Race Chair/Measurer Kit Wiegman (Cassiopeia) arranged for Island Yacht Club to run the regatta in the Oakland Estuary between Alameda Island and Oakland. Being inland and south of the Bay Bridge, the Estuary has lighter winds than the main Bay, usually transitioning from morning calm to a decent sea breeze by about 1300.

Saturday, October 1st behaved according to plan. The morning "fog" (really stratus clouds) was still thick as the Island YC Race Committee, ably led by Lloyd Ritchey, gathered dockside at 1100 to board Barney Brickner's I-36 Heidi Anne which would serve as our Race Committee boats for the regatta. It was just a little "extra" to have an I-36 serving as RC boat for an I-36 regatta. The great Island YC committee aboard included Chris, Jill, Esther, Mayim, Karen, plus Eric and Ernie running the Mark Set boat, and I-36 ringers, Rick & Sandy Van Mell (Vanishing Animal).

As Barney drove us out into the Estuary from Alameda Marina, Lloyd directed us to open water near the head of Coast Guard Island for a longer startng line and a chance for better air. Having selected a nice spot we went to drop the anchor. However, the chain kept jamming in the down position, though it would go up easily. After some fussing Rick managed to get chain out by holding a screwdriver against an inner divider. We proceeded to set the course as a light 6-8 knot wind started to fill in as our scheduled 1230 warning signal approached.

In the final minute of the countdown, Lloyd called for a postponement as the wind seemed lighter. Indeed as we approached 1245, wind was back and we restarted the sequence. Well, this time there was enough wind and flood tide that we noticed the anchor was dragging and the RC boat was moving. Postponed again! Finally, with the boat and starting mark reset, we got off a good start in fair wind at 1300.

Cassiopeia led with Windwalker and Renaissance close behind. Tacking up the Estuary Windwalker got a favorable lift along the Oakland shore, and about halfway up the weather leg was able to cross Cassiopeia. By the windward mark, Windwalker was two minutes ahead, with Cassiopeia and Renaissance next around. Then it was Island Girl and Kapai with Bella Luna rounding out the fleet. With about 10 knots of wind the downwind leg was a slow, but steady pace. Llyod called for shortening the course from two laps to one and the boats finished in the same order as they rounded the weather mark.

By now the sun was shining and ripples on the water signaled more wind. A nice 10-12 knots made the start of the 2nd race close, with Cassiopeia taking the lead with Renaissance and Windwlaker following. So now we wondered: If Cassiopeia can maintain her lead and keep Renaissance between her and Windwalker, she would win the regatta. But, shortly, Windwalker moved into 2nd place and they battled to the windward mark. Cassiopeia led downwind passing the RC boat, and now it looked like there would be a series tie with both boats having a 1st and 2nd. That would call for a 3rd race and Lloyd was suggesting a shortened Course 6 from the Sailing Instructions.

In the tacking duel from the leeward mark to the finish Windwalker slowly closed the gap on Cassiopeia. About 150 yards from the finish Windwalker passed Cassi and sailed to a 38 second victory to take two firsts and the regatta. The 2nd race ended in the same sequence as the first with Renaissaance, Island Girl, and Kapai in that order. Bella Luna decided to just enjoy sailing in the good weather and didn't start the 2nd race.

Most of the fleet gathered ashore at the Alameda Marina parking lot to enjoy a Mexican spread of rice and means, plus tortillas and both beef and pork chili garnished with onions, cilantro and great hot salsa. That was all arranged by Kit with help from Roy Samuelson (Some Day). There was ample BYOB and Barney even shared his bottle of Don Q rum for neat sipping for those that desired. It was a really fun gathering in the warm sun and cool breeze. Another great Islander 36 Nationals Regatta to remember with 6 boats on the race course and 10 represented in total. Our thanks again to Island Yacht Club for running the race and providing warm hospitality for the fleet.

Here are links to the Notice of Race , and Sailing Instructions , and below are the regatta entries and the final results.

Enjoy the pictures by Roy Samuelson, Ernie Silva, Chris McDowell, Reanne Wong and Rick Van Mell. If you would like original images (these are reduced to 800x600) email Rick with the caption and picture number.

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Results

San Francisco skyline	Welcome too ...	Alameda Marina, home to Island YC	Our Narionals RC boat ...	is Heidi Anne ...
Sandy with Skipper Barney.	Jill and Esther ...	get flags.	Reniassance ...	sets sail
Bella Luna, Renaissance, Cassiopeia, Windwalker	Windwalker arrives	PIsland Girl	Chris runs Mark Set	Hoping for wind
Renaissance finds some	Sandy ready to record	Cassiopeia	Bella Luna ...	Hi Bob.
Hi Kit	and Reniassance ...	looking good.	Light air	Kapai, Island Girl
Windwalker, Bella Luna	Bella Luna	Cassiopeia ...	ready with ..	great lookout!
Kapai	Aboard Kapai ...	Commodore Egan ...	Captain Reanna ...	Mighty crew ...
lazy crew!	Island Girl, Kapai	Windwalker	Windwalker, Cassiopeia	Renaissance ...
tacking	Windwalker	Cassi has wind!	Looks great	Windwalker ...
does too.	Cassi - Renaissance	Alas, not enough.	Race 1 start ..	Renaissance forces Windwalker
Chasing Cassi ...	Kapai starts ...	Upwind battle ...	Kapai look good	Windwalker ...
aiming for ...	Cassi ...	full crew	Windwalker crosses!	Cassi around

Heidi Anne, RC Boat	Lloyd, Karen, Jill, Mayim	Rick clicks ...	Karen smiles.	Mark Set
Downwind, Renaissance, Kapai	Goin downwind ...	wing and wing.	Cover to the finish ...	Right to the lay line
for the finish ...	Windwalker 1st	Cassiopeia 2nd	here comes ...	Renaissance 3rd
Here comes Island Girl ...	4th.	Kapai 5th	Starting line	After 2nd race start

Cassi & Kapai	Island Girl	Cassi leads ...	Windwalker, Renaissance	grabbing escaped mark
Battle for the finish ...	tack to cover ...	layline to finish ...	take it home ...	Cassiopeia 2nd

Next is ...	Reniassance	Next is ...	Island Girl.	Cheers!
Here Comes ...	Kapai.	Roy and Kit.