Vallejo Race May 5-6, 2007

(If you like, you can skip down through the prose and go straight to the pictures below!)

It was a most unusual Vallejo race. When is the last time you had to beat all the way to Vallejo? Then, when do you remember flying a spinnaker coming home from Vallejo? Well it happened this year. A big developing high pressure system sent offshore winds across the course turning the traditional race upside down. Too bad for the Islanders who were looking forward to flying a spinnaker on the way up as the first race in this year's Casual Classic Series. Then a minus tide at Vallejo Sunday morning locked the fleet in the harbor for a postponement, and even then a couple of boats were late getting out to the starting line. But the sun was shining and the racing keen. Captain Hooke pirated first place on the way up, and Diana took the prize on the way back in the first Season's Championship race.

So another season of racing is off to a good start. With ten boats racing, and three more expected to join racing, the fleet is strong. It's fun to see relative new-comers Pacific High, Freedom Won and Captain Hooke right in there with champions Windwalker and Diana. After a light start, there was breeze to the first mark off angel Island, then lighter going until beating (yes BEATING) into San Pablo Bay. From there the thermals aligned with the gradient and the breze started piping in. By the time the fleet nosed into Mare Island Strait for the last 2 miles, it was gusting up in the 30 knot range. It's tough beating dead upwind in a narrow channel in 30 knots. It's tough on the crew and it's tough on the boats. After Captain Hooke won going up, she discovered water in her bilge, and the likely diagnosis is a "Smile" crack in the hull. Lots of backstay tension in the heavy going may have been a factor. After she's hauled and checked out, we'll try to get an updated report. (If you haven't read about the "Smile", here's a link: "Smile".)

Tom Netwon, Captain Hooke's Skipper, sent along a short log of the race from their perspective: Hoooke's Log.

Vallejo is known for its party - what else would you expect with 300 boats present? It lived up to expectations, with an added treat of a jazz guitarist who plays in a band with Tom Newton (Captain Hooke) at the Richmond Yacht club on weekends.

Sunday morning's low tide - a bit on the minus side - trapped many boats in the Vallejo harbor all morning, resulting in a postponement of the start. Some even were late to the starting line when they did get out. And more surprising yet was the reach down San Pablo Bay, with many spinnakers flying (but not on Islanders).

This weekend started both the new Casual Classic Series and the traditional Season's Championship Series. The race up, normally a spinnaker run, started the Classic. It was intended that Islanders could fly their chutes - something several boats were really looking forward to. The return race to start the Season's Chamionship, unfortunately, reverted to the no-spinnakers rule though the wind was aft. Here are all standings in each series: 2007 Standings. In each race you can click on "Details" at the top of each column to see boat names, owners, sail numbers and elapsed and corrected times.

Overall, it was a good start to the season. Congratulations racers.

Pictures by Dan Knox, Carol Williams & Lou Zevanov, plus four images from Mariah's Eyes Photography. Mariah has pages of Vallejo and other sailing pictures at http://www.mariahseyesphotography.com/. Click on images to enlarge, click "Back" to return.

Little wind in ...	the starting area	Bonnie is patient with ...	finger tip control
Amante comes to race	Freedom Won finds breeze	The City looks nice	Dan's in charge
Capt. Hooke sets sail	Windwalker arrives	Pacific High is ...	looking greatDSCN0034
Now let's get started	Diana's ready	Competition to windwar	It's a chase
Let's get 'em	Kapai to windward	Converging on mark	Wind at the moment
Mark crowd	Eased out a bit	Bonnie drives	Wind goes light
Cassiopeia	Lou gives a ...	driving lesson?	Tenacious is light going
Cassiopeia	Tenacious crosses Diana	Amante's got some wind	Windwalker astern
Windwalker & Kapai ...	now to leeward	Walking on the wind!	Light air at Richmond Bridge
Captain Hooke by Mariah	Amante by Mariah	Kapai by Mariah	Kapi crew by Mariah
Kapai	Cassiopeia	Captn Hooke is steaming	1st place dock spot!
The Crowd starts	John relaxes	Harry's tired!	Starched flags
Bonnie cleans up	Dock conference	Luna Sea's gangplank	The crowd is in!
Happy Pacific High crew	Michele & John	Freedom Won crew	's Frank & Susan
Windwalker crew	Champagne for Dan & Bonnie	Tom Newton	Hooke's crew band!
Kapai crew	Tucked in	Happy PH crew	Snug fit
Sunday morning mud!	?, Michele & Steve	Crew is ready to go	OK, tell Karen it's ...
time to cut ...	her cake ...	good, huh?	Pieces anyone?
Waiting for water	Still waiting.	Afloat at last.	Clear skies
Sunday start	Kapai astern	Reaching home ...	Nice sailing
Parade coming up astern	Approaching the ...	finish line.	Quiet time
The End

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