News Flash!

Marilee Leads the Fleet Over the Finish Line!

In windy, cool, June gloom weather on San Diego Bay Mike Collins’ Marilee with crew Robert and Dennis Chapman, Gordon Froelich, Shaun McArdle, and a new crew member, Doran Milne took full advantage of the windy conditions and wrenched “First over the finish line” from the competition.  Four boats participated in an exciting, complicated and sometimes confusing 13 leg course.  The noon start at G17 on the west end of Shelter Island saw Dave Baer on Casamar with crew Mike Fontaine and Mike Sampsel first over the starting line followed closely by Marilee, Jandon with crew Don Litzenberg (2) Thom McCune and Terry Weaverling; and Nancy Renzi’s Aeolus with crew Ken Glaze and Katie Law following.  Rounding the first mark at R16, Jandon overtook Marilee and caught up with Casamar as the fleet raced on to R18 and R20 on the North Island side of the bay.  Sudden gusts up to 20 knots in winds that were ranging between 12 and 16 knots caused a number of round-ups as the crews fought to keep the boats’ rails out of the water and the sails adjusted for speed.  Marilee turned too soon after rounding R18 but quickly recovered and passed Jandon again at one of the five visits to G1 on the east end of Shelter Island.  Marilee and Jandon traded places twice as the course took them again and again around G1 and Casamar held third consistently as she closed time and again on the leaders, catching up and then falling back again.  Aeolus struggled to keep up but her hungry crew decided to take a lunch break during the last leg to G1; and finished the race with crew well fed.  Aeolus may not be fast but her crew sails in comfort.

So, who won the race?

First Place congratulations go to Dave Baer and crew on Casamar!   Marilee took second on handicap, followed by Jandon and Aeolus. 

Thanks to all for a great race.  Hope to see you all on the bay again on Buckminster Fuller’s birthday… that’s 12 July.  The race results are attached and may also be viewed below.

Humbly submitted by,

Don Litzenberg,
SDSPS Sail Fleet Co-chair