THE RACING A Marin County-based team rocks the Pro Am Regatta in the BVI; it takes a village at the Great Pumpkin Regatta; the Artemis crew leaps to save an endangered umpire; SDYC hosts the International Masters Regatta, then wins the San Diego Lipton Cup back from defenders StFYC; we get caught up on fall Box Scores; plus Race Notes.
competition among the 'Ams' for the coveted Scuttlebutt Sailing Club Championship, which is decided in the Final sailed later in the week. Amid stiff competition on Lasers, Hobie Waves, and Hobie Getaways, Bay Area sailor Peter Schoen qualified for the Finals sailing a Laser for the first time in decades. (Schoen normally sails a Moore 24, Mooretician, on San Francisco Bay.) Monday featured the Mount Gay Defiance Day race, a fun distance race to Virgin Gorda's iconic Baths and back, sailed in IC24 one-design keelboats and big catamarans. Of course the day wouldn't have been complete without the daily awards party featuring Mount Gay Rum hats and drinks. The actual Pro Am began Tuesday morning with the much-anticipated unveiling of boat and crew assignments. Crews and boats were shuffled throughout the day to minimize the effects of differences in the well-used boats, and to provide the 'Ams' opportunities to sail with each of the 'Pros'. The standings at the end of the day determined the order of the match-racing Finals on Friday, with Sally Barkow in first place by just three points over Dave Ullman, followed by Taylor Canfield in third place. After Wednesday's fun-filled lay day, racing resumed on Thursday morning with a new wrinkle — boys vs. girls exhibition team racing, which required significant effort from the 'Am' crews through Left to right: Scuttlebutt Sailing Club champion Peter Schoen the tricky maneuvers. It was and his crew Leslie Richter, Luke Ramsay and Craig Healy with truly a unique opportunity their prizes and swag at Bitter End YC. to experience anything close to the kind of action that takes place in Yachtswoman of the year and Volvo professional team racing. Ocean Race veteran Sally Barkow; and The Scuttlebutt Sailing Club ChamAnnie Haeger, an Olympic hopeful in pionship Finals took place on Thursday the 470. The stakes were high since the afternoon, with the qualifying 'Ams' at winning Pro receives an automatic inthe helm of the IC24s (the IC24 is a devitation to next year's 30th anniversary scendent of the J/24). After five races, event. And while the Pro Am is billed as a Peter Schoen took the 'Am' division with laid-back regatta, there was some highly his crew of Bay Area sailors Craig Healy competitive, close-quarters maneuvering and Leslie Richter, plus Canadian Olymon the racecourse. pic hopeful Luke Ramsay, winning the Sunday's initial event was a qualifying
MAR JAVIERTO / WWW.ISHOOTBVI.COM
BVI Pro Am Regatta Bitter End Yacht Club's Pro Am Regatta was held during the last week of October on the warm turquoise waters of Virgin Gorda Sound in the British Virgin Islands. The Pro Am provides a rare opportunity to race and socialize with some of the stars of the competitive sailing world as the resort guests (the 'Ams') crew for the 'Pros'. The Bay Area sailing community was ably represented by Michelle Farabaugh, Ross Tibbits, Peter Schoen, Leslie Richter, and Pam and Craig Healy. This year's invited Pro lineup consisted of world match-racing champion — and winner of a previous Pro Am — Taylor Canfield; Pro Am defender and international Moth and J/24 champion Anthony Kotoun; Olympic medalist and Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year JJ Fetter of San Diego; one of the world's best competitive sailors and coaches, Dave Ullman of Southern California; Rolex
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Scuttlebutt Sailing Club Championship and earning him three nights at BEYC and a virtual parking space at the virtual Scuttlebutt world headquarters. "The Pro Am was great fun, and I'd recommend it to anyone," claimed Schoen. "It really is an adult fantasy camp for sailors. You not only get to sail with some incredible pros, you get to just relax and hang out with them and the other guests. I took away a few tricks I hope to use on my Moore 24. We'll be back next year to defend the championship!" Friday's final results were deter mined by a series of match races among Tuesday's top four scoring skippers. By the end of the day, world match racing champ Taylor Canfield was victorious, but Sally Barkow put up a good fight to take second place. And in third place, Olympic 470 hopeful Annie Haeger beat her coach, Dave Ullman. Next year's Pro Am will take place on October 25-30. "We're really looking forward to the 30th Pro Am," said organizer John Glynn of BEYC. "It promises to be one for the ages. We expect to see at least six past winners, as well as a few Am favorites. Repeat guests who have signed up already are lobbying for their favorite skippers to return! And as always, we will have a new wrinkle or two." See www.beyc.com. — leslie richter