THE GREAT VALLEJO RACE —
end of April 30-May 1 called for strong breezes on Saturday and somewhat lighter wind on Sunday. What they failed to predict was Saturday's northerly. As in pre-COVID years, the Yacht Racing Association held the Great Vallejo Race as the first of their big weekend regattas. After an August anomaly in 2021, the race returned to its normal time slot in the increasingly busy racing calendar. The race from the Berkeley Circle to Vallejo on April 30 went off on time, without a hitch, for all 18 divisions, in a typical westerly ocean breeze flowing through the Golden Gate into the Slot. The windward drop-mark was a mere three-quarters of a mile away. Once around that, boats reached off, some setting spinnakers or code zeroes, others opting for jibs. One expects a hole in the lee of Angel Island — but this one stretched all the way to Richmond. Boats bobbed about in sloppy waves, carried slowly north by a flood current, until they rejoined the westerly at the mouth of Raccoon Strait. Then, suddenly, a northerly took over and competitors found themselves beating straight into the wind to make it into San Pablo Bay. Some earlier starters were able to set kites as early as the Brothers, a few more at the Point San Pablo buoy, but many weren't able to carry until Point Pinole. The windy white0AGE s
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sail reach up Mare Island Strait brought the racers across the finish line between the ferry terminal and the yacht club. In the gusty wind, most of the fleet entered Vallejo Yacht Club's harbor to rest for the night. "Five boats had engine failure and had to be towed in," reports VYC's vice commodore, Jeremy Haydock. "It was challenging to get everyone in safely." Once snuggled in, the boats may have been resting, but the sailors partied, helped along with a swag bag, a tiki bar, the Shabang Steel Drum Band, dinner, and dancing to the 10-piece Darrell Edwards & Lighting Up the Soul Band. SLACKWATER SF
The weather forecasts for the week-
Great Vallejo Race starters on Saturday, April 30, reach off after rounding the windward mark in more-or-less typical spring conditions in the Slot. — photo latitude / chris
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hen results were posted (literally, on a board outside the clubhouse), we noticed two things: that the downwind scoring had not been used, and that Greg Felton had corrected out to first place overall with his newto-him 1985 Express 27. "I've always loved the
Express 27, a simply incredible design by Carl Schumacher, whom I raced with and highly respected," commented Greg. "The Express 27 is so capable and flexible, small enough to move or store on a trailer, big enough to race in the Transpac or Pacific Cup, comfortable for cruising with friends, easy to Rufus Sjoberg's J/125 'Rufless' finished first on both days.