JIM ERSKINE / CYC
SEASON CHAMPIONS PART 1 —
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that "easily sailed" on San Francisco Bay.
he end-of-year Season Champions features have been a long-standing tradition here at Latitude 38. How long? We're not sure, but at least three decades. Racing editors have come and gone, each adding their own angle on, rather than taking away from, the celebration of the leaders who show the rest of us the way around our local race courses. In homage to tradition, we'll lead off the first of three parts with a traditional design, the Nordic Folkboat. First built in Sweden, the Folkboat is a 25-ft full-keel fractional sloop. According to Wikipedia, the design was the result of a competition held by the Scandinavian Yacht Racing Union in 1942. The organization was hoping to create an easily sailed and low-cost boat. Older wooden boats and newer fiberglass boats compete together under class rules administrated by the Folkboat International Association (www.folkboat.com.) The rig is simple, with no spinnakers, but we're not so sure the boats are all Page 74 •
Latitude 38
• November, 2019
Folkboat — Freja Tom Reed, StFYC The season for the Bay Area Nordic Folkboat fleet consisted of 24 races with four throwouts. Counting regattas were San Francisco Yacht Club's Resin Regatta in April, the YRA's CBRA races in May, June and August, Sausalito YC's Classic Boat Races in June and Tom Reed August and St. Francis YC's Woodies Invitational in June (yep, June was a busy month for
The Folkboat is not a comfy boat, but a handsome one. This one's the season champ, 'Freja'.
the Folkboaters). "I think the reason for our success is the fact that we have sailed together for many years," said the 2019 season champion, Tom Reed. "My crew is my son, Tommy Jr., and Dave Kresgi. "Our favorite regatta this year had to be the International Regatta for Nordic Folkboats, where we came in second. We were able to see our old friends from Europe as well as making new ones." Read about the Folkboat International Regatta and see more photos in this month's Racing Sheet on page 89. "I would like to give a shout-out to the whole Folkboat fleet for being one of the most friendly and competitive onedesign fleets in the Bay Area," adds Reed. "Folkboats forever!" Find the local Folkboat fleet online at www.sfbayfolkboats.org. 1) Freja, 20 points; 2) Thea, Chris Herrmann, StFYC, 54; 3) Polruan, James Vernon, GSC, 56. (8 boats)