Ho Hum, it was just another beautiful day in paradise (aka San Diego )!  The weather was perfect!  The sun was shining, the temperature was nearing the mid 70’s, the wind was fair; and we had six boats in our fleet for the April race!  Nancy Renzi arrived in her new boat, Aeolis , to establish her handicap.  Dan Nephew sailed over from Mission Bay to participate.  Dan had already put in a half-day’s sailing just getting to the starting line! And John Isaksen is BAAACK sailing His Knot Hers!  Welcome back John!  The regulars, Mike Collins on Marilee, Dave Baer on Casamar and, of course, Jandon were also in the fleet. 

There were no other racing fleets starting at G17 so we all got off to a good start at 1200 sharp.  Jandon led the way around the first mark, R16.  As we kept R18 and R20 to port on the North Island side of the bay, Marilee quickly closed the gap and crept into the lead during the long downwind leg toward FM19 at the east end of Harbor Island.  The Catalina 30’s, Casamar and His Knot Hers vied for third and fourth place (okay, Casamar didn’t feel threatened) while Dan Nephew on tiny Bare Necessities II challenged Nancy ’s much larger 34’ Aeolis .  After rounding FM 19 it was a long upwind jaunt up to G1 at the east end of Shelter Island and then back to the first rounding of G17.  Sailing closer to the wind Jandon rounded G1 and G17 a minute or so ahead of Marilee.  Marilee kept up the pace though and closed the gap a bit while Jandon’s crew enjoyed lunch during the downwind leg back to FM19.  Nancy thought the race was over after rounding G17 so she wandered off toward Point Loma in spite of crew, Ted Bowler’s objections that they had to go back to FM 19 again.  Nancy , what were you thinking?  Dan Nephew was closing on Aeolis when Nancy abandoned the course but he continued on, sailing the short course, and headed back downwind after rounding G17.  Jandon led the fleet back to FM 19 but finished the race back at G17 a mere 30 seconds ahead of Marilee.  Casamar crossed the line seven seconds ahead of Bare Necessities II followed by His Knot Hers.  John claimed he was working the kinks out of his new gear and not concentrating on the race.  Ho ho!

So, who won the race? 

Congratulations to Dan Nephew in Bare Necessities II who came in first on handicap!  Second place goes to John Isaksen on His Knot Hers; and third to Dave Baer on Casamar. 

Keep an eye on the new handicapping system for 2008 folks.  The handicap is intended compensate for the different sized boats in the fleet and to reflect not only the boat’s water line length potential speed but the skipper’s improving skill as well.  This year the handicap will only go down, not up.  The handicap is now based on a skipper’s four fastest races.  There may be some pretty hefty changes in handicaps as the season continues.   I’m hoping Marilee’s handicap dips below mine!

Thanks to all for a great April race.  Hope to see you all on the bay again on Fred Astaire’s birthday…that’s 10 May.  The race results are attached and may also be viewed below.

Submitted by your humble SDSPS Race Co-chair,
Don Litzenberg, Jandon skipper