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The Racer’s Perspective

The YRA Summer Series is the latest iteration of YRA’s series of races on the Bay. The YRA has organized and run bay racing series for well over 70 years. For many years there were two groups of racers that participated in Bay racing, the ODCA (One Design Class Association), and HDA (Handicap Division Association). However, in 2012, after years of declining numbers of boats racing the ODCA and HDA fleets were retired. In 2013 what were the ODCA and HDA fleets sailed in a newly named series, the YRA Series. A few years later the YRA Series was renamed the YRA Summer Series. The Summer Series is now composed of several PHRF fleets and a few remaining one design fleets. Some one design fleets don’t race the whole series, but often take advantage of the Summer Series by adding some of the Summer Series races to their one design schedule.

We reached out to the skippers who raced in the 2021 series for their perspectives regarding the series. A few of the skippers gave us a generous amount of information which we’re happy to share.

This year was John Arens’ first year of racing in the Summer Series and he placed 3rd in PHRF 2. John bought Reverie, a J 019, in 2019 and started racing her in 2020. He grew up in Southern California and raced on his father’s boat, which was a love-hate sort of thing and after a while drifted away from the sport. Recently John moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and after the move decided to try racing again. John purchased a J 109 and started racing the boat this year. He enjoyed all the races but especially the last race of the season which featured a South Bay venue. With a warm breeze in the 10 – 15 knot range, it was a very pleasant set of races that his whole crew enjoyed. John’s crew includes Ed Conti – bow, Niklas Hache – mast, Kyle Hutchens – pit, Randall Lesley – Trimmer, Gregg Golembeski – Main, and Jim Coburn on Tactics. John had nothing but praise for the crew and especially Jim Coburn who helped keep the boat going in the right direction.

Gerry Brown is a well known name to anybody who has raced on the bay. Gerry currently owns the Farr 38 Mintaka, but has owned a series of Mintakes including a C&C 36, Newport 30, Triton, and many years ago a Columbia 5.5. Gerry has done well with all his various Mintakas but confesses his favorite of all of them is his current boat. Gerry placed 2nd in PHRF 2 and finished the series with a set of bullets in the last race of the season. Gerry also liked the last race of the season, the South Bay venue the best, again because of the beautiful conditions the day presented – and getting two bullets on the last races of the season gave everyone a warm glow. Gerry enjoyed the other venues as well, commenting that each venue has its own set of characteristics and challenges. Gerry’s main competition was Bob Hartfords Express 37 Stewball. He finds that the Express 37 is hard to beat upwind, but can often catch and pass the Expresses downwind – with one exception being the Express 37 Golden Moon. When preparing for a race, Gerry uses windsurf.com for wind forecasts and i36.com for tidal information and thinks the best way to prepare for the Summer Series is by racing in one of the mid-winter races. Gerry’s crew includes Gari Ruggles -Cockpit, Donald Inouye -Foredeck, Gerald O’Connell -Mainsheet, Scott Gardner -Mainsheet, Bruno Carnovale -Tactics, Joseph Rockmore – Foredeck, Steve Smith – Trimmer.

Bob Walden owns the Cal 38 Sea Star and won his division, PHRF 3, in the Summer Series. Bob raced for years on the Farr 36 Petard and then on Andy Newell’s Santana 35 Ahi. Bob has sailed campaigned his Cal 38 for roughly fourteen years, six years short-handing the boat and eight years as crewed boat. Generally, Bob feels that his main competition is Ahi, but this year he had the added competition from Joan Byrne’s Olson 911s Heart of Gold. Bob confessed that Heart of Gold is a very well sailed boat. Like the other skippers mentioned, Bob also liked the last race of the season, the two races set in the South Bay. The very pleasant conditions and the great courses were enjoyed by everyone, but Bob felt the changing tide and wind conditions on different parts of the course gave the races a different and interesting challenge. Bob likes all the different race venues on the Bay, but wonders if there might be an opportunity to get boats together after some of the races for socializing – a chance to build the racing community and get to know your fellow racers better. Bob always makes sure his boat is well prepared for the often boisterous bay, making sure all the boats hardware is in good working order and that his crew is well practiced in all maneuvers including reefing. He checks the NWS and Predict Wind forecasts before each race but feels that the conditions he finds on the Bay are often not what’s been predicted. Bob really enjoys the Summer Series because it’s a great way to learn more about your boat and have fun with your crew. Bob’s crew includes Moni Blum – Tactician, Craig Charles – Main Trimmer, Jocelyn Nguyen – Trimmer, Brian Steele – Trimmer, Andrew Haesloop – Mast, and Amber Moffat – Foredeck.

Rubin Rocci also had some thoughts about the Summer Series. Rubin won the PHRF 1 division. He indicated that it was great to sail with a full crew again and wanted to thank his crew for their efforts including Ralph Wedge – Mainsheet, Jack Feller – Trimmer, Marcus Canestra – Trimmer, Mark Warren – Pit Assist, Stefano Lindt – Mast, Greg Rhode – Strategist, and last but not least Nesrin Basoz – Pit, boat partner, and boat’s namesake (Ness). “Our most memorable racing of the season was on June 19^th, which had winds of 30 knots…..we survived the day without a wipeout or breaking anything.  The foregoing team did a great job”.

A set of common responses emerged from the skippers I talked to. Foremost was a regard and respect for their crew members. I think all skippers understand that a great crew is needed to win races – and most importantly, a crew that works well together. The other common response was a notion that the Summer Series is unique in presenting a set of races that span a number of venues – all with different characteristics and challenges. All the skippers felt the Summer Series races are a real opportunity to sharpen your sailing skills, improve your crew’s ability to perform as a cohesive group, and learn and enjoy the many parts of the Bay we sail in.