Windjammers 2010: First Place Div C, Winner Santa Cruz Bowl (First to Finish PHRF

Olson 34 Temerity entered this year’s Windjammer’s Race from San Francisco to Santa Cruz — and won big!

Our start was at 0930 Friday 3 September. Annika (soon to be lost to the UCSD freshman class) drove the start and the first 3 hours or so of the race, which was a very close and exciting. On Paul’s advice we hugged the shore both inside and outside the Bridge, seeking current relief, and on David’s insistence we passed outside Mile Rock, because he is like that. Taking the longer way didn’t matter though — thanks to great sail handling and Annika’s driving, we knew we were on to a Good Thing after an hour or so as we began to pass boats that had started in the fleet ahead of us.

Our track. Click through for an interactive map with speed and other stats.

In the moderate mid-day airs, going outside to find the wind turned out to be an expensive ticket for those that tried it. We kept a constant eye on the outside boats, fearing the Montara Wind Hole, but never really saw them gaining on us. We were within ‘howdy’ distance of Moonshine off Pescadero, and were trading places with Ohana for a while. Then Moonshine and a few others made a big move offshore. We decided to stay the course close in to shore and minimize the distance.

1700 hours found us 5 nm off San Gregorio at 37.331N, 122.536W and it was time for our signature Dark & Stormys (made with Smith & Cross Naval Strength Jamaica Rum and “Regatta” ginger beer). Crew morale was high although we already knew we were in for a long night. As Deb pointed out after we had tied up in S.C. after the race, “You know, nobody even mentioned bagging it and motoring in.” It’s interesting that 3/10 of the Division A boats and 6/10 Division B boats DNF’d (retired) out of boredom or frustration, while only 2/11 of the ‘slow’ Division C boats gave up.

It was cold and foggy, especially in the last pre-dawn hours where we drifted along, often with 0.00 kts indicated boatspeed, and Ohana and TESA visible as fuzzy patches of light in the fog. Finally the S.C. wharf and the race committee spotlight were in sight. Boat speed was 0.00 to 0.25 kts, wind was light/fluky to non-existent. At some point we had given up on the spin and put up the genny, tacking constantly to try and squeeze every little puff. Speed over the ground was 0.6 kts though, due mainly to tide which fortunately was carrying us right over the finish line. Or else into the wharf, and I readied the anchor for quick deployment. A tiny puff out of the West saved the day, and, followed by an enormous male sea lion, we crossed the line and got the horn at 05:08:44 (Saturday morning), elapsed time 19:38:44.

The official race results are archived at the link here. We placed First in Division C, and also were awarded the Santa Cruz Bowl for First to Finish for boats with PHRF greater than 72 (the ‘slow’ boats; the next in was 54 minutes behind us) . I put this entirely down to the awesome crew, Annika, Debbie, and Paul, and am especially proud of the win since this is only the seventh race Temerity has done since I bought her 2 years ago. Great work, everyone!

Pictured above, the happy crew at the awards ceremony: David Nabors (Skipper, Mixologist), Annika Nabors (Driver), Deb Fehr (Bow), and Paul Harris (Trim, Tactics).

The Santa Cruz Bowl, engraved with the names of great boats like Orient, Mistress II, Pursuit, and Santana, and great sailors like Aldo Alessio. And now us!