eye on the bay

The Beneteau 323 'Slider' rounds the bases on Labor Day Weekend.

ALL PHOTOS LATITUDE / LADONNA

By day or by night, the J/24 'Fly By Night' is looking good!

For many sailors, Labor Day Weekend marks the end of the summer sailing season. Beer can racing starts to wrap up, the crew — aka your kids — go back to school, and the Bay's typically strong summer winds start to mellow. This year, it also marked the start of the Red Bull Youth America's Cup, so it was no surprise to see dozens — maybe even hundreds — more boats than usual out enjoying the beautiful weather that weekend. In fact, small marine businesses around the Bay report they've been busy this summer with sailors pulling their boats out of mothballs to enjoy the America's Cup spectacle. Hopefully those who got swept up in AC Fever will keep their enthusiasm for the sport fresh by taking their out boats frequently in the coming months. After all, why else do you own it? If you're lacking crewmembers — those darn kids — check out our free online Crew List (www.latitude38.com). There's no shortage of folks looking to go out for daysails or even learn the ropes of racing during some laid-back Midwinters. Whatever you do, just keep feeding the fever. See you out there! — latitude/ladonna

Spread: We doubt the crew of the Beneteau First 35.7 'Painkiller' was feeling anything but pleasure on this beautiful day of sailing.

'Galatea', an Aphrodite 101, proves her pedigree.