Sailing

SDYC Set to Host 2022 International Masters Regatta

By: JORDAN B. DARLING

SAN DIEGO — Eleven top-notch teams will take the waters Oct. 21-23 for the 2022 International Masters Regatta. Skippers over the age of 60 from across the United States and Canada will compete in a round-robin fleet race event using provided J/105s in South San Diego Bay east of Coronado Bridge. “At the Masters, skipper and crew have an opportunity to race against other top national and international grand master sailors,” said Tad Lacey, a 2021 competitor who will return to represent the USA in an article on Scuttlebutt. “The competition among the teams is very high. The races are relatively short, with the competitors racing in close proximity.” Competitors are sailing all-stars; some are even previous Olympic medalists, including the only female contestant San Diego local Annie Gardner. Gardner took a silver medal in the 1984 Olympics for windsurfing and holds three world titles in Hobie 16s and an induction into the Windsurfing Hall of Fame in 2022. These are just her most notable awards. One part of the International Masters Regatta (and the Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Cup that follows the weekend after) that makes it so unique is the rotation dock floating off to the side of the course. Every team rotates boats after each race to make for an even, fair event. To learn more, see https://sdyc.org/masters.

SDYC will host the 2022 International Masters Regatta Oct. 21-23.

ON THE HORIZONS

By: KATHERINE M. CLEMENTS

Newport Harbor Championships

(Oct. 29-30)

CORONA DEL MAR— On Oct. 29-30, the Balboa Yacht Club will host the Newport Harbor Championship Regatta. The day will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a skippers meeting. The first race’s warning signal will go off at 12 p.m. on Oct. 29 for the Pursuit Race and on Oct. 30 with warning signal will go off at 11 a.m. There will be two races on Oct. 30. The first race is windward-leeward, and the second race is Random Leg. All yachts will be in one single class. There is a $50 entry fee for this regatta. This is an invitational regatta. To be eligible, a skipper must have had a first-place finish in an unrestricted class in a race or regatta that starts and finishes in Newport Harbor and sponsored by a Newport Beach Yacht club since Jan. 1, 2022. The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing. An award ceremony will commence following the second race on Oct. 30 where the winner will be awarded the “Not Too Shabby” Captain Robert Strang Trophy and the winning skipper will be designated as the Newport Harbor Champion for 2022. For more information, please visit https://balboayachtclub.com/Home.

Halloween Race

(Oct. 22)

MARINA DEL REY— On Oct. 22, the Del Rey Yacht Club will host the Halloween Race. Sailors are encouraged to dress up and compete in the costume contest. First warning will be at 12:55 p.m. There will be a PHRF division, cruising division, and a race with a spinnaker or racers can get a non-spin offset credit. For those interested in competing, please register at dryc.org/racing and for more information on the event, please visit https://www.dryc.org/ RACING/Halloween_Race

Goblin Regatta

(Oct. 22-23)

SANTA BARBARA— The Santa Barbara Sailing Club will host the Goblin Regatta Oct. 22-23. The event is governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing. The event is open to all boats of a one design or PHRF class. Entrants must be current members in good standing in their respective class, and members of a recognized sailing club or yacht club recognized by SCYA or other regional yachting association (Sailing Anarchy is not acceptable). All PHRF yachts are eligible. Area Buoy handicaps will be used. PHRF handicap ratings will be applied per PHRF certificate or by listing if not certified. A valid rating certificate must be presented, or on file with SBSC. Boats may enter the event by registering online by 10 a.m. on Oct 22. To be considered an entry in the event, a boat shall complete all registration requirements and pay all fees. Boats with one crew cost $40, boats with a crew of two will cost $55, and boats with a crew of three or more will cost $65. All participants must register by Oct. 21. A skipper’s meeting and awards will be held in the SBSC facility, located near the intersection of Shoreline Dr and Harbor Way. Races will be held off the breakwater of Santa Barbara. For more information, please visit https://www.sailsbsc.org/events/ goblin-regatta.

2022 Two Harbors Fall Series (Oct. 29)

VENTURA— The Pierpont Bay Yacht Club and Anacapa Yacht Club invite participants to enter the 2022 Two Harbor Fall Series on Oct. 29. The races will be governed by the rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing. There will be no Skippers Meeting— entries for the series or race close at 5 p.m. on the Friday preceding each race. The Sailing Instructions will be available through Regatta Network. The entry fee for the series is $85 ($75 for USSA members), and the entry fee for individual races is $32 ($28 for USSA members). For more information, please visit https://www.regattanetwork.com/event/25341#_docs. Eligible boats may be entered by completing registration via Regatta Network through the following link: https://www.regattanetwork.com/ event/25332.

United States Comes in Second Place Event Six

By: JORDAN B. DARLING

Jimmy Spithill led the U.S. team to second place in Spain the last weekend of September, narrowly losing first place to France, led by Quentin Delapierre.

The race marked Delapierre’s first anniversary with Sail GP, and he celebrated with a three-second lead on the Bay of Cádiz.

In what is considered the closest race in Sail GP history, France converted a “brilliant start under pressure into a pole position at mark one,” according to the Sail GP website.

The U.S. held in a neck-to-neck race keeping up consistent boat speeds and showing off some slick maneuvers, which saw the team briefly take the lead before France pulled through to take the finish line.

Australia brought up the third place after aggressive tactics from the U.S. pushed the team from down under to the back of the pack on the last day of racing.

“Winning this sail Grand Prix on the four-crew configuration was a huge step for the team - there was a tight battle with the Americans, and it was a challenge to keep our strategy clean,” said Delapierre to Sail GP.

This event brought France to the top three with 41 points, Australia is leading the pack for the season with 50 points, and New Zealand sits four points behind in second place with 46 points.

The U.S. is towards the bottom of the pack this season with 34 points. Event seven will take place in Dubai from Nov. 12-13. For more information, see https://sailgp.com/races/season-3/ dubai-sail-grand-prix/overview/.France took the win in Spain, making it to the final without winning a fleet race.

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Protect your Propeller

Ahoy sailors, this lesson will expand on boat maintenance as it becomes extra important during the off-season. Stay tuned for your next lesson when we discuss how to read a nautical chart.

By: KATHERINE M. CLEMENTS

Like most boat or outboard mechanical parts, a propeller won’t last forever, but with the help of a bit of prop maintenance and care, you can extend its lifespan.

Caring for a boat’s propeller largely comes down to being cautious when operating your boat, and of course, a bit of TLC can save you money from having to replace parts frequently. So here is some advice to lengthen the life of your boat or outboard engine’s propeller.

Avoid Contact with Bottom Surfaces

One of the most common ways propellers get damaged is from scraping the bottom or running aground. But it’s a simple fix; buy a depth finder. A depth finder is an important boat accessory for avoiding contact with bottom surfaces. Depth finders tell you precisely how shallow the water is below you and can alert you to underwater obstacles such as sandbars or rocks. In addition, a depth finder pays for itself when considering how much money it could save you in prop repairs and replacements.

Clean and Lube the Propeller

If the propeller is not regularly maintained and has calcareous deposits, it can lead to lost thrust, shaft damage, and diminished fuel efficiency. Therefore, it’s essential to continually wash your boat’s propeller(s) with water and a mild detergent solution to remove any salt, oil, or grease after each ride. Once the propeller is clean, wipe the blades with a water-repelling lubricant such as CRC 6-56 to shield them against corrosion.

Your boat’s propeller connects the engine to the water, just as tires connect your car to the road. Even minor damage can impact boat performance, so it’s essential to take good care of your propeller.

Inspect Propellers for Corrosion and Minor Wear

Your boat or outboard’s propeller blades constantly encounter rough surfaces and minerals that wear them down in the water. As a result, even the most insignificant scuffs can develop into major cracks. Therefore, you should regularly inspect your boat’s propellers for minor wear and tear, such as scrapes and dents. If you find any cuts or abrasions on a blade’s face, use fine-grit wet and dry sandpaper to remove them. In addition, you can smooth out scratches on the edges of propeller blades with a mill file. tire, an alternate you can use in case of an emergency. For example, if your propeller is too severely damaged to get you home, replacing the prop is an alternative to getting towed back to shore. Many boaters suggest you buy a used propeller of the correct size to carry as a spare. That way, you have a backup that didn’t cost too much and has enough life to get the job done until you can replace your propeller. For example, you can use an affordable aluminum prop as the backup to a stainless propeller. You’ll also need a propeller wrench to remove the prop nut and should carry a spare nut, thrust washer, and any other hardware required to replace your propeller, just in case you drop a part into the water. It’s helpful to practice changing the propeller in the marina or with the boat on a trailer so you know the routine. Changing a propeller at sea can be tricky, especially if the water is rough. If that’s the circumstance, it may be safer to call for a tow.