SPORTS

Sunset Series

The California Yacht Club presents a new season of Wednesday evening races

By Tim Tunks

“Beer Can” is the nickname given to the popular summer season weeknight short sailboat races. “Sunset Series” is the name of California Yacht Club’s beer can races, which have been a regular mainstay of local yacht racing since 1931. On Wednesdays from April 13 through Sept. 7 between 5 and 5:45 p.m. in Marina del Rey, people can watch the fleet heading out the channel toward the starting line, which is just a short distance outside the detached breakwater. The racing fleet is divided into eight different class groups with each class having its own start at five-minute intervals. The class splits group similar performing boats together to make their contest closer. A yacht race start is “running star” with each competitor endeavoring to cross the starting line at full speed, in an advantageous position to their competitors. Their goal is to hit the line when the countdown timed start signal sounds—but not an instant before. Boats crossing the line early must return to the pre-start side of the line to start over again, all the time staying clear of all the boats that have started properly. After starting, the boats tack upwind, zig-zagging to a buoy they turn around while hoisting their colorful ballooning spinnaker sails to head back toward the Marina. With many boats reaching the buoy at the same time, there is a lot of action. Not interfering with “right of way” boats can be challenging. This next leg of the race is downwind with the breeze at their backs and filled spinnakers flying. Jibing is the downwind zig-zag maneuver as boats turn to attack or escape competitors and to sail at the best angle to the wind. This too is an exciting part of the race—but not as exciting as the hotly contested next turn where lots of boats from different classes funnel together at the end of the detached breakwater. Before rounding the south end of the detached breakwater, the boats must douse their spinnakers and make a sharp left turn to sail briefly upwind into the marina channel. Then they make a right hand turn to turn down the channel without their spinnakers. It can be quite hectic with lots of boats from the different fleets meeting. Each boat is trying to find a clear lane to sail without infringing on the right of ways of others—all the while the crews are changing their sail trim from downwind sailing, to upwind and then back to downwind. Observers standing on the south jetty can hear many spirited remarks as the various tacticians hail calling for room as various a rules come into effect requiring some to yield to others. The turning marks are the places where the most action happens with several boats arriving simultaneously. The last one is at the sheriff’s station, where they make the last left turn toward the finish line in front of the yacht club. A horn sounds as each boat crosses the line and their finish time is recorded. handicap corrections are calculated, and the winners are determined. After their sails are folded and lines coiled, the crews discuss the race and other matters of great import, frequently popping a well-earned beverage before heading to the club’s patio for the after race barbecue and trophy presentations. The after race gathering caps this popular event, bonding the competitors socially while building the strength and wonder of the sport.

California Yacht Club

calyachtclub.com A warm summer evening finds the Class ‘A’ and Class ‘B’ fleets on the second leg of the race toward the breakwater.

Sunset Series is the name of California Yacht Club’s beer can races, a regular mainstay of local yacht racing since 1931.