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Cal 25’s on the string line at the Isthmus after racing in the LBYC Catalina Race.
Sailing home from Catalina
One Time Leads Tiberon
NOR for Fleet V Regional Championships July 16th-17th.
Art Melendres and Team One Time Travel to Annapolis for the National Championship regatta. Pictures are available on the Nationals 2010 page
Annapolis Nationals 2010:
This year the Cal 25 Nationals were held on Labor Day weekend in Annapolis, MD in conjunction with Annapolis Race Week. Annapolis Race Week is advertised as the largest regatta in the world. Upon viewing the numerous competitors on three racing circles I am in no position to dispute that claim. The total number of competitors in the Cal 25 fleet consisted of sixteen boats. While most were members of the local fleet, the visitors consisted of us and the Brian Shenstone/Bob Orr boat "Draco" from Bay View Yacht Club , Detroit, MI. We were able to compete due to the generosity of Charlie Husar, (local Cal 25 guru and fleet captain for life) who loaned us one of his boats. Charlie owns two Cal 25s as well as a Cal 40. There had been a recent article about him in one of the local papers which bore the headline, "Ninety feet of Cal". In all my years affiliated with Cal 25 racing I have never met anyone who has more institutional knowledge about the Cal 25 than Charlie.
The first thing we did to our loaner boat was to strip it of all non-essential items of which there were many. The next thing we did was to "tweak" it a bit with some of our own idiosyncrasies. Once that was completed we wanted to test it and were able to do so against Draco. Even though it was due to be cleaned prior to the regatta we called the bottom cleaner and had him come early. As he was cleaning he knocked a full grown crab off the rudder, which promptly swam away probably looking for another Cal 25 to affix himself to. Crabs are everywhere in Chesapeake Bay but this was a first for me.
On to the racing: Hurricane Earl was blowing through the area and though it never brought rain to the Chesapeake it certainly brought the wind. On Saturday we were sailing in twenty-two to twenty-five knots of breeze with gusts as high as thirty-three knots. Although I'm sure most of us wouldn't have complained had the races been postponed, absolutely nobody dropped out. The high winds were kind to us and at day's end we had taken a third place, a second place, and a bullet. Upon our return to the dock we were very excited and upbeat. This was beginning to look easy.
Sunday's wind returned to normal, which is to say that it was light, shifty (this is an understatement of extreme magnitude) and lumpy seas. I never quite got the knack for driving in those conditions and as a result our finishes were significantly lower than the previous day. I had heard numerous horror stories pertaining to the currents that plague Chesapeake Bay. I got a first hand look at exactly what they meant. In light winds the currents really come into play. The wind shifts were beyond description. Though we were newcomers on the block it was somewhat satisfying to know that even the local sailors have difficulty figuring them out. I know we never did and our finishes showed as much. All of a sudden not so easy.
Monday's wind was more to our liking. The velocity was good all day and climbed to about seventeen knots for the day's final race. This was right in our "go fast" range and we made the most of it by finishing with another bullet. A great way to finish the regatta.
In the final analysis, Draco won the day because they sailed more consistently than everyone else. They are great champions and I'm hoping they see fit to bringing their boat and program to Long Beach in 2012. A local boat named "Upchuck" skippered by the Praley family consisting of a father,brother and son took second only one point behind. Total frustration. These are three fine gentlemen along with being fine sailors. We ended up with a third place finish. Not what we wanted but pretty satisfying nonetheless. Especially when faced with the fact that we were racing an unfamiliar boat in unfamiliar waters against stiff competition.
In conclusion, the Annapolis fleet did a terrific job of running this regatta. The competition was tough but clean. One sailor came all the way from Afghanistan. Unbelievable. I'm told there hasn't been a protest flag thrown in this fleet in over five years. (There was no way we were going to break that record). The local fleet members went out of their way to welcome us and show their hospitality. I left feeling we had made some very good friends. The off water social festivities were outstanding. There was a party after measuring sails. a party on the dock prior to the competition and an absolutely outstanding barbecue dinner on Sunday night. These people partied like they were from SOCAL.
The Annapolis fleet has a unique situation that I wish we could duplicate here in Long Beach. That is to say they are virtually all together on the same dock. Their boats are so close that you can walk from boat to boat without having to step on the gangway. They are virtually rafted up and to get in and out requires assistance from lots of people. I can't imagine how you could do it by yourself in a breeze. I guess you just play "bumper boats" until you get into your slip. All of this, of course, goes to developing camaraderie and friendship as well as sustaining and growing the fleet.
In the final analysis, though it was expensive, I am extremely glad that we made the trip. It was money well spent. The friends met and the memories we garnered made it all worthwhile. I am reminded that years ago Dennis Riggs wanted me to accompany him to Annapolis for the Nationals. I elected to pass. Big mistake.
Wet Wednesday 2007 Photos.
Fleet V Bylaws
Old Fleet V Galleries
2008 Dock Party 2003 Charity Regatta Fleet Championship 2004 LBRW 2003
February 19, 2006 A message from the Fleet Captain.
With this writing I want to update you on the results of the 2006 Midwinter Regatta.
Those of you who didn’t participate probably missed one of the finest Midwinter weekends you’ll see in a number of years. This year we were hosted by Seal Beach Yacht Club. The Cal 25 Fleet was able to put only three boats on the starting line. Disappointing but still better than last year’s turnout. The competitors consisted of, One Time, Rascal and Discovery. Since we couldn’t establish our own class we were put into a PHRF category with three other boats that all owed us time. The Cal 25s responded by beating the other three boats “boat for boat” and providing, by accounts of the race committee, one of the “most exiting” finishes they have ever witnessed.
The first race was sailed in light to moderate winds that never exceeded 8 knots. Discovery grabbed the lead only to give it up when Rascal came in to the weather mark on port tack and executed a perfect lee-bow at the weather mark. All boats were within striking distance as they made their way downwind. At the leeward mark One Time took advantage of Rascal’s wide mark rounding and was able to get inside and take the lead. One Time was now loving life as it beat its way to the finish line. Rascal was having none of it as it eschewed the beach and tacked to the wall. It paid off as they nipped One Time at the finish. One Time was left cursing themselves for not covering.
Race two contained none of that excitement even though the wind became brisker. Rascal got off the line first and “whupped” everybody for the remainder of the race.
Day one ended with Rascal getting two bullets, One Time getting two deuces and Discovery relished to third place.
Sunday’s finale proved to be the perfect opportunity for the Discovery crew to wreak their revenge. The winds were brisker and the Race Committee chose an eight mile course that took us to the Bell Buoy located well outside the breakwater. One Time jumped out to an early lead and chose to head for the wall. Rascal went with her while Discovery elected to go the beach route. All boats converged midway up the windward leg and exited Queen’s Gate in close proximity. Rounding the weather mark it was One Time in first, Discovery second and Rascal a close third. On the downwind leg there was no change in position as all boats were scooting in a strong breeze. On the final upwind leg to the finish Discovery caught One Time as both boats engaged in a tacking duel. About two hundred yards from the finish line both boats were side to side, neck and neck and nose to nose. Both boats turned up at the finish line looking for that extra inch. It worked well for Discovery as they nipped One Time by three inches. That’s right- “three inches.” Jerry Dalley, the PRO (and former Cal 25 racer) later explained that he was excited at watching it but secretly praying that one boat would take charge because he didn’t want to be responsible for calling such a close race. He also stated he is always excited to watch the Cal 25 fleet compete and was desirous of seeing us participate in more SLBYC events.
When the smoke cleared it was Dennis Riggs’ “Rascal” taking home the trophy. One Time was second and Discovery took third place. It turned out to be a great weekend that could only have been improved by a larger turnout.
2005 High Points
Greetings Cal25 Racers,The season finale of the High Point Series went down to the last race of the last event on the last downwind leg, Congratulations to One Time, our new High Point series champions for 2005. They held off a tough attack by Discovery who rallied late in the season to tie for first in the series.
- One Time 1st 16 points
- Discovery 2nd 15 points
- Jane's 3rd 14 points
- Rascal 4th
- Nemesis 5th
Winning the last High Point was also the Fleet V Championship, so there are two perpetual trophies gained from a terrific season as well as a great day on the water
It was an exciting day of close One Design racing. Discovery came out tough with a bullet in the first race, a two lap course. Jane's Addiction won race two with a very close finish after one lap around. The third race was for two laps, and the leader changed three times during the course. The last pass was One Time downwind on the final leeward, taking the lead from Jane's with a favorable shift in the wind. That last bullet finish combined with two 2nd place finishes gave One Time the victory with 5 points. Jane's was second overall, and Discovery 3rd for the day.
Splash was 4th and Quiet Woman was 5th, and we should all notice how the new players have been improving their game and tightening up the fleet finishes.
Keep up the good work!
Next year will be here fast, don't forget Nationals returns to Long Beach for 2006, mark your calendars for July 22-23.
Thanks to all of you who have helped support Fleet V and Cal 25 One Design racing.
- Steve Horst.
The Chairity Regatta 2005
Thanks to those Cal25 racers who showed up for the Charity Cup, it was a beautiful day and a good cause. We had seven boats on the line, the second largest class in our starting area, the cal20's had ten boats, 3 Schock 35's, and 2 37's. Our fleet was noticed for a change, lets keep it up, we have more potential to turn out than many one design classes.
Two races were sailed, Discovery got two bullets, One Time and Rascal each had a second, Nemesis and Quiet Woman each had a third. Way to go everybody!
Results as follows;
- Discovery
- One Time
- Rascal
- Nemesis
- Quiet Woman
- Jane's Addiction
- Right Stuff
The more robust turn-out for the event had some big changes in the High Point standings. It always pays big to win an event when there are lots of entries. Team Discovery, who had not entered a High Point event until the Catalina Cup has launched themselves into a tie with One Time for first place, each with 9 points. Losing big has similar drastic effects as Jane's Addiction now is in third place with 6 total points ;-(
Nemesis and Rascal are also tied at 4 points apiece so there is more racing to go before we have a series champion. Coming up, Halloween Regatta, Sunday 10/30, and then the final High Point event is the Fall Invitational on Sunday November 6th. This year the Fall Invitational will also serve as the Fleet V Championship. LBYC Race Management has offered to give us three windward/leeward buoy races while they send the PHRFers out on a long random leg. It's always nice to get special treatment, so I encourage all of you to show up and race!