NOOD circus coming to San Diego

The Helly Hansen NOOD prepares for its nineteenth edition in San Diego when the national tour comes to California on March 17-19, 2017. While largely hosting one-design racing for two or three days, the event has evolved in recent years to also host a fleet of PHRF racers for one random leg race on March 18.

Upwards of 70 boats are already entered, with more entries expected in the next few weeks. The NOOD always attracts many out-of-town sailors to compete with the local talent. Some fresh names to the event are expected in this year’s NOOD which will include two new classes, the F-18s and Fast 50s.

“San Diego now has the largest F-18 fleet in the country with 17 boats,” reports Steve Stroebel, with the NOOD part of a growing US schedule for the class. David Servais, who will be on Victor Wild’s Pac52 Fox, looks forward to supporting the event. “Having been involved in the class from the beginning we have had great fun and great competition racing the other 50 footers.”

But not every boat fits into a one design class, while others are looking for an alternative to windward-leeward racing. The North Rally is one race inside San Diego Bay for boats 25 feet or greater that hold a current PHRF certificate. “This is the perfect format for those that want a ‘beercan race’ kind of outing,” observes Craig Leweck, who will be racing an Alerion Express 28.

New to the San Diego NOOD last year was the Etchells Class which will again use the NOOD Regatta as the Bill Bennett Memorial Regatta and launch their West Coast Spring Series. “The event is also part of Etchells Fleet 13 Worlds Qualifying Series so there should be an even deeper fleet, making winning even more difficult,” reports Tom Carruthers. “I’m looking forward to a great event, both on and off the water.”

Chick Pyle (SDYC) will race on his Beneteau 36.7, Kea, over the weekend of his 70th birthday, hoping for another chance at a trip to the BVI. “When we won our class we were told that we were runners up for the overall regatta winner which included an invite to the NOOD Caribbean Regatta. And later in the year Sailing World called to say that the winner couldn’t go, so as runners up we got to go. It was fantastic fun.”

Sponsored by Sailing World and Helly Hansen, the NOOD is the largest national sailboat racing circuit in the United States. The three-day event, hosted by San Diego Yacht Club (SDYC) and Coronado Yacht Club, will feature sailing on three venues (two ocean and one south San Diego Bay), and one rally course located in San Diego Bay.

San Diego is the second stop in the five city national tour that culminates with the Helly Hansen NOOD Caribbean Championship Regatta in the British Virgin Islands this October. Race organizers calculate an overall winner based on the strongest overall finish in the most competitive class, and that overall winner is presented with an invitation to the Championship Regatta in the BVI.

Event details – OD/ORC NOR – Rally Race NOR – Facebook

Source: SDYC, Scuttlebutt