Living in the Scuttlebutt World

by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News
It’s supposed to be the slow season in San Diego… just doesn’t feel that way.

The 2025 Sailing Leadership Forum was in town last week for a 4-day marathon of sessions, meetings, and boat demonstrations. The conference hotel was on San Diego Bay, but not a short drive from anywhere, so my 17-foot whaler took on the 30-minute trip. While cool temperatures, drizzle, and fog made me question the plan, it is important to use all toys.

The US Sailing Offshore office also visited a local yacht club to educate the keelboat community on the ORC rating system which is being widely put to use in San Diego. Having never used the rule, the session reminded me how far a jump it is from PHRF. Everything begins with a first step…I have a few more to go.

SLF also prompted rules expert Dave Perry to host seminars at local clubs while US Sailing Youth Performance Manager Phil Muller checked in with the youth sailing community and a Safety at Sea Seminar utilized the San Diego Yacht Club for the pool and meetings. Did I mention the Thistle Midwinters West was being held in town? Head spinning, all of it.

With the east coast contingent navigating storm travel home, Southern California this week is getting its most significant rainfall of this season. While that tends to snarl freeways, the sailing community was rocked when a US Navy fighter jet crashed into San Diego Bay. The two pilots safely ejected, and brilliantly aimed their aircraft away from the adjacent residential area. So lucky!

Passing the crash scene was the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Waesche which offloaded approximately 37,256 pounds of cocaine with an estimated value of $275 million. This came from drug smuggling vessel interdictions south of the border, which is what the coasties do when they aren’t stopping the near daily pangas that attempt migrant passage into San Diego. Crazy times!

Thankfully, it appears the rain will clear for the Women’s Winter Invitational on February 15-16, which has attracted 24 teams from across the USA, Canada, and Mexico. As the plane crash has closed access to the basin which holds the race course, perhaps this reduces traffic for the racing. Always looking for silver linings.

Personally, I will be looking forward to my friend Tucker Thompson at SDYC on February 19 as he provides an America’s Cup presentation alongside complimentary Mount Gay Rum drinks, plus the newest release to the range, Mount Gay Navy Strength. Not sure if its Tucker or the beverages, but I will be there. Slow season? Hardly!