New format for San Diego signature event

This year marks the 42nd running of the Yachting Cup Regatta, the signature event for San Diego Yacht Club on May 2-4. New this year is an expanded two and a half day format which combines both random leg racing with windward-leeward buoy courses to truly test the competitors.

“This year’s regatta will feature a single, ‘Beercan Style’ race on Friday afternoon,” explains event chair Julie Servais. “This was chosen by the SDYC organizers as many boats had requested to have some sort of Random Leg race incorporated into the regatta. Since Yachting Cup has featured well attended Friday events in the past, such as the Leukemia Cup and more recently the Ton Cup, making the Friday race count towards the overall regatta score increases the intensity and also makes the regatta a better test of overall skill, not just windward leeward abilities.”

The regatta kicks off on Friday, May 2 with a single ‘beercan style’ random leg race in San Diego Bay to be held at 3:00 in the afternoon. “By having the race late in the day on Friday, it allows crews and skippers to work a half day but still get the weekend started early,” notes Servais. “Also Random Leg racing typically requires fewer crew so boats can make it around the course shorthanded. SDYC is now giving one throwout race for the regatta, so if a boat can’t make it out on Friday they’re not totally out of the running.”

The the exclusive ‘Skippers/Tacticians VIP Party’ will follow the race while the open invite ‘Crew Party’ will be held on the front deck of the club. Free food and complimentary drinks will be featured at the parties.

Saturday and Sunday will feature windward/leeward courses held in multiple venues in the ocean off the coast of San Diego. Eight races are scheduled for the weekend, combined with post-race parties at SDYC each day. There will be a trophy ceremony following racing on Sunday with class awards and the overall winner of the regatta crowned.

Of interest this year are the newly forming handicap class organizations which will be taking part in the regatta. Groups such as the Fast 50’s and Super 30’s will be racing in the same venues as the various one design classes and PHRF handicap divisions.

Part of the success of Yachting Cup is its ideal placement on the calendar during the weekend after the Newport to Ensenada Race. SDYC is offering registered Yachting Cup competitors free mooring starting the weekend prior and going all the way through the regatta. This means boats traveling back north from Mexico can take a pit stop in San Diego, enjoy the racing and hospitality, free slip space on the docks all week and then continue on north.

Event information and registration can be found on the Yachting Cup website: http://sdyc.org/events/yachtingcup