Weather a Factor in Islands Race

A strong 52-boat fleet competed in the second annual “Islands Race” last weekend.

The 125-mile offshore race – a joint event run by the Newport Harbor and San Diego yacht clubs – started in Los Angeles Harbor and ran around Catalina and San Clemente islands before finishing off of at Point Loma in San Diego.

Conditions were fairly light throughout the race course with winds not topping more than 10-15 knots, and often far less. Wind and weather conditions would play a big hand in this year’s overall race standings.

A large fog bank rolled into the West End of Catalina around 5 p.m., just after the fastest boats in the fleet had rounded this point. The boats that got around ahead of the fog would sail in steady breeze the rest of the race, while those boats that got caught in the fog would also get caught in a second hole that developed later that evening just south of San Clemente Island.

First finisher was John MacLaren’s latest offshore racer Pendragon VI, a new Kernan 70’ out of Cal Yacht Club in Marina del Rey.

Top local finishers included David Team’s Rebel Yell and Jim Madden’s Stark Raving Mad V (4^th and 5^th in TP52 Class, both NHYC); Chris Welsh’s Ragtime (8^th in ORR class, NHYC); Glenn Highland’s Andrews 39 Bien Roulee (2^nd in PHRF Class 2, BYC); Paul Stemler’s Patriot, the Richley Family’s Amante, and Seth Hall’s Marisol (1^st, 2^nd, and 4^th in PHRF Class 3, sailing for NHYC, LIYC and BYC respectively).