2016 Konocti Cup Race Summary
Our 32nd annual Konocti Cup Regatta is complete and I am so proud of the job we did. Yes, WE, as in members of the Club, the Board, the Coast Guard Aux, Braito’s family and Marina, Doug & Kitty Jone (and Michael), The Lake County Marketing team and our other local sponsors, race participants particularly the Richmond Yacht Club and the Wylie Wabbit fleet, our Committee Boat team, our food service folks, and so many others. This is our biggest race yet it still has that special feeling that a small club and personable community can bring to an event. I hope we can look forward to many years ahead of competitive sailing and an inviting regatta atmosphere that highlights us with the well deserved reputation as a great sailing venue.
This year weather was quite Spring-ish with bright blues skies, sunshine and a few puffy clouds. Our morning sailing of light 5mph winds eased to lighter 1-3mph winds. As the day progressed, the winds became more solid and technically challenging with continuous shifts and building to a solid 15+ mph blow as the fleets were finishing; the sky darkening and crews bundling up in contrast to the warm morning pleasantness.
This year we had 30 participants, eight of whom were from the Wabbit fleet as part of their touring schedule. The White Sails division served to fill the need of drawing participants that wanted something more fitting for the occasional sailor. And our Half Cup start was back in form with a combined fleet of eleven boats sailing the thirteen mile course. None of the clichés of tactics or vessel performance applied this year and so it took real attention to details to put a complete race. I listened to Wabbit skippers and U-20 skipper(s) banter about how the condition waffled between the sweet spots of each boats performance - not to their dismay but certainly some pleasure at staying with each other in the quest for lead much longer than is typical. Our local Capri 25s were the second largest contingent with 4 boats: they were tight in formation particularly on the long beat from #1 to #2 and again showed they are well suited to local conditions.
Things opened up after #2. The wind normally makes the stretch after Anderson Island a screaming reach but the wind was more aft and thus rolling on to #4 was the tighter run. Some later boats also found flukey air in the “Slot” passage. That same hole encompassed many boats in the Full Cup between 5-8. Right about this time I was passed by the Hobie 20 and could still see the hot boats on their way home in light air, but it went from light to heavy in about 20 minutes. In the light air, boats were spread everywhere seeking the breeze and suddenly we were all trying to aim at the finish with big puffs and shifts charging down the lake. This is when I saw three stalwart competitors still game enough to be rolling down the lake towards #6 (they finished only minutes apart after 7 hours!).
While a particularly long race can be confusing with the big handicapping corrections, there was no confusion that In The Red and Lakota were going to cut it fine. Lakota was behind coming away from #8 but was out in the breeze near the Riviera Marina when it picked up and was close to laying the Finish without a tack. Red was staring at Monitor Island and ducked through the passage Finding breeze and lift they charged up Windflower Point a mile away. When the next came together, Red turned just ahead of Lakota and cleared the line ahead by 28 seconds for the Cup and First in B Division and Pat Brown’s First Konocti Cup win in probably 20 tries (he’s won plenty of division titles).
Of note were the Wabbit Bad Hare Day winning A division and First to Finish. The Ultimate 20 Madison correcting slightly behind. The notorious Catalina 22 No Cat Hare also fell victim to the varied conditions but still corrected onto the FC B division podium in third.
I could use my injured paw and hunt & peck typing as an excuse for lack of reporting on the Half Cup, White Sails and Multihull Divisions but in truth, my information beyond actual results is hearsay. I do know that Showtime gathered speed late and was reeling in the leader but ran out of race course before Presto! crossed in First. Lil’ Bit gathered the Bronze. Further promotion is need to increase participation in the other two divisions.
Thank you all again for everything we share in putting on such a great race.
Brad King
Vice Commodore
Our 32nd annual Konocti Cup Regatta is complete and I am so proud of the job we did. Yes, WE, as in members of the Club, the Board, the Coast Guard Aux, Braito’s family and Marina, Doug & Kitty Jone (and Michael), The Lake County Marketing team and our other local sponsors, race participants particularly the Richmond Yacht Club and the Wylie Wabbit fleet, our Committee Boat team, our food service folks, and so many others. This is our biggest race yet it still has that special feeling that a small club and personable community can bring to an event. I hope we can look forward to many years ahead of competitive sailing and an inviting regatta atmosphere that highlights us with the well deserved reputation as a great sailing venue.
This year weather was quite Spring-ish with bright blues skies, sunshine and a few puffy clouds. Our morning sailing of light 5mph winds eased to lighter 1-3mph winds. As the day progressed, the winds became more solid and technically challenging with continuous shifts and building to a solid 15+ mph blow as the fleets were finishing; the sky darkening and crews bundling up in contrast to the warm morning pleasantness.
This year we had 30 participants, eight of whom were from the Wabbit fleet as part of their touring schedule. The White Sails division served to fill the need of drawing participants that wanted something more fitting for the occasional sailor. And our Half Cup start was back in form with a combined fleet of eleven boats sailing the thirteen mile course. None of the clichés of tactics or vessel performance applied this year and so it took real attention to details to put a complete race. I listened to Wabbit skippers and U-20 skipper(s) banter about how the condition waffled between the sweet spots of each boats performance - not to their dismay but certainly some pleasure at staying with each other in the quest for lead much longer than is typical. Our local Capri 25s were the second largest contingent with 4 boats: they were tight in formation particularly on the long beat from #1 to #2 and again showed they are well suited to local conditions.
Things opened up after #2. The wind normally makes the stretch after Anderson Island a screaming reach but the wind was more aft and thus rolling on to #4 was the tighter run. Some later boats also found flukey air in the “Slot” passage. That same hole encompassed many boats in the Full Cup between 5-8. Right about this time I was passed by the Hobie 20 and could still see the hot boats on their way home in light air, but it went from light to heavy in about 20 minutes. In the light air, boats were spread everywhere seeking the breeze and suddenly we were all trying to aim at the finish with big puffs and shifts charging down the lake. This is when I saw three stalwart competitors still game enough to be rolling down the lake towards #6 (they finished only minutes apart after 7 hours!).
While a particularly long race can be confusing with the big handicapping corrections, there was no confusion that In The Red and Lakota were going to cut it fine. Lakota was behind coming away from #8 but was out in the breeze near the Riviera Marina when it picked up and was close to laying the Finish without a tack. Red was staring at Monitor Island and ducked through the passage Finding breeze and lift they charged up Windflower Point a mile away. When the next came together, Red turned just ahead of Lakota and cleared the line ahead by 28 seconds for the Cup and First in B Division and Pat Brown’s First Konocti Cup win in probably 20 tries (he’s won plenty of division titles).
Of note were the Wabbit Bad Hare Day winning A division and First to Finish. The Ultimate 20 Madison correcting slightly behind. The notorious Catalina 22 No Cat Hare also fell victim to the varied conditions but still corrected onto the FC B division podium in third.
I could use my injured paw and hunt & peck typing as an excuse for lack of reporting on the Half Cup, White Sails and Multihull Divisions but in truth, my information beyond actual results is hearsay. I do know that Showtime gathered speed late and was reeling in the leader but ran out of race course before Presto! crossed in First. Lil’ Bit gathered the Bronze. Further promotion is need to increase participation in the other two divisions.
Thank you all again for everything we share in putting on such a great race.
Brad King
Vice Commodore