Category Archives: San Francisco

”We’re making progress and tomorrow will be better”, I wrote yesterday. Heh. Tomorrow was today, and it was windier (20+ knots) and stormier, a strong ebb tide across the strong wind made for survival conditions. There were two epic races and this day will enter the annals of 505 and indeed regatta history. Wow. IContinue reading “Blown out in San Fran”

This morning before the racing the International 505 Class had it’s Annual Group Meeting, colloquially known as the AGM. Officers LtoR Sven Hertim (treasurer), Mike Holt (VP), Mike Quirk (President), and Johannes Tellem (sec’y), review the state of the class. Boats registrations have been down since Covid and are only slowly recovering. Currently 780 worldwide,Continue reading “AGM report”

Some early morning action, getting ready for the big day two of Worlds racing: Drying out the chute and checking the rigging of the poles. We are the only boat with a white chute with two blue stripes. (Our hull is white with two blue stripes, too – why not have stripes when your boatContinue reading “Prerace prep”

Following up on Day One of the Worlds, Christophe Favreau took some awesome shots of the racing from a helicopter! Check this out: Lots of other great overhead shots on the International 505 website, here: https://www.int505.org/blog/2023/09/27/did-you-wonder-what-that-helicopter-was-doing-day-1-of-the-5o5-worlds/ Didn’t see us in any of the shots, but if you spot Spot (white boat, blue stripes, white spinnakerContinue reading “Helicopter shots!”

… the 2023 505-Class Worlds. The day dawned foggy and cold, with a forecast of WIND, and boy did we get a lot of all three. Breakfast, at Art’s Cafe. Talk about a hole in the wall. Good Denver omelette, though. We were first to the launching ramp, wanting to get some water time toContinue reading “And so it begins…”

After a long day of boat stuff, how about a nice dinner? And since we’re in San Francisco, how about Sushi? Just nearby the St Francis YC we found the most excellent Sushi Hakko. Like many of the best restaurants, the exterior is unassuming. How exciting! How did I get here? With sushi we needContinue reading “Sushi Hakko”

Today was going to be simple, get the new sails and the boat measured, mount the new rudder, and take a little practice sail after. None of this was simple. First up, measuring the new sails. For many years Jay Glazer has been a preeminent maker of racing sails. Besides being a top sailor himself,Continue reading “Measuring and fixing everything”

Tonight we had the Opening Ceremony, pretty cool and fun, celebrating everyone who traveled all the way here to compete. Quite a group gathered in the “America’s Cup room” of the St Francis YC. Sailors from eight countries are present, can you name the flags? * St F YC Commodore Beau Vrolyk welcomes everyone. “WeContinue reading “Opening Ceremony (dum dum dum)”

Second day of the pre-Worlds, second practice day, and things went better. Not to say great. Here’s what happened… Let’s set the stage. Here’s an aerial view of San Francisco Bay, showing the location of the St Francis Yacht Club, our home base. Yesterday we raced in Area A, North of the city between theContinue reading “Day two: a long, better day, but…”

Here we are in SF, it’s Day One! Yay. But there were a few stumbles… To be clear Day One means the first day of the pre-Worlds; the actual World Championship doesn’t start ‘till Tuesday. This weekend is a practice regatta, and boy do we need it. The day began sunny and clear, if aContinue reading “Day one: things do not go as planned”