Spinnaker ripping times

Big breeze at the Rolex Big Boat Series in San Francisco

With a second day of high winds pumping over San Francisco Bay, the 2011 Rolex Big Boat Series delivered blazing fast fun for 81 teams sailing in eight classes - four for IRC and four for one-design (J/105s, J/120s, Express 37s, Farr 30). And with a full weekend of racing still to go, it just may be that 2011 becomes one of the most memorable, if not physical, years in the competition’s 47 year history.

“It was a 20-25 knot day today, gusting close to 30,” said Andy Costello aboard the J/125 Double Trouble, which leads IRC C class and is the only team with a perfect score line after four races, two of which were held today. “We were hitting (boat speeds) in the 17 and 18s off the breeze, but we were fully under control.” That wasn’t true for many of the class’s other sport boats, which were all in the 40-foot range and collectively referred to as the “fast forties.” Some wiped out and others struggled not to, while Costello sailed smoothly with his crew of seasoned dinghy sailors aboard.

“They feel the boat, and their response is quicker,” said Costello, explaining that his mainsail trimmer Trevor Baylis is an Aussie 18, International 14 and 505 class world champion, while another crew member, Matt Noble , is also an International 14 world champion, not to mention that his tactician Will Baylis, Trevor’s brother, is an Olympic silver medalist. “The J/125 is only 8600 pounds and 57% of that weight is in the keel; it has a spinnaker that’s 1900sqft, so that’s big for a 40-foot boat.”

Costello was delighted that no less than three other J/125s are also sailing in IRC C, and they are filling the next three spots on the score board as well. “Boat-for-boat, Resolute [in second and skippered by Tim Fuller] is our best competition. They are fast upwind, but our attributes are in planing downwind - that’s where we excel over the other boats.”

Even though Scott Easom’s Eight Ball is leading after six races (three of those held today) in the Farr 30 class, he says he is “clawing” to hang on to his lead and the potential to be named class world champion at the end of this event. “Barking Mad [skippered by Jim Richardson] and the two Groovederci entries [skippered by Deneen Demourkas and John Demourkas] are very, very good; it’s them and us,” said Easom, noting that Barking Mad is now only one point behind him, while Deneen Demourkas, who won two races today, is four points behind. “We’re local but there’s not anything we know they don’t know. Boat speed is king; we’re watching them carefully, and they are teaching us a lot. We were leading by more yesterday, so we’ll try to stay close tomorrow and not make the big mistake. With 11 races scheduled and no throw outs, we’ll be a little cautious on the start line and around marks.”

Mayhem on the Farr 30 course, which started yesterday in gusts of 30 knots, continued today and included Deneen Demourkas broaching just after her downwind finish in the second race (which she won). “We came screaming in and went just under her, missing her by 10 feet,” said Easom. “The runs are where the stuff sorts out. The wind is so high it eliminates some teams. I feel sorry for them, that they come all the way to San Francisco to get their drawers blown off.”

Upsets today included Brad Copper’s TNT overtaking Swiftsure II in IRC B; Kame Richards’ Golden Moon knocking off Bartz Schneider’s Expeditious in Express 37 class; and Jim Swartz’s Vesper edging out Ashley Wolfe’s Mayhem in IRC A.

Maintaining their leads from yesterday were Double Trouble, skippered by Andy Costello in IRC C; Dayenu, skippered by Donald Payan in IRC D; Blackhawk, skippered by Scooter Simmons in J/105; and Chance, skippered by Barry Lewis in J/120.

Results:

IRC A (IRC - 8 Boats)

1. Vesper, TP 52 52, Jim Swartz , Park City, UT, USA - 1, 3, 2, 1, ; 7
2. Mayhem, TP 52 52, Ashley Wolfe , Calgary, AB, CAN - 2, 1, 3, 2, ; 8
3. PowerPlay, TP 52 52, Peter Cunningham , George Town, Grand Cayman, CAY - 3, 2, 1, 3, ; 9

IRC B (IRC - 9 Boats)
1. TNT, Custom Tripp 43 43, Brad Copper , Pt. Richmond, CA, USA - 1, 2, 1, 1, ; 5
2. Swiftsure ll, Sloop 54, Sy Kleinman , Saratoga, CA, USA - 2, 1, 5, 2, ; 10
3. BustinLoose, Sydney 38 38'6, Jeff Pulford , Salinas, Ca, USA - 3, 4, 2, 4, ; 13

IRC C (IRC - 8 Boats)
1. Double Trouble, J 125 41, Andy Costello , Pt Richmond, CA, USA - 1, 1, 1, 1, ; 4
2. Resolute, J 125 41, Tim Fuller , Murrieta, CA, USA - 4, 3, 2, 2, ; 11
3. Timeshaver, J 125 41, Viggo Torbensen , Laguna Beach, CA, USA - 3, 2, 4, 5, ; 14

IRC D (IRC - 8 Boats)
1. Dayenu, J 120 40, Donald Payan , Hillsborough, CA, USA - 1, 1, 2, 1, ; 5
2. Mirthmaker, Archambault A35 35, Douglas Holm / Kirk Denebeim , Corte Madera, CA, USA - 2, 2, 1, 2, ; 7
3. Tupelo Honey, Elan 40 40, Gerard Sheridan , San Francisco, CA, USA - 3, 4, 3, 3, ; 13

J 105 (One Design - 21 Boats)
1. Blackhawk, J 105 34.5, Scooter Simmons , Belvedere, CA, USA - 4, 1, 2, 1, ; 8
2. Jam Session, J 105 34.5, Adam Spiegel , San Francisco, CA, USA - 6, 5, 4, 4, ; 19
3. Risk, J 105 34.5, Jason Woodley / Scott Whitney , Tiburon, CA, USA - 7, 3, 8, 2, ; 20

J 120 (One Design - 7 Boats)
1. Chance, J 120 40, Barry Lewis , Atherton, CA, USA - 3, 1, 2, 1, ; 7
2. Mr. Magoo, J 120 40, Stephen Madeira , Menlo Park, CA, USA - 2, 2, 3, 3, ; 10
3. Desdemona, J 120 40, John S. Wimer , Half Moon Bay, CA, USA - 1, 3, 4, 4, ; 12

Express 37 (One Design - 9 Boats)
1. Golden Moon, Express 37 37, Kame Richards , Alameda, CA, USA - 1, 2, 1, 1, ; 5
2. Expeditious, Express 37 37, Bartz Schneider , Crystal Bay, NV, USA - 2, 1, 3, 3, ; 9
3. Blade Runner, Express 37 37, Michael Shlens , Palos Verdes Est., CA, USA - 4, 3, 4, 2, ; 13

Farr 30 (One Design - 12 Boats)
1. Eight Ball, Farr 30 30, Scott Easom , San Rafael, CA, USA - 2, 4, 1, 5, 2, 3, ; 17
2. Barking Mad, Farr 30 30, James Richardson , Boston, MA, USA - 3, 1, 5, 3, 4, 2, ; 18
3. Groovederci, Farr 30 30, Deneen Demourkas , Santa Barbara, CA, USA - 7, 8, 2, 2, 1, 1, ; 21