LUCKY DUCKY was a master of inconsistency at Key West Race Week, taking home a disproportionate number of awards relative to overall performance.

We had the good fortune to finish first on the only two days on which there was one race per day and took a third on another day with a 3rd and 4th although we did get line honors in both of those races. On a less pleasing note we also took 3 9ths on days with minimal wind being barely competitive upwind and in the tank on the off wind legs. All races at KWRW were windward leeward courses.

The final race was sailed in very strong winds and we elected to sail the course reefed and still finished 8 minutes ahead of the second place boat. My wind instruments were not working but I estimate we had at least 35 knots from time to time with very little less than 25 all day. It was colder than anything I have ever experienced in San Franciso with the wind chill (for dry people) quoted at 25 before the start. The Committee postponed for 90 minutes before sending us off on a 7 mile course effectively cancelling the second race.

We sailed at a PHRF of 141, same as in California, but less generous on a comparative basis, based on a crew weight of 1200 lbs which we did not approach with four on board totaling about 750 lbs. We clearly could have sailed better but were not too far off the pace except for two very well sailed j-24s in a fleet of 12 boats.

I am now going to start the quest for a West Florida PHRF rating for the boat and will sail her back to Tampa as soon as the weather permits.

Regards,

Hall Palmer

Last weekend, July 21, Island Yacht Club held their annual Silver Eagle Race. The race is billed as "sail all day, never leave the bay". It is a long race. Starting off GGYC, the race first goes to Blackhaller bouy, then to Harding Rock and Blossom Rock before the long reach down to a channel marker near the San Mateo Bridge. From there, the race continues to an oil tanker terminal at Rodeo near the Carquinez bridge. After rounding the tanker dock, the racers return to GGYC via Blossom Rock bouy.

Michael Katz sailed the Wyliecat 48, Ahava in Division B. The Wyliecats Silkye and Katzenjammers competed in Division C. Katzenjammers sailed double-handed. This year, there was plenty of wind for most of the race allowing for an early finish. Both Silkye and Katzenjammers finished at about 10:00 PM, nearly record time for this race. The race started at 9:40 AM in about 10-12 knts of breeze. Silkye got the start and lead around Blackhaller, Harding, and Blossom. Near the bay bridge, the wind turned lighter and there was a wind hole on the San Francisco side, as is often case. From Yurba Buena all the way to Alameda, there was about 4 knts of wind, holding steady. Katzenjammers sailed to this wind ahead of Silkye and captured the lead at that point. Typically, the wind usually fills in on the San Francisco side first, as the valley heats and fog builds over the pennisula's mountains. But this year, the wind stayed light on the SF side all the way to the turning mark near the San Mateo Bridge. Silkye re-captured the lead from Katzenjammers just before the turning mark.

The trip back out of the South Bay was a quick one as the wind built and the ebb tide gave the boats an extra push. Silkye went above Treasure Island while Katzenjammers opted to saild the shorter course below the island. The wind in the slot was blowing the typical SF bay afternoon 25 to 30 kts. By the time the boats reached Richmond, Silkye had build up a comfortable lead, but Katzenjammers refused to give up and instead gave hot pursuit all the way around the oil platform and back. Just after passing under the Richmond-San Raphael bridge, Katzenjammers made the bold decision to stay low along the Richmond waterfront to stay in less adverse current. Silkye chose to remain in less favorable current, but upwind. This decision proved to be Silkye's undoing. Katzenjammers passed to leeward and went on to win by 3 minutes actual, 6 minutes corrected time. It was a masterful, come-from-behind, never-give-up performance by Katzenjammers.

For you Wyliecatters that kept your boats floating forelornly in their slips, you missed a great race. This year featured plenty of wind and, for the most part, favorable currents. A very fast and exhilarating sail.

Weekend News update from Jake Cartwright:

Triumph sailed a fun race on Saturday the 13th, the Angel Island Cup to benefit the Save Angel Island League. David Dennison, a Cal 20 owner with a young family, who has more than passing interest in buying a Wyliecat, sailed with Jake and Steve Seal. David grew up as a scow sailor (and ice boats) in the Midwest, so the one sail concept was easy for him to grasp. This race was a demo for him on why he should buy a Wyliecat!.

The course was a starting line in front of the Corinthian YC, then to Yellow Bluff against a 4.5 kt flood. Steve played the current masterfully (this after winning the start by 20 yards with a port tack start) and at the windward mark we had left our division far behind. The next mark was Angel Island, left to port, a speedy broad reach before sailing into very light air behind A.I. We broke through into Racoon Straits and picked up the wind again, rounded a temporary mark and then had one beat to the finish.

It was a beautiful day to be out, and Triumph was first in the division ( 18+ minutes ahead of the second place boat on a 6.5 mile race) and corrected out first in fleet by a minute or so. We thought "Q", the new Schumacher 40 was going to catch us from behind sailing in a non spinnaker division, but we saved our time on her.

After the finish we had another great sail back to Alameda, David driving at 9 knots while eating a sandwich...he was impressed.

No other Wyliecats in the race, although we did see Katzenjammer at the start, spectating, we think. This was a low key race in a beautiful spot...maybe next year we can get a few boats out for it.

If you like to go for an afternoon sail with 20 friends, then a Wyliecat 48 is for the boat for you.