Star Western Hemisphere Championship - Day 1

Star Western Hemisphere Championship © San Diego Yacht Club

All races were canceled today for day one of the Star Western Hemisphere Championship due to inclement weather. The decision was made by the Race Committee and supported by Regatta Chair John Burnham. "Our goal is to provide a fair and safe racing venue for our sailors and race committee and unfortunately today, the conditions compromised those values," Burnham stated.

The forecast for the next three days of the Star Western Hemisphere Championship promises considerably improved conditions. As of now, Thursday's races will proceed as scheduled.

Report from the Race Committee

Race Committee race officers Bill Stump, Bruce Golison and Jeff Johnson went out to the race course aboard a markset boat to observe the actual conditions in the course area at 1000. They recorded winds in the mid-teens, with puffs in the high teens. However, two miles off Point Loma, the swells were in excess of six feet.

Some swell sets were observed cresting at short intervals with steep faces, and deep troughs on the backside. Additionally, there were large clumps of kelp littering the course area. Any boat handling while not under way or competitor assistance would have been extraordinarily dangerous and any race committee vessels at anchor would have been dangerously unstable.

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