SDYC's Dutch Shoe Marathon returns for the 48th running
by Casey Coffin 29 Jun 2021 21:03 BST
July 23, 2021
SDYC's Dutch Shoe Marathon © San Diego Yacht Club
San Diego Yacht Club and Coronado Yacht Club are happy to announce the return of summer's most traditional Sabot race, the Dutch Shoe Marathon. Each summer, junior sailors and adult sailors alike look forward to the long trek from SDYC, down San Diego Bay and under the iconic Coronado Bridge to Glorietta Bay. Nearly 150 sailors parade the waters, painting a colorful scene for spectators. This year, the 48th running of the event will be sailed on Friday, July 23, 2021.
The Dutch Shoe Marathon is always one of the most highly anticipated events of the summer, mostly because for many of the junior sailors, this the longest distance they sail all summer long. "This is the perfect event for juniors to focus on the course, practice their tactics, and learn about wind and current strategy as well as course management. They also learn how to eat and stay hydrated while sailing," explained Head Coach Bryan Paine.
While some sailors have been preparing for this event through years of Sabot sailing, many of them are new to the sport, starting out or are racing the event for the first time. Coaches help prepare the sailors by hosting similar regattas where they simulate the same course, but with only the first 1/3 of the race. In addition to small versions of the race, they receive a check-list of what to have on board.
"The line you draw on the chart from start to finish is meaningless. It's about teaching sailors to care less if you are 500 yards or 1 mile off that imaginary line. The important part is the distance to the finish from where you are. Imagine a series of concentric circles emanating from the finish at 10 miles apart. The game is to get through the circles as fast as possible, regardless of how far left from the original rhumb line you are," continued Paine.
The 2019 winner of the Dutch Shoe Marathon was Mission Bay Yacht Club's Paige Tillson in the C Fleet. The 2020 event was not sailed.
After the race, sailors and their families are invited back to Coronado Yacht Club for a BBQ and awards ceremonies. The trophies being offered this year are: 1st-5th place of Senior, A and B fleets; 1st-10th place of C fleet; 1st Doublehanded; 1st to Finish; 1st to Weather Mark; 1st to Capsize; Predicted Log aka Juan Rodriguez Award; and the Secretary of the Navy award.
In addition to the awards, a live band will be playing for all to enjoy. This year there will be a raffle featuring prizes and swag from North Sails, Quantum Sails, Downwind Marine/Sailing Supply, Emerald City Surf and Skate, and Warehouse Solutions. The most prized raffle item will be the Sabot sail from Quantum Sails donated by Warehouse Solutions.
The 2021 Dutch Shoe Marathon will be chaired by Virginia and Mark Wallace. "Virginia and I are very proud to chair the 2021 Dutch Shoe Marathon committee. We have been very fortunate to have a great group of people involved, both at SDYC and CYC, to assist us in pulling this together. SDYC and CYC have had a decades long tradition in partnering to host this iconic event. The Dutch Shoe Marathon is the by far the largest single sabot race on the planet, for both junior sailors and seniors alike. This event is one of the highlights of the junior summer programs all over Southern California," started Mark Wallace.
"The ultimate goal of the Dutch Shoe Marathon is to finish, be kind, and have fun," he finished.
The race is set to begin in La Playa Cove at 1200.