2022 International Masters Regatta at San Diego Yacht Club – Day 1
by San Diego Yacht Club 22 Oct 2022 04:01 BST
October 21-23, 2022
2022 International Masters Regatta day 1 © Mark Albertazzi
As we wrap up day one of the 2022 International Masters Regatta (IMR), it's clear this anticipated competition is playing no favorites. Whether a San Diego local, an IMR newcomer, or a veteran to the regatta, there was no way to tell on the South San Diego Bay course today. What really mattered was talent on the boat and going back to the basics.
After a short postponement while the wind filled in (typical, San Diego), races got off to a good but slow start. Race one averaged 5.5 knots with a wind direction of 240 degrees. Throughout the day, the breeze stayed fairly light, and the wind swung from about 205-250 degrees. Race Committee was able to pull off their planned four races.
As for the racing, the day finished just how it started. Skipper Bill Abbott from Ontario, Canada started race one with a bullet and finished race four the same way — leaving him first overall on the current standings. With 16 points, Abbott is tied with Alan Field. Unfortunately, the team could have secured a better lead over Field if not for their OCS in race three.
"It was like a yo-yo today. Up, down, down, and up again. The last race makes it easier to sleep tonight. The trick is really to listen to your crew and try to sail clean," shared Abbott. "We're looking to get around the race course tomorrow without hitting anybody," he joked.
Race two was won by Hall of Famer Augie Diaz and his crew of mostly San Diego Yacht Club sailors. The team started the day strong with a third place finish in race one, but they lost some momentum after an OCS in race four that really set them back. Thankfully, they were still able to finish the day in third place overall. Tad Lacey and Craig Healy stayed on Diaz's heels in race two and earned themselves a spot on the "watch list" for the remainder of the weekend.
If the leaders of the day learned a lesson for tomorrow, it's good timing on the start. Whether a junior in a Sabot or legend in a J/105, if you ask a sailor what their game plan is, you'll most likely hear "to get good starts" as their simplest answer.
In addition to a good start, you might hear a call for consistency...just ask Field, currently standing in second place on the scoresheet. Field finished day one with a 6, 5, 2, 3. The skipper and his crew kept up in the top half of the fleet just enough to tie with Abbott without having earned a bullet - sounds like consistency was key.
Field credits his crew for a job well done. "It's pretty mixed up out there in a tough field. The team worked hard. Everybody pulled their own weight and I'm really proud of them. My job on the boat is to shut up and drive, and I try to do my best at that."
After racing, all boats were invited to a dockside social to participate in camaraderie amongst the teams. Tomorrow, competitors will be back in South Say Bay for the 1130 warning signal. After the racing, teams are invited to the iconic Masters Banquet, where Skippers often share old tales of the racing days, and maybe even throw a few embarrassing stories about the competition in the room. The final races will conclude on Sunday followed by an Awards Ceremony on the SDYC Main Deck.
Spectators are encouraged to bring out their boats or hop aboard a friend's for one or all of the racing days on the water! Remember to hashtag #sdycmasters when posting about the event!
Look out this year at each boat sporting a brand-new spinnaker. Every four or so years, at the end of their lifespan, spinnakers are replaced with the opportunity to be branded by local businesses. We look forward to seeing your logos fly on the city front! Thank you to those who bought a spinnaker for the next term: Sharp Business Solutions, Jeff Brown Yachts, Brigantine Seafood and Oyster Bar, Ketch Brewing, Xceptional Dental, Round Feather, and South Coast Yachts.
For more information visit sdyc.org/masters.