The 69th Labor Day Weekend Stillwater regatta, sailed under grey skies and colder temperatures. A substantial ocean swell made boat and marks disappear at times and added to the challenging sailing conditions for the talented and experienced fleet. Local sailors from Monterey/Carmel, surrounding Bay Area as well as San Diego came to Pebble Beach to sail and play a little golf afterwards. 

There were two days and two completely different wind conditions and courses. Steve Taft sailing with John Ravizza: “the idea was to go to the beach on Saturday and Sunday going immediately to get the left to get the significant lift at the upper end” . The first race on Saturday, the wind was further to the right so much that some people sailed into a hole but later in the day the course stabilized. Thankfully Dick Clark and his support crew decided to shorten the course distance but the whole weekend had enough wind to support multiple laps around the course.

Sunday was a different day as John Ravizza pointed out “Big South …. I have never seen so much South .. Big swell and difficult steering conditions”. The predominant strategy was to go left immediately to try to get to the 5 plus degree port tack lift 2/3rds of the way up the course. The competition was “energetic” with a few over early calls and penalty turns from the top contenders. First place went to Doug Baird (no stranger to Stillwater having been sailing here since age 14). Second Scott Easom – his second Stillwater regatta. Third was Davis Morris - “the hardest fought third I have ever won”

Silver Fleet was Chris Davis with a great start and second place finish on Saturday's second race. Thank you to Dick Clark (again) and the Stillwater YC for hosting this event and the Mercury fleet looks forward to the 70th anniversary next year.

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