For the first time since 2003, the NOODs returned to San Francisco with a record number of entrants (156 boats) in 18 different classes.  The action was spread over 3 central bay courses that split up dinghies, multi-hulls, keelboats, and kite surfers.

In race area 3 between the Berkeley Pier and Treasure Island, the Melges 20s made their San Francisco debut as a one-design class with 5 entrants. These high-powered sport boats were the course menaces weaving in, out, and literally through the Laser, Finn, Weta, and Flying Dutchman fleets that shared the race track.

With 25 knots of breeze and 3 to 4 foot chop by 2pm, the M20s were hitting speeds of 15 knots while avoiding the turtled dinghies that littered the race course. Another big challenge the M20 fleet faced in each race was crossing a ridiculously small 50ft downwind finish line, while other fleets in starting sequence crossed their bow on a starboard tack.

Joe Williams from Seattle, WA took top honors aboard Habit in the M20 class with 8 first place finishes and 1 third place finish in 9 races.  Bay Area local Sid Gorham finished in 2nd place aboard Funner.

Auric Horneman reports on the FD fleet: The Flying Dutchman fleet had a weak turn out, but that did not deter the carnage that follows the fleet. What excitement was lacking in the racing was made up with the normal hardware and rigging failures. For spice one of the FD’s found itself trying to tango with a Melges 20. Nothing a bit of carbon and epoxy won’t fix. Just another regatta in the Fix Daily fleet.

Pictures, News Stories, and Results can be found at the following link:
Sailing World’s NOOD Coverage >>

On June 16th, 2010 the new SailGoldenGate.com Web site was launched. This site will report on Bay Area sailing news and looks to solicit article and photo contributions from racers and industry experts. Subscribe to the RSS feed to receive the latest updates and check back soon for a photo contest update!

Please email your submissions to NEWS@sailgoldengate.com

For the past year, the ‘Got Wind and Water’ group has been connecting people in the Bay Area who want to go sailing through the power of a social networking Web site.  With 488 members and growing, the group schedules multiple sailing outings each week that include races, bareboat charters, and flotillas of boats for major events on the water.


While Meetup.com provides the technology behind the group’s Web site, it has been the Group Captain, John Cabrall, who has been responsible for promoting and expanding the group.  You can often find John vigorously working the phones and responding to emails to pair skippers who need crew with crew who need a ride.

John, a lifelong sailor himself, says he looks at the group as a way for him to pay forward all the enjoyment he has gotten from sailing.  In return, John feels that he has developed valuable leadership and networking skills that he plans to take back to the corporate world now that the group is organized enough to be self-sustaining.

As a result of the group’s success, the Web site has also turned into a great source of information for what’s happening on the bay.  With members posting comments, stories, and pictures for each event, you can find analysis on races, information about cruising destinations, and reviews of the events.  Another byproduct of the group’s success has been generating additional business for charter groups, tour boats, and on the water photographers.

Membership to ‘Got Wind and Water’ is free and the group welcomes any person at any skill level that is interested in sailing to join.