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Commentary Not Bad? Last week we commented that the at least some of the turnout at Midwinters was pathetic. Here are some numbers to consider. My name is Rick Ruskin. I am the Chairman for the 2006 77Th annual Southern California Yachting Association Midwinter Regatta. With over 650 participants racing at 27 venues form San Diego to Santa Barbara in 2005, I believe that the SCYA Midwinter Regatta is the largest Regatta in the United States. Like most sailboat regattas, participation is down. I think that there are some additional factors that have effected the Midwinter Regatta. For 2004 the Midwinter Regatta was nearly rained out. It POURED leading up to and throughout the entire 2 days of racing. With the great weather Southern California is blessed with the majority of the time, many choose not to race on those few race days when it rains. While some of the 27 venues had zero wind others had 20-30 knots for both days of racing. There were still over 650 participants in 2005. For 2005, we added a Big Boat class for boats 40'and over with ratings of -3 and below. Unfortunately, big boat participation was held down by the Mexico race starting in the following weeks. For 2006, it poured the day and night before Saturday's races and again many were scared off. It is unfortunate because by 10:00 am race day the weather was spectacular. For 2006 a Sportboat class was added for boats 33' and under and rating between 31 and 78. For 2007 we will add a second Sportboat class for boats rating between 78 and 102. Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht Club hosted the new Wooden Hull Class while San Diego Yacht Club hosted 5 Columbia 30s for their first One Design regatta. Balboa Yacht Club hosted 8 Beneteau 36.7s and Mission Bay Yacht Club hosted 7 Holder 20s, 25 Lasers and 13 Santana 20s. California Yacht Club hosted 49 boats in 5 O/D classes. Alamito Bay Yacht Club hosted 81 O/D boats in 9 classes. Obviously, handicap racing is down everywhere while O/D racing is up. I think some of this is due to many of the more serious racers moving into O/D while the more casual racers (who generally race handicap) are participating less. Trophies were changed this year to embroidered bags for 1st and 2nd places, rather than the mugs of the past. As this event continously evolves and as one of your posters acknowledged, it takes tremendous coordination on the part of the Midwinter Committee. Thanks to all that participated and especially to the host yacht clubs and hundreds of volunteers. I will report the participation when it is tallied next week. Thanks, 03/03/06 |