The Harbor Report: Predictions came true for Fleet 1 title

I really got it handed to me during last weekend’s Harbor 20 Fleet 1 Championships. The winds were light, and I could not put the puzzle together to make it to the finish line before most of the competitors.

No matter how I look back at the weekend, it was just time well spent with my son Andrew.

My picks on who was the heat proved to be correct. In A Fleet, Diane and Bill Menninger placed their names, for the fifth time, on the championship trophy, followed closely by Elizabeth and Jim Buckingham in second place. Chris Allen and Greg Helias, sailing Zephyr, came out Sunday with the intention of winning the event and won races 6 and 7. They ended up placing third in the event.

In B Fleet, Jessica and Greg Newman showed up, just where they left off in the last championships, with great speed and sailing very smart to win. Barrie and Len Connelly figured out how to finish almost every race in the top four and went home with the second-place trophy.

Over in C Fleet, Denise and Scott Barnes finished almost all the races in first or second place. A total of 37 boats sailed in this year’s championships, which I think is a new record for the fleet.

I have to give a big shout-out to all the captains of large charter boats. Over the past two weekends, it was very evident that they were contacting the race committee boats and crossing through the race course at convenient times and not hindering the races. For that, more than 75 local sailors thank you.

This Thursday through Sunday, the Newport Harbor Yacht Club is hosting the U.S. Team Racing Championship for the George R. Hinman Trophy. This is a huge event, and you will see many of our future America’s Cup skippers and crews racing in this one.

In fact, two skippers from the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup, sailed last month, will be competing. They are Charlie Buckingham and Michael Menninger. Yes, both their fathers sailed to a second and first place in the H20 championships. Kind of funny how that works.

This is as good as it gets, and I recommend that you come out to watch the action. With the Santa Ana winds blowing, this could be as exciting as the America’s Cup. While you are watching, check out the team names. My favorite is Tiller Towards Trouble.

Our local PHRF fleet is wrapping up the Newport Beach High Point Series this Saturday in the 14 Mile Bank Race. The Richley family aboard Amante has a good lead, and with the forecast Santa Ana winds, they will be very difficult to beat.

Roy Jones’ J-133 Tango is in second and if it sails a good first leg, which could end up being downwind in gusty conditions, it will make Amante work.

I am hoping the wind will stay up so we can catch up to Exigent, on the expected beat back to the finish line, and grab third place aboard Linstar. This could end up being a sailmaker’s dream race, with everyone blowing up their sails, by the time it is over.

Go to my blog site at lenboseyachts.blogspot.com for the Newport High Point score board.

Over at the Newport Aquatic Center, it is gearing up for the Hovie SUP (stand-up paddle) Festival on Oct. 19. Make sure you sign up before Oct. 17 and miss the $10 late fee.

The long course, 6.5 miles, will be in the lower bay, and the short course, 4 miles, will be in the upper bay through the Nature Preserve. Races start at 9 a.m. and, in years past, have attracted more than 160 racers. They split the classes by age, which will make for some very close racing.

Another interesting boating issue I have been facing this week is with the government shutdown. Trying to get an abstract of title or title search from the Coast Guard is proving most challenging. No abstract, no boat sale. What next?

Sea ya.

LEN BOSE is an experienced boater, yacht broker and boating columnist.