Photo by Dan DeLave

Eric McClure & Crew Accepting the 2008 Walt Elliott Trophy

Race Recap by ASPBYC Commodore John Merchant

                        The Walt Elliott Challenge was really, really, good fun according to the participants. The wind cooperated
                        with 12 - 15 knots.  The racing was extremely competitive. Every race was 2 lap windward leeward taking
                        about an hour.

                        Shoreline yacht club won the start and the first race by about 30 seconds.  They led at the weather mark
                        by about 12 seconds but were passed by Alamitos Bay on the downwind leg.  ABYC rounded the right leeward
                        gate by a couple of seconds, SYC chose the left gate.  ABYC's advantage at the weather mark was about
                        25 seconds. However, SYC erased that advantage and led at the leeward gate.  They extended their lead to
                        the finish line.

                        The second race was won by ABYC.  ABYC won the start and led at the weather mark by 20 seconds. 
                        At the leeward gate ABYC pick the right side and rounded less than 3 seconds before SYC, which chose the left. 
                        On lap 2 ABYC was leading by about 15 seconds at the weather mark and it stayed like that to the leeward gate.
                        Both yachts chose the left gate and ABYC extended their lead to about 25 seconds.

                        The start of the 3rd race was classic.  SYC the leeward yacht, forced ABYC to be over the line as the horn went
                        off. However, SYC was also over.  ABYC was able to tack to the port tack, bear off, re-cross the line and jibe to
                        the starboard tack. SYC bore off, jibed around the leeward starting pin and restarted on the port tack but had to
                        duck ABYC.  Close!  ABYC led at the weather mark by about 10 seconds.  At the leeward gate ABYC chose the
                        left and SYC the right, advantage ABYC by less than 5 seconds.  In a hurry to catch up SYC encountered a
                        spinnaker wrap that forced them to lose substantial time so they abandoned the race.

                        The entire crews from both yachts met at ABYC for the trophy presentation to Eric McClure and to have a couple
                        of drinks and share sea stories.  
 

                                           
                                                               Photo by Dan DeLave                                                                    Photo by Dan DeLave
                                                            Photo by Dan DeLave                                                                       Photo by Dan DeLave
                        Approaching the Windward Mark                                          Downwind to the Finish