Saturday’s points racing brought some of the craziest conditions we’ve seen at the Model Boat Basin. San Diego’s tropical rainstorms delivered a repeating pattern of rain, a break, and then more rain… and the pond was the highest many of us had ever seen it!
We raced Solings first, followed by ODOMs, with the wind seemingly coming from all four corners of the pond. One moment, there was absolutely zero wind. The next, a pleasant 2–5-knot breeze would arrive from a completely unexpected direction. Predictable? Hardly. Challenging? Definitely. Fun? Absolutely!
We tried different course directions to make the most of the conditions, alternating between our usual short course and the reverse direction. But the wind kept rewriting the plan. In many races, boats were sailing wing-on-wing on the supposed “upwind” leg, then beating upwind on the “downwind” leg!
It was a day that rewarded patience, close attention, and a willingness to adapt. Sailors who played the shifts well (and kept watching for the next surprise) benefited. A promising position could disappear in a lull, while a fresh breeze from another corner could turn the fleet’s fortunes around.
Thanks to everyone who came out and embraced the rain, the shifts, and the occasional complete standstill. Tough conditions made for some wonderfully weird racing and plenty to talk about afterward!
Video courtesy of Gil Jansky; photos from Kerim Baran.
