Area J Championship for the US SAILING Multihull Championship for the Alter Cup
(Results corrected 7-2-00)

Redondo Beach, CA, June 11--  King Harbor Yacht Club in Redondo Beach, CA, played host to the Alter Cup Trials for Area J, which is represented by Southern California. This was the area qualifier for the US SAILING's prestigious Alter Cup. The Alter Cup is held each spring to determine who is the best of the best. A championship of champions, so to speak.

The Area J championship was light on numbers, but not on evenly matched talent. This was a very close championship and it came down to the wire to determine the winner. It ended up that four sailing teams were neck in neck in the running. Who would be packing their bags next spring to take on the country's best sailors?

  Nacra 5.8 had the biggest fleet with Hobie 20s close behind, one Inter 20 
  and an A-Cat. Race one was held in heavy air with gusts to around 18 knots.
The Inter 20 speed machine, driven by former Alter Cup Champion Jeff Newsome and crew Jim Legge, took line honors easily as they would in each race. But on corrected time the first race went to Steve Leo and Teri McKenna on a Hobie 20.

In race two the wind backed down a bit and the chop separated more into a swell as the teams battled off of the Hermosa Beach Pier with a grandstand of cheering fans on the beach. I would like to say that the grandstand was for us but it was probably Pro Volley Ball or something. It was interesting to see what boats went fast in what conditions. The boats and sailors seemed to take turns depending on what the wind and water did. With the wind letting up a bit and the chop flattening somewhat, the A-Cat was able to excel with Roger Jenkins taking the corrected win.

In race three with the wind now more moderate, Newsome/Legge on the Inter 20 really had the toy wound up on this their first time to race the boat. The Inter 20 has won the last two years and the team was disappointed that the rest of the Inter 20s did not show to give them pointers. They said that they felt like they were going fast but where never quite sure on the angles.

The last race of the day went to Roger Jenkins on the A-Cat. The Inter 20 had been looking good but late in the race had problems with the chute which cost them the race and opened the door for Jenkins.

At the end of the day Roger Jenkins on the A-Cat was leading, following close behind was Steve Leo and Teri McKenna who sailed very well on this day. Jeff Newsome and Jim Legge were still in the picture as well.

King Harbor YC threw the racers a Pizza Party. The sailors recounted the day’s events, and as you can imagine in an event such as this Portsmouth Rated Regatta, discussed the handicapping. No one will ever be happy. I do not think that I have ever been on a boat that someone did not say that it had a gift rating. There seemed to be so many factors involved in what boat went fast. Like I said, it seemed to be interesting to see what boat did good in what condition, and the Pacific provided many faces to the racers for the championship. The A-Cat being so light did not like the chop, and it did not like the heavier breeze. The bigger boats seemed to slice right through the chop with the Hobie 20s enjoying the breeze. The Inter 20 was always fast, but seemed to own the moderate breeze.

On Sunday the beach goers were basking in the California sun while just off shore the catamarans were jousting for position on the starting line in light to moderate conditions. Rising star on the Hobie scene Dan DeLave seemed to shout out, "Did anyone forget that I was in the race!" He certainly mixed things up by winning both races held on the last day of the event. Roger Jenkins looked like he might have blown the chance to return to the Alter Cup for the fifth time with a poor first race on Sunday, but got it back together to take a second in the last race. Jeff Newsome and Jim Legge took themselves out at the start with an OCS, premature start. Otherwise they were looking sweet even lapping a Nacra 5.8.

The champion was dripping in awards handed out by the US SAILING officials on hand at the ceremony following the racing. Medals, plaques, and a large perpetual trophy were dealt out with the camera clicking. Next stop Florida. Rumor has it that it is between Fort Walton Beach and Miami for the Alter Cup. The boat has not been confirmed, said a source close to the event. It looks like it could either be the Inter 20 or the Hobie Fox. Both are spinnaker boats. This would be a first for the US SAILING Multihull National Championship known as the Alter Cup to he held on spinnaker-equipped catamarans.

Area J Alter Cup Qualifier (9 boats)

By Roger Jenkins