Local Knowledge    Bug Out from late March 2008

12 hydrofoiling International Moths gathered this past weekend for the

Pacific Coast Championship Regatta, hosted by Coronado Yacht Club, in 

San Diego, CA. The regatta was the largest gathering of hydrofoiling Moths ever held in North America, reflecting the rapid growth of the Moth fleet across the US.

Fantastic sailing conditions were made to order for the Moths, which reveled in the smooth waters of  South Bay and breeze of 10-12 knots with sunny conditions and temperatures in the low 70s. Nine races were scheduled for the event, with six completed on Friday.

Sailor ages ranged from 12 to over 40, with competitors journeying from as far as Seattle and Detroit for the event. The fleet has drawn sailors from fleets as diverse as International Canoes, 49ers, 29ers, Farr 40s, and the America’s Cup, with lesser experienced sailors coming to terms with the techniques of sailing these ultra-responsive boats. Junior sailors were also strongly represented - in one case with 12 year old twins doublehanding the boat.

Racing was well supported by the Henken family, Tom Driscoll, Diego Gomez-Hall, and Jon Rogers,  as well as by Coronado Yacht Club and Gaudio Sailing International, west coast distributor for Moth manufacturer Bladerider, who sponsored the regatta. Coronado Yacht Club provided excellent  facilities to cater to every need of this very unique class. Tacos were served after sailing by Tacos el Gordo of Tijuana and were universally well received by sailors and families alike after the sailing.

The advent of hydrofoiling has propelled the Moth to new heights of popularity around the World, with fleet sizes increasing rapidly in Australia and the UK as well as many other countries. Several competitors sailing at PCCs will be competing in the World Championships in Weymouth, England this coming July. An active racing calendar is rapidly developing in the US as well, with US Nationals to be held at Cascade Locks on the Columbia River Gorge this August, and a proposal in the works to host a World Championship at the same site in 2009.

The fleet would like to extend special thanks to Coronado Yacht Club and especially Commodore Paul Dodson and his wife Ginger Dodson, P.R.O. Fred Hawes and his race committee, and Jill Powell, junior administrator for hosting and helping to arrange the event, and to Zach Maxam for arranging the design and manufacture of a Pacific Coast Championship perpetual trophy.

Keep an eye on this emerging class, with lots more exciting racing coming up over the next few years, and a great supportive class membership, the US Moth Class is posed to explode on the North American sailing scene!

Reprinted with permission from the  e-zine :  

Sailing Anarchy at   sailinganarchy.com - Where the status quo blows!!