C-15 Update 4/19/24

Hi all wanted to weigh in with another C-15 update. 

The recent SBYC Opening Day was held in a frozen rainstorm, and as you know it is traditional for the Commodore to announce “the harbor is free of ice, and the season is open!”  Our Commodore said “I can’t see the harbor and it might be full of ice by now, but the season is open anyway”.  But the sun is now out, and hopefully will stay that way!

I have heard from a number of you that finding housing for the Nationals in Santa Barbara is difficult and expensive.  Yeah, it is.  There are a number of hotels but they are expensive, and of late there has been an anti-AirBnB sentiment which has cut down on the available choices.  In case it helps, the map below shows a few alternative areas nearby:

To the West (I think of it as North!) is Goleta and its neighbor Isla Vista, which is where UCSB is located.  Goleta has a number of hotels which are more reasonable, and doesn’t have so much of an anti-AirBnB sentiment.  It’s about 15 minutes drive away.

To the East (I think of it as South!) is Carpinteria, which is a nice seaside town that has some hotels, and further East are Ojai – a cute little town with a nice downtown area – and Ventura – a bigger area with quite a few hotels and more AirBnB choices.  Carpinteria is about 15 min away, Ojai and Ventura are about 30 min away.  The road in and out of Ojai is pretty but not a freeway, the PCH down to Ventura is a freeway with a pretty view, but it can get crowded at rush hours.

I’m also working with the SBYC to see if we can solicit members who might be interested in housing sailors.

I don’t have any changes to the racing schedule below, but do want to highlight that the SCCYC Sunset Series on Thu nights is starting on May 2.  Time to dust off the boat, fix those rigging issues, and get your crew lined up!  The Marina Del Rey channel is being dredged so the no-sail buoys have been moved closer together, making for a narrower channel, more tacks and jibes, more boathandling practice, and more fun… 🙂

Evergreen reminders, let me know:

  • If I can help find a boat / charter your boat / find a crew / find a driver for your boat.  Yes I have a list.
  • If you sail in a C-15 regatta let me know how it went!  (Pics!)
  • If you have memory of going to a Nationals or High Sierra regatta – where it was and who  won.
  • If you are interested in new sails – we can put together a fleet deal and get a discount.

Cheers and Happy Sailing

C-15 update 4/2/24

Hi all a few quick updates:

I would like to offer my services as a matchmaker for the SB Nationals.  Please let me know if:

  • You would like to charter a boat (several people have already contacted me, I have your requests)
  • You have a boat in SoCal and would be open to chartering it
  • You are a driver who needs a crew
  • You are a crew who would like to join a driver

I understand the HMBYC Londerville Regatta was cancelled due to a storm.  Sorry!  Good luck for Commodore’s Regatta on 4/27, we are standing by for a report / pictures.

For SoCal people*, the SCCYC Thu night Sunstroke series starts on May 2: Sunstroke Series 2024- Thursday Night Dinghies : South Coast Corinthian Yacht Club. You can now register …

* if you find yourself in LA on a Thu night, please LMK and/or drop by SCCYC, we will find you a boat!

Several of you signaled interest in sailing at ABYC for Memorial Day 5/26-27, which is great! Please tell me, would you prefer to sail Sat, Sun, or both days?  I will announce so we are all in sync.

Here’s the C-15 schedule as a reminder:

DateClubLocationEvent
2/3SMWYCMarina Del ReySuper Bowl Charity Regatta
3/16SCCYCMarina Del ReyShallow Water #1 Ice Breaker
3/23HMBYCHalf Moon BayLonderville Regatta
    
4/27HMBYCHalf Moon BayCommodore’s Regatta
5/2 – 8/29SCCYCMarina Del ReyThu night Sunstroke Series
5/11LWSCLake Washington, SacramentoOne Design Regatta #1
5/25-26ABYCAlamitos BayMemorial Day regatta / Stan Miller Perpetual
6/15SCCYCMarina Del ReyShallow Water #2 Getting Dinghy
6/16WYCWestlake VillageWestlake Cup
6/22HMBYCHalf Moon BayRear Commodore’s Regatta
6/22LWSCLake Washington, SacramentoOne Design Regatta #2
7/20-21Fresno YCHuntington LakeHigh Sierra Regatta – Jim Holder Cup
8/3LWSCLake Washington, SacramentoDelta Dinghy Ditch Regatta
8/9-11SBYCSanta BarbaraC-15 Nationals
8/17HMBYCHalf Moon BayVice Commodore’s Regatta
8/18SCCYCMarina Del ReyOutlook Trophy (outside)
8/24LWSCLake Washington, SacramentoOne Design Regatta #3
9/7SCCYCMarina Del ReyMDR Dinghy Fleet Championship
9/21LWSWLake Washington, SacramentoOne Design Regatta #4
10/5SCCYCMarina Del ReyShallow Water #3
10/26HMBYCHalf Moon BayPumpkin Roundup event (not a regatta)
10/26LWSCLake Washington, SacramentoOctoberfest Regatta (replaces Turkey Shoot)
11/2SCCYCMarina Del ReyShallow Water #4 Last Light
11/2HMBYCHalf Moon BayDie Hard Regatta

Evergreen reminders, let me know:

  • If you sail in a C-15 regatta let me know how it went!  (Pics!)
  • If you have memory of going to a Nationals or High Sierra regatta – where it was and who  won
  • If you are interested in new sails – we can put together a fleet deal and get a discount.

Cheers and thanks, and see you on the water!

C-15 update 3/22/24 / Shallow Water #1

Hi all checking in with a quick C-15 update.

Last weekend the Marina Del Rey fleet at South Coast Corinthian YC had our first second C-15 regatta of the year, the Shallow Water, with 10 boats three of them C-15s.  We race with Portsmouth handicap, also some Snipes, Lasers, Lido 14s, and I think something else too.  Sun was out and wind was blowing and was just a nice day on the water.

As you know the C-15 Nationals  are August 9-11 in Santa Barbara.  If you think you might be coming, please let me know.  I’d like to start getting a feel for how many boats and people we will have.

I have updated the 2024 C-15 Racing Schedule and will continue to do so.

For SoCal C-15 people, ABYC have noted there is a Stan Miller Perpetual to be awarded to the winner of the C-15 class in their Memorial Day Regatta, May 25-26.  Maybe we can “all” plan to sail this year?  And/or, we could pick a day (Sat or Sun) and make it a one-day regatta?  LMK!

(This would be an excellent chance to check out your road trailer – as you will need it to go to Santa Barbara!)

Evergreen reminders, let me know:

  • If you sail in a C-15 regatta let me know how it went!
  • If you have memory of going to a Nationals or High Sierra regatta – where it was and who  won
  • If you are interested in new sails – we can put together a fleet deal and get a discount.

C-15 racing in 2024

Hi everyone, Happy New Year!

I wanted to check in with some updates…  here’s the schedule we know about for C-15 racing in 2024:

DateClubLocationEvent
2/3SMWYCMarina Del ReySuper Bowl Charity Regatta
3/16SCCYCMarina Del ReyShallow Water #1 Ice Breaker
3/23HMBYCHalf Moon BayLonderville Regatta
4/27HMBYCHalf Moon BayCommodore’s Regatta
5/2 – 8/29SCCYCMarina Del ReyThu night Sunstroke Series
5/11LWSCLake Washington, SacramentoOne Design Regatta #1
5/25-26ABYCAlamitos BayMemorial Day / Stan Miller
6/15SCCYCMarina Del ReyShallow Water #2 Getting Dinghy
6/16WYCWestlake VillageWestlake Cup
6/22HMBYCHalf Moon BayRear Commodore’s Regatta
6/22LWSCLake Washington, SacramentoOne Design Regatta #2
7/20HMBYCHalf Moon BayTake the Tiller Regatta (Women)
7/20-21Fresno YCHuntington LakeHigh Sierra Regatta – Jim Holder Cup
8/3LWSCLake Washington, SacramentoDelta Dinghy Ditch Regatta
8/9-11SBYCSanta BarbaraC-15 Nationals
8/17HMBYCHalf Moon BayVice Commodore’s Regatta
8/18SCCYCMarina Del ReyOutlook Trophy (outside)
8/24LWSCLake Washington, SacramentoOne Design Regatta #3
9/7SCCYCMarina Del ReyMDR Dinghy Fleet Championship
9/21LWSWLake Washington, SacramentoOne Design Regatta #4
10/5SCCYCMarina Del ReyShallow Water #3
10/26HMBYCHalf Moon BayPumpkin Regatta
10/26LWSCLake Washington, SacramentoOctoberfest Regatta (replaces Turkey Shoot)
11/2SCCYCMarina Del ReyShallow Water #4 Last Light
11/2HMBYCHalf Moon BayDie Hard Regatta

Please let me know if I missed anything, or if you have corrections.

I apologize to the Beaux Arts Washington Fleet actually don’t know who to contact to get your schedule.  If anyone knows a good contact there, please let me know (ole.eichhorn@gmail.com).

Above I have highlighted the High Sierra Regatta as well as the Nationals.  It would be great to have a nice fleet there, such a great place to sail.  (And this year we don’t have the conflict with the Transpac.)  The Class have decided to deed a new perpetual trophy in honor of Jim Holder to the winner of the C-15 Class at the High Sierra Regatta each year.  High time we did this, we’ve been racing there for 50 years now!  Jim was actually there for the first one and is still sailing, so Wow.

I would love to get as much history as I can so we can engrave the trophy with previous winner’s names.  If you won (!) or know who did, or have any records or suggestions on how to find old winners, please let me know. 

You may have heard, the Santa Barbara YC was again battered by a winter storm at year-end, as it was last year.  Fortunately there was less ongoing damage and the club is fine, no impact on the Nationals this summer.  Nothing new to report but will keep you posted.

If there is interest I’d be happy to try to work a deal with Ullman Sails for a fleet discount again.  Let me know if you would like to do this.  Or we could approach North Sails but being bigger they might not be as amenable.

Finally want to note again, the class does have some money set aside for promotion.  What should we do with it?  Super Bowl ad?

Cheers and thanks, and see you on the water!

C-15 Nationals in Santa Barbara on Aug 9-11, 2024, …

Greetings all, checking in with some updates…

The Santa Barbara Yacht Club have graciously agreed to host the C-15 Nationals on August 9-11, 2024.  SBYC is a high-end club with a beautiful clubhouse right on the beach, and a professional race committee.  They host all kinds of major regattas and we are honored to be among them next year.

At SBYC we race out in the ocean, just off the beach, generally mild Westerlies and wave conditions with lots of sun.  The SBYC bar on the second floor of the clubhouse is a perfect place to watch the racing 🙂

The high-level plan is to have the Corp Series on Friday, a pot-luck-type dinner event Friday night, the Nationals on Sat and Sun, and the annual association dinner and meeting at the Yacht Club on Sat night.  I am hoping we might attract enough junior skippers to have a Junior Nationals, maybe a few races on Sat morning.  Your thoughts on this are eagerly invited.

There are many hotels in the area – Santa Barbara *is* pricy – and also camping nearby.  We’ll share more details as we get closer.

..

It already seems a long time ago but we had a wonderful 2023 Nationals at Huntington Lake, July 14-16, 2023!  Thank you to Dave Rumbaugh and everyone who helped make it an amazing experience.  There is a great report from Dave right here.

Along with the memories and reports, many pictures were taken.  A repository of them may be found here.  (If you have others, please share!)

..

We would like to compile a schedule of all C-15 activity to post a central calendar.  As your yacht clubs / sailing associations create schedules for 2024, please share them.  We have active fleets in Marina Del Rey, Half Moon Bay, Sacramento, and Lake Washington, and a number of other C-15s sailing elsewhere.  Let’s keep everyone in the loop, nothing is more fun than traveling to a new place and sailing a C-15 with new friends.

11/4/23SCCYC / Marina Del ReyShallow Water regatta
11/4/23HMBYC / Half Moon BayLast Gasp regatta
7/13-14/24FYC / Huntington LakeHigh Sierra regatta weekend #2
8/9-11/24SBYC / Santa BarbaraC-15 Nationals

If you have a C-15 regatta or activity report, please share! 

..

As a final note, the C-15 Association is in good shape and we have a few dollars available for class / fleet promotion.  If you have thoughts about how these could be spent, please share.  (Super Bowl ad?)  We all agree we don’t want C-15s to be a secret.  And especially we want to support junior sailing and getting more young people into the class.

Cheers, Ole Eichhorn : ole.eichhorn@gmail.com