The 50th Yachting Cup weekend kicked off today with an honored tradition, the Ton Cup. The Ton Cup, always sailed the day before the official Yachting Cup races, has been a staple of the weekend for decades. After a short hiatus in the past two years, the event made its debut again on the San Diego Bay.
About 30 boats competed on a random leg course in an average of 10 knots. Positioned directly on the city front, the sun was shining and the Bay was busy…a beautiful sight for those coming from outside of San Diego, and even for the locals.
Class Winners:
Paul Dorsey’s Fast 40 Adjudicator
Neil Fraser’s ID35 Mexican Divorce
Mark Stratton’s Beneteau 40.7 Lugano
This was Paul Dorsey’s first Ton Cup. “We had a good victory and a good crew. We mixed our SoCal crew with our San Francisco crew. We do as much sailing down here as we can and are hoping for good results through the weekend,” he said.
It was important in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Yachting Cup to get as many sailors as possible on the water.
Chair Traci Miller explained, “Hosting the Ton Cup the day before Yachting Cup has always been a tradition. We want to bring sailors down to the Club for an extra day of camaraderie and celebration. The more time on the water, the better. That’s what the Yachting Cup was founded for, and what we strive to keep it about.”
After the Ton Cup, sailors and guests were invited to the Mount Gay Welcome Party on SDYC’s Sail Wash Lawn, featuring a full Mount Gay bar, premier tastings, and lawn games. A special thank you to Mount Gay for hosting this kick-off event!
The first official Yachting Cup race starts Saturday morning. Skippers will meet for a briefing at 0900 on the Sail Wash Lawn, followed by an 1130 warning signal. All fleets will start on their designated courses at that time. Post racing, all will enjoy the Saturday night party featuring Stylus Overhang, local band sponsored by Southcoast Yachts
