June 7, 2016: PARKING LOT IN THE END ZONE

June 7, 2016: PARKING LOT IN THE END ZONE

As I got to the harbor it looked like the wind was slowly dying as the flags drooped more and more. We even started the process of changing to a 155 jib, but a crew member walked to the beach and came back saying it was a bad idea.  Sure enough as we approached the start area the wind was in excess of 20 knots.  Not knowing if the wind would hold, we called for a short course Whiskey 3: Start, Wharf, Blacks finish.  We gave the 5 minute warning horn and noticed the wind at the start mark was still over 20 knots and quickly put a reef in the main.

At the start we were on the line further down the line from most of the pack which left us free to tack as soon as we wanted to.  With the wind building as we went out we decided to tack back inside for flatter seas and less wind.  We tacked back and forth between more wind outside and too little wind inside. Pacific Spirit and Sagitarius rounded wharf at essentially the same time followed by Pair A Dice and Makani.

On Pair A Dice we decided to rhumb line it directly to the Blacks sailing wing on wing with our pole out to windward.  We started off with a pretty good lead over Kicks and Makani, but as we jibed sails, we did not notice the lead they were building on us by going outside (going where the wind is!).  As we all closed on Blacks, Pacific Spirit rounded first followed by Sagitarius and Kicks and Makani had quite a lead on us. We came around Blacks and saw everyone packed together as the wind died at the finish mark.  The waves on everyone’s bow did not help and as we approached the boats inching along it looked like a parking lot in the end zone.  At the finish Sagitarius lead Pacific Spirit, Kicks, Pair A Dice, Makani and Aeolian, the Beneteau 36, Sea Quake and Thalasia.  It was a great turnout and just as everyone finally inched over the finish line, the wind came up out of the East and we sailed easily back to the harbor.

In Memory of Phil Worthen:

We lost one of the icons of sailing in Santa Cruz this last Sunday June 5.  Phil Worthen died of a heart attack after sailing his boat (a Melges 14) back to the ramp. 

I got to know Phil through association with Jack Mcdermott and “Adventure” in various national regattas.  We were proud to have him as crew on Pair a Dice many times in many races.  He gained notoriety in sailing when he taught sailing for Oneill through the 80’ and 90’s.  He also sailed extensively with Ernie Rideout and most recently ran the boat yard for the harbor.  He seemed to know everyone in the sailing world.  He was also a surfer who surfed Hawaii extensively in the 70s and personally knew the famous South African surfer Shawn Thompson.

Phil was one of the most positive and high energy personalities I have ever known.  He was always smiling and happy.  Every time you saw him, you left the event with better energy.  I will always remember the sail we had on my boat just after the harbor opened in March this year.  It was a beautiful Sunday with 20 knot winds.  We worked our way clear up to Natural Bridges, then sailed wing on wing all the way to Pleasure point.

I happened to be going to my boat on Saturday the fourth and as usual, stopped by to say hi to Phil. As usual the visit lasted over an hour.  Remembering I had work to complete on my boat I shook his hand and said goodbye. Little did I know, it would be my last contact with him.  Fair winds Phil.  You will be missed!

We will see you on the water next week.

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice