2002 CATNIP CUP REPORT
by Glenn Fagerlin

WOW! what a great Catnip Cup!  The weather gods gave us sunny days, decent wind for a run with an assist from the incoming tide up to Vallejo - AND - a wind shift overnight allowing a reach all the way back with a bonus assist from the ebb.  Overall it was my best sail to Vallejo!  It was warm, sunny and windy all the way.  OK, maybe a little light around the Richmond Bridge but we all needed that to test our skills.

According to the count at the dock there were 13 boats.  PROFLIGATE - Richard Spindler, PERCEPTION - Glenn Fagerlin, MOOD INDIGO - Rich Kerbavz., FEET - Bill Anderson, CAPRICORN CAT- Blair Grinol, WAVY - Michael Wright, CATTITUDE - Ginger Thacker and John Foster, RAINBOW - Cliff Shaw, BEBE LAMOURE - Jeff, NO-NAME-YET-GEMINI - Terri Johnson and Don Parker, FULL HOUSE- John Jones, NEW FOCUS -  Paul Biery.  If your counting, I am one short or could not count correctly.  Randy Devol and Sandy Blackburn joined the festivities on the dock.  Commodore, Big Bob Naber also arrived by land yacht since DEVORAS was back on the hard after an unsuccessful launch.

The start came off with no gun and a change of plans at about 11:00 AM Saturday off Yellow Bluff.  Richard Spindler said Profligate and Capricorn Cat were going to sail across to the St. Francis and then head up to Vallejo.  The winds looked better for a reach and a reach than a run through Raccoon straights, so, off we went.  I think about 6 boats followed.  Others were late; others met up with the group along the way.  Good winds and a favorable current took us behind Angel where the wind started dying north of Raccoon Straights. Everyone bunched up until north of the Brothers, spread out over San Pablo Bay and then closed up at Vallejo. We crossed the mark at 3:46, for an elapsed time over whatever course of 4 hours and 42 minutes.  I was amazed how all the boats managed to stay reasonably together.  No horizon jobs, that I know of.  The fast guys, from my perspective, were Capricorn Cat, New Focus and Mood Indigo.  With 63 feet, Profligate is always fast.  Feet got a late start, but caught up quickly.

Arriving at Vallejo, we we greeted by the Harbormaster who directed traffic and got everyone at the guest dock with a few side ties and no problems.  Everyone wandered around, looked at other boats, met other skippers and old friends and ended up eating dinner on their boats.  Randy Devol and Sandy Blackburn joined the festivities on the dock with Commodore Bob Naber joining Perception for dinner and a serious attempt to empty the wine locker.  Sunday morning revealed the success of our effort.

The wind had shifted to the NE during the night and was pretty strong.  Everyone left in the morning when they wanted with no problems with water levels or the wind in the harbor.  We hung out on the docks, had a late breakfast and left with Wavy.  Profligate followed later as the last one out.  We had a great reach all the way down San Pablo Bay, neck and neck with Wavy.  Profligate caught up quickly flying his screecher.  We were getting about 1.5 knots of help from the ebb all the way back to the Brothers.

I think everyone did their own thing, had a good time, met some new folks and had a chance to get together with others that have similar boats.  That was my objective.  The weather bonus was terrific.  Scuttlebutt on next year centered around a place where they had BBQs or facilities where everyone could get together to grill burgers or steaks or belly up to a bar.  Benicia or the Vallejo Yacht Club were mentioned.  But that's next year.

Glenn Fagerlin
PERCEPTION, Kronos 45 Catamaran
gfagerlin at qlcapital.com

'Lectronic Latitude Coverage of 2002 Catnip Cup