26 • August 15 - 28, 2014 • The Log
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TJ O’Rourke dominates 27th annual Jessica Uniack Memorial Beach to Bay Race
By Rick Roberts
LONG BEACH — TJ O’Rourke of Dana Point Yacht Club finished first July 24 in the Sabot C3 class winning the per- petual trophy for first place in the largest class in the 27th annual Jessica Uniack Memorial Beach to Bay Race, hosted by Long Beach Yacht Club. On a beautiful Southern California summer morning with a gentle breeze coming out of the southwest at 5-7 knots, 135 young sailors ranging in age from 7 to 16 set sail in Long Beach Harbor just off of the beach next to the city’s downtown Shoreline Marina. The boats sailed southeast along the beach on the 5 mile course accom- panied by coaches from all participat- ing yacht clubs and the city of Long Beach Fire Department Lifeguards. Turning north into Alamitos Bay Channel they finished in front of Long Beach YC to cheers and support from family and friends.
This is the only junior sailing event
of the year where the 8-foot-long Sabots ever venture out on the ocean. Other first place finishers included;
The trophy presentation for “Bravery In Face Of Danger” at Newport Harbor YC with Seymour Beek, principal race officer, Sebastian Nowlan, the youngest racer, Pierce Hemphill of Balboa YC, and David Shockley, com- modore of NOSA.
King Harbor YC wins Flight of the Lasers
NEWPORT BEACH — Although it’s not the America’s Cup race, Newport Beach’s annual Flight of the Lasers race has been the starting point for many blue-water sailors. The afternoon race was held in breezy conditions on Sunday, July 20 during the 79th annual run of the race. “It is really a great event that attracts avid Laser racers, families and young sailors,” said Brett Hemphill, race organizer for Balboa Yacht Club. “Thus, we have trophies for the oldest skipper, first married couple, youngest boy and youngest girl.”
The windy conditions combined
with a bright sunny afternoon made for a lot of traffic on the bay this year. The race course started near Balboa Pavilion and covered a majority of the bay. Finishing first was Brian Cottrell of
King Harbor YC followed by Wills Johnson, Phil Thompson, Joseph Hou and Dais Hanscom all from Newport Harbor YC. The breezy conditions made for some tough luck for the participants. The oldest registered skipper, David Tingler, of Lido Isle YC, turtled his Laser
and required outside assistance. His disqualification resulted in Don Stoughton, of Balboa YC, getting the award for oldest skipper. The youngest skipper, 10-year-old
Pierce Hemphill of Balboa YC, also cap- sized at one of the weather marks. His crew, Sebastian Nowlan held onto the boom for the downwind leg of the race to the finish line since they could not get the boom to fit into the gooseneck. Their determination earned them the Bravery in the Face of Danger Award. The first parent/child, finishing
22nd overall, was Nick and Kate Madigan of Newport Harbor YC. The first married couple, Jim and Lindsey Beek of Balboa Island YC, finished 29th overall.
All winners received gift certificates
for the Sailing Pro Shop in Newport Beach, Originally called the Flight of the
Snowbirds, because of the wooden boats used in the race, the event was renamed in 1975 after organizers decided to replace the aging, wooden craft with Olympic class Laser.
— Brett Hemphill
Matthew Fairbanks and Trevor Tuck, Alamitos Bay YC, in CFJs; Malin Hiles, Frank Wells and Tom Morel, Leeway Sailing Center, in Capri 14.2s; Teddy Carter, Huntington Harbor YC, in Lasers; Ryan Schack, Alamitos Bay YC, in Laser Radials; Mason Kaplan, Long Beach YC, in Open Bics; Chase Dodd, Long Beach YC, in Optimists; Nathan Sih, Alamitos Bay YC, in Sabot B; Carsen Lenthall, Dana Point YC, in Sabot C1 and Charley Snyder, Alamitos Bay YC, in Sabot C2. The event is named for Jessica
Uniack, a volunteer and supporter of junior sailing who died tragically in 1994. Her husband Bill and sons Billy and Alex carry on her work with the event that began in 1988 and was renamed in her honor in 1995.
A prestigious event
DANA POINT —Spectators gathered at Dana Point Yacht Club on July 19 to get an up close look at the coveted America’s Cup Trophy during its nationwide tour. Guests had an opportunity
to pose with the trophy, take photos and hear comments from Golden Gate YC com- modore Nobert Bajurin during the special event. The 139-foot sailing vessel, America, was available for touring during the event. Oracle Team USA currently holds the sailing trophy as the team bested its com-
petitors in last summer’s races. The team’s home club is Golden Gate YC. The trophy will be making the rounds until the 2017 America’s Cup race is scheduled.
TJ O’Rourke of Dana Point Yacht Club proudly holds the Jessica Uniack Memorial Beach to Bay Race per- petual trophy after finishing first in the Sabot C3 class in the 2014 Beach to Bay Race. Long Beach Yacht Club Sailing Director Jess Gerry (left) and son of Jessica Uniack, Alex Uniack (right), congratulate TJ on his win. The trophy is traditionally awarded to the first place finisher in the largest class.
Alex pitched in to help out on the finish line and handed out the hard- ware to top finishers in their respective classes. “It’s great seeing that many partici-
pants,” Alex said, “and to know that junior sailing is alive and well in Long Beach. “I remember when the event was still just getting established, so it’s awe- some to see that it has become such a tradition and even a rite of passage for beginning sailors,” he added. “I’m already excited to be more involved next year and hope to make it as great as the Dutch Shoe is down in San Diego. It’s a high bar, but some of my favorite memories of junior sailing are from the Dutch Shoe Marathon.” Complete results are available at
lbyc.org .
Photo courtesy of R/C Ray Lewis
Rick Roberts photo
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