(Santa Barbara, CA)- During the third weekend of July, Santa Barbara
gears up for a colorful celebration of its Mexican, Spanish and American
pioneers, called the Old Spanish Days Fiesta, that lasts for a week and
brings in people from all corners of California, if not America, Mexico
and Europe. Coincidentally, many boats from around Southern California
arrive in town to join the party and also prepare and gear up for the
popular Santa Barbara to King's Harbor Race- a mad reaching/running dash
out around the Channel Islands to King's Harbor near Los Angeles.As a result, it's a popular week to be in Santa Barbara for Californians, nothing else is on the racing schedule, kids are out of school (or at camp) and "the Fiesta" becomes a popular destination for friends and family for some fun and frolic on the gorgeous American "Riviera" known as Santa Barbara (one of five cities in America that claim that same title). The main drag in town, State Street, seemingly turns into another version of New Orleans's infamous Bourbon Street in the French Quarter with thousands celebrating into the wee hours of the night (learn more about it here- http://www.oldspanishdays-fiesta.org).
Sailors are always greeted by the customary amazing hospitality from the host, Santa Barbara YC and were entertained for hours at the traditional beach party underneath the club's porch with free-flowing beer and margaritas as well as delicious tacos, enchiladas and other yummy Spanish-Mexican foods off the grills. Plus, an added bonus-- a real-live band! Cool.
This year, the eight boat J/105 fleet had two great days of racing with westerlies blowing down the shoreline from 5 to 15 knots. As usual, it was critical to get off the starting line, stay right upwind, avoid the big kelp lines (or force competitors into them!), and play the shifts as they come flying down off the bluffs on the right side of the course.
In the end, it was FREE ENTERPRISE (Tedd White/ Alex Rasmussen) that took first with 1-2-3-1-1 for 8 pts. Larry Harteck seems to be getting back into his "game-on" mode and sailed better in this regatta than he has in multiple events over the past year or so. Larry's 4-1-2-4-2 for 13 pts was good enough to beat out a local Farr 40 Champion, John Demourkas, racing his J/105 ROCKIN'N'GROOVIN. Fourth was Scott McDaniel on OFF THE PORCH with a remarkably consistent scoreline of 5-5-5-6-3 for 24 pts. Fifth was John Blair on PHANTOM with a 6-3-6-7-5 tally for 27 pts. Notably, there were no Southern California J/105 teams participating from Long Beach and San Diego as they're the host for this year's J/105 North Americans. For more Fiesta Cup J/105 sailing results
