Saturday, July 22, 2017

Fiesta Cup Regatta Preview

J/70 sailing off Santa Barbara, CA (Santa Barbara, CA)- In what has become a new tradition for the SoCal J/70 fleet, a number of good crews will be participating in the extremely fun Santa Barbara YC Fiesta Cup over the July 22nd to 23rd weekend.  It’s not hard to see why the event attracts so many good crews, Santa Barbara is regarded as “America’s Riviera”, with beautiful Spanish mission-style buildings, a spectacular waterfront that features beaches for miles and the famous Stearns Wharf with lots of seafood, the famous Santa Barbara Zoo, lots of shopping and excellent restaurants downtown, and spectacular vistas and hiking up in the mountains that rim the bay.

In addition to all the local attractions, the amazing venue for the SBYC allows nearly stadium-style racing to take place.  Situated high on a sandy bluff next to the harbor, sailors can enjoy spectacular views from the second story bar, restaurant and balcony; the sweeping 270 degree views permitting everyone to see the sailing taking place before them on the ocean.  The SBYC members make sure everyone has fun; especially on Saturday night when the famous Fiesta Cup party takes place with an excellent band or DJ and gallons of margaritas and Mexican beer flow along with delicious tacos, salsa, chips and guacamole.

Looking forward to great sailing offshore by SBYC’s expert RC and PRO teams will be eight crews that range from San Francisco to the Los Angeles/ San Diego areas.  Amongst the leading teams should be local hero Pat Toole and his 3 BIG DOGS crew, famous for having won the J/24 North Americans in recent years.  Challenging him on his home turf will be renegade outsiders like Chris Raab’s SUGOI from Newport Beach, CA; Steve Wyman’s NUNUHUNU from Dana Point, CA; Curt Johnson’s AVET 2.01 from California YC in Marina del Rey, CA; and Tony Collis’ FLY from Kings Harbor YC and Redondo Beach, CA.  For more J/70 Fiesta Cup sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.