Wetas at the Ventura (CA) Sailing Club - Classic Plastic Turley race

...............................................................................................................................

Weta One Design Racing at StFYC Fall Dinghy October 24 & 25
A fleet of 9 Wetas converged at the StFYC Fall Dinghy Regatta for two days of racing on the SF Cityfront. Conditions were mild fall weather with 10-15 kts of breeze and a light afternoon flood. The enthusiastic SF Bay Weta fleet included two new boats and we So Cal sailors Bruce Fleming (San Diego) and Robert Shirley (Ventura) attended.  Chris Kitchen from Weta New Zealand, dropped in (on the way back from the Annapolis Boat Show) to attend the regatta.
Racing was true to form One Design where each boat took it’s turn to impressive results throughout the race.  Positions changed from leg to leg, and finishes were often close. Chris Kitchen (owner of Weta Marine and developer of the Weta) won all races this was expected as he has logged more hours on a Weta than anybody.  Second place was Richmond Yacht Clubs Bob Hyde who is the most active Weta sailor in SF Bay. Bob was responsible for introducing the Weta to SF sailors almost two years ago.Third place was San Diego resident Bruce Fleming. Bruce has been enthusiastic about the Weta since he took his demo ride in San Diego Mission Bay last Spring.His new Weta was delivered weeks before the regatta and he only practiced for a few days before the event.  He sailed a strong race to take third.

Heres a link to a video of this regatta.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1VJpBSFZSk

...............................................................................................................................

Small Craft Advisor Weta Boat review

Sailing publication Small Craft Advisor has an excelletn boat review of teh Weta Trimanran in the November/December issue (availbel at West Marine).

SCA is well know for its well reseaerched reviews and insightful articles relating to pocket crusiers and unique sailign craft. The Weta caught their editors eye last year and we met for a sail trial this summer near Pt Townsend, WA. The review covered detailed questions to a handfull of current Weta owners with many direct quites on trailerabilty, ease of rigging and sail.

If you miss your copy at West marine, you can order back-issues direct from Small Craft Advisor.

http://www.smallcraftadvisor.com

...............................................................................................................................

San Richmond Yacht Club - September 20 & 21st 2008
The San Francsico Weta fleet initiated the first west coast racing event at the Richmond Yacht Club - Totally Dinghy Regatta.  Five Wetas participated and sailed in this weekend's event with winds ranging from light to 18kts.  First place was awarded to Greg Mitchell (the red boat).   Dean Anderson sailed with his wife (first time sailing for her) and she really enjoyed the experience. 

Keep an eye out for more Weta racing at the Richmond Yacht Club Mid-Winter Series.  

Davo

...................................................................................................

Francisco Bay - September 27 & 28th 2008
Chris Kitchen founder of Weta Marine spent a few days in San Francisco to meet with the local Weta fleet and enjoy some high wind sailing in San Francisco bay.  On Saturday we met up with Chris at the Richmond Yacht Club where most of the SF fleet is based.  Chris offered his knowledge and advise on rigging boat handling.  We discussed developments in the Weta, which included a rudder upgrade from Dotan to Carbon fiber, a new rudder shape and quick release mechanism.  Although there has been no breakage of the Dotan rudder stock, the SF sailors will be upgrading to this system because of the regular high wind sailing experienced in the bay.  

Saturday was a wild day of sailing.  Four Wetas sailed (Chris Kitchen, Bob Hyde, Dean Anderson & Davo Berntsen) we left RYC at 12:00 and headed up Raccoon Straights (towards the GG Bridge) with plans to meet the Maltese Falcon as it sailed into San Francisco Bay for the first time.   If you don't know what the Maltese Falcon is go to this site (http://www.symaltesefalcon.com/index2.asp).  The wind was moderate until we got to "the slot" where it increased to 20kts+ and the 3.2kt ebb created tall steep waves.   By the time we got to the main bay the Falcon had already passed and was headed east to Treasure Island with one of the largest a spectator fleets I have ever seen in tow.  The four Wetas reached across the bay in 20kts/ebb, threading through spectator boats to land on the beach at Chrissy Field.  We hung out on the beach for a while and spoke with the enthusiastic crowd that gathered to ask questions about the Weta. 

After leaving the beach we burned up and down Chrissy Field a few times in relatively flat water and gusty breeze.  Chris Kitchen has sailed the Weta more than anyone so I was impressed to see how he handled the boat as we beat and ran right next to each other.  Upwind - Chris would hike out and sit on the windward ama with his feet in the foot straps.  Very efficient but requires strong thighs.  Downwind we flew the screecher - which in a breeze generates plenty of power to move the Weta along at impressive speeds.  In the strongest breeze and choppy ebb, if things got hairy - we'd sit on the main hull behind the weather ama tube and the Weta would power through the roughest of waves.   This was a good thing to know as we had to transit the main bay "the slot" again to return to RYC, this time via Pt. Blunt which is one of the rougher spots on the bay (caused by the ebb current ripping around the point of Angel Island).  My Weta powered down and through the roughest of waves and never even came close to pitching it in.  We carried the Screecher all the way and just surfed our way to Point Blunt.  Jibes in these conditions would be very precarious in your average dinghy (often resulting in swimming) - To jibe the Weta you just picked a spot threw the helm over and moved to the new tack (quickly) and the boat would accelerate away.  The Weta would really find a groove in the large ebb chop and hold it's course and power home.   I punched through the back of a few of the larger waves and the water went right over the boat and out the back in seconds - barely even slowing the boat down. 

Returning to the RYC the temperature was warmer, winds lighter and all Wetas sailed in together.  No capsizes, nothing broken, no bruises.  A good end to a very fun day of sailing in San Francisco Bay.

Sailing again on Sunday the 28th the conditions were the same.  Chris, Dean and Davo left RYC and close reached through the Olympic Circle (20kts/ebb) to Treasure Island to visit the TI Sailing School.  We beached on TI for lunch and then burned around the harbor at TI in absolutely flat water and gusty breeze.  Sailing home was another reaching/running adventure in steep close chop and strong breeze.  It was a challenging sail but the Weta is a stable platform from which to deliver us safely home.  

Davo

...............................................................................................................................