Fast Friday Races marks the return of sailing in Los Angeles
June 12, 2020
LAYC held its first sailing event since Covid-19 brought almost everything to a halt. Will the series continue?
SAN PEDRO—Summer is around the corner and we still live in a world of ever-changing uncertainty. Covid-19 and the protesting associated with the death of George Floyd continue to factor into our daily lives – but Los Angeles Yacht Club is making an effort to push forward despite the uncertainty of these chaotic times.
Los Angeles YC held its first post-Covid-19 sailing event on June 5. The Fast Friday Races are set up as weekly regattas, with events scheduled on June 12, June 19 and June 26. The yacht club hopes to continue the series into July, August and September. Fast Friday Races would be held on each Friday in June, July and August, so long as Covid-19 restrictions are not tightened and prevent the racing event from happening on a weekly basis.
The final Fast Friday Races would be held on Sept. 4.
Keelboats measuring 50 feet LOA or smaller are eligible for the Fast Friday Races series. Classes are broken up into PHRF A, PHRF B and a PHRF cruising class. Organizers will allow One Design classes, if established as a separate class.
The maximum PHRF rating to be permitted by organizers is 220.
Race committee members, in the published Notice of Race, acknowledged the Fast Friday Races series is still at the mercy of Covid-19 and the schedule is fluid.
“The Covid-19 pandemic appears to have significantly changed our daily lives for the foreseeable future and has completely altered 2020 yacht racing calendars globally, by entirely erasing most spring and summer schedules,” the Notice of Race stated. “It is impossible to predict precisely when and to what extent the yacht racing for 2020 season would resume. The standing dates will be dependent upon various factors, including the current state lockdown order, guidance from federal and state health authorities, among others.
“If it becomes impossible to run any of the scheduled races, then that particular date will be canceled or postponed,” the Notice of Race continued.
Doug Jorgensen, David Collins and Ken Corry are all the points of contact for the Fast Friday Races. Contact Jorgensen at doug@metrexvalve.com, Collins at davidcollins@mindspring.com, and Corry at kpcnut@aol.com.
