The Race Goes On

The days are getting shorter, but that isn’t stopping Richmond Yacht Club from running their Wednesday night beer can series for an extra month. The early start time (with the sequence beginning at 5 p.m.) did equal fewer boats at the line, but many still got out to have a good time in this casual race.

The masks read, “Usually our FUN is viral,” and you get that vibe from everyone in the club, even during a pandemic.

Though the pandemic has changed the regulations of racing, and post-race celebrations, it has also encouraged more people to buy boats and get out on the water. Cindy Evans, who is new to the club, bought her Express 34 Joy Ride in February, just before the lockdowns were put into place.

She has sailed a lot in the last seven months and credits the purchase of Joy Ride for making 2020 a pretty good year. Cindy bought Joy Ride from longtime RYC members Bruce and Diana Powell, after crewing on the boat a number of times.

This past Wednesday night, Joy Ride raced alongside Second Wind, the Sabre 426 that Velina and Peter Barnes brought down from Seattle this summer. You may have read about the homecoming of Second Wind in the September Issue of Latitude 38. Cindy sailed a lot with the Barneses prior to buying her own boat. Just another reminder of how small, connected, and supportive the sailing community is.

Richmond YC’s Wednesday night beer can series will run through the end of October. Other upcoming races hosted by RYC include the Fall Mercury Regatta on October 17, Great Pumpkin Regatta on October 24, and the female-skippered Amazing Grace Cheney on November 1.