The Latest Updates from the YRA, US Sailing, NSHoF and SailGP

Yacht Racing Association of San Francisco Bay

YRA Trophy Party Notes

At the YRA Trophy Pickup Party at St. Francis Yacht Club on November 16, YRA Chair Joe Rockmore told us that the organization ran four race series plus four weekend regattas for a total of 27 race days in 2024. Out of the 351 that entered YRA races, 114 of them won a total of 296 prizes. Prizes included flags and etched glasses, and the champions won sturdy canvas toolbags. We’ll have more on the YRA champions in the February issue of Latitude 38.

Women’s Championship Series

New for 2025, the YRA is organizing a Women’s Championship Series. The plan is for the helmsperson, tactician and 50% of the crew to be female. Scheduled so far are:

• Rock the Boat Regatta, Sequoia YC, May 17.
• Shirley Temming Regatta, Encinal YC, June 28.
• Bonita Regatta, YRA, October 4.

The YRA intends to add to this list. Check back later at www.yra.org.

PHRF Certificates

2025 PHRF Certificates are now available by renewing through Jibeset.net or filling out a new application here. Skippers who register on Jibeset.net by Friday, January 3, are guaranteed to have their 2025 certificate returned to them by Friday, January 17. Registrations received after January 3, but before Thursday, January 23, may have their certificate by Friday, January 24, but the YRA cannot guarantee your certificate will be returned in time for the Three Bridge Fiasco on January 25.

If you have changes or a new boat that needs to go to the PHRF committee for review, please note that their January meeting will be on Monday, January 20. The YRA needs to receive boat information no later than Wednesday, January 15, to be reviewed at this meeting.

The YRA office will close for winter break from Tuesday, December 24, till Thursday, January 2, so it’s best if you can get your PHRF renewal request in before the holiday break.

US Sailing News

New Racing Rules of Sailing

Topping the headlines in US Sailing news right now is the new rulebook for 2025-2028. World Sailing revises the racing rules every four years in a cycle that corresponds to the Olympic quad.

Max Ebb points out that, “The most substantive change is that a ‘continuing obstruction’ is now a defined term. And there’s a length requirement. You have to pass alongside the obstruction for three boatlengths for the obstruction to count as continuing. But see the definition for exact wording: ‘Continuing Obstruction An obstruction is a continuing obstruction when the boat with the shortest hull referred to in the rule using the term will pass alongside it for at least three of her hull lengths. However, the following are not a continuing obstruction: a vessel under way, a boat racing, or a race committee vessel that is also a mark.'”

Max’s monthly column will deal with some of this in the January issue of Latitude 38. Also see www.sailing.org/racingrules.

Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards

Here’s a reminder that nominations are still open for US Sailing’s Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year. But, better hurry — nominations will close on December 18. After that, the nominating committee will select three finalists for each award based on the merits of the nominees. Click here to learn more and make your nominations.

Past award winners and sailing media journalists will vote for the winners. US Sailing will announce the winners during a ceremony in February at their Sailing Leadership Forum in Coronado, California. Speaking of which…

Stan Honey to Speak at 2025 Sailing Leadership Forum 

Navigator and inventor extraordinaire Stan Honey will serve as a speaker at the 2025 Sailing Leadership Forum. The Bay Area resident will speak in multiple breakout sessions in the event’s new offshore-focused track. (Stan, by the way, was US Sailing’s Rolex Yachtsman of the Year in 2010.) His topics will include:

• Impact of Technology on Offshore Racing
• Electronic Navigation: What’s on the Horizon for Boaters
• Scoring 101: Scoring Methods for Offshore Racing and How to Implement Them
• Technology and Race Management: Five Lessons Learned About GPS-enabled RC Tools Through Two Years of Premier Events at NYYC

US Sailing will hold the forum on Coronado Island (in San Diego) on February 6-8. Check out the schedule at https://sailingleadership.org/forum-schedule and register via Eventbrite. 

Olympic Sailing

The US Olympic team HQ has moved from France to Long Beach, with Alamitos Bay YC hosting, in preparation for the L.A. Games in summer 2028. Luke Muller of Fort Pierce, Florida, will be the next Team USA Athletes’ Commission Representative for US Sailing. Chris Barnard of Newport Beach will serve as the Alternate Representative and will work alongside Luke to support American sailors. Their term will start on January 1.

Muller represented Team USA at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the Finn (men’s one-person heavyweight dinghy) and now competes professionally in keelboat classes. Barnard competed for the US Sailing Team in the Men’s Laser for seven years during the Rio and Tokyo quads. After retiring from competition, he coached the ILCA 7 sailors training for Paris 2024. Learn more here.

National Sailing Hall of Fame

Honor your Sailing Idol

Is there a sailing mentor who has inspired you and made a lasting impact on the world of sailing? Now is the time to honor those who have shaped your passion for the sport, whether through guidance on the water or dedication to the sailing community. Nominate your mentor for consideration into the National Sailing Hall of Fame by December 31 and help celebrate their legacy for future generations of sailors. Among the criteria:

• The nominee is either at least 55 years old, deceased and passed five or more years ago, or is a historic candidate born at least 100 years ago.
• The nominee is a US citizen, or a non-citizen that has had a significant impact on US sailing at a national or international level.

For more criteria and other details and to make a nomination, go to https://thesailingmuseum.org/hall-of-fame-nominations. (Stan Honey, by the way, is an inductee in the Class of 2012.)

SailGP

Tickets go on sale today for some of the 2025 “Rolex SailGP Championship” (yes, Rolex now has a “Title Partnership”). Events now available to take your money include all three US stops. (BYOB stands for Bring Your Own Boat, not Bottle.)

• March 15-16: Rolex Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix: Waterfront Grandstands ($80), Waterfront Premium ($200), BYOB (prices from $500)
• March 22-23: Oracle San Francisco Sail Grand Prix: Waterfront Grandstands ($80), Waterfront Premium ($200), BYOB (prices from $500)
• June 7-8: Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix: Waterfront Grandstands ($85), Waterfront Premium ($250), BYOB (prices from $500)

Taylor Canfield is the current driver for the US team. See https://sailgp.com.