An incredible fleet and singlehanded racing at its best made for a near-perfect weekend in Cascade Locks

The fleet is full of accomplished sailors, including multiple Olympic medalists. Yet it's still a great fleet for all skill levels.
The fleet is full of accomplished sailors, including multiple Olympic medalists. Yet it’s still a great fleet for all skill levels. Photo by Arden Rathkopf.

During these crazy times I feel so lucky to be writing this article. I just spent a weekend doing something relatively normal, that felt safe, that got me out of the four walls of my home, and that I genuinely love. Had this year gone to plan, I would be writing about the Aero World Championships, hosted by the Columbia Gorge Racing Association (CGRA), sure to be a week of fantastic weather and racing with a large, talented fleet from near and far. Instead, CGRA opened their doors for the weekend to 20 Aero enthusiasts for a Pacific Coast Championship (PCC), thankfully with that same great weather and racing they’re known for. 

CGRA sailor Phillip Gordon planes off the breeze.
CGRA sailor Phillip Gordon planes off the breeze. Photo by Arden Rathkopf.

For safety, the fleet followed strict social distancing and mask-wearing rules, all race documents were posted online, and there was no skipper’s meeting. With a smaller group, we were able to have little post-race debriefs, which I happen to love because this fleet full of world-class sailors is so friendly and open to sharing, I always learn something helpful. 

After nine races over two days of racing, and with the trademark 15-20 knot westerly winds, many in the fleet were more than a little sore. On the bright side, sleeping in your tent is always easier when you’ve spent all of your energy on the race course. 

Tight racing indeed. Author, Jen Morgan Glass, gets inside rounding rights at a mark.
Tight racing indeed. Author, Jen Morgan Glass, gets inside rounding rights at a mark. Photo by Arden Rathkopf.

For most of us, the racing itself was pretty tight. Narrow puffs and big shifts created opportunities that could send you screaming past your competition, particularly downwind. Jay Renehan, Dalton Bergan, and a few others too far away for me to see would sometimes break free into a big lead. Jay is really fast upwind, and seems to make all the right gambles, like starting on port at the boat in the first race. Dalton is all but unstoppable downwind, and seemingly uncatchable if he can get to the weather mark first.

 The fleet has really come a long way after a spring of sailing. With not much else going, many were able to join impromptu training sessions that happened as frequently as three or four times a week through the pandemic. Across the fleet, everyone still has their strengths, either upwind or downwind. No one seems dominant in both just yet. Staying upright was one of the faster moves I relied on, especially around the jibe mark which, on Sunday in particular, often seemed to have a hefty puff just as you needed to jibe. I also learned how much Cunningham you need to pull on upwind, and the complex multi-step approach of Cunningham, vang, Cunningham, vang, to get enough of both on after the leeward mark. 

Gorge veteran Dan Falk sailed to a podium finish in a deep fleet.
Gorge veteran Dan Falk sailed to a podium finish in a deep fleet. Photo by Arden Rathkopf.

While activity itself and the shared learning seemed like the most important parts of the weekend, the racing was terrific too. Ultimately, Dalton took the top spot, with Jay in a close second and Dan Falk finishing out the podium. There was an impressive mix of scoring throughout the middle of the fleet, which kept the fun meter high for everyone.

RS Aero activity has boomed in the Pacific Northwest, and all signs are that this will continue.
RS Aero activity has boomed in the Pacific Northwest, and all signs are that this will continue. Photo by Arden Rathkopf.

For those who haven’t tried racing an Aero yet, I highly recommend it. The boat is fun, responsive, fast, and the fleet is one of the best. There is a fleet boat in Seattle if you’re looking to come test it out. And for all of the women sailors out there, give me a ring if you have any questions. I’d love more female competitors!

RS Aero 5 Division: (1 boats)
Pos,Sail, Skipper, Division, Yacht Club, Results, Total Points

1. 1, Luis Madrid, , EYC, [2/DNF]-1-1-2/DNS-2/DNS-2/DNS-2/DNS-2/DNS-2/DNS- ; 14

RS Aero 7 Division:
(20 boats) Pos,Sail, Skipper, Division, Yacht Club, Results, Total Points

1. 2024, Dalton Bergan, , Seattle YC, 2-1-[3]-1-1-3-2-1-1- ; 12
2. 1976, Jay Renehan, , SYC, 1-7-1-[21/OCS]-2-1-1-2-2- ; 17
3. 2233, Dan Falk, , Dan Falk, 3-5-2-2-3-[8]-4-3-4- ; 26
4. 2019, Carl Buchan, , cyc seattle, 6-3-[11]-7-4-2-5-4-3- ; 34
5. 3215, Andrew Holdsworth, , StFYC and Yorkshire Dales SC, 5-4-4-3-8-[17]-9-7-6- ; 46
6. 1514, Andy Mack, , SYC/HRYC, 8-2-10-6-7-4-3-[11]-8- ; 48
7. 1727, John Renehan, , WW17SS, 4-9-7-9-[13]-5-7-9-5- ; 55
8. 1872, Derek Bottles, , Seattle YC, 9-6-[14]-4-5-10-10-10-7- ; 61
9. 2082, Jonathan McKee, , SYC/CYC, 7-[16]-9-5-6-11-8-8-9- ; 63
10. 1377, Mike Johnson, , CYC / PMYC, 12-8-15-8-9-9-12-[16]-12- ; 85
11. 1516, Philip Gordon, , CGRA, 10-14-18-[21/OCS]-11-7-11-5-10- ; 86
12. 2686, Jen Morgan Glass, , Seattle Yacht Club, [16]-12-6-11-10-12-16-12-11- ; 90
13. 3256, Keith Hammer, , Seattle Yacht Club, 11-13-13-[21/OCS]-21/OCS-6-6-17-13- ; 100
14. 1977, Jay Leon, , SYC / CYC, 14-15-5-10-[16]-13-14-14-16- ; 101
15. 2228, Jim Barrett, , CYC Seattle, 13-11-[16]-12-12-15-13-13-14- ; 103
16. 1732, Matt Pistay, , SYC, SCYC, 18-10-12-[21/OCS]-15-16-15-6-15- ; 107
17. 1248, Andy Schmidt, , SYC, 15-17-8-15-14-[21/DNS]-21/DNS-21/DNS-21/DNS- ; 132
18. 1641, Ryan Zehnder, , Seattle YC, 17-18-17-14-18-14-17-[19]-18- ; 133
19. 3207, Akira Tanaka, , N/A, 19-[20]-19-13-17-18-18-15-17- ; 136
20. 2284, Greg Warner, , Richmond Yacht Club, 20-19-20-[21/DNF]-21/DNS-21/DNS-21/DNS-18-19- ; 159

Title photo by Arden Rathkopf.