The Santana 20 rewards time spent in the boat learning to keep the boat flat upwind, roll tacking when its light and good sail handling at the turning marks. Total crew weight on the boat doesn't effect the out come as much as it does in the smaller boats, so sailors weight is not a big deal which is good for the small and heavy teams. Some boats race quite well with just a skipper and one crew , while most race with a total of three sailors on board. You can't hike past the sheer line on the hull so you won't get a sore back or bruises from hiking like mad all day. These boats are physical to sail but they're not pain boxes. With the class jib up they are nice boats to day sail which many other race boats don't do well. Yet even with the keel, the S20 handles like a dinghy.
Santana 20 boats have two deck lay outs, the new open transom and the older closed transom. Both new and old boats are very even in speed and you see the oldest boats fighting to win races along with the new ones. Boats in race condition with good sails and trailer start around the $4000.00 range so it's a inexpensive boat to campaign as far as boats go. There is a national championship regatta every year for the S20 class and there are many regattas to travel to if that fits your program.
As for the local fleet, its a fine group of sailors and people. I've found it to be a fleet that has many friendly members that will help each other out. We will once again this year have tuning days and practice sailing with some of the top sailors in the fleet helping out with trim and boat handling tips. We'll take some video and break it down in the bar so everyone gets up to speed faster. We want a fleet where anyone can win and I hope it will be you!
Good competition, great people , fun times on and off the water. Come join us as an owner or crew. I hope to see you in a Santana 20 soon.
So its never windy for TnTs, wrong! It blew quite nicely last night for the whole race. The Laser fleet (rc) was kind enough to give us a bay start and a long course 37(S-F-7-E-2-6-3-ts-Finish). Seven Santanas on the line made needing a good start important, finding a good lane after the start even more important. Team Bimo, Purple and 677 lead off the line. Team Bimbo , sailed by some young guns smoked the fleet to the weather mark using a class jib instead of a genoa. After proving their speed and smarts to the top mark , they retired to bask in the glow of their accomplishments at the club.
677 with juniors dirving and trimming rounded next with Purple Haze (rock star edition) on their heels. 677 and Purple(r.s.e.) fought it out even to finish. Purple won with a clean cross of the starboard 677. The old guy that the juniors had given a pitty ride to cost them the evening...darn. Big Wave Dave took 3rd, but sailed maybe farther than any other fleet's combined total distance on the night. Thanks to the racers for another night of quality tnt racing.
Cheers all.
TNT recap for July 19
We had a nice turn out for the TNTs last night. The Snipe fleet put on a good race in light winds as they were rc for the night. Doug Harts comments from the tower were quite funny . In 3-5 knots of wind with a Chicken cove start for the S20s, it wasn't long before many in the fleet over took the Lightning fleet up near 1. With a some what south wind it had been a starboard beat from A to one, then jibe a no set and finally set 100ish yards later. The restricted line was trouble for the Conner Magill and Paine boys(they fouled it). 914 lead wire to wire and made some nice gains by sailing low in small pressures downwind. Up wind, more gains sailing in wind lanes to 2 and finish. All in all, a good time had by the fleet. Next race date TNT, July 26 and Club racing Sunday the 29th. Hope to see you there! Richard Hoffmann
To all club members... The One Design Regatta is coming soon, August 18 and 19. Scroll down to the links to the NOR and the Entry Form.
Entry fee is $15.00 if by August 15, add $5.00 after that. If you're not racing , we still need help with race committe. Bay and Ocean venues. Thanks!
Regards,
Richard Hoffmann 760-489-0600
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One Design Regatta