Erik Pullman on the sailing yacht Nereus won the 2023 Land’s End Regatta hosted by the Homer Yacht Club on Saturday, June 24 and Sunday, June 25 in the Kachemak Bay.
Also competing in the event that weekend were HYC Commodore Craig Forrest on the Arctica, Patrick Boonstra on the Aries, Zack Wallace on the Fjordfinder, Maggie Goedeke on the Lula B, Casey Fetterhoff on the Seaya, Johann-Christoph Willrich on the Pegasus and Jack West on the Independence.
There were six possible courses set for the regatta, the final route determined based on the wind and wave conditions of the day and only revealed to participants shortly before the start of the race. Regatta officials stationed at the Land’s End Resort Quarterdeck placed a flag outside the Quarterdeck showing the determined course to participants already on the water.
Both days of sailing presented challenges to participants, with Saturday not having enough wind and Sunday bringing a little more wind than necessary.
“The Nereus sailed a beautiful race,” Forrest told Homer News on Tuesday, June 27. “They chose a beautiful course [based on the predetermined route] and were able to stay in the wind the whole time.”
Multiple yachts experienced technical issues on Sunday and were unable to take part in that day’s race. As a result, fewer boats participated in the second day of sailing compared to Saturday.
The winner was determined based on participants’ rankings from each day of the event. Yachts were not required to race on both days in order to be eligible for the prize. An award ceremony was conducted Sunday evening at Land’s End.
Last weekend’s event marks the 27th year that HYC has been conducting regattas in Homer, having begun in 1997.
Coming up on Saturday is HYC’s Fourth of July Cup. Community members are welcome to join in the race as crew members on participating yachts, no experience required. The Homer Yacht Club will meet at Homer Harbor’s P float at 12:30 p.m. The race will begin at 2 p.m.
For more information, contact Homer Yacht Club Commodore Craig Forrest at (907) 299-0232.
Members of the Homer Yacht Club start the course set for the Homer Yacht Club Regatta on Saturday, June 26, 2023 in the Kachemak Bay below Land’s End Resort in Homer, Alaska. The orange buoy, left, marks the starting point of Saturday’s course, the route of which was revealed to participants minutes before the beginning of the race. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Members of the Homer Yacht Club start the course set for the Homer Yacht Club Regatta on Saturday, June 26, 2023 in the Kachemak Bay below Land’s End Resort in Homer, Alaska. Homer Yacht Club Commodore Craig Forrest is on number 93, the Arctica. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Members of the Homer Yacht Club start the course set for the Homer Yacht Club Regatta on Saturday, June 26, 2023 in the Kachemak Bay below Land’s End Resort in Homer, Alaska. This is the 26th year the club has been conducting regattas in Homer. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
