Ives Judges the Wind Correctly

Pete Ives showed Friday that he can sail ‘em as well as judge ‘em.

The veteran Long Beach sailor, known around the world as an international yacht racing judge, grabbed some wind for himself to win Class G with his own boat, Ravage, in the first round of the sixth Audi/North Sails Race Week off Long Beach.

Ravage, although rated higher--slower--than some of the 18 other boats in its fleet with a Performance Handicap Racing Fleet handicap of 156, not only won on corrected time but was first to finish overall.

“It’s an old clunker, but in that kind of wind it goes pretty good,” Ives said.

The wind was a steady 15-18 knots out of the southwest.

Ravage loved it. She is an 18-year-old Newport 30 that was modified by Marina Shipyard proprietor Bud Tretter when he owned the boat several years ago. Tretter stretched the waterline, put on a new keel and rudder and--presto!--a Newport 33.

Friday’s race started on schedule at 4 p.m. and sent the 123 boats in seven classes around a course in the Long Beach inner harbor. Today’s double round will be run on two courses outside the breakwater, while Sunday’s competition will be on a course along the city’s beachfront.

In this event, marine industry racers are prohibited from steering boats, unless they are principal owners--a rule that not only encourages amateur participation but tends to level the competition. In most cases.

Chuck Cook, a car dealer representing the Los Angeles Yacht Club, steered his Andrews 50 Outta Bounds to such a wide victory in Class A for the grand prix boats that grumbles were heard about his PHRF rating of 24.

Outta Bounds, built by Alan Andrews of Long Beach, finished 7 minutes 26 seconds ahead of the next boat, Paul and Skip Ely’s Swan 51, Elyxir, on actual time and corrected out to a 3:12 edge.

Other winners were David Dale-Johnson’s Paleface among the J-35s, Bill and Judy Haslett’s Hombre in the Schock 35s, Tony Reyes’ Swan 46 Islero in Class D, the Washburn/Rickerhauser defending champion Peterson 30, Rumrunner, in Class E, and Ken Wafefield’s Santana 35, Speculator, in Class F.