Conditions for the 23rd annual Konocti Cup were excellent, according to the event's organizers. Courtesy photo.

CLEAR LAKE – The recent Konocti Cup featured great weather and highlighted Clear Lake's excellent conditions, say event organizers.

The 23^rd annual event, hosted by the Konocti Bay Sailing Club on April 28, had one race with three divisions, said Doug Jones, the club's commodore.

“We had 38 boats, which is an improvement over the last three or four years,” Jones said, noting competitors came from as far away as Weaverville and Lake Tahoe.

Conditions were “light,” said Jones, “But they had a good time.”

Because of no wind down in the Clearlake area, the race didn't run its standard, full-length course, said Jones.

“There was just enough wind that everyone had a little bit of fun,” he said. The day before, he added, “there wasn't a breath of wind all day.”

Winning the Full Cup race was Ben J. Landon, skipper of Backatcha Bandit, a Thompson 22 sailboat, in a time of 14:53:16. He was followed by Tom Burden skippering Layla, an Ultimate 20, in 15:13:32. John Andrew, skippering Cinderella Story, another Ultimate 20, came in at 15:13:47.

In the Half Cup, Ray Proffitt, skippering Lusty, a Balboa 26 SK, finished in 15:07:23, followed by Jim Westman and Sante, a Capre 26 WK, who was two minutes behind, with Robert Walmsley's BoB's Cat, a Catalina 22, finished in 15:37:43.

In the Multi-Hull division, Bill Erkelens skippering E2, a Tornado 20 cat, finished first in a time of 14:47:21. Paul and Laura Hastings aboard Habit 1, a Corsair 28, finished in 15:47:28.

Jones estimated that, over the years, 80-percent of the competitions have offered sailors perfect conditions, with 15 mile-per-hour winds, which are good for novices and experts alike.

“That makes us the best sailing lake around,” he said. “Nobody can touch that.”

For more information about the Konocti Bay Sailing Club, including full race results, visit them online at www.kbsail.com or call 277-SAIL (7245).

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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