Thanks to Jim Murrell in California for this report: The weekend was a huge success. Thank you to Jeff Janov and Bruce Golison for inviting us to join the coaching session practice they set up after Cal Race Week was cancelled. California Yacht Club was very supportive and helpful with all the reciprocal club and members boats that showed up. Fleet Captain Bruce Cooper got the word out to the local fleets. We had 11 boats and three coaches on the water for the weekend. Jeff and Bruce were out Thursday with 2018 World Champion Jud Smith from Doyle Sails. Many boats were out Friday for practice sessions with Star World Champion Eric Doyle from North Sails and J/70 master sailor and several time World Champion Willem Van Waay. Thanks to Tim Clark with helping with a coach boat. We had 11 boats on the water Saturday and Sunday for our Group Sail. The event was a tune-up and practice for the 2021 Worlds at CYC. We set up the starting line and course on the Worlds course. We stressed coaching and practice. There was a practice start before every group sail race. The coaches were allowed to pull up next to boats during the racing and offer suggestions. They even jumped on several boats for a full race. The coaches inspected boats before racing each day to offer suggestions. Sunday in a fog delay, we had nine boats due a 40-minutes practice on a short course in the main channel. We did 30 sets and mark roundings in a 40-minute period. There were meetings and chalk talks before heading out and debriefs each night after returning from the group sailing. It was a great model to use during the COVID delays on how to run a group sail following the Rules. All sailors wore masks at the club and followed social distancing protocols.

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