The Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series San Diego finished just as it started—with brilliant sunshine and a building sea breeze, conditions that local sailors expect this time of year. The ideal racing conditions also allowed the Race Committees of San Diego and Coronado Yacht Clubs to complete a full set of races over the three-day regatta. For Eduardo Saenz and his teammates on Nimbus, the three-race final day gave them an opportunity to put up a few more top finishes and win their regatta by a considerable 12-point margin over Jeff Janov’s Minor Threat. For Saenz and his teammates from Mexico City, Mexico, the key was working the wind shifts and, of course, staying out of trouble. “This was our third time sailing J/70s in San Diego,” Saenz said, “And taking the correct shifts was key. Our tactician, Carlos Robles, was mostly correct…he almost didn’t miss a shift.” Saenz said he and his teammates, using the regatta as a training session for the upcoming J/70 Mexican National Championship, were conservative on the starting line and focused on positioning themselves in clear-wind lanes as soon as possible. The courses were short, so clear air was difficult to come by. Downwind, Saenz said, they felt slower than some of the other top boats, but upwind they were even on speed. Their race-winning gains were made managing the wind. They were fourth in the first race Sunday, which Dave Ullman and his team on USA 3 won to tighten up the top-three standings. But Nimbus won the second race and that was that—it was their best race of the regatta. Saenz said, “We had a bad start and did a quick tack that put us in front, and then we just covered the fleet and the competition. Downwind we were fast in that race and that helped us hold the lead.” His one go-fast tip after three days of South Bay racing: “Staying in the right mode, never getting too high or too low—just keeping the boat going fast, and that’s basically it.” For comprehensive results, visit https://yachtscoring.com/event_results_cumulative.cfm?eid=14801.