Open Sailing will have the Pogo 2 and the Open 5.70 on display at the Strictly Sail Pacific boat show being held at Jack London Square in Oakland from April 12th until the 15th.

Save $2 off adult admission

The Open 5.70 has become one of the largest one-design classes in California and proudly boasts two active fleets of 13 boats – one in Southern California and one in San Francisco Bay. This high performance day sailor has put the fun back in sailing. Easily sailed by 2 or 3 people, including husbands & wives and fathers & sons, the boat is fast, fun, and forgiving. With a friendly competitive class association and widely varied racing calendar that features events all over California, including one in the High Sierras on Lake Huntington, it easy to see why people like this little boat. Come and see the boat first hand, meet some of the owners, and watch them race on the Estuary in front of the boat show on Saturday afternoon!

The Pogo 2 made it’s debut at this boat show last year. Since then the level of interest in this Mini-Transat has gone through the roof. Perfect as a pocket cruiser with the family or for the offshore adventurer looking to challenge themselves sailing solo across oceans it appeals to the offshore sailor in everyone. Despite being only 21 foot there is plenty of room down below on this boat – it has to be seen to be believed. The boat at the show is going to be 806 (Open Sailing Offshore Racing) – which is currently in the middle of an offshore campaign which has already logged a lot of miles and will climax when the boat leaves San Francisco bound for Hawaii in the Pacific Cup in July 2012.

The Northern California Open 5.70 fleet participated to their first Spring Keel Regatta at the San Francis YC on March 17 and March 18. The weather forecast did not deter 8 Open 5.70s to join the fleets of Express 27, Moor 24, Knarr, Melges 24 and J105 on Saturday morning on the city front. Due to lack of wind, the start was postponed until around 2pm when a good westerly breeze started to pick up. By the time of the second race, the wind was up to 20 knots and provided great surfing moments for the fleet.

Read more…

Getting ready for an offshore race is probably more difficult to achieve than the race itself….