RECAP: 15th Annual Zongo Yachting Cup: october 11 & 12, 2024

The Zongo Cup, held on October 12, 2024, was a vibrant celebration of sailing culture and community, bringing together local sailors and attendees from as far as Vancouver, Canada. This year’s event featured a fantastic kickoff concert at Tidelands Park on Morro Bay’s waterfront with Zongo All-Stars.

As the sun set, the festival culminated in a spectacular finale with a stunning reception party at the Point San Luis Lighthouse, leaving everyone looking forward to next year’s event. See below for results.

THE RESULTS:

  • 17 boats started, 13 finished, 1 DNS, and 2 DNFs.

  • FIRST PLACE - PHRF: Feral / International Folkboat / Jim Haselman

  • SECOND PLACE - PHRF: Mistress Quickly / Santa Cruz 27 / Dave Hensinger

  • THIRD PLACE - PHRF: Janina / Santa Cruz 27 / Mark Hilden

  • FIRST PLACE - CRUISING CLASS: Tunnel Vision / Custom Catamaran / Nick Del Giorgio

  • SANTA CRUZ 27 CLASS - FIRST PLACE: Mistress Quickly / Santa Cruz 27 / Dave Hensinger

  • MULTIHULL - FIRST PLACE: Tunnel Vision / Custom Catamaran / Nick Del Giorgio

  • VOYAGER TROPHY - FARTHEST HOME PORT: LOON V / Shannon 39 / Don Scott / Vancouver, Canada

  • SHIPWRECK TROPHY - BOAT SUSTAINING THE MOST DAMAGE: Sur la Mer / Pearson Triton / Charlie & Laura McCarren

  • SCALAWAG TROPHY - LAST BOAT IN: Far Away / Catalina 309 / Randy Kingsbury

THE DETAILS:

BOAT / SKIPPER / PHRF RATING / FINISH TIME / CORRECTED TIME

1) FERAL / International Folkboat / 252 /Jim Haselman / 2:21:00 PM / 2:04:59

2) Mistress Quickly / Santa Cruz 27 / 138 / Dave Hensinger / 1:48:36 PM / 2:06:58

3) Janina / Santa Cruz 27 /138 / Mark Hilden / 1:49:45 PM / 2:08:07

4) Elizabeth Marie / Balboa 26 / 234 / Sophia Flumerfelt / 2:25:00 PM / 2:14:25

5) Bad Watermelon III / Holder 20 / 185 / Maxime Jeanneau / 2:13:30 PM / 2:17:42

6) Casablanca / C&C Landfall 38 / 144 / Mike Harrold / 2:01:36 PM / 2:18:10

7) LOON V / Shannon 39 / 175 / Don Scott / 2:17:23 PM / 2:24:36

8) Impulse / Columbia 10.7 / 168 / Aaron Young / 2:19:00 / 2:28:19

9) Feolina / Valiant 32 / 218 / Brian Coggins / 2:35:22 / 2:29:36

10) Windrunner / Newport 28 Mk II / 192 / 2:40:00 / 2:42:05

11) MOJO / Catalina 34 / 150 / Troy Wieck / 2:28:30 / 2:43:15

12) Far Away / Catalina 309 / 165 / Randy Kingsbury / 2:45:00 / 2:55:19

13) Wings / Cape Dory 30 / 207 / Daniel Dennon / DNF

14) Sur la Mer / Pearson Triton / 210 / Charlie McCarren / DNF

15) Slider / Catalina 38 / 148 / Mark Buchman / DNS

16) Prudence / Grand Soleil 50 / 78 / John Wimer / DNS

MULTIHULL:

1) Tunnel Vision / Custom Cat / Nick Del Giorgio / 13:24:00

2) Shotgun / Custom Cat / Mike Munger / 13:48:00

WHAT:

A 20-mile sailing race / cruise from Morro Bay to Avila Beach/Port San Luis. Features a free concert on Friday night in Morro Bay with Zongo All-Stars and a free party at the Point San Luis Lighthouse at the end of the race.

When / timeline:

OCTOBER 11 FRIDAY:

  • ALL DAY: Racers check in at Morro Bay Yacht Club

  • 4:00 - 8:00 • Launch party / festival / concert at Tidelands Park on Morro Bay’s waterfront

OCTOBER 12 SATURDAY:

  • 8:00 AM • MB Yacht Club open for coffee & late registration

  • 9:00 AM • Skippers Meeting (MB Yacht Club)

  • 10:00 AM • All vessels underway

  • 11:00 AM • Race start

  • 5:00 PM • Race ends - racers are disqualified if not finished by 5:00 PM

  • 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM • Zongo Cup Reception Party at Point San Luis Lighthouse! Includes drinks & live music.

WHO IS THIS FOR:

This is a sailing race, but also a cruise and open to powerboats and capable skippers with human-powered craft (SUP, Outrigger canoe, etc.) Sailboat racing is scored using PHRF Southern California Ratings, and one-design classes are established for any vessel type having 3 or more entries.

The kickoff party on Friday at Tidelands Park is free and for anyone who likes fun, music, food, drink, dancing, boating, making friends. Zongo All-Stars will perform and is always a great time.

Where:

  • Morro Bay Yacht Club - registration & skippers meeting: 541 Embarcadero, Morro Bay

  • Tidelands Park - 339 Embarcadero, Morro Bay (at the Launch Ramp)

  • Point San Luis Lighthouse - Accessible from Lighthouse Beach, directly inside the breakwall at Port San Luis. There will be no access to lighthouse from land, so we will all arrive at the party via skiff. BYO or we will provide water taxi service from the mooring area to the beach.

TROPHIES:

Local legend Ted Emrick of Emrick Studios in Baywood Park has a long-standing tradition of supplying gorgeous, custom glass trophies for the Zongo Cup. This year is no exception, and this year’s trophies will be something you will want to proudly display on your mantle for years to come! Trophies available:

  • PHRF Sailing: First, second, and third places

  • Cruising Class: First place. All participants will primarily sail under their respective class, and simultaneously in the Cruising Class - which has only 2 results: 1st Place, and all other finishers will tie for tie for Second Place.

  • Each One Design Class: First Place

  • Farthest Away: Boat traveling the farthest distance from Morro Bay and completing the race.

  • Scalawag Trophy: Last to finish

EXTRA SPECIAL THANKS TO:

SOME PHOTOS FROM 2023 RACE: