RECAP Frigid Digit Regatta 2025

[Mark Ross]

RECAP CYC Seattle FRIGID DIGIT REGATTA January 25-26, 2025

Two fleets sailed the Frigid Digit Regatta this year. There were 10 RS Aeros competing, all using the 7 sail. In the ILCA class all 4 competitors were sailing 7’s. No ILCA 6 or 4 competed.

In the early morning both days the temperature was around 26 degrees and a good frost was covering the road, docks and boat covers. By the time we hit the water for an 11am warning gun on Saturday the sun blazed bright and the temperature was a very comfortable 40-45 degrees for the day. The predominantly northerly wind was shifty and wind speed varied in the 8-13 mph range; the tidal activity was subtle over the first few hours and dropped only a few feet by the time both fleets finished 6 races and headed in for the day, about 3:30pm.

The race committee did a great job of getting the course set and races started right on time. Three minute start sequence and quick succession between finishing and the next start kept everyone moving and warm. Both RS Aeros and ILCA fleets completed 6 races on Saturday. Courses were a mix of windward-leeward (1 and 2 times around) and also some triangle courses for variety. While sun and temperature was the same on Sunday we didn’t have enough wind to race and by noon the RC called it a day. 

With one throw-out, the top two boats in both the RS Aero fleet and in the ILCA 7 fleet were tied for first in points and the final tie-break determined by “rank in order of their scores in the last race." Jay Renehan won in the RS Aero class and was awarded the RS Aero Frigid Digit Regatta Perpetual trophy. David Brink finished second and Dalton Bergan third. Similarly, the tie-breaker in the ILCA 7 class favored Alex Zaputil who was awarded the Frigid Digit Perpetual trophy for the second year in a row. John Hodges was second.

Competitors and race committee enjoyed the hot chili, corn bread with chili butter and salad on Saturday night provided by event host CYC Seattle.

From left to right is Dalton Bergan (3rd place), Jay Renehan (center) winning 

the RS Aero Frigid Digit Perpertual Tropy, and David Brink 2nd place (right).

ILCA 7 class sailor Alex Zaputil (right) won the Frigid Digit Perpetual Trophy 

in a tie break. John Hodges came in 2nd (left).

Holding the Frigid Perpetual Troghy for ILCA 7 fleet is regatta winner Alex Zaputil, with Mark Ross (far left), 

John Hodges and Jim Santroch (far right).