The San Diego Yacht Club’s Hot Rum Series started on November 5 with races scheduled on November 19 and December 3. With 128 entries, it’s one of the most popular “pursuit style” races in America, where the slowest boat starts first, hours ahead of the biggest and fastest boats, and whoever crosses the line first wins. Starting and finishing just off the western end of Shelter Island, the fleet heads out through the Point Loma passage to two buoys offshore and returns to the same start line to finish the race just off Shelter Island. In the huge 38-boat PHRF 3 division, the top five were primarily occupied by J/105s. Winning was Jim Dorsey’s J-OK with a 2-1-2 for 5 points. Second was Rick Goebel’s SANITY with a 1-2-7 tally for 10 points. Fifth was Dave Vieregg/Bennet Greenwald’s PERSEVERANCE with a 3-4-16 for 23 points. For more San Diego YC Hot Rum Series information, visit