[caption id="attachment_500" align="alignleft" width="264" caption="Photo: Mariah's Eyes (510) 864-1144 Ad for September 1996"][/caption]

This year's Catalina 34 Nationals, sponsored by Corinthian Yacht Club, offered up a wide range of conditions in four races over a three day weekend. Friday's race especially gave the 18-boat fleet a wild and windy challenge.

Dave and Edie Davis's Wind Dragon finished first in the three days of racing, breathing fire down the decks of the any boats that managed to pull out in front.

The Davises bought and aptly named their Catalina in 1988, the Year of the Dragon, and the family has raced it regularly ever since. In addition to winning the Nationals, they have won three Jack Frost midwinter series!

Dave attributes his blazing speed to his dedicated crew (son Russell turned down a hefty bribe from an overbooked airline to make the first race of the Nationals) - and his set of six-year-old Pineapple Sails!

Let us get your boat fired up - with sails that start fast and stay fast!