As they say, you should have been here yesterday. It’s too bad they couldn’t have started the race today and then sailed back from Pt Townsend on Saturday. Would have had great breeze both days. Oh well, that’s sailboat racing in Puget Sound.
As you can see from the surface charts we’ve got a nice ridge of high pressure. However, there is also a cold front headed our way which will break up the ridge on Saturday night and keep things light until Sunday afternoon.
We’re just running into that same problem in that the best day for breeze is the first day the high pressure ridge rebuilds over the Pacific Northwest and that would be today. It will be cranking in the Straits (35+ at Race Rocks by mid afternoon Sat) and Admiralty Inlet today, tomorrow, and Sunday. Not so much from Point No Point south. So plan accordingly in terms of safety equipment. Since you’ll be going across Admiralty from Double Bluff to Marrowstone on a starboard tack, think about hoisting the headsail for the start in the port groove so you can do an inside set with the smaller jib when you need to change down.
The other problem is the tides and with a new moon today, which means Spring tides, the tidal flow is also going to be cranking. Good for Saturday not so good on Sunday.
Tidal Current in Admiralty Inlet
0525 Slack
0921 Max Ebb 4.2 knots
1257 Slack
1603 Max Flood 3.4 knots
1921 Slack
Sunday
0606 Slack
1007 Max Ebb 4.2 knots
1343 Slack
1652 Max Flood 3.4 knots
2014 Slack
Day 1 – Seattle to Port Townsend
The first start is just before 0800 hours and there should be a northerly breeze of 5-10 knots and with the ebb tide and a staggered start your plan should be (if you’re starting by yourself) to start on port at the Hamburger and head to the beach at Meadow Point. Tack to starboard and work your way towards the west by Jeff Head. This will keep you in the strongest part of the ebb. Once on the west side of the Sound stay in the strongest part of the ebb by watching your SOG and COG. Don’t get too close to the beach to the west and don’t get to the other side of the Possession Bar to the east.
Your next challenge will be the approach to the buoy at Double Bluff as the tide can really rip very close to the buoy. While from a distance it may appear you’ve left yourself some room, plan that there will be more ebb velocity the closer you get to the mark, and if it’s a warm day as forecast, there may be less wind in there as well. Don’t forget to take your GPS time as you pass the mark, and don’t forget to submit it when you finish, it’s a requirement.
(Click to enlarge)
After Double Bluff hold port tack as long as you can and then tack to starboard and get to the other side of Admiralty since the ebb lasts slightly longer on the west side. This will also put you in position to take advantage of the back eddies that occur up Marrowstone as the flood builds.
If you want to find out what the wind is doing at Port Townsend an hour before you’re going to get there go to https://rainwise.net/weather/bruce98136 . It’s my weather station on the north side of Diamond Point at the very mouth of Discovery Bay, looking right across at Protection Island.
After rounding Marrowstone Light tack to starboard to get yourself out of the flood tide and into the bay and flat water. Tack when you can lay the finish at R “2”.
Day 2 – Port Townsend to Seattle
Sunday will be somewhat more challenging as it will be a staggered downwind start from Port Townsend after a traditionally rowdy Saturday night party. You should have some wind (8-10 knots). The problem will be dealing with the ebb tide. There are more back eddies on the Whidbey shore, the flood starts first over there and boats have had success going over there in past races. The problem this year is that there will be less wind along the Whidbey shore. If you can work your way down Marrowstone and delay crossing over to Double Bluff, that should work better.
After Double Bluff you’ll want to work back to the Point No Point shore to take advantage of the stronger flood tide. After Point No Point it is going to get a little squirrelly until the northwesterly settles in late in the afternoon. When that happens sail your angles to the finish.
Have a great time, and be safe.
Ed. Note: Thanks, Bruce, for sharing!
Bruce has raced and cruised the Pacific Northwest his entire life. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science from the University of Washington in Biological Oceanography and learned meteorology “to keep from getting kicked around on the race course.” Bruce spent nearly two decades as Associate Publisher for Northwest Yachting Magazine, retiring in mid-2015, and was the chairman of the board of trustees for the Northwest Marine Trade Association in 2014. (photo of Bruce driving Playstation is a bit dated, but cool)
Gee, Bruce.. Thanks! Unfortunately we won’t be racing this year.. Good luck to all the competitors and stay safe!