Winning a Windy Winter Vashon with Santa Hats

Tacoma Yacht Club’s Winter Vashon race can be painfully cold and slow or an unforgettable pre-holiday hoot. The latter was pretty much the latter this year, with the handicap advantage going to the slower/smaller boats . And among those, it was Mark Harang’s 26′ Nimbus that topped the fleet, followed by the Cal 40 Madrugador and the Cal 33 Cherokee. Results here.

Harang, no stranger to the winner’s circle, chalked up the overall win. His blow-by-blow makes it all seem so easy, though it’s clear he had a secret weapon on board in the form of Stephanie Schwenk.

Santa hats were clearly key to the Nimbus’ Winter Vashon win. (click to enlarge)

It was a reaching start in a puffy WSW.  As we cleared the wind-shadow from Pt Defiance, the wind built then backed towards the south as got into Colvos Passage.  While we had ideas about how to play the wind and currents down the passage, in practice our strategy became heavily influenced by traffic and puffs (keeping options open with bigger boats overtaking, etc…).   We had a conservative take-down at the north end of the island, followed by a starboard tack upwind fetch to Pt Robinson.  This leg was probably key to our success, as Stephanie Schwenk (driving this leg) was able to hold a high line with good speed.  Holding the high line provided some relief from the chop (which can be problematic for the Evelyn 26).  After clearing Pt Robinson, we changed up to a #2 genoa (which worked great until the wind built and we had to switch back to the #3 – drat).  Back on the #3 we made good time and benefited from what turned into a 2 mile port tack layline to the finish.

I think our success was due to:

• We had a good start and good clean run, with no gear failures, crashes, etc….

• We had excellent crew work.

• Although it was windy (for us), the course provided some wave/chop relief

• I think the smaller boats benefited from the timing of the tide change.

But of course Mark wasn’t the only person on board. Stephanie Schwenk returned the compliment, pointing out “Mark does the work by having the boat prepped and calling tactics and driving, but Nick Farley cleverly replied ‘well you know those Santa hats aren’t just going to wear themselves!'”

And Kathryn Brunette is a big Winter Vashon fan.”I just have to say like Christmas, Winter Vashon only comes once a year. Santa hats, hot drinks, holiday lights at TYC, and usually breeze, who could ask for more?”

Congrats to all the crews who bundled up and got out there. There are a lot of places in the Northern Hemisphere where this sort of thing just doesn’t happen in December.

And here are a selection of Jan Anderson’s photos. Remember to go to her smugmug website and buy some, either from this race or another 2016 event. Hint: they make great gifts!

It’s worth noting that 14 of the 66 boats registered were in the Commodore (cruising) class, including a 10-boat flying sails division. A lot of those boats probably had heaters cranked.

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