Due to technical difficulties there was a big delay in getting this posted. We’re sorting out who’s responsible right now, but speaking as a dinghy guy I’m pretty sure it had something to do with the (damned) instruments. Our apologies.
It is setting up to be a glorious weekend just about anywhere you want to go on the water. As you can see from the surface charts, we’ve got a nice high-pressure system setting up offshore and all it is going to do is get stronger over the next 5-7 days. This is going to provide us with a strong onshore flow which will create gale conditions in the Central and Eastern Straits of Juan de Fuca especially in the afternoon and early evening hours. Currently it’s blowing 35 knots at Race Rocks, 28 at Sheringham, 27 at Hein Bank and 24 at Smith Island. This afternoon and this evening will probably see the strongest breezes over this area. The next strongest breeze will be in the northern part of Admiralty inlet and the Strait of Georgia south of Nanaimo. As always, check the local conditions before you head out. The pressure gradient will ease somewhat over the next three days dropping the peak windspeeds by 5-10 knots per day.
What does this mean for Swiftsure? Should be a great race especially for the big boats that can make it around the mark and get back into the Straits before sunset. This will be true for any of the courses as the breeze will tend to drop after midnight the further out the Straits you are. Then it will be time to start watching the tidal currents.
Tidal Current Race Passage
0905 Slack
1159 Max Flood 3.9 knots
1457 Slack
1825 Max Ebb 3.2 knots
2109 Slack
2346 Max Flood 3.0
0158 Slack
0627 Max Ebb 5.1
0939 Slack
1240 Max Flood 4.5
1544 Slack
1919 Max Ebb 3.5 knots
Luckily, it appears the wind will hold in the central Straits so no reason to do any extreme rock hopping as you fight the tide. With the 0900 start we should be able to make it through the Race before max flood at noon. Once through the Race it will be time to get to the US shore and beat your way out the Straits. For the long course, the breeze will begin to ease around sunset but will stay from the WSW at around 10 knots. The old rule still applies and that is don’t sail below the port tack layline as you approach the mark on the Bank. If you find yourself headed below the layline, tack back on to starboard and get back above the port tack layline. Do the starboard pole set at the mark and then sail back down the center of the Straits until you start to get lifted, usually about ½ way between Neah Bay and Clallam Bay, then gybe to port and sail the short course to Race Passage hopefully riding the flood and getting through before 0200 hrs Sunday morning.
For the Cape Flattery boats, it’s pretty much the same except you may have to take a quick gybe out into the Straits at the mark to get back into the wind. Once back in the wind, gybe back to starboard and work your way down the center of the Straits. If you’re not going to make Race Passage before the big ebb starts, you’ll need to work your way to the Vancouver Island shore to get some tidal relief.
As usual, it should be mandatory life jackets and safety harnesses from the get go. Then monitor the wind reports on the VHF and log the pressure gradient readings at Forks and Bellingham to get a feel for how much wind you’ll have going through the Race. If it’s blowing hard in the Race, set up your approach so you are on port well ahead of where it will be windy. Do your chute change early and get the number three up under the kite to help stabilize things. Talk every maneuver through before you do it and make sure everyone is clipped on.
Above all else, be safe, have fun and have a great weekend.
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)