Seattle YC’s Grand Prix marks the unofficial end to the year’s Puget Sound racing, and this year did it with a big blow. (We’re counting Winter Vashon as part of 2019…) And while this event has lost some of its luster as the numbers participating has declined – 35 boats this year–, it’s still a great opportunity for boats that qualified to lock horns. For some, locking horns with with the breezy conditions was the biggest challenge. There was one race in big winds on Friday, sailed to various courses for the different classes. On Saturday, between the big blows, there wasn’t enough wind to even get a race off. On Sunday two races were sailed, again in big breeze.
SYC Sailing Director Brian Ledbetter called the racing “epic,” citing battles between Wicked Wahine and Absolutely in Class 2, and Different Drummer and Poke & Destroy in Class 3. Then there’s the three-way amongst the J/105s, ultimately won by Jaded. In the ORC class, John Buchan’s Glory once again proved that she’s in charge around the buoys. There were a number of DNFs and DNSs dotted around the fleet.
We have a gallery of photos by Catie Plourde (her B&W gallery is here).
We also have a story by Ed Snyders, who with his wife Julie Renick race Overtime. Snyders also manages the crew list for SYC race committee.
The 42nd Annual SYC Grand Prix lived up to it’s reputation as as the finest test of seamanship, sailing and race management in the northwest. The three day format allowed for two great days of sailing with Saturday being flat calm and frankly a better day for fishing.
Friday afternoon gave us blustery conditions and for the crew of Overtime a test on how to react to breakdowns under pressure, the gear in question being the boom vang. As we settled in for the pre-start for the race the lashing for one of the blocks parted making the mainsail almost uncontrollable while reaching. A brief period of mayhem ensued as the problem was diagnosed and a solution found. Fortunately, we had a small piece of line near at hand and were able to lash the block back onto the boom and resume our pre-start maneuvers. I’d love to blame our poor start on this disruption but the sad fact is that I missed an easterly shift at the start and ended up late to the western end of the start line, mistake #1. Mistake #2, came as we approached Eagle Harbor and decided to tack back in the middle where it was windier rather than shake our reef and continue to the western shore of the sound with the rest of our fleet. This choice send us to the back of the pack in short order but we did get great views of the fleet rounding Blakely Rock ahead of us. In the failing breeze the rich would get richer in this race but it was a lovely day for the run back to Meadow Point. In the waves and breeze the temporary lashing failed on the vang sending the boat into another brief period of mayhem. Somehow we didn’t broach and once order was somewhat restored we took advantage of a very open main to sail low and stay clear of a freighter turning into Elliot bay. With some stronger line found we pieced the vang back together and enjoyed a much more controlled run north. In a fleet that includes the finest sailors in the northwest this sort of drama keeps you well off the podium.
Sunday and another breezy day. Race 2 of the regatta found us in the middle of the fleet at the first leeward mark but headed up wind into rapidly freshening conditions with far too much sail up. After putting in a reef and continuing under our largest jib we managed to beat back to the weather mark and stay within striking distance of the fleet. With very fresh conditions we elected to play it safe and not hoist a spinnaker but rather change jibs to something smaller and more appropriate for the conditions. Sadly this choice led to another breakdown and a lesson on the cost of deferred maintenance. The jib halyard in use was tied to the deck with a pad-eye I have been meaning to replace for about a year. It parted, costing us any sort of a reasonable finish as going bare headed upwind is very slow.
Race 3 found the crew feeling gun shy but after a quick safely meeting we decided to continue but to play it safe. again with the quality of competition this sent us to the back of the pack but we finished the race and regatta without any further breakdowns. I’m happy with that result and with the weekend.
The awards dinner Sunday night in the SYC Fireside Room was a beautiful event. The historic perpetual trophies, the beautiful flowers, enthusiastic skippers and crews made for a full room of energy. The SYC staff was outstanding, delivering great service, the dinner was delicious and we were honored to have Commodore Van Duzor present to help congratulate each winning team.
Hat’s off to the race committee who braved winds into the 30’s while at anchor in a nasty wave state in order to provide us with a great weekend for sailing. Thank you so very munch on behalf of the Overtime crew and the fleet as a whole. We have no sport without you. You are the very best!
–Ed Snyders, SYC Race Committee Chair and skipper of Overtime
Rick Donohue of Crossfire kindly sent along Crossfire’s track, and I found a couple of photos on Facebook you might not have seen.
Finally, here’s a video taken from Glory of Crossfire desperately seeking a passing lane on Friday, courtesy of Patrick Doran.
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.