Absolutely one of our most favorite races with challenging conditions, challenging tidal currents, incredible scenery, and best of all, great competition with great parties before, during, and after the racing.
This year will be no different except that, as always, no two races are ever the same. The good news is that at least for Saturday, the currents will be relatively favorable. Sunday a slightly different story with the tides being against us until Patos, at least they won’t be very strong. The really good news is that while there won’t be a lot of wind either day, there should be enough to get around the course and there shouldn’t be any rain. I have Crossfire taking about five hours to complete the course, both days.
Tidal Currents
Rosario Straits Turn Point, Haro Straits
Nov 10th Nov 10th
0848 Slack 1248 Slack
1148 Max Ebb 1.43 knts 1512 Max Flood 1.56 knts
1530 Slack 1742 Slack
1636 Max Flood .29 knts
Nov 11th Nov 11th
0936 Slack 0948 Slack
1242 Max Ebb 1.23 knts 1112 Max Ebb .72 knts
2318 Max Ebb 3.16 knts* 1330 Slack
*Not an error see the chart 1548 Max Flood 1.39 knts
We have a weak frontal system passing over us today after which high pressure will build over the area bringing a northerly flow over the area. For the race course, this will mean 5-10 knots of north-northwesterly in the starting area making for a colorful, downwind start and with the ebb tide you should make pretty good time down to the bottom end of Lopez. The problem will be that with the northerly flow over the Islands it will be light and shifty across the bottom of the course until you get past Eagle Point and False Bay where you’ll back into a more solid northerly for the beat up to the finish.
Click any map to enlarge.
As you can see from the surface chart for Sunday, it doesn’t change much, except for that whopping big low out in the middle of the Pacific. The high over our interior is building in strength that will act as a blocker until the end of next week. For the race course, this will mean a nice breeze of 8-12 knots from the north in the starting area and this will drop slightly after you get around Turn Point, with slightly more breeze just to the north of the rhumb line to Alden Pt. After Alden, it should be a pleasant run south to the finish with the northerly building slightly after early to mid-afternoon. The real challenge will be from Lawrence Point to the finish because the closer you get to the finish the less wind there will be in the lee of Orcas so watch the boats ahead of you as they fall into the holes and sail around them, just don’t get swept past the finish line in the ebb tide.
For the delivery home, it doesn’t matter if you’re going north or south, it’s going to be light.
Have a great race, be safe and have fun.
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)