If you were lucky enough to read Bruce’s weather brief for the Duwamish Head race, you weren’t caught by surprise by Saturday’s drifter. Like the Seahawks’ playoff game later that day, it was a bit of a disappointment.
Jan Anderson’s pictures below tell the story of the start in very light wind. The pace continued along the Des Moines and West Seattle shores, with the light air enthusiasts (there are those) definitely enjoying the day.
The course was shortened with the finish at Duwamish Head. And there were plenty of finishers and definitely some close corrected times. Crossfire, Dark Star and Ocelot got away from the fleet and took the top spots in PHRF 2 and overall. Results here
Nigel Barron of Crossfire and CSR was lucky enough to be sailing under the tallest rig. His take: “There was enough to keep us moving (having a really tall mast doesn’t hurt). If you read Bruce’s Brief, you would have found it alarmingly and disappointingly accurate. We started in a light southerly on the A1.5, and around Brace Point went to a jib in a 4-6 kt northerly. We carried that until Alki, where we went back to the A1.5 to get to Duwamish Head, where mercifully and wisely the race committee has opted to shorten course. With our elapsed time around 4 hours, we were home in time for the game, and before the rain!
Jan Anderson was on hand to get the following photos. (click to enlarge) Check out her Duwamish photo album to see the rest – and order!
Mark Harang’s Nimbus ghosting to victory. 
Sidewinder showing the Olson 30 light air prowess. 
The fleet. 
Painted ships upon a painted ocean. 
Jonathan McKee’s Dark Star. 
Ocelot leading the charge.
Sean Trew’s drone photography and video work definitely provide another perspective on sailing in our waters. Here are a couple of his videos, one of a start and one of Dark Star, with the Bieker design gliding along in nearly flat water.
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.