The surface charts for the weekend show a very interesting pattern. Today’s surface analysis shows a nice, round, high-pressure system off the coast yet at 1033MB it is not what we would consider terribly strong. The shape, however, and the fact that the jet stream is going to be staying pretty much in the same general vicinity, means not much is going to change for the next five days. Oregon Offshore people should take note. Today’s satellite picture also shows just how extensive this high-pressure system is as well as clearly showing that compact low-pressure system with attached front at 35N & 135W.
While the offshore high-pressure system will continue to weaken, going from 1033MB today to 1026MB on Monday, and become not so round, nothing is going to move it very far. By tomorrow morning it will have drifted slightly north and slightly to the west. This will stretch the gradient and bring lighter air to the Pacific Northwest. Sunday looks a little better especially with the tide helping to bring the northerly breeze down the Sound after about mid-day.
Tidal Current in Admiralty Inlet at Bush Point
Saturday
0530 Slack
0836 2.66knts Ebb
1142 Slack
1436 2.66knts Flood
1848 Slack
Sunday
0600 Slack
0912 2.82knts Ebb
1218 Slack
1506 2.81knts Flood
1930 Slack
For the RTTS folks, it should be fairly straight forward with the early starters being able to take advantage of the ebb. Start with clear air and then work to the west. You may have wind for your start however it will ease as you go north. When the northerly does fill in, it will come down the west side of the Sound and be stronger over there as well. While the morning breeze will tend to be northerly, it will tend to back to the northwest the closer you get to Pt. No Pt. so after PNP just stay on port tack and get across to the mark at Double Bluff. You may get headed as you come across towards DB just get across and if the flood is starting you can work the back eddy to the east of DB to get around the mark. It may be a little light under the bluff so watch the boats ahead of you.
May 3 500MB 
May 3 Surface Analysis 
May 4 Surface Forecast 
May 5 Surface Forecast 
May 6 500MB 
May 6 Surface Forecast 
May 7 Surface Forecast
After DB you’ll want to stay on the Whidbey side because with a northerly flow coming down between Whidbey and Camano there will be some breeze that funnels down Holmes Harbor and spills over into Admiralty Inlet. This should mean if you’re beach-hopping to stay out of the tide, you’ll have long starboard tacks and short port tacks as you work your way up the Whidbey shore. It will be important to remember that this breeze is not your typical afternoon northwesterly and will go up and down in velocity, and wander around the compass.
The next question will be tougher. When to cross over to the Marrowstone and Port Townsend side so you can get to the finish. Again, use the bino’s and try to see how the boats ahead of you are doing. There will tend to be more wind on the Whidbey side and if the flood is still rolling maybe waiting a bit to cross might be an option. A lot of variables here.
Sunday it really looks like there will be a big advantage to being a later starter as the early boats will have to fight the big ebb of the day until around noon and there will be less wind in the morning. As the sun climbs that will bring more northerly and the flood will start first on the Marrowstone side. Since overnight there will be a drainage northeasterly there may be more wind on the Whidbey side. As the day progresses this northeasterly will back to a northerly before it becomes northwesterly by early to mid-afternoon.
After DB, you will probably want to work your way down the Sound on the west side as the flood tide is stronger and the breeze should be stronger over there as well. Again, watch the boats around you and after Kingston watch to see when folks are gybing to get over to the east for the finish.
Should be a beautiful weekend, just be sure to be safe and put your sunblock on before you even get down to the boat. 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)