It was one of those Puget Sound Races where everybody gets to win, but the last one to win is declared the real winner. A wandering convergence zone meant the Seattle Yacht Club Vashon race last Saturday was one of those races that kept everybody engaged. We have a few reports a few found photos to tell the story.
First off, we have Megan Kogut “from the narrow stern of Elixir.”
Two weeks ago, Elixir was in the PSSR race report solely by virtue of being the only boat in our class among nine PHRF boats total at the line. There was some associated worrying about PHRF boats, one by one, hanging up their spinnaker sheets for good.
So I hope it is with some cheering, or at least some coffee spilling, that we are in the report this time for our first place overall in the short course at the Vashon Island Race.
But, it must be understood that that win was handed to us by three rolling shutdowns of the wind on the return trip, thanks to the convergence zone going north with us. It was almost as the winds wanted to make a point about the back of the fleet. We just happened to be deeper into the southerly by virtue of being slower, and the leaders were working its northern edge. We came rather close to the leaders at Three Tree Point, where they must have waited for wind for a couple of hours. We bunched up again at Alki and at West Point. And so all we had to do was take what was on the plate, greatly helped by crew members Andy Cross and Jenna Swalin. We had a fabulous view from the back row of what everyone was doing, like a menu of what to do and what not to do. Jarred and I have been making the best of this view for years, learning a lot even though last year was our first first full season of racing. But it was great being in the mix with J/105s and boats in our class at the end of the race in a variety of conditions, and across the finish line in variable winds and strong current.
I want to take this opportunity to encourage other PHRF-NW boats, old and new, to get out there. It’s not fun getting dropped off the back, but if you are, you’re still so far ahead of getting off the dock. And, again, that back seat view is unbeatable for learning. Lastly, you never know what’s going to happen out there. Yesterday was tricky at first, but then it was a total treat.
Megan Kogut
Then we have a report from Otto Helm sailing somewhere in the cruiser racer class. It should be noted that there were nine finishers in the cruiser/racer class, the most of any class. Here’s Otto:
1) Race was started after a postponement awaiting wind to fill from the NNW – resulting in a downwind start in light winds.
2) For the cruiser/racers that headed to Blakely Rock, winds were variable with no clear ‘best path’ – those who stayed on the center seemed to do a bit better.
3) At the Blakely Rock mark, the course was to Duwamish Head – those who could carry their asymmetrical spinnakers (or even symmetricals with pole on forestay) on a reach were cooking across Elliott Bay – until close to the mark when there a drop in wind and a ferry that cut in front of some competitors resulting in loss of headway – the back-end of the fleet had difficulty in getting around the mark and the gains that some had made with their spinnaker reaching vanished into the light air. Some competitors overstood the mark which turned out to not be a bad thing as the wind died just inside the mark.
4) Heading back to Shilshole for the finish line, those who stayed in the center seemed to do better than those who stayed on the Magnolia side. After West Point, the wind got very light inside and those who had stayed out were rewarded.
Overall, the Cruiser/Racer class was competitive with – a lot of fun with some great boat on boat battles that went back and forth. It would be great to get even more cruiser/racers out for the Blake Island Tri-Island Race on June 1 (Cruiser/Racer course is around Blakely Rock, round a temporary mark near West Point and finish line in front of Elliott Bay Marina)
In the big boat ORC class, the TP 52s and Crossfire all took turns at the front and the back of the fleet. If you want a glimpse of the big boat ORC class, check out Marek Omilian’s blog post. Here’s a shot onboard Crossfire from Malcolm MacNeil’s Facebook page and a shot from the deck of Sonic:
Ed. Note: Some people may tear their hair out at these kinds of “crapshoots,” but I have to say I think races like these are just fine. You learn a lot, especially focus. The trick is to not take the results too seriously. KH
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.
Nice write up. I know that light air sailing is always a test for me. I know SYC has offered a short course option for for this series for quite awhile. I’m not sure when the Cruising Class was added but I think that this is another great option for these traditional series. I know the flying sail and non-flying sail Cruising Class has probably become the largest class in the Southern Sound Series. Maybe more of these options will bring back the higher PHRF raters at 160 and above, a group noticeably missing. I read the concern about dwindling PHRF participation but at the same time we seem to be getting more strong one design fleets like the J 105 and J 80. I think that’s great! The ORC fleet is really looking good too. To me it’s whatever gets you out on the water at a level you enjoy. Don’t get me wrong, I think PHRF does really good job but I would like to see it embrace the casual sailors with some old sail allowances or maybe weight allowance and maybe old age allowance. ( I don’t mean owners…..uum, maybe I do).