There was a national championship in Seattle last weekend, the Mallory Cup. It was the doublehanded high school championship, and it was a big deal sailed from Sail Sand Point on Lake Washington. If we get more info or photos from the regatta, we’ll run ’em. In the meantime, here’s a scene setter and a brief recap courtesy of the Interscholastic Sailing Association.
Saturday, May 11:
The 2019 ISSA Fleet Race National Championship (Mallory Trophy) was hosted out of Sail Sand Point in Seattle, WA this weekend. Thank you to our PRO Jonathan McKee, regatta chair Nino Johnson, and the many other volunteers who donated their time to help run this regatta.
Saturday began with clear, sunny skies, warm temperatures, and a shifty ESE breeze 5 knot that averaged around 5 knots. Courses were adjusted to variable winds. Around 3pm the wind lightened considerably, causing a postponement of race 4B until a 8 knot SW wind filled in. Course was moved to account for new wind, then moved again for race 5B as the wind moved further south. Wind died around 5:45pm, at the end of race 5B, and the decision was made to postpone further races and then eventually call racing for the day. 10 races total were completed on Saturday, 5 in each division. Four protests were heard, 3 resulting in DSQs and 1 being dismissed.
After racing, sailors, coaches, and volunteers were treated to a banquet dinner and raffle that couldn’t be beat. Thanks to Seth Muir and Erin Timms for putting on the dinner, and to guest speaker Helena Scutt for providing an inspirational talk geared towards these top young athletes.
Sunday, May 12:
Sunday was the beginning of a new weather pattern, with overcast skies and cooler temperature. The wind was decidedly southerly, and at 8:30am the decision was made to have the course south, around Sand Point, and into better breeze. Coaches and substitute sailors were loaded onto the Maris Pearl, a tugboat that served as a rotation dock, and moved to the day’s new course location. Races were sailed in an 8-10 knot S breeze until around 1pm when the clouds began to lift and the wind died down. The course was moved back to the location of the previous day to take advantage of a shifting 5-7 knot ESE breeze. Around 3:40pm the wind lightened considerably and moved south, causing an abandonment of race 15A and the postponement of 15B. As per the SIs, no races were to be started after 4pm, so Sunday ended with a total of 18 completed races, 9 in each division. One redress hearing was heard, but was dismissed.
After a total of 28 races, 14 in A division and 14 in B division, Point Loma High School took home first place, followed by Severn School in second place, and Christchurch School in third. Congratulations to those sailors and to all of the sailors that made it to the 2019 ISSA Fleet Race National Championships! Thank you to our PRO, regatta chair, race committee, and judges, as well as all of the parents, coaches, sailors and volunteers who helped make this a great regatta!
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.