Big Martin 242s North Americans at Orcas

One thing that renews my faith in the future of sailboat racing is seeing fleets emerge, or reinforce, organically. The sailors choose the boat and build fleets and the manufacturers come along for the ride. Think Star, Snipe, Thistle, 505, OK Dinghy, Opti. Cal 25s in Detroit. Catalina 27s on Chesapeake Bay. J/Boats has done a good job of letting its various one-designs govern themselves while offering support.

This is happening right now with Martin 242s in the San Juan Islands. And they’re going to celebrate it by having the Martin 242 North Americans at Orcas Island at the end of June. Here’s the regatta site. The Martin folk know how to race hard and enjoy themselves after racing. Twenty four boats are signed up.

Here are a few tidbits from Ken Machtley, Co-chair of the event:

•~280 Martins were built from the early 80s to early 90s in Vancouver, then 8 more were built in CA around 2005-7 by MG Marine, who still supports the fleet with parts. The builder is planning to attend with his boat “All In” and has won the NAs before.

•The fleet is growing most here on Orcas, but there are hints of interest in Seattle (one boat being chartered by a SEA crew, another Melges interested in buying one) and there’s one in Bellingham (and hopefully soon two).

•Betsy Wareham was the first to “discover” and buy one on Orcas, Chris White was right behind her. Chris is the biggest evangelist (he hooked me and several others).

•There’s discussion on doing Whidbey/Pt Roberts for the next three years. It’s CA’s turn to host NAs next year, but Chris is working to get that fleet and the Race Week folks talking. Almost certainly we will be there the following year and either there, OIYC, or Cow Bay the following.

We’ll have a race report right here on Sailish following the three day event.

Kurt Hoehne

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.