Bruce’s Briefs: 3,4,5,6 April Sloop Tavern Blakely Rock!

Well, it would be a perfect weekend for one of our most favorite races, Sloop Tavern Blakely Rock. Unfortunately, it, along with just about everything else, has been canceled. That, however, won’t keep us from forecasting for the weekend!

Today’s surface analysis chart shows a very complex series of systems around us with three low-pressure systems surrounding the Salish Sea and three high-pressure systems in place to start influencing our weather after these lows move on down to California.

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Today’s weather started with an onshore flow coming down the Strait as well as through the Chehalis Gap and up the Sound. This created a classic Puget Sound convergent zone that is still in play as this is being written. 16-knots from the north at West Point and 16-knots from the south at Alki, some rain from north Seattle to Marysville. Gradually the northerly will come down the Sound and as high pressure builds in BC and the low moves south the onshore flow will ease and the flow over the area will become more northerly to northeasterly. Then as we move into next week, high-pressure will build in the Pacific and our weather will become nicer and slightly warmer. Finally.

So how would we sail the Sloop BRBR? Tides will be fairly weak which will help clear up the congestion that will develop at Meadow Point because of the weak flood and light northerly. A clear air start will be key and getting around Meadow Point cleanly will help the early starters. With the anticipated light air and congestion near the mark, you’ll want to watch to see if you could pull off a port tack start and head immediately into the beach which would get you out of the tide and into a nice northeasterly along the beach south of Meadow Pt. This will also give you a starboard tack approach to the mark just remember that if the big NFS boats have chopped up the air at the mark you may have to anticipate a couple of quick tacks to get around.

Once you get around you’ll hold starboard tack to get you out into the stronger flood however the wind will tend to be stronger along the east side of the Sound. A stronger northerly will eventually fill down so keep your head out of the boat and watch what’s going on around you. This also might be a good year to plan a gybe to port at West Point. There should be a nice northeasterly which will allow you to sail straight down the Sound with a course to a point just west of Alki. This will only last until you are even with Four Mile Rock and once you’re lifted to just east of Alki, gybe and you’ll be aimed right at Blakely Rock.

Once around Blakely Rock, you’ll hold a nice port tack all the way back to Magnolia just don’t get too far into the shallow water south of West Pt, it shoals up very quickly.

You’ll hold starboard tack until you can track to port and be aimed just south of the entrance to the Ship Canal. There will be some anti-water along here because of the outflow from the Canal but as you get closer to the Canal you should also get another knock which will allow you to tack to starboard and go right across the entrance to the Ship Canal and plan your final approach to the finish.

Regardless of what we have for weather tomorrow, just remember that we all will have better days ahead. Enjoy the weekend, go to the marina, check the boat, maybe even go for a sail. If you don’t go sailing, just relax on the boat and read one of the many equipment manuals you always meant to read. Believe me, you’ll feel better just for having been on the boat! 

Ed. Note: My advice for tomorrow’s non-race? Read Bruce’s weather outlook a couple times, close your eyes and visualize it as Bruce called it. If you’re a trimmer, do some air-grinding. If you’re an owner, draw up some fake $100 bills and rip them up. If you’re a bow person, get someone to yell “Can’t you do that any faster?” at you a few times with increasing intensity. Sit on the edge of your couch, lean forward and think of witty and slightly rude nicknames to call your main competitors. Laugh loudly enough to bother the other people in your house. Then eat a soggy sandwich.

OK, not the same. But it is something that’s not on a screen. Then go read the manuals or for a real thrill read the racing rules. –KH