Those energetic folk at the Seattle Singles Yacht Club are at it again, COVID or no COVID. They’re looking at a huge increase in attendance this year over past years and raising even more money for Northwest Harvest. And for those of us without any crew looking for some distraction from the pandemic there’s the Half Fast (spelling?!?) class, where one can just motor along without apology. Remember the huge needs here now and coming for the Northwest Harvest food bank. For more information on entering and donating, click here.
Skippers–please mark your calendars for the 28th annual sailboat race to benefit Northwest Harvest held by Seattle Singles Yacht Club! As in past years, the race will be held out of Shilshole Bay Marina starting at 11 a.m. Unfortunately, because of the pandemic the traditional dinner/dance/auction will not be held, making the race even more important AND allowing a Race Around the Rock (Blakely Rock).
The race is for NFS, FS and a category called Half Fast – for sailboat skippers who don’t want to have the pressure of winning a race and for M/V people who’d just like to cruise across the Sound to the Rock and back. NFS and FS winners, including multi-hulls, will get prizes. The Half Fast winner will be drawn from the hat and get a prize.
Skippers and crew must follow state COVID 19 requirements in effect on race day. i.e. limit skipper & 4 crew, no after party, etc. Register for the race at seattlesinglesyc.com.
Race entry fee is $75 and that includes a gift certificate for the skipper to Little Coney (& $10 @ crew for gift certificates to Little Coney.) For more information email vicecommodore@seattlesinglesyc.com or balsuesails@gmail.com.
The 2019 Race to Fight Hunger winners were:
Flying Sails Fast:
First: Allen Johnson on Charlotte, a Quest 30 pictured above.
Second: Mike Sinclair on Surt, a C & C 41.
Third: Vincent DePillis on Freda Mae, a Corsair 31
Flying Sails Slow:
First: Jeff Blyth on Mata Hari, a Catalina 36 pictured above.
Second: Teresa Leupold on Norn, a Santa Cruz 27
Third: Joe Grande on Whisper, a Catalina 32
Non Flying Sails winners:
First: Alan Vogt on Blue Fin, a Catalina 42, pictured above.
Second: Brad Lefton/Karina Gilje on In Deep, a Bavaria 35
Third: Kari Ingalls on Quack! Quack!, a Hunter 30
Half Fast: Drawn from a hat
First: Mike Hirsch on High Hopes, a Nauticat 44.
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.