Without question, our favorite series on the Sound and it’s finally here! Plus, it looks like pretty much ideal conditions with very little, if any, tidal effects. Now if only the top mark will stay set.
Tidal Current at West Point
0942 Slack
1154 Slack
1548 Max Flood .74knts
1842 Slack
The surface analysis chart and the sat pic for today provide the reasons for the optimistic outlook for the race. We have a moderate high-pressure (1035MB) in the Pacific with a weak high (1028MB)in the interior of BC. We also have a very weak low-pressure system (1019MB) off the mouth of the Columbia River that is moving to the SSE. The flow from the BC high to this low is what will provide the northerly flow over our area. The pressure gradient won’t appear to be very strong but we will probably have 15-20 knots for the first beat. This will also provide the first interesting call for tomorrow with the question being will the wind be NE or N in the starting area and how much will it shift to the NNW as we sail north. This will impact how you approach the top mark since this is a reverse start and you will constantly be converging with the fleets that started ahead of you. So you probably don’t want to go all the way to the port tack layline in your approach to the windward mark. Tack low and go up to the starboard tack layline. This will also give your foredeck crew plenty of time to get set up for a nice bear-away spin set at the mark.
Once on the run, at these wind speeds, it will be a numbers game. Sail the fastest, shortest possible course. Since, as the race goes on, the NNW wind will probably continue to fill down from Admiralty Inlet, you will probably want to stay to the right of the rhumbline and defend that side of the course. Just don’t get in too close to Bainbridge. You will also want to watch windspeed as it will drop to the 10-15 knot range as you get south of West Point. So plan your headsail change early. This breeze will remain in that range for the last beat with 10-12 knots from Blakely Rock to West Point and slightly higher from West Point to the finish, 12-15 knots.
After you round Blakely Rock it will be port tack all the way back to Magnolia probably aiming at FourMile Rock. Just remember it can get very shallow anywhere inside of a line from FourMile to the Lighthouse at West Point. Once you in as close as you dare, tack to starboard and hope to be aimed somewhere between the West Point Buoy and the Point.
After you clear West Point you sail about a ¼ mile before you tack back to port and you should be aimed just outside of the entrance to the Ship Canal. Start thinking about your approach to the finish. Hopefully, on the run south, you remembered to look across to the finish with the bino’s to see if the finish line is set and which end is favored. Again, with a reverse start, you don’t want to get tangled up with a bunch of boats at the finish, so favored end on starboard tack is the safe call.
It will be a quick race so the crystal ball has Zvi around the course in just under 2.5 hours finishing around 1305 hours. Glory should be the next one in at 1312 hours. The J-160 in at 1354. The J-111’s in at 1415 hours. The Sierra 26 in at 1425 hours followed by the J-109’s at 1437 hours, the J-35 in at 1445 hours. And the J-105’s in at 1450 hours.
Apply the sunblock BEFORE you leave the house and dress warmly.
Have a great race.
Don’t forget daffodils for Kelly!
Bruce has raced and cruised the Pacific Northwest his entire life. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science from the University of Washington in Biological Oceanography and learned meteorology “to keep from getting kicked around on the race course.” Bruce spent nearly two decades as Associate Publisher for Northwest Yachting Magazine, retiring in mid-2015, and was the chairman of the board of trustees for the Northwest Marine Trade Association in 2014. (photo of Bruce driving Playstation is a bit dated, but cool)