Lots of sailing going on this weekend combined with plenty of weather. In other words, a typical fall weekend with an Annular Eclipse topping. We just won’t be able to see it because it’s going to be raining. Just about everywhere.
Today’s surface analysis chart shows a series of low-pressure systems aimed right at the Salish Sea. Until you look at the 992MB low just off our coast, which now is projected to move in a NNW direction and parallel the coast up into SE Alaska. The attached cold front will drag across the Salish Sea with gusty winds. With the coastal buffer zone in play, this front will weaken as it comes onshore. This means the strongest breeze will be along the coast, the eastern end of the Strait of JdF, and the northern part of the San Juan Islands.
The other interesting chart is the 48hr surface forecast chart 15 Oct, which shows the entire north Pacific. In the middle is a very large low-pressure system (950MB) which is actually the remnants of Typhoon Bolaven and at this point, it is aimed at the California/Oregon Border. True, it is projected to weaken to 962MB and it should continue to weaken however if it does make landfall, it will still be a significant storm. It is particularly interesting that this week is the anniversary of the 1962 Oct 12 storm which was also the result of a weakened, post-tropical Typhoon.
How all of these will affect the racing this weekend is shown below:
Time Eagle Island PSSC Pumpkin Regatta
0900 S 5-11 SSW 3-7 SE 7-12
1000 SSW 3-7 S 3-7 SE 5-11
1100 S 2-7 S 4-11 SE 5-12
1200 SSW 2-6 S 8-12 ESE 4-9
1300 SSW 3-5 S 4-8 SE 4-9
1400 SSW 3-5 SSW 3-8 SE 4-9
1500 S 6-9 SE 3-10 SE 5-10
1600 WSW 8-11 SE 3-8 SE 5-10
1700 WSW 0-5 SE 4-9 ESE 8-13
Sunday
0900 ESE 0-6 ESE 8-14
1000 E 4-8 E 6-12
1100 SSE 3-6 ESE 6-10
1200 L&V* E 4-8
1300 L&V ESE 3-6
1400 ENE 3-5 E 2-5
1500 NE 3-6 E 2-5
1600 N 4-8 E 2-5
1700 N 3-5 E 2-5
*Light & Variable
Not terrible conditions but mainly light with rain . A much stronger front will come through on Monday.
Enjoy the weekend and stay safe.
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)