Author: Kurt Hoehne

Toliva Shoal Race

Kurt Hoehne Racing 0 Comment
Toliva Shoal Race

Olympia Yacht Club’s Toliva Shoal Race is always a challenge. Sometimes the challenge is making the time limit, sometimes withstanding February temperatures. This past Saturday the challenge was dealing with a serious blow interrupted occasionally by some truly light wind conditions. Bruce Hedrick predicted the blow for those who checked Sailish on Friday evening. Jan Anderson provided the photos below. Results.

We have two reports, one from PHRF 3 class winner Robert King on String Theory, and one from the non-flying sails cruising class winner Dave Knowlton on KOOSAH. Congratulations to all!

String Theory‘s Race

For Team String Theory, the Toliva Shoal Race is always challenging: the overarching factors are wind and current; this year both were very significant. Our preparations are always race-specific; safety is paramount, with fun and race results close runner ups. 

Our pre-race sail selection is based upon our interpretation of various meteorological models. Vessel preparation, including a clean bottom (high five to Ben Bottoms! Ed. Note. – check out Ben’s Facebook page), and high-quality sails (thumbs up to North Sails Seattle!) are imperatives for success.

String Theory, photo by Rick Donohue

In Toliva 2020 the wind velocity varied considerably: in some areas of the racecourse we saw sustained true wind velocity of 22 south/southwesterlies, with gusts upward of 30; in some areas of the racecourse we saw 4-5 knots of adverse current; in other areas, the wind was almost negligible!

In the South Sound, the local topography and bathymetry influence every strategic decision: at times we chose to sail conservatively; other times we pushed “the old gal” hard. 

Tactically, there are some tough competitors on the water; this year was no exception. Perhaps due to the vagaries of wind and current, “small boats” (e.g., Bodacious, Nimbus, Cherokee, and Chinook) filled the top four slots overall; each well-sailed and worthy of congratulations.

Aside from comprehensive preparations, String Theory’s performance is largely attributable to her fine crew (comprised of highly accomplished sailors and long-time mates Gay Morris, Jamie Stewart, Tommy Stewart, Derek Decouteau, Kerry Sherwin, Mike Ellis, Dave Garman, Mitch Nimon, Mark Bunker, and Daryl Fitch), some with whom I have been sailing for more than thirty years. 

We each sail with a variety of programs including Stars, Farr 395s, TransPac 52s, and the Reichel Pugh 55’ Crossfire. Every winter, Team String Theory gets together for three or four of the Southern Sound Series.

Perhaps the most important: I want to express my sincere gratitude to a few sailors among Seattle’s finest with whom I have had the pleasure to sail and learn from: Glen Utgaard, Steve Travis, John Buchan, Carl Buchan, Jonathan McKee, Jim Marta, and in particular, Bill Buchan.

Ultimately, the gentlemen above have been exemplary role models and significant influences in the success that String Theory enjoys today. 

Robert T. King, Skipper S/V String Theory

KOOSAH‘s Race

What a wonderful sailing weekend!  Great party Friday night filling the Olympia Yacht Clubhouse!

Bruce’s weather report was spot on! We had wind and lots of it!  Aboard Koosah we start 30 minutes before the PHRF racers, and since we are non -flying sails, we get to see the entire fleet as they pass us somewhere on the course.  Most of them passed us after rounding the McAllister Creek Buoy and heading to the Toliva Shoal Mark. It appeared that the majority of the fleet was able to get up on a plane as they zipped passed us! It looked exciting to see a 40-foot yacht screeching downwind with the spinnaker!   Redline, an Atrium 27, was doing around 14 knots near Lyle Point on Anderson Island when their rudder broke at the gudgeons. They lowered the sails and were able to hold their position with the motor but were unable to go anywhere in the large waves. A race spotter boat came to their assistance and towed them back to Zittles Marina. Flying Circus, an Express 37, tore out their mainsail in the heavy winds and decided to withdraw.  Demi Moore, a Moore 24, had their light wind mainsail on board, and wisely decided to sail without it. 

Almost all the finishers were across the finish line before dark.  This does not happen often in this race!  The winds were in the 20’s and gusting into the 30’s the entire day.

After the race, the Olympia Yacht Club became full again as several of the racers enjoyed the homemade soup and Fishtale Ale! 

Dave Knowlton, Skipper S/V Koosah

Photos by Jan Anderson

  • Koosah
  • String Theory
  • Nimbus
  • Grace E
  • Absolutely
  • Izakaya
  • Redline, to weather, before the break.
  • Trickster


Hey, that’s MY boat!

Kurt Hoehne Uncategorized 0 Comment

This recent sea lion escapade amused countless people online, though none of us here in the PNW can be very surprised. Here’s a nice little piece with the owner, who, shall we say, is seeing the humor in the situation.

https://youtu.be/1uPQzwgpNbY

Winter Vashon Drifter

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Sadly, Bruce got it right. ‘Twas a year for drifting in the Winter Vashon Race on Saturday. Jan and Skip didn’t even bother launching their mighty photo boat, but did get some fitting shots (including above) from shore.

There was a race with by my count 20 finishers. Light air racing is fun as well, just tests a different set of skills. Charlie Macaulay took the honors in Absolutely. Results.

If any of you Sailish readers can contribute some firsthand report – or “thrilling” pix – please sent ’em my way and I’ll include them here!

Oregon Offshore Now Pacific NW Offshore

Kurt Hoehne Racing , 0 Comment
Oregon Offshore Now Pacific NW Offshore

Remember the Oregon Offshore, that quasi-feeder race for Swiftsure? Well, it’s name and point of origin have changed to Ilwaco, Washington. I don’t have all the details yet, but here’s from organizer Craig Garrison: “I don’t know if you have heard the big news for the Offshore but this year’s pre-race venue is going to be Ilwaco, Washington and we have changed the name of the race to the Pacific Northwest Offshore.  The move has us pretty excited as it gives us access to a marina with much better depth control as well as the ability to get the boats together in a single area of the marina not to mention active and committed participation from the local folks. 

Bruce Hedrick has agreed to do the inspections for Puget Sound competitors. More later.

Hobies in Paradise

Kurt Hoehne Dinghy Racing, Racing , , 0 Comment
Hobies in Paradise

This year’s Hobie Division 4 Area Championships were sailed in August on, as usual, Lake Quinault. We’re finally getting around to publishing them.

We didn’t get around to creating a full report on this event, but you can see the results here. A couple interesting things are apparent from the results. Big boat sailor John Hoag is crewing for his daughter Jennifer (they were second in their class) and Dieter Creitz took a break from all the other boats he’s good at to show he’s good at Hobies too.

But the key to this fleet isn’t in the results. It’s clear from these photos – the key is community. It is a fun-loving well organized group that absolutely knows where to hold bush regattas.

Thanks to Jan Anderson for the photos. Here are the rest. And here’s Jan’s description of the event: “It’s always a pleasure to reconnect with the Hobie community, our multi-hull (heck, sailing) family of choice, in a consistently stunning venue, with super sailing, nice breeze and weather, an unbelievable spread of food, terrific raffle prizes, and this year, even a full blown wedding!  Enjoy these images – we sure enjoyed gathering them!”

PITCH 2019

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PITCH 2019

OK – this is old news but Jan Anderson was kind enough to share her pictures, so you should see them! The venerable PITCH regatta was sailed Labor Day Weekend, and we haven’t done a post about it – ’til now. Notable about this regatta was that only 16 boats sailed, 11 of them in the PHRF classes. The other class was the Martin 242 class. It seems a shame. Bellingham YC puts so much effort into making a welcoming atmosphere and providing great race management.

Here’s Jan’s tongue-in-cheek recap:

“Huge fleet, hard core racing, really big breeze, lots of splash and action at every mark, challenging waves, sunshine galore amidst glorious cloud patterns for backdrops, and Mount Baker overlooking it all – what a terrific combination for a GREAT regatta! Just not this weekend, regretfully. Hopefully you’ll enjoy these photos anyway!”

Dinghies, Kids Rule Turkey Bowl

Kurt Hoehne Dinghy Racing, Laser Sailing, Youth Sailing 0 Comment
Dinghies, Kids Rule Turkey Bowl

For those who bemoan the decline of dinghy racing in the Northwest (I know I do in my darker moments), take this from this past weekend’s Turkey Bowl Regatta in Seattle: There were seven classes, eight if you count the lone FJ on the water. Depending on the class, 5-10 races were sailed.

Most importantly, a lot of the faces on the water were young.

Here are some of Jan Anderson’s photos. The rest are here.

  • Optis downwind
  • Surveying
  • Opti Racer
  • Seattle Laser Fleet Captain Mark Ross
  • Sailing it flat and fast.
  • Laser Radial Start
  • 505s
  • 505s
  • Libby and Jonathan McKee
  • Tasars
  • Close Racing in RS Aeros
  • Scott Malone
  • It’s about intensity.

Kaitlyn van Nostrand, coach of the Mount Baker Rowing & Sailing Center, and who also coaches in New Zealand, was impressed. “It was the best run Turkey Bowl regatta I have been to! This was my 4th year coaching this event. The race committee did 3-minute starts and wow, the races went off fast with seven fleets.”

“It was a great showing by the 505s, RS Aeros and Lasers. Coaches did their best to stay out of the way of sailors racing. Big current on Saturday ebbing, so no general recalls. Great dinner on Saturday night too. A job very well done by CYC! Our parents felt welcomed, kids sailed and had a blast. “

Mt. Baker was represented with 9 boats, 10 sailors. SYC was there with their youth fleet and eight Opti kids managed the bigger breeze on Sunday. The Royal Van laser team showed up and said it was a great event.

Laser models: 4.7, Radial, Standard.

Perhaps the most significant turnout was 7-boat Laser 4.7 fleet. This class, which is extremely popular in Europe, features a smaller rig with a different mast bottom section and a much smaller sail. It gives kids and small adults (approx 110-130 lbs.) high performance and provides a good stepping stone to other Lasers and dinghies. With used Lasers widely available, it’s an affordable and accessible racing platform, and with coaches embracing it as well, it is becoming a great tool for growing youth sailing. Alex Zaputil won the 4.7 class this time around.

With a total of 21 boats on the water, the RS Aero class was the biggest and arguably most competitive. Dalton Bergan won by a large margin, chased by John Renehan and Andy Mack. Hanne Weaver trounced the 18-boat Laser Radial fleet, Ian Elliott got by Ali Fuat Yuvali in a hard-fought Laser contest, Jay Renehan won in the Tasars and Miles Johannessen won in the 505s and Dieter Creitz won in the Optimist class. Results.

Maiden’s Northwest Crew

Kurt Hoehne Adventure Sailing, Community 0 Comment
Maiden’s Northwest Crew
Cary Kaczowka’s selfie before shoving off from San Diego.

The Maiden movie and her visit to Seattle have been over-the-top successes, bringing light to that groundbreaking effort in the 80s and putting a spotlight on the fact that sailing is for women as much as it is for men. We even found a solid PNW connection to the original crew.

The whole phenomenon has been a great message that has been too long in the shadows. As a journalist it’s been fun and a little surprising to watch. As a sailor it’s been thrilling.

The story continues as the boat heads to Antigua via the Panama Canal, and then the US East Coast and Europe. It turns out there are PNW connections to Maiden‘s current voyage with Seattle liveaboard Cary Kaczowka and Julia Briggs who apprenticed with Brian Toss in Port Townsend onboard as “mile builders” crew.

Maiden back in the day.

I’m hoping to have more insights and info from Cary in the weeks to come. So far, she says “We have a few New Englanders aboard, a new Skipper Liz Wardley (her blog is up on themaidenfactor.org website and it’s really great). I’m really getting used to a boat this size, a watch system and flying a staysail for the first time. I’ve never been on one tack for multiple days either! Mind is blown.

I’m looking forward to relaying Cary’s experiences with Sailish readers. This is a lot more than a boat, a crew or a passage.

A little more about Cary from the Maiden web site:

Cary Kaczowka

Cary, 28, is originally from Seekonk, Massachussetts, USA and attended Bishop Feehan High School. She graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Design Innovation & Society from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2013, and holds a M.S. in Materials Engineering from the University of Southern California. Cary has worked as an engineer with The Boeing


Company in Seattle, Washington for six years. She is active in the Society of Women Engineers, where she volunteers as a leadership coach. Sailing has been a part of her life since age 13 when she learned to sail on Yarmouth

Recreation’s wooden knockabouts in Cape Cod, MA, USA. During summer internships she was able to race weeknights in both Newport, RI and Charleston, SC – always the highlight of the week. Upon making her way out to Seattle, WA she began volunteering as an instructor at the Centre for Wooden Boats. She began racing locally, and she eventually bought her first home: a 34’ sailboat, a Catalina 34, S/V Sea Haven. Much of her free time is spent racing on local boats, maintaining her sailboat, cruising the Puget Sound and Salish Sea, and racing Sea Haven in local events such as Sloop Tavern Yacht Club’s Race Your House annual regatta. Owning her first big boat has been empowering and certainly changed the course of her life, and has helped reinforce her confidence as an engineer. She finds fulfilment sharing and teaching sailing, especially with women who are looking to refine their skills and get comfortable on the water.

Cary was eager to sail with the Maiden crew in order to gain offshore experience, improve her racing skills and learn from a talented crew of sailors, and looks forward to sharing her experiences with the local racing and sailing community.

Round the County 2019 – An Exercise in Patience

Kurt Hoehne Racing 0 Comment
Round the County 2019 – An Exercise in Patience

It seems the Round the County race always serves up one marginal race day and one great race day. This past weekend, Saturday was truly marginal and Sunday could be called “OK,” especially if you were playing the shore along San Juan Island.

Soon after Saturday’s start. A bit of fending off, but both boats were DNFs for the day.

Saturday’s start verged on silly. Some boats were barely able cross the start before the time limit for starting expired. A lot of boats were stuck not far from the start line for hours. The race turned into a nice run in a southerly past Sucia Island, but at the turn at Patos things turned ugly.

A handful of the fastest boats were able to break through and sail for the finish at Roche, but ended up not making it in the time limit. For the most part the rest of the fleet crossed the halfway finish line and pretty much stopped there. It was quite the parade of running lights as boats headed for Roche Harbor to tie up for the night.

On Sunday the light-air downwind starts were entertaining, and it became evident early on the fleet was split on playing the shore or not. Boats holding out looked good early, but the boats along the shore had the last laugh as the northerly was found near the shore, but didn’t extend to the fleet outside.

Jan Anderson’s photos -see the rest here.

  • Lodos found wind
  • Dark Star
  • Recon
  • The happy Sonic crowd
  • Martha
  • Day 2

At one point, the ORC speedsters Crossfire, Glory, Blue and Dark Star were parked up together. John Buchan and the Glory gang decided enough was enough and quit, only to see the northerly show up as they were headed home.

Nearly everybody had their moment while patches of wind anointed a few boats at a time to be the heroes of the moment. But only a few could be in front at the end.

Some images borrowed from Facebook and elsewhere:

  • Crossfire’s instruments when moving.
  • The Bob Perry designed Francis Lee, aka Frankie.
  • Shearwater
  • Aboard Dash
  • Crossfire’s Saturday tack
  • Crossfire’s Sunday track
  • The Bieker designed Blue.
  • Yeah right. Sean Bruna photo.
  • Kyrnos on a glassy sea.

Steve Johnson’s TP 52 Mist won the cumulative ORC class results over the two days, followed closely by Jonathan McKee’s Dark Star. The J/111 Recon won Division 0 on the strength of an excellent second day. Freda Mae built enough of a cushion on Saturday to hold on for the multihull win over Big Broderna. It’s worth noting that that the Cal 33 Cherokee won her class by nearly two hours. Who says moderate displacement older designs can’t win in light air? Results.

My RTC – Chocolate Chip Cookies Rule the Day

Why is Round the County one of the best races, not just in the Northwest – but anywhere?

Scenery. ‘Nuff said.

Anybody can win. Capricious San Juan Islands winds and currents serve up surprise winners often enough that everybody should feel they have a chance. Because they do.

By the same token, if you’re one of those afflicted with that Highly Competitive Itch, it’s a race where you can leave it at home. If you go out when in pays, it’s easy to write it off as bad luck.

Weird course. This big circle course really demands a lot of sailing skill. Playing currents, guessing the geographical effects of the wind, navigation crew work on the sail changes and plain old boatspeed. It’s a wonderful challenge, especially after a season of round-the-buoys.

Roche Harbor. What a great stopover place. All those huge powerboats make it seem like Fort Lauderdale. Maybe not.

But for me it’s about the socializing. I’m not talking about the beer tent and all the renewed friendships that bubble up in Roche, although that’s all pretty special.

For me it’s getting to know new folks on a crew, or getting to connect with those onboard better. In a buoy series or short point-to-point race, there really isn’t much time for socializing. It’s about the race. On RTC, there’s usually time (and sometimes a LOT of time) for connecting with shipmates.

I was the new guy on Oxomoxo, and only knew the owner Doug Frazer. By the time we locked up the boat on Sunday night in Anacortes, I had several new friendships. Sailors are generally very interesting people, and their lives outsides of sailing are fascinating. A drifty RTC is a great chance to get to know them.

Our RTC had its moments, like when we nearly crossed the fleet on port. That is, crossed the start behind us. Unfortunately we couldn’t cross and had to tack, which I’m sure wasn’t too popular with those starters at the boat end of the line.

But here’s the good news – chocolate chip cookies are a good remedy for the Highly Competitive Itch. One thing about a real cruiser racer is that it usually has an oven. And what comes out of an oven? Chocolate chip cookies. No matter how you’re doing, or have done, they taste good. They did both days.

What’s it like to Win the Worlds?

Kurt Hoehne PNW sailors around the world, Racing , 2 Comments
What’s it like to Win the Worlds?

Keith Whittemore and his crew of Brian Thomas, Shelby Milne, Willem Van Waay and Mark Rodgers won the J/24 Worlds in Miami a week ago. To win a J/24 Worlds is a massive achievement, with the class still attracting top talent from around the world. As an outside observer and occasional crew, I can say that what stands out is not just Whittemore’s consistency on the racecourse, but his constancy in keeping the local J/24 fleet as strong as it is.

As usual, the PNW was well represented at a major regatta. Other finishers included Baba Louie (23rd), Tremendous Slouch (33) and Jackwagon (38) (forgive and correct me if I missed someone). There were a total of 79 competitors coming from so very many countries.

Here crew member Brian Thomas treats us into some insight of what it was like on the last day, with so much at stake. You’ll probably want to grab a tiller or pull a sheet after this….

The Final Day. By Brian Thomas

One day of racing left. Two races to go. Two starts. Ten legs, Eight sets, eight drops, countless shifts,  possible thunder showers, 80 boats……a nine point lead.  What could possibly go wrong?

We had won the pre-regatta and had been tied for first or leading the Worlds from day one. Sailing well? Yes of course.   But since our bonehead mistake in the 5th race, sailing without any margin for error.   Nervous?  Who us?

J/24s off the start

The night before this last day, we had discussed the potential for one, or possibly both the other two teams right behind us in the standings, would likely come after us in the pre-start.  How 2nd overall in the Worlds, to them, might be meaningless. It could be win at all costs, or go down in flames. Who us..worry? 

Furio in light winds. Photoboat photo.

The weather predictions were favorable, if you like mid-range breeze diminishing as the day goes on, with expected huge influential rain/thunder clouds rolling through the course altering wind direction by as much as 30-degrees. No worries mate…we got this.

Furio rounding. Photoboat photo.

On the drive into the yacht club that morning…Keith stated the day’s goal so very succinctly. “All we have to do” he said, “is win the first race!  That will give us additional point lead margin for the final race and put the pressure back on them”.   As I was driving, I looked in the rear view mirror at Mark, Shelby and Willem…..their eyes said it all.  We were all thinking the same thing.   Oh sure, that’s it..…we’ll just win the first race…no problem skipper.  Good as done!  Sigh….

We then fell into our morning routine. Nerves relax.  We connect with our tuning partners at the dock 0815.  Begin boat prep.  Rig tune, hydration program, food program, clothing prep, swim the bottom, sails & sheets on deck, attend the morning sailor’s briefing, check the notice board, greet the judges, greet the PRO, gather weather intel, absorb “good luck” from competitors & friends. Discuss prior day, and expectations for today’s pre-race warm up with our tuning partner.  Depart dock, 0900.  Two hours to the first start.

Routine can be the perfect antidote for nerves. In our case, following our week long morning routine definitely helped us focus and forget about the self-induced pressures to succeed (or not choke!?).  We motored out to the race area applying our sunscreen as we went. At 0945 we hooked up with Nautalytics (our tuning partners) for our morning 15 minutes of speed testing.  1000hrs, we do our 7 minute split to either side of the course.  Right side crushes the Left side.   But what does that really mean come race time an hour away?  We meander downwind alongside each other sharing headings and pressure, weather predictions and general strategies we each are considering. It’s now 1030hrs, we say our goodbyes and good lucks, and sail off to begin our starting prep for the 1100 first race of the day. Ping weather end.  Head to wind. Ping midline.  Head to wind.  Ping leeward end. Head to wind.  Run the line, determine favored end, discuss strategy and wind observations and our pending expectations for the boat on boat battle ahead. Final clothing check & hydration.  Gun…..6 minutes. Where are our two main competitors?   Gun….5 minutes. Ah…there’s one of them, entering our sphere near the leeward end of the line. Gun….4 minutes.  Clear Air (Rossi, 2017 World Champ) is beginning to set up to tail us.  As expected. We grin at each other…we’ve seen this game before…we’re ready. We’re confident. All the while knowing, one small mistake and the win could yet easily slip from our grasp.   No worries……

Furio working to weather. Chris Howell Photo.

They have the tail. Not too many boats at this end today.  Seems the fleet prefers the weather end. Might be tougher than we had thought, to scrape them off on another competitor.  Just aren’t that many of us at the leeward end.   90 seconds to go.  We sense a lefty shift. Willem makes a brilliant call….JIBE!!    We spin the boat from port down into a jibe, and back up hard on starboard, completely catching Clear Air off guard. They go up the line a few more boat lengths and tack back onto star board. There’s a gap. We tack over into it, and just as quickly…..we tack back onto starboard.  Final approach…45 seconds.  We’re setup perfectly to win the pin. Clear Air is caught between two  boats.  30 seconds, patience.   20 seconds, patience.   Wait for it……12 seconds, bow down, ease sails, weight to weather, accelerate toward the pin boat. 5 seconds,  weight to middle, rolling up a bit, sails slowing sheeting in…accelerating…we’re going to nail it!    3, 2, 1……All Clear.  We’re flying.  Rossi is pinched between two boats struggling a bit.  3+ degrees more knock….time to tack and cross.   As Shelby reminds us….make the first tack perfect!  We roll into the tack, sheet in, hit the rail and we’re off.  Crossing the fleet and never looking  back.  Nerves?……..what nerves?  

Note:  we win that race.    The last (10th) race of the series is tougher but we have our two main competitors well in hand off the start. We cover them around the race course finishing 8th and winning the Worlds by a comfortable margin…

Links: Results, North Sails Winners Debrief, North Sails “Expert Takeaways.”