Author: Kurt Hoehne

Sail Sand Point names Seth Muir Executive Director

Kurt Hoehne Community, Uncategorized 0 Comment
Sail Sand Point names Seth Muir Executive Director
Seth Muir

We’ve known for a while that Mary Anne Ward was leaving the Executive Director position at Sail Sand Point. Now we know her replacement! Sailish.com wishes Seth the best of luck as he is stepping into one of the very best jobs around, growing sailing in the Northwest. Here’s the press release.

January 9, 2019-Seattle, WA-Saiil Sand Point, Seattle’s Community Boating Center, is proud to announce that Seth Muir will be stepping in as Executive Director February 1, 2019.

Muir comes to Sail Sand Point from Salish Sea Expeditions, a non-profit sailing and marine science organization based in Puget Sound, where he served as Executive Director from 2012-2019. In his time with Salish Sea Expeditions, Muir expanded program offerings to increase participation and solidified significant funding relationships with area foundations and federal and state agencies (including securing one of the first organizational No Child Left Inside grants from WA State Department of Recreation and Conservation).

“I could not be more excited to be joining this vibrant community of sailors and paddlers here at Sail Sand Point,” Muir writes. “Sail Sand Point is a vital community resource that provides equitable and affordable access to one of Seattle’s most cherished spaces, the water.”

Muir will replace Mary Anne Ward who led the organization through an extraordinary period of growth in her four years as Executive Director. “It has been my incredible honor to lead Sail Sand Point as we continue to remove barriers that have historically kept people off the water,” Ward writes. “With programming nearly doubled and over 15,000 users last year, it is clear the time has come to renovate our boathouse and increase our facility space. I firmly believe that Seth brings with him the skills and experience needed for Sail Sand Point’s success in this next phase of development.”

Muir joins Sail Sand Point as they prepare for a major capital campaign to expand classroom space and improve facilities. As Executive Director, Muir will lead the organization through new strategic partnerships with local government, businesses, and philanthropic individuals who share the organization’s vision for accessible recreation on the lake. “I’m inspired by the hard work and dedication of Sail Sand Point’s community as they strive to make their mission a reality,” Muir writes. “There’s a lot in store for Sail Sand Point and I’m thrilled to be here to help make it happen.”

About Sail Sand Point

Sail Sand Point is a 501(c)3 non-profit located on the North Shore of Magnuson Park with the mission of bringing the joy and life-enhancing benefits of sailing and small boats to people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Sail Sand Point achieves its mission through a wide range of youth camps, adult classes, adaptive watersports clinics, a robust community outreach program, and a fully integrated scholarship program. With 1,051 outreach participants, 458 hours of adaptive sailing, and $38,405 awarded in scholarships last year, Sail Sand Point continues its strides in making sailing and paddling accessible for all.

Laser C5 Rig – An Option for Laser’s Future?

Kurt Hoehne Dinghy Racing, Laser Sailing 0 Comment
Laser C5 Rig – An Option for Laser’s Future?

As a strong (zealous?) promotor of the Laser, this video gives me strong emotions in both directions. I’d love to see the Laser evolve faster, but I dread the idea of such a dramatic change that might kill the fleet. The same old questions that has faced the class at every turn.

This C5 rig is intriguing. It has the square top and carbon spars that would certainly add to performance. Julian Bethwaite (29er etc) certainly has the skills to do the changes right. But while the Laser hull shape is certainly timeless, the construction technology is long past its due date and the foils can do with updating.

What to do – with the RS Aero and Melges 14 having raised the bar in the singlehanded classes and gaining traction fast, there are plenty of good reasons to update the Laser. I’d love to see how that rig fares against the Aero. Then again, Laser is still the class internationally and that big a change may capsize it forever. Would changes like that be beating a dead horse that isn’t dead? Hmmm.

C5 Sailing Rig from MainFocusProductions on Vimeo.

Duwamish Drifter and a Merciful Race Committee

Kurt Hoehne Racing 0 Comment
Duwamish Drifter and a Merciful Race Committee

If you were lucky enough to read Bruce’s weather brief for the Duwamish Head race, you weren’t caught by surprise by Saturday’s drifter. Like the Seahawks’ playoff game later that day, it was a bit of a disappointment.

Jan Anderson’s pictures below tell the story of the start in very light wind. The pace continued along the Des Moines and West Seattle shores, with the light air enthusiasts (there are those) definitely enjoying the day.

The course was shortened with the finish at Duwamish Head. And there were plenty of finishers and definitely some close corrected times. Crossfire, Dark Star and Ocelot got away from the fleet and took the top spots in PHRF 2 and overall. Results here

Nigel Barron of Crossfire and CSR was lucky enough to be sailing under the tallest rig. His take: “There was enough to keep us moving (having a really tall mast doesn’t hurt).  If you read Bruce’s Brief, you would have found it alarmingly and disappointingly accurate.  We started in a light southerly on the A1.5, and around Brace Point went to a jib in a 4-6 kt northerly.  We carried that until Alki, where we went back to the A1.5 to get to Duwamish Head, where mercifully and wisely the race committee has opted to shorten course.  With our elapsed time around 4 hours, we were home in time for the game, and before the rain!

Jan Anderson was on hand to get the following photos. (click to enlarge) Check out her Duwamish photo album to see the rest – and order!

  • Mark Harang’s Nimbus ghosting to victory.
  • Sidewinder showing the Olson 30 light air prowess.
  • The fleet.
  • Painted ships upon a painted ocean.
  • Jonathan McKee’s Dark Star.
  • Ocelot leading the charge.

Sean Trew’s drone photography and video work definitely provide another perspective on sailing in our waters. Here are a couple of his videos, one of a start and one of Dark Star, with the Bieker design gliding along in nearly flat water.

Van Isle Team Challenge – Who’ll Be on Your Team?

Kurt Hoehne Racing 0 Comment
Van Isle Team Challenge – Who’ll Be on Your Team?

You gotta love any kind of love the clothing industry gives sailing. And when they give it to as unique and epic a race as the Van Isle 360, all the better. I’m not sure of how all the details are going to pan out, but this sounds intriguing. Getting partnered at random with a couple other boats as a team – that could make things interesting and keep everybody engaged on the water. And who knows, the winners might get something cozier than a plaque. Anyways, here is the release from our friends at Van Isle, Jeffrey and Sylvia Motley.

The 2015 start in Nanaimo.

Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race and Helly Hansen announce the Team Challenge for the 2019 VI360 race.

The Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race and Helly Hansen are pleased to announce a team challenge for yachts competing in the 2019 race.

 “Since the race moved to nine legs from ten in 2015, the inside legs have become very busy with long days on the water and little time to socialize amongst boats” said Sylvia Motley, “The intent of team challenge is to create the opportunity for immediate social interaction amongst the crews, and create a fun atmosphere for inter boat camaraderie during the race”

Enter the Helly Hansen Team event. Teams will be chosen from all yacht divisions by random draw at the opening reception in Nanaimo. Teams will consist boats from every division, and the team with the lowest total corrected time will win the leg. A running total will be kept so that an overall team winner will be announced at the closing ceremonies in Nanaimo on June 15th.

“Helly Hansen is very pleased to partner with the Van Isle 360, one of the Pacific Northwest’s most demanding yacht races. Our Helly Hansen apparel has been developed specifically for the world’s harshest weather, something we experience and know a thing or two about living in the PNW. Our sailors and outdoor enthusiasts require the highest quality gear and we’re proud to offer them just that.” said Damien Etchaubard, Marketing Director for Helly Hansen Canada. “Helly Hansen is looking forward to offering this new twist on the classic yacht race and the Team Challenge in 2019 will encourage social engagement and an added layer of fun.  See you on the water”.

About Helly Hansen

Founded in Norway in 1877, Helly Hansen continues to develop professional-grade apparel that helps people stay and feel alive.  Through insights drawn from living and working in the world’s harshest environments, the company has developed a long list of first-to-market innovations, including the first supple waterproof fabrics more than 140 years ago. Other breakthroughs include the first fleece fabrics in the 1960s, the first technical base layers in the 1970s, made with Lifa® Stay Dry Technology, and today’s award winning and patented H2Flow™ temperature regulating system.


Helly Hansen is a leader in technical sailing and performance ski apparel, as well as premium workwear. Its ski uniforms are worn and trusted by more than 55,000 professionals and can be found on Olympians, National Teams, and at more than 200 ski resorts and mountain guiding operations around the world.

Helly Hansen’s outerwear, base layers, sportswear and footwear are sold in more than 40 countries and trusted by outdoor professionals and enthusiasts around the world. To learn more about Helly Hansen’s latest collections, visit www.hellyhansen.com.

Whidbey Island Race Week – Feedback Welcome and Entries Open!

Kurt Hoehne Racing 0 Comment
Whidbey Island Race Week – Feedback Welcome and Entries Open!

You’re late. Well, not really and even then not by much. Registration opened yesterday for this year’s Whidbey Island Race Week.

WIRW’s Schelleen Rathkopf continues to adjust the Race Week recipe to make the “adult summer camp” appealing. And, much to her credit, instead of dolling out yeah, we know what sailors really want, she asks them.

If you’re an area racer, Schelleen wants to hear from you!

The survey can be found here

It’s a short survey, and will help shape what WIRW looks like moving forward. In particular, I would love to see all the out-of-the-box ideas you come up with in the comments section.

Joy Ride Finish, WOXI Protest Tossed

Kurt Hoehne PNW sailors around the world 0 Comment
The Joy Ride crew.

From the Joy Ride Facebook page:
“Rolex Sydney Hobart 2018 it’s a wrap! No words can express the feeling!! We are utterly exhausted and elated! Will share more info on the race in full later but first some well deserved beers!! 
Finish time December 29th at 10:29 Am PST.”

Such a great adventure!

I hope to talk to skipper John Murkowski or one of the crew and get some of the details. It sounds like a fun and not too treacherous Sydney-Hobart. Joy Ride‘s final position was 10th in ORCi and 12th in IRC 3, 60th over the finish line.

WOXI

Amid victory cries from Wild Oats XI (WOXI) skipper Mark Richards of “redemption” after a last year’s lost protest and having to drop out the prior year, the amazing super-Maxi beat three others and claimed the coveted first-to-finish. But wait, there’s more. Second place Black Jack skipper Peter Harburg told the press that the WOXI team turned off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder after the start for the duration of the race, which clearly contravened the rules.

But Harburg didn’t protest, leaving it to the race committee to do that. The protest committee, however, denied the protest because it was not filed by the affected competitor.

In the intervening time between Harburg’s claims and the protest being cited as invalid, it became clear that the AIS transponder was working before the start and not during the race. Richards apparently said at one point that it wasn’t required to be working (it was, and that was make quite clear through the sailing instructions and skippers’ meetings). Then it was claimed to be malfunctioning.

Of course, I don’t know the whole situation from this side of the world, but I know that trying to hide one’s position on the racecourse is a time-honored, rinky-dink tactic. From covering a stern light at night to misreporting a mid-race position, it’s been done as long as I can remember. And it’s always been the wrong thing to do. In today’s world and particularly in this race, knowing where all the boats are could save lives. And if it’s written into the rules, which it always is, position reporting is part of the race.

Harburg, the race committee and the protest committee should all be ashamed, taking the easy way out of this. If the AIS transponder was off (which seems to clear, and which surely EVERYBODY knew), it should be checked for malfunction. If it worked, they should be tossed. If it was malfunctioning, that should be made clear. Evading the issue with another time-honored tradition (“Oh, the protest wasn’t valid”) is perpetuating the problem.

There’s significant outrage in the racing community about this. Aussies are tough competitors, but pride themselves on playing games cleanly. I go back to the late Great Dane, Paul Elvstrom, for my take on this:

“You haven’t won the race, if in winning the race you have lost the respect of your competitors”.

Less Joy in Joy Ride

Kurt Hoehne PNW sailors around the world 1 Comment
Less Joy in Joy Ride
Comanche. Check out the sailor aloft.

So, as Joy Ride‘s Sydney Hobart comes to a conclusion, the results continue to be up in the air. As they make their way up the Derwent River to Hobart, their position is 10th in ORCi Division 4, a far cry from the first they held for a short time.

Leading their class are a couple of Cookson 12s, but the other J/122 is safely tucked behind them. For what it’s worth, a safe Hobart is a good Hobart. And it must be noted, the corrected times are all very close and there’s a lot of racing (80 or so miles) yet to go.

Also of note, while Wild Oats XI finished first, they’re under protest by the race committee for perhaps turning off their AIS transponder during the race. It would be out of turn to say anything judgmental before the protest hearing. But I’ll do it anyway. Really, guys? In the old days people did that when reporting in their position, and it was rinky dink then. But if you indeed thought you could do it without anybody noticing nowadays, that’s just (putting it politely) unsharp. It would be yet another lost first to finish by protest.

Hopefully Joy Ride will glide up the Derwent and finish in the money. Regardless, I’ll try to get some comments from the Joy Ride team. They have certainly done the PNW proud!

While we should all be rooting for Joy Ride, I definitely have a place in my heart for the old S&S One Tonner Mark Twain. Owner/Skipper Michael Spies has resurrected the old girl and is currently lying 6th in class. Let’s just say that an early-70s vintage One Tonner drags around a lot of the Tasman Sea while going downwind at hull speed. Anyway, here’s a nice interview by the charming Olivia Price.

Joy Ride Leading Sydney Hobart Class on Corrected Time

Kurt Hoehne PNW sailors around the world 0 Comment
Joy Ride Leading Sydney Hobart Class on Corrected Time
There are a number of Studio Borlenghi photos of boats running hard to Tasmania on the Rolex Sydney Hobart website. This one is of the X50 Wax Lyrical.

Well well, it’s going to be an interesting last 300 miles of the Sydney Hobart Race for Joy Ride. As of 0700 (our time) John Murkowski’s boat is holding corrected time firsts in ORCi Division 4 and in IRC Division 3. She must have had a very good last few hours. Her position has her to the west of much of the fleet, closer to the rhumb line.

As for the super-maxis, it’s shaping up to be a great finish. With about 80 miles to go, Comanche holds a less than 4 mile lead on Black Jack, Wild Oats XI and Infotrack.

Joy Ride’s position report was pulled from the Rolex Sydney Hobart race tracker. Go Joy Ride!

Joy Riding Down the Australian Coast

Kurt Hoehne PNW sailors around the world 0 Comment
Joy Riding Down the Australian Coast

The PNW’s Sydney Hobart hopeful Joy Ride appears to be having a solid race. According to the tracker John Murkowski’s J/122E is lying 11th in ORCi Division 4 and IRC Division 3. She’s 60th overall for line honors.

The Sydney Hobart three start line system allows the big boats to get away cleanly. A massive fleet of spectator boats (“the most I’ve ever seen” according to Jimmy Spithill) was on hand.

The ORC class leader is the Cookson 12 Grace O’Malley (sistership to the Northwest’s White Cloud). Jackpot, a near sisterhip J/122 to Joy Ride, is a mile or so behind Joy Ride.

Sailing’s definitely a spectator sport in Sydney.

Check out the Rolex Sydney Hobart website and tracker. The start coverage video is also captivating, with Jimmy Spihill doing some of the commentary. It’s easy to spend some hours checking out all the boats and current situation.

As predicted, it’s been a downwind race with the biggest northerlies coming during the day shortly after the start. In the evening the wind apparently dropped. It’s unclear whether the inshore or offshore route paid dividends.

WOXI had the most recent lead.

Of course most eyes are on the pointy end of the fleet. Black Jack led out of Sydney Heads, Comanche roared to a lead in the heavy running conditions and Wild Oats XI (“WOXI“) claimed the lead in the lighter nighttime winds. One of the elapsed time contenders, Scallywag, abandoned the race with a broken sprit.

Ready for Running to Hobart

Kurt Hoehne PNW sailors around the world 4 Comments
Ready for Running to Hobart

After a few Christmas festivities and a day-before-the-race sail, the Joy Ride team is ready for the start of the Sydney Hobart Race on Boxing Day (Aussie time) which will be tomorrow around 5 pm Salish Sea time.

The Joy Ride crew.

“There’s a lot of bigger faster boats in this fleet,” says owner John Murkowski, “a lot of TP 52s.” Joy Ride‘s 40 or so boat ORC class is made up of very similar size boats. “There’s a J/122 and a J/133 and a bunch of Beneteaus.” There are approximately 9 boats that Joy Ride rates close to, and certainly that will form the race within a race.

Crew member John Fox expects a beat of Sydney Harbor and past Sydney Heads, “then a building breeze with the chute up.” Sailish’s Bruce Hedrick has been chipping in with his thoughts via email, and he routing software predicts Joy Ride will sail the 628 mile course in 3 days, 10 hours. It should be mostly downwind for the race.

Over the 3-4 weeks Joy Ride has been in Sydney, severe weather has been rolling through, even throwing huge hailstones at times.

Testing the storm sails.

I asked about the dock chatter about the big boats, and the odds-makers have Comanche favored for elapsed time and Ichi Ban (again) favored for corrected time honors. Note the term “odds-makers.” Yes folk, there’s betting. And Murkowski bought some tickets (betting on Joy Ride) and distributed tickets to the crew. So, if they win, they win.

After I wrote an initial post on the event, Seattle rigger Chris Tutmark brought it to my attention that there was another U.S. entry, a Cookson 50 named Privateer. We’ll be watching that boat as well. It looks to be a formidable entry with Charlie Enright of Volvo Race fame on the crew. Thanks, Chris! If anybody else sees anything of note in the entry list, results or during the course of the race, please let me know.

Crew member Maaike Pen was photographed by Andrea Francolini who made a gallery of women participating in the race.

We’ll be watching closely tomorrow and during the race, and this time we can look past the eternal Comanche Vs Wild Oats XI struggle and tune in to one of our own!