Once again there will be a parade of paddlers leaving from Tacoma in about an hour for an adventure race featuring human-powered boats only. No, it’s not sailing but let’s call it a close cousin.
From a previous 7048 start.
Brought to you by the same Northwest Maritime Center folk who bring you the R2AK (more on that race in a separate post) this event is simple and challenging. The course is 72 miles long with only two required waypoints, one a boat off Point Defiance and one the bridge over the Port Townsend Canal. Yes, they’ll be paddling at night if they want.
Fittingly, our friends at NMC ask the question “Why?” And they answer it: “Based on the lawless self-reliance of R2AK, we wanted to compress crazy stupid into 48 hours and make it a different kind of hard. Think of it as powerlifting for 48 hours.”
At last count 43 teams were entered, ranging from 6-person outrigger canoes to one person paddleboards. Like the R2AK, it’s worth looking at the teams if for no other reason than perusing the creative if sometimes corny names. Looking for a Porpoise and Forgetting Forward are a couple of my favorites.
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.
US Sailing has definitely taken note of the youth sailing resurgence in the Pacific Northwest. The Bellingham, Hood River, Kitsap and Orcas communities will receive more funding as they continue to get more young sailors on the water. If you know a kid looking for a way into the sport, there are plenty of alternatives. Release below:
BRISTOL, R.I. (June 7, 2022) – Sailing centers throughout the country have been awarded grants to grow youth sailing through STEM and environmental education with the US Sailing Reach Initiative. The grants provide non-profit sailing centers with funds and resources to further their Reach program goals and provide more opportunities for students in their community.
The Reach Initiative utilizes sailing as an educational platform, challenging youth to embrace education, establish a love of learning and explore productive Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) based careers. Combining educators, sailing instructors, engineers, and scientists with today’s youth, Reach provides them with a one-of-a-kind authentic learning experience, giving students the opportunity to apply classroom learning in a cooperative work environment.
The following programs were selected for 2022 US Sailing Reach Youth Engagement grants. These grants were made possible by support from Rolex and US Sailing donors. Congratulations to the 2022 recipients.
Community Boating Center (Bellingham, WA) – The Community Boating Center’s mission is to foster small watercraft education, access, safe recreation, and marine stewardship on Bellingham Bay. The offer a variety of learn to sail programs, boat rentals, custom experiences, and paddling. This summer will be the first time they will implement the Reach modules, partnering with local schools and integrating them into the youth camps and youth instructor program. Learn more about the Community Boating Center.
Dillon Junior Sailing Club Inc. (Dillon, CO) – Based in a small Colorado mountain ski resort community, Dillon Junior Sailing has local youth sailors and many visiting sailors throughout the summer. Their mission is teaching safety on the water, creating a fun learning experience, building confidence, and developing sailing skills. Lake Dillon is a fixture in the local summer economy and protecting the shore and waterway is important for the organization. New to Reach, they are excited to incentivize parents and students who are interested in engaging their minds in the outdoor classroom, adding a much-needed depth to the learn to sail experience. Learn more about Dillon Junior Sailing.
GORGE Junior Sailing (Hood River, OR) – GORGE Junior Sailing (GJS) is dedicated to promoting the lifelong sport of sailing in a safe, fun, and educational environment to the Gorge community. With a focus on teaching sailing, the program also fosters growth in life skills such as sportsmanship, teamwork, independence, and responsibility. GJS implemented their first year of Reach programming in 2021 and in 2022 will be supporting 20 students from Hood River New School in a Reach spring elective. They are looking forward to expanding their program to more local schools and home-schooled groups while training their staff in the Reach curriculum this year. Learn more about GORGE Junior Sailing.
Green Bay Sail & Paddle (Green Bay, WI) – Green Bay Sail & Paddle creates opportunities for all area youth and families, regardless of means and abilities, to safely enjoy sail and paddle sports on the waters of Green Bay. In the past few years, they have grown their Reach programming and recently partnered with the Green Bay Public Schools. This new partnership will offer an 8-week program to the youth in that district. Additionally, they have added more STEM weeks of camp and participated in several community events, doing Reach modules with attendees. Learn more about Green Bay Sail & Paddle.
Henderson Harbor Water Sports Programs (Henderson Harbor, NY) – The mission of Henderson Harbor Water Sports Program (HHWSP) is to promote learning, safety, and fun on and in the water; and, to have a positive impact on students, community, and the environment. Their primary partner for leading STEM and Reach camps is the Henderson Town Recreation Program. Together they will provide valuable STEM education and sailing experiences for a number of youth in their community who previously did not have the opportunity to sail. They will introduce students to water-based STEM, sailing, safe boating, and environmental stewardship. Learn more about Henderson Harbor Water Sports Programs
Hudson River Community Sailing (New York, NY) – Hudson River Community Sailing (HRCS) develops leadership and academic success in underserved New York City youth and provides maritime education and recreation to the community at large. HRCS has been running STEM-based programming since its founding in 2008, partnering directly with public schools to offer a credit-bearing after school program (Sail Academy) built on the math and science of sailing. Recently, their City Sail summer programming has grown, and they are excited to implement Reach with more students in this program in 2022. Learn more about Hudson River Community Sailing.
Kitsap Sailing & Rowing Foundation (Silverdale, WA) – The Kitsap Sailing & Rowing Foundation believes that learning to sail and row teaches important life skills like teamwork, decision making, and appreciation of the natural environment. Competitive sailing and rowing require tactical and strategic thinking and physical ability. With each experience on the water, young people gain self-confidence, self-esteem and a sense of camaraderie and accomplishment. Kitsap Sailing Foundation has been utilizing STEM activities and the Reach curriculum during their summer learn to sail camps for years. They are adding an ROV to their camp resources this year in partnership with the Port Townsend STEM Club. They look forward to training more instructors in the Reach (STEM) Educator Course this year and offering Sailing Through STEM events for the community. Learn more about Kitsap Sailing & Rowing Foundation.
Sail Orcas (Eastsound, WA) – Sail Orcas is a volunteer-run nonprofit public charity that exists to share the joy of sailing with both youth and adults by providing high quality instruction and easy access to boats and facilities. They strive to teach this lifetime sport by promoting safe boat handling, teamwork, sportsmanship, camaraderie, and marine stewardship. They offer a Marine Science and Sailing Camp and a Recycle Regatta each year. This year they are growing their camp with additional materials and scientist tools to increase the impact for their participants and support them in developing a stronger sense of environmental stewardship. Learn more about Sail Orcas.
Sheboygan Youth Sailing Center (Sheboygan, WI) – Sheboygan Youth Sailing Center’s mission is to cultivate an appreciation of the sport of sailing within the Sheboygan community by developing the skills to safely crew and skipper a sailboat at a reasonable price. For six summers they have utilized the Reach curriculum with the Sheboygan Area School District Summer School Program and integrated it into their regular sailing classes. This year they plan to grow their Reach programming through specific summer camps and events. Learn more about Sheboygan Youth Sailing Center.
Sodus Bay Junior Sailing Association – Sodus Bay Junior Sailing Association (SBJSA) is committed to making the joys of sailing & other watersports available to everyone, building lifelong boaters & fostering responsible eco-awareness & stewardship of their beautiful Sodus Bay on Lake Ontario. In 2021 they introduced 300 participants to STEM using the Reach modules. They are working to add more fun and creativity with Reach modules in 2022 while allowing students to pursue their curiosity of sailing and the environment. Learn more about Sodus Bay Junior Sailing Association.
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.
When West Coast Sailing introduced the RS Aero to the Pacific Northwest, it was pretty clear there was a sea change brewing. That sea change will be official when the RS Aero Worlds takes place on the Columbia River Gorge June 25-July 1.
At the time, I and many other Laser stalwarts were fed up with the acrimony between Laser Performance and the International Laser Class Association. The Laser, while still an Olympic class, had been technically lagging as any 40-something year old design would. Along came the RS Aero, boasting a hull weight of a little over half that of the Laser, carbon spars and a more ergonomic and efficient layout. At the time, I wondered aloud if it would replace the Laser. It hasn’t. They now co-exist. The ILCA won the war with Laser Performance, retained its Olympic status and ILCA regattas are in full swing around the world. But the moment did allow the RS Aero to also establish itself worldwide. Which brings us to this point.
RS Aero fleets have been growing around the world, with plenty of regattas throughout Europe despite the Covid times. The rise of the class hasn’t been as dramatic in the United States. One place it has been dramatic is here in Seattle, where the bulk of the older Laser sailors moved to the Aero early on. West Coast Sailing was eager to help the new class, and managed to get boats into the Northwest quickly while also supplying the necessary support as the fleet established itself.
As one of the founding Aero fleets in North America, and with one of the world’s great sailing venues a three hour drive away, it would make sense that the first World Championship in North America would be on the Columbia River Gorge. This is the 4th Worlds, the other three occurring in France, the U.K. and Australia. Fifty seven boats are entered in the 5, 7 and 9 (sail size categories) representing USA, Australia, China, Ireland, Canada, Great Britain, and Uruguay.
One question remains to be answered. Northwest singlehanded stalwarts Carl Buchan, Dalton Bergan, Dan Falk, Andy Mack, Jay and John Renehan and Stasi Burzycki are all entered, with many other excellent local sailors also strapping in for what promises to be some fast sailing. Will they be fast enough for to take on the Brits, et. al.?
Ed note. As a strong Laser proponent (and still an owner), it took me a while, but I’m also now an RS Aero owner. My boat has the provisional name Dark Side, because I’m now there as well. I can safely say the RS Aero is challenging and not for the feint of heart.
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.
Nothing like a good hard run on the Straits to blow away some of the Covid “stuff” we’ve been suffering through. We have reports from two courses from Bruce and Peter, plus Jan’s photos (not really indicative of the race, but still….) A video and newspaper clip bring Longboard’s race to the front. Results here. -KH
The Hein Bank Perspective
By Peter Salusbury, skipper, Longboard
The first “post pandemic” Swiftsure race hosted by Royal Victoria Yacht Club was held this past weekend and it was great fun to see old friends pre-race on the docks and race against our U.S. and Vancouver Island friends. Bruce’s pre-race weather forecast wasn’t far off and it made for some very fast elapsed times on the Hein Bank, Cape Flattery, and Juan de Fuca courses after the late afternoon westerly filled in.
Peter Salusbury won the start in his 48th Swiftsure
The Swiftsure Classic and Hein Bank race boats started first in a drizzly rain and 6-knot easterly and by Race Rocks, those favoring the more northerly route faired much better than those of us who didn’t with Blue and Smoke setting the pace. After Race Rocks, the flood tide started to become the challenge and those of us who led across to the U.S. side of Juan de Fuca faired much better than those who chose the Canadian side of the Strait. As predicted, the southeasterly died off in the early afternoon and came in from the south earlier for those of us in the middle of the strait and we had a pretty nice rhumb line course out of the Strait. Watching the AIS tracker was critical as it was clear Smoke and Blue were doing better a few miles off the US shoreline relative to Glory and Shadow who favored the US beach.
The westerly finally filled in solidly at Clallam Bay and we changed from the J1 to J2, eventually putting in one reef as the westerly built to over 25 knots at times. We had a classic Swiftsure beat up the US shoreline to Neah Bay and rounded just before a beautiful sunset at 9:00 in the evening. Unfortunately, Mark Vangolen’s beautifully refurbished ILC40 Occams Razor had mast problems and had to retire before rounding Neah Bay – very unfortunate as they had been sailing a real strong race to that point.
The run back was fast and fun but nerve racking at times dodging freighters, cruise ships, and those sneaky Clallam Bay boats with no AIS transponders! Planing downwind in the pitch black at 15 knots was a blast though and while we extended our lead on the boats behind us, Zvi, Smoke, Blue, The Shadow, and Westerly did a nice job legging out on us.
We rounded the Hein Bank buoy at 3:30am Sunday morning and had a bone jarring one tack beat to the finish line with a J4 and two reefs in main – wave pattern was steep and square and on one notable slam off a wave, our radar reflector surrendered and decided to part the boat! We finished at 5:10 Sunday morning so taking into consideration the light air conditions we had to Pillar Point and adverse current, this turned out to be a relatively fast race for us all.
Alan Lubner’s RP/55 Zvi took elapsed time honors finishing at just after 1:00am Sunday morning with Steve Travis’ Smoke finishing less than half an hour later. The overall winner on the Hein Bank course was Michael Schoendorf’s Riptide 41 Blue with Smoke taking second place and our own Riptide 35 Longboard in third place. Both Blue and Smoke sailed very smart races, made good decisions, and clearly were pushing their boats downwind on the way home – huge congratulations to them both for sailing great races.
And as always, a huge thank-you to Race Chairman, Randy Diamond, PRO John Abel, and the massive list of volunteers at RVicYC that, once again, made Swiftsure such a fun event to attend.
Longboard flying back to Victoria. Video courtesy of the good folk on Westerly.
The Cape Flattery Course Perspective
By Bruce Hedrick, chief weather guesser, J/35 Tahlequah (“The oldest boat in the Cape Flattery fleet with clearly the oldest crew, scary.”)
It was great to finally get back to Victoria for Swiftsure and see all those folks we couldn’t see for the last two years. It wasn’t perfect with rain on Friday afternoon that put a bit of a damper on the usual dock parties. The cooler than normal temps we’ve had this spring extended into the weekend with marine weather on the VHF warning that Hurricane Ridge in the Olympics and right above the racecourse would get two more inches of snow on Saturday night.
As usual, the Royal Victoria Yacht Club and its army of volunteers did a superb job of managing the event. Events came off on time, the start sequence was nicely spelled out in the SI’s and then repeated on VHF. The big boats got started first with a combined Long Course and Hein Bank fleet, followed by multihulls, the Cape Flattery fleet, and finally the Clallam Bay group.
A low-pressure system coming ashore in Oregon and a lobe of high-pressure to the north of the Straits, combined to give us an easterly wind and more importantly a downwind start. Great for spectators on the beach at Clover Point. It was only about six knots so it was critical to find a lane of clear air so you could try to get to Race Passage before the ebb changed to the big flood of the day. Navigators were tasked with watching speed over ground as well as the handbearing compass or AIS screen to keep track of the groups that were on the other gybe.
By the time the Cape Flattery fleet got going, it quickly became apparent that we would not get through the Race before the flood started. The boats that held starboard off the line seemed to do better than the boats that gybed early and went to the SSE. As the fleet got closer to Race Passage most boats decided it was better to sail outside Race Passage and avoid the building flood which always starts first on the Vancouver Island side.
The easterly held until about Pillar Point with the fleet that went to the south of the VTS lanes doing better than those who stayed to the north. The weather models were consistent that a westerly would eventually fill down the Straits and consistent with the typical pattern of the strongest breeze occurring the first day after frontal passage. It did seem that it took longer than the models suggested for the pressure gradient to shift to higher pressure offshore. The transition zone can be tough however this year the breeze went to the north first allowing the fleet to the south to close reach aimed directly at Neah Bay.
By the time the fleet got to Clallam Bay, the westerly had filled in and most boats went directly from the J1 to the J3 and some tucked in reefs. The other problem was that the flood had ended and the ebb began to build and with winds in the 20-25 knot range the seas got steep and very close together. The boats that had stayed to the south and closer to the US shore then followed a pretty typical pattern of beating along that shore to try and get into smoother water. Starboard tack was smoother but shorter so the longer port tack into the seas was bone-jarring and tough on boats and crews.
As boats got to the mark at Cape Flattery, some decided to set the kite immediately in the breezy and lumpy conditions while others decided to just do the gybe, get around the mark, stay with jib and main only, and get pointed back towards the Vancouver Island side. All of the leaders also rounded in what was a spectacular sunset giving the boats still beating up to the mark a beautiful vista. Some boats, like the Farr 36 OD Annapurna, once they got the kite up took off in the 20-25+ knots of westerly and flew back down the Straits, finishing almost an hour ahead of the next boat and easily correcting out on the fleet.
The rest of the fleet finally got their kites up at various points and then followed the traditional route back to Race Passage, the next problem was to get back through Race Passage before the big ebb of the day started. Luckily this year there was not the usual doubling of the wind speed from Sheringham to Passage. This allowed boats to ride the last of the flood down the Vancouver Island shore and do the gybe from starboard to port right in Race Passage. The wind was down to 15-20 knots so the gybe wasn’t too scary. The biggest problem was that it was very cold on deck and hands had a tough time holding on to sheets.
Once clear of Race Passage you could still keep the kite up by not being too greedy and aiming immediately for the finish. Plus you could see the puffs coming off the Island which allowed drivers and trimmers to work together and keep the boat upright and aimed roughly for the barn. The best part of this leg was that while the wind built into the low 20s for the first part, it didn’t die as you got closer to the finish and you were still flying along.
The post-race inspection at Ship Point in Victoria Harbour was not only friendly and efficient, but they were also serving a greatly appreciated and very tasty bowl of hot potato soup. NICE!
Again, kudos to RVYC and the Swiftsure Committee, this was a great event.
ManifestZviRoad Kill on the Inshore CourseDominatrix and companyLongboard
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.
What another week it has been for weather in the Pacific NW. This weekend will however be the nicest weekend we’ve had in the month of May. Let’s hope it’s just a practice run for Memorial Day weekend unless you were hoping for breeze. Rainwise we are still about 2” ahead for the month and 3.5” ahead for the year. There does not appear to be much ahead for the upcoming week, just a slight possibility of a drizzle on Wednesday.
After that very active front came through earlier this week we now have high-pressure (1032MB) building over Pacific NW and the NE Pacific ocean roughly centered off the central Oregon coast at 135W. There is also a weak low-pressure system (1008MB) at 40N and 150W that is moving quickly (32.5 mph) in a due north direction. This high is not very strong or round in shape so it can be pushed around however check out the wild oscillation in the Jet Stream on the 500MB charts. It’s not going to have much effect on this high. By 22 May the high will have drifted to the south and weakened to 1029 MB, leaving little pressure gradient over the Salish Sea. This will allow temps to warm into the 60s and we should have a beautiful weekend just not much wind.
So what does Swiftsure look like from a week out? It would have been very interesting if we would have the conditions we had on Wednesday for the start of Swiftsure with 50+ knots of westerly at Race Rocks at 1000hrs. I think a lot of boats may have opted out of those punishing conditions. It appears that this weak high-pressure system will drift to the NW and re-center itself at roughly 34N and 145W with a weak lobe over the Pacific NW. This will mean a very weak pressure gradient over the area. The other problem will be the tides with the big flood of the day at Race Passage starting at 1040 and if you haven’t made it past the Race you will face a flood tide building to 5 knots at 1330 hrs. Just one of the many reasons we still go up to Victoria for this race.
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.
It’s great to see Schelleen Rathkopf and the team at Race Week Anacortes responding directly to last year’s tragedy by emphasizing safety for this year’s Race Week – Anacortes.
Last year, in an otherwise stellar debut for Race Week – Anacortes, Greg Miller died after falling overboard during a race. While the lessons are still being parsed out, basic safety practices are being emphasized in Race Week’s most recent email. There are links to videos on man overboard procedures, and of course Sailish readers know to turn to The Sailing Foundation for more information. And while it is the skippers’ responsibility to brief his or her crew on safety protocols, don’t hesitate as crew to ask for (expect, demand) a safety review before the series that includes practicing man overboard maneuvers. We are blessed with a safe sport. Vigilance is how we keep it that way.
The email mentioned above includes information on the cruising class, reservations of Cap Sante’s entire C-dock and a campground reserved solely for Race Week participants. Sounds like a well organized good time, and if the conditions hold up as they did last year, there’s going to be good racing.
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.
If you’re not involved with Sail Sand Point in some way, you are missing out. It’s a chance for sailing, teaching, community, fun and to give back. If you’ve been missing out, fortunately there’s a kickoff party this Saturday so you can catch up All for free! From Executive Director Seth Muir:
We’d love to have you come join us this Saturday for our free community Season Kick-Off Party. There will be live music, boat rides (starting at 4), available rentals of SUPS, kayaks and sailboats, a BBQ and games. And tasty food and drinks next door at the Magnuson Cafe and Pub. We hope to see you all down at Sail Sand Point!
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.
Ed. Note: Sailish supporters West Coast Sailing and Zim continue to step up to the plate when it comes to supporting sailing. The 5-year sponsorship of college sailing shows that dinghy sailing is thriving and our friends continue to be lifeblood for our sport . For more information on West Coast Sailing’s ICSA sponsorship, go here. For the West Coast Sailing newsletter, click here.
From the West Coast Sailing Newsletter:
We are excited to announce that we have entered a new five-year sponsorship agreement with the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA)! We are committed to youth sailing, growing the sport, participation and are proud to be giving back to the community.
As ‘Official Suppliers,’ Zim and West Coast Sailing will contribute equipment for the use at various ICSA national championships. Additionally, 5% of all sales made by college sailing programs will be donated back to ICSA, which embodies our commitment to give back to the sailing community.
OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS Discounts for college sailing team purchases From hardware to dollies, we help alleviate the cost of keeping fleets and sailors on the water. If you run a sailing program or collegiate team, check out this link: Program Purchasing Details
Discounts for student athletes Helping students gear up is important to us, and we continue (year round) to offer a collegiate discount of 15% off apparel and accessories for those sailors. Scholastic Discounts
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.
Ed. Note: This was news 3 months ago, but it’s still news. Cruising, after all, is timeless. Furthermore, this is one of sailing’s great honors and we as Northwesterners can be proud and impressed by the Niemans’ achievements. This is the press release from the one and only CCA. -KH
Ginger and Peter Niemann have been named winners of the 2021 Blue Water Medal by the Cruising Club of America for two sailing circumnavigations that took them to the high latitudes, north and south. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the second trip around the world included rigorous non-stop passages while returning home to Washington state.
The Niemanns exemplify the spirit of adventure and determination represented by the Blue Water Medal, which has been awarded regularly since 1923 to “reward meritorious seamanship and adventure upon the sea displayed by amateur sailors of all nationalities, that might otherwise go unrecognized.” Past winners have ranged from Eric Tabarly and Sir Francis Chichester to Rod Stephens, Webb Chiles and Eric and Susan Hiscock.
The Niemanns’ first voyaging boat was Marcy, a 47-foot sloop they converted from a schooner. From 2006 to 2010, Marcy took them west-about from Seattle almost 50,000 miles around the world, including rounding the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn.
In 2017, they departed Washington State on Irene, a 52-foot fiberglass ketch. Taking the opposite direction, east-about, through the Northwest Passage and staying in the northern hemisphere, they never crossed their first track around. Becoming the 30th U.S.-flagged vessel to complete the Northwest Passage transit, Irene touched Greenland, Newfoundland, and the U.S. East Coast before crossing the Atlantic to Ireland.
After touring the U.K., Atlantic Europe, and the Mediterranean, they found themselves suddenly stranded in Turkey when the COVID-19 pandemic began. Like international cruisers everywhere, they were stopped in their tracks, previous plans irrelevant. Unwilling to leave Irene, they considered staying in Turkey; sailing back home across the Atlantic; or heading home to the Pacific Northwest through the Suez Canal. They chose the third option, negotiating a landfall in distant Batam, Indonesia. Their of-necessity-non-stop voyage across the Indian Ocean during the monsoon to Indonesia required extraordinary perseverance. It was rough, as they had expected, but at least their worries didn’t include pirates, who were unlikely to be out and about in the challenging weather.
Two non-stop months and nearly 6,000 miles later, the Niemanns arrived in Batam, only to find that their permission to stay in Indonesia had been revoked. Nearby Singapore let them stay but they couldn’t leave the boat. They lived onboard at the Changi Sailing Club for five months. In all, they spent nearly 300 days aboard, unable to go ashore in any country. On February 2, 2021, they departed on the long cruise home via Japan and the Aleutians.
Despite the truly unique challenges posed by the pandemic, Peter and Ginger persevered, cheerfully adapting to a seemingly endless onboard quarantine and making lengthy passages in extremely difficult conditions.
They have coped with challenges posed by wind and weather, taken on the high latitudes in the Arctic and Patagonia, and found a way to successfully navigate the pandemic to complete a second circumnavigation in extraordinary circumstances. Their teamwork, courage, good humor, flexibility, and innovative spirit are evidence of their exceptional personal and sailing mettle. During these uncertain and difficult times, their persistence and ingenuity is truly inspiring, and the Cruising Club of America is proud to present them with the 2021 Blue Water Medal.
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.
My old skipper and 2-time Mini Transat finisher Craig Horsfield is at it again, this time in next year’s Class 40 The Race Around. Yes, a doublehanded around the world race. He’s teaming with other experienced sailors to make this happen as a Corinthian effort. There are lots more photos on Craig’s Facebook site. We’ll be following this closely and posting here.
Horsfield has shared this video. Check the shape of his new ride!
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.
