This will be a fast start for the Vic-Maui group and will have the effect of quickly sorting out who’s ready and who’s not. There will be strong onshore flow with 25-30 knots of westerly coming down the Straits tomorrow. You could see 12-18 in the starting area building to 15-20+ at Race Rocks. Combined with a five knot ebb in Race Passage, seas will be quite lumpy taking a toll on boats and crews. The wind will ease slightly after Clallam Bay only to build again from the NW once you clear Cape Flattery. The course out will be just like sailing a Swiftsure. With the big ebb and plenty of time to make it through the Race, it will pay to sail the short course. After the Race head to the US side and beat your way out the Straits. At Cape Flattery you’ll want to hold a course that will get you offshore and away from area of light air that develops along the coast after sunset.
Surface Analysis 6/30
Surface Forecast 7/1
Surface Forecast 7/2
Surface Forecast 7/4
As you can see from the surface charts, the Pacific High is building nicely but note the low pushing across from the west. This will provide a challenge to navigators who most certainly will be trying to get south as fast as possible but then trying to figure out how to avoid beating while still getting to the west and into a strong area of tail winds that should hold all the way to the Islands as this high will continue build and stabilize. How much? This high could be a 1040MB monster centering at 40N and 160W. This would provide a 28MB gradient difference from the center of the High to the Islands. Plenty of breeze and plenty of squall action. This will keep crews plenty busy keeping spinnakers, halyards, sheets and guys intact.
Good luck, stay safe and enjoy what will certainly be a great adventure.
(Ed. Note I’m off in the Midwest right now and I’ve got limited leeway to get things posted. I’ll be back in about a week and will catch up with both Vic-Maui and Pacific Cup. -KH)
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)
It has been a great week for R2AK with monohulls continuing to claim all the podium positions for the first time ever in this Race. Now will see if they can hold on because Ptarmigan is definitely closing in on Wild Card. The bad news is that this would have been the perfect week to cruise from Nanaimo to Ketchikan if you had a power boat. Very uncharacteristically light for this time of the year in this part of the world. The good news is that if you’re getting ready to do Vic-Maui or Pacific Cup, the Pacific High is finally starting to set up and more importantly, stabilize.
June 22 Surface Analysis
June 23 Surface Forecast Chart
June 24 Surface Forecast
June 26 Surface Forecast Chart
The surface analysis for today shows an amoebic like high-pressure system still off the coast, bracketed by two low-pressure systems. It’s the one that’s further out that the R2AK racers will need to be aware of as it will cause conditions to change rapidly and bring a fair amount of wind (25-35 knots of southerly and rain) to the race course from northern Vancouver Island to SE Alaska. And it will arrive in the middle of Saturday night and last until early Monday morning. Prepare accordingly, don’t be on a lee shore and don’t anchor somewhere you can’t safely sail out of.
For the leaders today will again be light until late this afternoon as a westerly will finally make its way down Dixon Entrance and turn into a north-northwesterly in Hecate Straits of 15-20 knots by early evening. This will lighten by midday Saturday as the first effects of the approaching front will start impacting the wind.
For the Salish Sea, this will mean continued onshore flow with gale warnings and small craft advisories in the central and eastern Straits. There’s already 31 knots of westerly at Race Rocks and it will continue to build until around midnight. This breeze won’t carry on down the Sound until about mid-afternoon tomorrow and last until sunset. Sunday will be a repeat with not quite as much wind when it finally does fill in.
In meanwhile, stay glued to your computer to watch the duel between First Federal and Lagopus, it’s going to get very interesting. Plus Ptarmigan is only 80 miles behind and when the wind fills in from astern, they could easily make that up but with only 270 miles to go, that could be tough. All in all, setting up for a great finish.
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)
Tyee Pool Campbell River – click to enlarge. Looks like First Federal Sails like a Girl with the red spin and Ptarmigan.
It is setting up to be a very interesting race, especially after last night where Pt Watercraft(PtW), after having been well in the lead, had to get some sleep. That allowed Sail Like a Girl (FFSLAG), Ptarmigan (Pmg), and Wild Card (WC) to all slip by leaving PtW about 5 miles behind at dawn. That didn’t last long as PtW lit the afterburners and is now slowly but inexorably grinding them all down and as of 1200 is back into third place and rapidly closing in on second.
Then there’s the weather. From the surface chart, you can see it’s a bit of a complex situation that is preventing any kind of typical summer weather from setting up. The ridge of high-pressure offshore is continuing to weaken as low-pressure systems continue to push into it. Being elongated from north to south doesn’t help it and with another low with an attached frontal system approaching it will continue to weaken and eventually it will be absorbed by a strengthening high-pressure system on the backside of that occluded front. Then there are the two weakly organized low-pressure systems just two the northeast of the race course. That’s the good news and the bad news. This will provide SE breeze for most of the racers over a pretty large area today. This may be enough for the current crop of leaders to get through the Narrows and into Johnstone Strait. The problem will be that as these lows dissipate, a new ridge will try to form over the western end of Johnstone Straits. This will bring light westerlies down Johnstone by mid to late afternoon. By early evening this could be 8-knots near Hardwicke Island. Unfortunately, by around midnight, this ridge will start to break down and racers will be in for another night of very light and shifty breeze.
June 19 Surface Analysis
June 20 Surface Forecast
June 21 Surface Forecast
June 23 Surface Forecast
It looks like the first six boats will make it through this tidal gate with a big slamming noise occurring around 1630 hours this afternoon. If FFSLAG can get around Chatham Pt and into Johnstone they have the potential to really put some distance on the rest of this group. Lagopus, Pmg, and Blue Flash are at risk of becoming stranded on the tidal treadmill if they don’t get past the Narrows.
The long-term outlook doesn’t start looking much better until the 23rd or 24th of June when another low-pressure system will start pushing into the area between the north end of Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands. That will bring a pre-frontal SE breeze over the area and give racers a welcome tailwind.
Thanks Bruce. I’ll be following this up with a little post of my own. Go Wild Card! –KH
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)
Ed. Note: Please all you R2AKers please let the others know about this post and that Bruce intends on updating it. We’re rooting for each and every one of you, and just can’t help but watch!
The charts haven’t changed much since yesterday except that a secondary high-pressure system is trying to develop over the interior of BC to the NE of Vancouver Island. This is having the effect of bringing northerly winds to central Strait of Georgia. Not sure about the readings at Entrance Island but it shows 30 knots from the NNW, 11 knots from the WNW at Halibut Bank, 21 knots from WSW at Ballenas, and 20 knots from NW at Sisters. This will all change overnight as the high over the interior begins to weaken and move to the east.
In the meanwhile, you can see from the satellite pic there is a front to the west of the high that has set up along our coast. What’s interesting is that neither system is very strong. The interaction between the two systems will have the overall effect of weakening both with the front probably not being able to make it over the high and the high simply not moving.
June 16 Surface Analysis
June 17 Surface Forecast
June 18 Surface Forecast
June 20 Surface Forecast
This will make the start at noon tomorrow interesting in that racers will have an ebb to help them out of the harbor and just not a lot of wind. Once clear of the harbor it will be just working the beach to stay out of the ebb and use the back eddies to work your way to the north. The flood will start about 1430 hours and last until about sunset. By mid-afternoon, there will be a nice breeze from NW over the Gulf Islands including Trincomali Channel. This is also where the models begin to diverge with the wind strength in the Strait of Georgia ranging from 10-15 in one to 15-25 in another, all from the NW. This will tend to build slightly over the late afternoon and into the early evening hours in the Strait, not so much inside the Gulf Islands.
For the sailors, this will, as we said yesterday, mean going up the inside to Porlier Pass and hopefully making it through with the flood before about 2130 hours. For the rowers and SUPS just go the shortest possible distance.
The breeze will hold to the NW of Nanaimo however after that as you can see from the Surface Charts, the isobars will spread and the breeze starts to drop off the closer you get to Campbell River and the strongest tides on the course. Don’t shoot the messenger.
Since I can’t help myself and I’m addicted to watching this race, I’ll provide another update on Monday.
Have a great race, be safe, and enjoy the incredible scenery.
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)
What can we say except it’s going to look a lot like summer around here for the foreseeable future. Temperatures in the upper 70’s to mid 80’s and not really any extreme winds around even in the Straits. The surface charts show a nice high-pressure off the coast that is not going to move very far or very fast because the jet stream is simply going over the top of it. The only place on the coast that will be breezy is the section from the mid-coast of Oregon south to just north of San Francisco. There will still be a weak onshore flow coming down the Straits that could bring 15-20 knots of westerly this afternoon and Saturday afternoon as well. After that, the high will just sit over us bringing us dry and warm conditions. The perfect time to be out on the boat.
Click to enlarge any image:
June 15 Surface Analysis
June 16 500MB
June 16 Surface Forecast
June 17 Surface Forecast
June 19 500MB
June 19 Surface Forecast
For the folks leaving at noon on Sunday for Ketchikan in the R2AK, this will present some very interesting choices. It’s looking to be light for the start out of Victoria with a flood tide starting around 1430 hrs. This will be perfect for the rowers and the SUP folks and they can go the shortest possible course to get up to Nanaimo. The sailors will probably go up Trincomali Channel and then out Porlier Pass to get into 15-20 knots of NW breeze in the Strait of Georgia. Once you get north of Nanaimo the breeze will back off and stay light at least until Wednesday. Right now it looks like getting through Seymour Narrows and Johnstone Strait will be a challenge because of the lack of wind. We’ll see.
The plan is to update this forecast tomorrow afternoon when the new models are released.
In the meanwhile, enjoy what will be a glorious weekend!
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)
Synopsis for the northern and central Washington coastal and inland waters…A cold front will move slowly through the coastal waters this morning. The front will cross the inland waters this afternoon and evening. Moderate onshore flow will continue Saturday then start to weaken late Sunday. High pressure will build over the area and bring weaker gradients Monday and Tuesday.
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)
After Swiftsure, this week certainly went by fast and now we’re racing again tomorrow. One thing is clear, we won’t have the onshore flow we had last weekend and into this week. I don’t think I’ve seen so many days of 30+ knots of westerly at Race Rocks for so many days in a row. It did make for some great racing unless of course, you were on Mist. We had a great time on Tahlequah but now it’s time to catch up on all the deferred gardening. One day you’re the king of the Straits having a great time sailing with your buddies and the next, you’re on your hands and knees pulling weeds.
June 1 Doppler
This weekend in the Straits will be much different as we’ll have a weak frontal system reach the coast tonight and then dissipate as it moves over land tonight. The onshore flow will return Saturday afternoon and continue into next week. You can just see the leading edge of this system starting to show up on the coast on the coastal Doppler.
For the last of the Tri-Island Series Race don’t expect much wind until mid to late afternoon on Saturday. Just don’t forget the sunblock before you leave the house! The other minor difficulty will be the tides, not exactly helpful.
Tidal Currents at West Point
0724 Slack
0912 Max Ebb .32 knots
1106 Slack
1648 Max Flood .94 knots
2024 Slack
The first gun is supposed to be around 0900 hours however if you look at the surface charts you’ll notice the remains of a trough moving to the east and unfortunately that will leave a large gap in the pressure gradient. This will result in a light downslope, drainage breeze from the east in the morning. With some clearing and no gradient, this could be the perfect set-up for the Swihart Effect which says the northerly will start down the Sound once the flood tide gets rolling which will mid to late afternoon. When this will build will largely depend upon when we get enough clearing over the Pugetopilus to start some heating and draw the breeze down the Sound. If the clearing continues, look for the northerly to continue to build through the late afternoon.
June 1 Surface Analysis
June 2 Surface Forecast
June 3 Surface Forecast
June 5 Surface Forecast
As is typical for the Blake Island Race, you can pick your poison deciding which way you are going to go around the Island. In almost all cases it’s best to leave the Island to starboard. This is because of the ebb that continues to roll up Colvos and the back side of the Island. The flood may not get all the way to the bottom of the Island, however, there will be more wind on the east side of the Island.
The star marks the distance you need to be off the Island.
If the breeze is northerly in the starting area, you’ll probably do a starboard set just don’t go west too long. Before the start, watch the flag at the West Point lighthouse and if it’s showing any easterly at all plan a gybe to port to be at the West Point Buoy. If on port, you’re aiming at Alki, hold that gybe until you get lifted to Spuds Fish and Chips, then gybe and aim at the Island. Just don’t get too close to the Island especially at the south end. See the picture. If you swing wide enough at the south end you’ll carry the northerly into the light zone. Just be ready to smoothly transition into what little breeze there will be on the backside of the Island. Headsail up, in the starboard groove, spinnaker down, all without changing course and hopefully without slowing much.
Since you’ll be swept along with the ebb up the backside of the Island, sail the favored tack, usually starboard and don’t get too close to the Island. By the same token don’t too far over to the Manchester shore as it will get light in there as well. Work your way up to Bainbridge Island since the current tends to set from west to east along that south shore. Once you get to Restoration hold on to port tack. If you are aimed at Four Mile Rock, just keep going right up to Magnolia Bluff. If you end up being headed below(east of) Four Mile, take a short hitch until you can once again be above Four Mile. Really watch your depth sounder coming into there as it gets very shallow, very quickly. If the breeze has built as you’ve come across you’ll want to do your tack change here going from the light #1 to the heavy #1going from port to starboard tack. You should be right under the Bluff and it will be puffy so the mainsheet/ traveler person is going to be working very hard to keep the boat on its feet.
Once you clear West Point hold on to starboard tack until you can lay the entrance to the Ship Canal. Of course, this also depends on where the finish line is located. You’d like to get close to the entrance so it will be easier to call the tack to the finish, finishing on starboard and probably in more breeze than the boats on the outside. There will also be a nice push from the current coming out of the Ship Canal.
Be safe, use lots of sunblock, and have a great time.
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)
Due to technical difficulties there was a big delay in getting this posted. We’re sorting out who’s responsible right now, but speaking as a dinghy guy I’m pretty sure it had something to do with the (damned) instruments. Our apologies.
It is setting up to be a glorious weekend just about anywhere you want to go on the water. As you can see from the surface charts, we’ve got a nice high-pressure system setting up offshore and all it is going to do is get stronger over the next 5-7 days. This is going to provide us with a strong onshore flow which will create gale conditions in the Central and Eastern Straits of Juan de Fuca especially in the afternoon and early evening hours. Currently it’s blowing 35 knots at Race Rocks, 28 at Sheringham, 27 at Hein Bank and 24 at Smith Island. This afternoon and this evening will probably see the strongest breezes over this area. The next strongest breeze will be in the northern part of Admiralty inlet and the Strait of Georgia south of Nanaimo. As always, check the local conditions before you head out. The pressure gradient will ease somewhat over the next three days dropping the peak windspeeds by 5-10 knots per day.
25 May Surf Analysis
26 May 500MB
26 May Surf Frcst
27 May 500MB
27 May Surf Frcst
29 May Surf Frcst
What does this mean for Swiftsure? Should be a great race especially for the big boats that can make it around the mark and get back into the Straits before sunset. This will be true for any of the courses as the breeze will tend to drop after midnight the further out the Straits you are. Then it will be time to start watching the tidal currents.
Tidal Current Race Passage
0905 Slack
1159 Max Flood 3.9 knots
1457 Slack
1825 Max Ebb 3.2 knots
2109 Slack
2346 Max Flood 3.0
0158 Slack
0627 Max Ebb 5.1
0939 Slack
1240 Max Flood 4.5
1544 Slack
1919 Max Ebb 3.5 knots
Luckily, it appears the wind will hold in the central Straits so no reason to do any extreme rock hopping as you fight the tide. With the 0900 start we should be able to make it through the Race before max flood at noon. Once through the Race it will be time to get to the US shore and beat your way out the Straits. For the long course, the breeze will begin to ease around sunset but will stay from the WSW at around 10 knots. The old rule still applies and that is don’t sail below the port tack layline as you approach the mark on the Bank. If you find yourself headed below the layline, tack back on to starboard and get back above the port tack layline. Do the starboard pole set at the mark and then sail back down the center of the Straits until you start to get lifted, usually about ½ way between Neah Bay and Clallam Bay, then gybe to port and sail the short course to Race Passage hopefully riding the flood and getting through before 0200 hrs Sunday morning.
For the Cape Flattery boats, it’s pretty much the same except you may have to take a quick gybe out into the Straits at the mark to get back into the wind. Once back in the wind, gybe back to starboard and work your way down the center of the Straits. If you’re not going to make Race Passage before the big ebb starts, you’ll need to work your way to the Vancouver Island shore to get some tidal relief.
As usual, it should be mandatory life jackets and safety harnesses from the get go. Then monitor the wind reports on the VHF and log the pressure gradient readings at Forks and Bellingham to get a feel for how much wind you’ll have going through the Race. If it’s blowing hard in the Race, set up your approach so you are on port well ahead of where it will be windy. Do your chute change early and get the number three up under the kite to help stabilize things. Talk every maneuver through before you do it and make sure everyone is clipped on.
Above all else, be safe, have fun and have a great weekend.
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)
Plenty going on this weekend, just not a lot in the weather department unless you’re tracking the tropics off of the Yucatan or off of southern Mexico in the Pacific. Hurricane season seems to be cranking up a little early this year and the water in those areas is plenty warm enough to maybe get something started.
Not so much in the Pacific Northwest. As you can see from both the surface charts and the 500MB charts there won’t be much going on except in the central and eastern end of the Straits. That’s because with a weak lobe of high-pressure offshore and a weak low-pressure system inland to the east of the Cascades we will get some afternoon and evening onshore flow down the Straits. This will create Small Craft warnings in those areas, fairly typical for this time of the year.
May 18 Surface Forecast
May 19 500MB
May 19 Surface Forecast
May 20 Surface Forecast
May 22 500MB
May 22 Surface Forecast
So for the Round Saltspring Race, there are always two questions: 1) Which way will the RC send us this year? (My guess, clockwise) and 2) Will the breeze in the Straits wrap around the Saanich Peninsula and make it up to Saltspring? (My guess, no.) The whole thing about Saltspring is that the event is a total hoot and you are guaranteed to have a great time. Just don’t go expecting a killer sailing event. That will be next weekend, Swiftsure. Saltspring is just in the wrong place for wind, the right place for some epic tidal currents and always attracts sailors with exactly the right, not too serious, attitude. Remember, fun is and always should be, the priority.
As we have discussed many times before on these pages, the onshore flow, when it’s coming straight onshore creates a problem of wind in the Sound because while it may be cranking down the Straits, it will also be weakly flowing through the Chehalis Gap and those flows will meet over the central Sound. For the POD regatta, with afternoon clearing, eventually a northerly will fill down the Sound. This could mean some nice sailing in the mid to late afternoon on Saturday. Expect the same for Sunday just probably filling later and with not as much wind.
For Swiftsure racers, I’ll have a delivery update for you on Wednesday and then a race update on Friday. I’ll also be providing the weather for the skippers meeting on Friday afternoon. If you’re up there, say hello!
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)
A typical springtime weather week in the Pacific NW with a little bit of everything: sun, rain, hail, lightning and now 80° for Mom’s Day on Sunday. We are doing our best to get you around the course fast for an early finish on Saturday so you can enjoy Sunday. As you can see from the charts, we have a weak, elongated high-pressure system off the coast which will set up a weak onshore flow down the Straits for today and into tomorrow. While it may be relatively weak, this will still result in 20-25 knots of westerly in the central and eastern part of the Straits. As this high drifts slightly offshore late Saturday and into Sunday this will create a more northerly flow over the area which will cause a NNE breeze over the central Sound and San Juan Islands. This should be great news for the Vashon Island Race folks who should have wind around the course…..except for the south end of Vashon. What else is new?
The tides will also be very reasonable, who arranged that?
Tidal Current West Point, 12 May.
0718 Slack
1206 Flood .75 knts
1524 Slack
1706 Ebb .41 knts
2006 Slack
It may take a while for the breeze to work it’s way down the Sound tomorrow but racers should still have about 10-12 knots of NNW for their start and the rest of the course down to Pt. Robinson. From Pt. Robinson to the bottom end of the Island it will be a matter of sailing the shortest possible course without getting too close to the Island and running out of the wind.
It should be very interesting beating back up Colvos depending on how sunny it has been and if the high has started to shift offshore enough to bring a NNE component to the breeze. Since the land on Vashon hasn’t really had enough sun to heat it up, I don’t think this will be an issue but you should be aware of it. Obviously, you’ll want to stay in the max current going up Colvos and the temptation is to maximize your tacks. What you want to watch for is hitting the warm air on the Island side of Colvos. If, as you get 1/3 to ½ way up the Passage, you start hitting warm puffs that will be knocks on port, you want to tack immediately as this is an indication that the breeze is about to drop. It may be too early this year for this phenomenon, just be aware of it.
As you get to the top end of Colvos, the ebb will be stronger on the Blake Island shore, again, just don’t get too close to Blake Island. Set your tacks up to approach the Bainbridge shore on starboard just west of Restoration. This way you can take advantage of the ebb coming out of Rich Passage. From there, stay slightly to the east of the ebb (which flows to the south) that comes out of Winslow. When you can lay Fourmile Rock on port, go for it. If the breeze has gone around to the NNE your main traveler person will be working very hard as you sail on starboard up to West Point.
Swiftsure Briefing
May 11 Surface Analysis
May 12 500MB
May 12 Surface Forecast
May 13 500MB
May 13 Surface Forecast
May 15 Surface Forecast
May 26 Crystal Ball
I also had some requests to open up the crystal ball and see what it looks like for Swiftsure. My official forecast is for maximum fun in Victoria. I’ll be giving the weather briefing at the Skippers Meeting on Friday afternoon, the 25th so if you’re there, say hello. The tides will clearly be a challenge as the big flood of the day in Race Passage starts just after the start of the Race. I’ve attached the Surface forecast chart for the 26th for May, just remember that this is 360-hours out and I have little confidence in anything over 72 hours.
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)
