Racing

Scatchet Head Race – Gorgeous, Tactical

Kurt Hoehne Racing , 0 Comment

After last week’s windy Blakely Rock Race, CYC’s Scatchet Head (the second of three Center Sound races), the fleet was looking forward to another sunny day but maybe a hair less excitement. Puget Sound delivered last Saturday.

The fleet spread across the Sound on the 10-knot beat to the Scatchet Head buoy. West was clearly bestfor some, east worked for others. Puget Sound can confound. For everyone, the run home was delightful, especially for those who stayed west. The wind was a little lighter until the northerly started to roll down the Sound later.

In the IRC it was again Glory winning. It was TP 52 conditions (are there any conditions really NOT for a TP52?) Smoke was second and Crossfire third. Our friends on Crossfire found it tough to hang with the TPs in the light conditions. “We made some time up on the downwind leg, but once it got back in to the 4-6 knot range downwind, we really couldn’t real them in,” Nigel Barron board Crossfire reported.

Photos courtesy of Jan Anderson. See the rest here.

  • Darkside looking good on the beat to Scatchet Head
  • Anarchy on the way to and overall win.
  • The starts were in relatively light air.
  • Smoke.
  • No, not the race committee or handicapper’s meeting.
  • Traffic to avoid.
  • More traffic to avoid. Seriously.

Results

If last week’s crew overboard incident aboard the Flying Tiger 10 Anarchy was exciting in one way, the Scatchet Head Race was about as exciting in different way as they slid home for an overall PHRF fleet win. Owner/skipper Tom Ward reported:

It was ideal conditions for the light boats.  On the beat we stayed the west side going up with Bat Out Of Hell (BOOH), Sachem and Izakaya (another FT10) working our way through the fleet. I believe we were around 9th PHRF boat to round with BOOH leading our class. After rounding we stayed hot, working west. We did a couple of gybes out to the east and back as Sachem continued on working west and closed the gap on us and Izakaya.  We saw BOOH had gone way east and fell well behind. Sachem was keeping pace but at that point not closing the gap.

We keep trading jibes with Izakaya reeling them in slowly by trying to stay a few degrees hotter than them. It was a great battle and forced both boats to sail at their best. I believe we finally jibed inside them and then back to get in front of them about 20 minutes from the finish. They tried going further out before gybing to the finish for a hotter angle and did close the gap as we soaked down to stay between them and the finish crossing just 30 seconds ahead.

Elsewhere in the fleet, Ace and Absolutely had an epic battle right to the finish, with Ace barely taking the class gun and winning by 10 minutes on corrected time. The entire J/105 fleet finished within 15 minutes and head into the final race with threeway tie for first place between Jaded, More Jubilee, and the Racers Formerly Known as Here & Now. Gaucho and Kiwi Express enjoyed a match race in Scatchet Head and are tied going into the last race.

  • Sachem, with Brian Ledbetter and Mark Brink at the controls.
  • Sachem, just ’cause she’s a knockout at any age.

Brad Greene’s Nordic 44 Kinetics enjoyed a very good race in PHRF 5, finishing third. Of course Dos ran away with the class with Different Drummer second. Considering Greene lives aboard the Perry design (no doubt a few extra pots and pans aboard), his fourth in class is pretty remarkable. Greene reports:

The start for our class 5 was light but we still got a decent start considering what it takes to get our 24,000 pound beast moving. Most of the fleet headed west as expected likely hoping Bruce’s weather brief would hold with more wind on the west side. We ended up tacking back out into the middle and then decided to go east on a flyer in part to avoid some north and south bound commercial traffic and to avoid getting pinned on the west side tacking up the beach. For a while it looked like we were doing well. Then the wind went light and we just didn’t have the power to keep the Nordic 44 moving.

We finally rounded Scatchet Head buoy and had a wonderful run home. We made up some time on a few boats in part I think because the wind started to fill in from the north again getting to us first. The only complaint on board Kinetics was the windchill upwind was a bit icy even with the sun trying its best to heat things up. Big thanks CYC for making it a great #2 for this CYC CSS.

From CYC’s standpoint, the only hitch for this race came in the form of a reminder that we all share the water with commercial ships. Fleet Captain Matt Wood reports, “The only remarkable aspect was the amount of attention the fleet garnered from deep draft pilots and Washington State ferry masters. It is critical that competitors monitor both the race channel (in this regatta, that is  VHF 69 ) and Seattle Traffic VHF 14. On the RC boat we were reaching out to the fleet to ensure Colreg Rule 10 compliance, as well as transitioning vessels were on 14. Everyone needs to be diligent in this regard.”

With two good races in the books, it’s on to the penultimate Three Tree Point Race in two weeks. Could it be three gorgeous races in a row? Check in the day before for Bruce’s Brief.

Bruce’s Brief for March 8-10 and Scatchet Head Race

Kurt Hoehne Bruce's Briefs, Racing 1 Comment
Bruce’s Brief for March 8-10 and Scatchet Head Race
Some weather guru, watching pigs in HI while we watch snow.

While we may have had some rain or snow earlier this week, it looks like we are in for another lovely day on the water this weekend. The problem will be for Scatchet Head racers that there won’t be as much wind as last weekend. As the most recent frontal system has gone past the Pac NW, it has left us with a very weak and wandering ridge of high pressure system (1020MB) that will result in little to no pressure gradient over the area. While there is a weak southerly at West Point this morning, the pressure is rising so it will gradually move around to the east before becoming light and variable. This will persist overnight and then the question becomes when and how much northerly will come down the Sound on Saturday. The answer will be for racers (and the Race Committee) to check the pressure gradient from Bellingham to Seattle and Bellingham to Portland.

As of 1000 hrs PST Friday the gradient looks like this:

Bellingham       1016.8MB

Seattle             1016.9MB

Portland           1016.6MB

Take the difference between the readings of Bellingham to Seattle and multiply times 5 to get approx wind strength over the north Sound. Any differential less than 1MB says it’s going to be very light. Take the difference between Bellingham and Portland and multiply times 10 for the approx wind over the central and south Sound. The wind will flow from areas of higher pressure to areas of lower pressure, so that tells the direction.  This will be the best way to figure out the answer to how much and when. Once again, as this a transitional period, the models are not in agreement. Two models show some semblance of a northerly starting to fill around noon and then building to a more reasonable 10 knots by 1400-1500 hrs.

  • March 8 500MB
  • March 8 Surface Analysis
  • March 9 Surface Forecast
  • March 10 500MB
  • March 10 Surface Forecasat
  • March 11 Surface Forecast
  • March 12 Surface Forecast

Once again tides will not be bad. I use the current at Foulweather Bluff for what will be happening at Scatchet Head. It’s not an exact match but it is certainly close enough.

0948    .67 Ebb

1312    Slack

1600    1.01 Flood

1930    Slack

Satellite View – Click to enlarge

I also look at Point No Point because of the timing of the flood tide for the simple reason that the flood starts on the west side of the Sound first. So, if because of wind direction, there’s a question about which way to go, head west. There will probably be slightly more wind on that side as well.

Current. At Point No Point

1018    1.38 Ebb

1354    Slack

1554    .49 Flood

1854    Slack

All in all, it should be a nice day on the water, a little cool but not freezing.

Have fun and be safe.  

Ed. Note: Last week after Bruce’s Brief, alert reader Dan Tedrow asked for a list of resources. Check out Bruce’s response by going back to that Brief and scrolling all the way down.

Port Townsend Sailing Association Schedule

Kurt Hoehne Community, Racing 0 Comment
Port Townsend Sailing Association Schedule
Port Townsend TBirds racing.

Not surprisingly, even for a relatively small town, Port Townsend has a great season’s schedule of racing. See the graphic below. A lot of these races aren’t the old bloody-knuckle, squeeze-in-as-may-starts as possible kind of races. So, take a look at your calendars and plan to attend some of these events. And if you sail from there already, you’re set. Further information on racing and other sailing events at the Port Townsend Sailing Association web site.

Blakely Rock Kicks off Center Sound with Great Conditions and a Fleet MOB Response

Kurt Hoehne Racing , 2 Comments
Blakely Rock Kicks off Center Sound with Great Conditions and a Fleet MOB Response

CYC’s Blakely Rock Race is the unofficial start to the year’s racing season. Sure, there are frostbites the South Sound Series, but those seem to be winter. As such, if you’re looking for an omen for the year to come, it’s going to be an interesting one, and a good one. After all, it’s not every race you have to restart and a (successful) man overboard recovery, but such was the case last Saturday in Puget Sound.

The day started out as Bruce predicted, bright and breezy. PRO Charley Rathkopf set the weather mark to the north and started sending off the classes. He soon was informed the mark was headed for Spring Beach and made the decision to restart and use a shorter course.

All photos by Jan Anderson. Click here to see and buy them. Click on any image to enlarge.

  • J/105 start
  • PHRF 3
  • Crossfire
  • The J/40 Semper Quaerens
  • J/80s
  • The new-to-NW Sonic
  • Bat Out Of Hell going just like that
  • Jonathan McKee’s Dark Star

The reverse (small boats first) start made for a compacted fleet as they headed downwind. The planing boats planed and the cruiser racers just went fast, giving everybody a memorable start to the season.

Rescue by Committee

The biggest event of the race wasn’t the winner’s circle, it was the rescue of Anarchy crew Lindsey Lind. I haven’t yet been able to talk to the Anarchy crew or the crew of the TBird Selchie, the boat that ultimately picked Lind out of the drink. But here’s what I do know.

On the downwind leg, relatively close to the Blakely Rock, Lind fell overboard from the FT 10 Anarchy. Somewhere in there Anarchy broached. There were some chaotic radio transmissions from Anarchy to the Coast Guard, and then several boats in the fleet responded. Marek Omilian, the skipper of a the new-to-town TP 52 Sonic, saw Lind in the water about 500 yards ahead but wasn’t sure it was a person until they were 100-150 yards from her. By then the crew was already preparing the M.O.M. module and deployed it close enough that Lindsey was able to grab it. It turns out Omilian is a veteran of the Clipper Around the World Race and his crew was well prepared for a man overboard situation.

In the meantime Charlie Macaulay’s Absolutely also saw what was going on, dropped their chute and motored toward the victim. Macaulay recalled, “When we  still about 10 boatlengths away, Selchie executed a perfect kite douse and circled the MOB, turning up to leeward of her. They quickly pulled her onboard as we approached within a couple of boatlengths.” Absolutely was awarded 4 minutes redress for standing by.

Not everything was quite as seamless aboard Selchie as it appeared from the outside. Crew member Gail Tsai reported on Facebook: “The kite came down before I could release it from the pole; our green line went under and hooked to the keel while the halyard got caught with spin halfway up. It fell into water, got wet, and started pulling me off the boat. It had wrapped itself around my right leg. I was just clinging to everything for dear life trying not to cause another rescue. Never been so close to falling in the drink before.’

All’s well that ends well, and this one ended well. Lind was warm, dry and in good health in the CYC clubhouse after the race.

There has already been some discussion about the incident, and what lessons are to be learned. It seems to me that the racers can take pride in the rescue. The fleet responded immediately and skillfully. I understand there was a J/105 that also stood by in addition to the boats already mentioned. It’s interesting that one of the fastest rated boats (Sonic) and the slowest rated boat (Selchie) were both instrumental in the rescue. This might be a good argument for having a reverse start – keeping the fleet together longer on the racecourse.

New to Town with a bit of Irony

You might wonder how this TP 52 Sonic came to be here in the PNW, on Blakely Rock, and with a crew ready to play a vital role in the rescue. After all, it’s not as if the owner Marek Omilian is isn’t a household Seattle racing name like John Buchan (Glory), Steve Travis (Smoke) and Steve Johnson (Mist). I was wondering.

It turns out Marek Omilian may not be a household name yet, but it would be difficult to imagine a more prepared offshore racer owner. He recently completed the Clipper Round the World race on Visit Seattle, sailing all the legs. In fact, five people onboard Sonic on Saturday have done part or all of that race or are going to do it. Part of the Clipper preparations is “safety procedures ad nauseum.” So much of the crew was ready when they saw the person in the water.

  • The tossing of the tulips in honor of the never forgotten Kelly O’Neil
  • Freja around the Rock.
  • A great day for a big crew. Tahlequah.
  • Wind Dancer
  • Madame Pele et.al. after rounding the Rock
  • Sachem
  • Cherokee
  • The lone tri Freda Mae
  • Bravo Zulu after rounding

Omilian, originally from Poland, says he’s developing an onboard culture based on safety, respect, teamwork and commitment. He’s also pursuing an interesting facet to the Sonic campaign; he’s looking to use the boat as a fundraising tool for good causes. Omilian has identified potential groups such as the Ocean Foundation and is approaching local corporations to see if a sponsorship program can be developed.

Now for the irony. Man overboard (or crew overboard – COB – as I’ve just learned I’m supposed to say) safety issues are much on the mind of racers these days. A thorough report was just released on the death of Jon Santorelli who drowned after falling off the TP 52 Imedi shortly after the Chicago-Mac start last year. Sonic is Imedi, and so it seems fitting that the boat, with a safety-focused crew and skipper, helped in this successful rescue.

The Racing

As far as the racing goes, the consistent breeze emphasized boatspeed and boat handling. There were nine classes, including a 1-boat multihull class. Results here.

Brad Butler’s very well-sailed Sierra 26 Dos planed to another victory, correcting easily on her class and by over a minute overall. The six second ding to her rating, pronounced in the January PHRF meeting, wasn’t nearly enough for Saturday’s conditions. When the Sierra gets on a plane, the boat is pretty much a gun in a knife fight.

Winning the Boats with Cabins division was Bill Buchan’s Sachem demonstrating how it’s done. The Peterson 43 charged along in the heavy upwind conditions and held her own downwind, correcting by nearly eight minutes ahead of the rest of her class and only a 1:24 behind Dos.

Within the classes, there were a few interesting results. The 9-boat J/105 class was won by Racers formally known as Here & Now. The J/29 Boat of the Year bunch have apparently moved on to One Design. Also, the level 72 (PHRF rating) class has made a reappearance, and it was won by the C&C 115 Elusive with the J/35 Tahlequah second and the Schock 35 Darkside third. It will be interesting to see if this class can stay together as a group and, hopefully, build.

Perhaps the most competitive of the classes was class 8. Burzicki/Shorett’s Farr 395 Ace corrected to first, with Absolutely second and Andy Mack’s J/122 Grace third. The three finished within 11 seconds on corrected time and finished fourth, fifth and sixth overall. In the proverbial race-within-a-race, the J/122 Grace and the Farr 395 Ace, had a few close crosses before Ace ultimately finished overlapped.

Mike Johnson, crew aboard Ace, recounted: “We had a good day sparring with Grace, a boat with many good sailors and friends. They had a great start and first beat to begin the run with a 100-yd lead. We were able to reel them in after a few big puffs filled in from the north and rounded Blakely Rock just ahead. Upwind, we stayed on port while they took a tack toward Wing Point and then held a higher port tack lane across the Sound.  There was a slight left shift, but not enough for them to pass. From the tack at Discovery Park we were always close and ended up overlapped at the finish. One advantage of having another equally rated and well-sailed boat is the opportunity to learn new things, which is what keeps us coming back.

Don’t you just love rivalries? All rivalries will resume in the next two Center Sound races. Bruce Hedrick will be providing his weather magic the day before each race, so check in then.

Bruce’s Brief March 1-3, Center Sound Blakely Rock Race

Bruce Hedrick Bruce's Briefs, Racing 6 Comments
Bruce’s Brief March 1-3, Center Sound Blakely Rock Race

Finally, our favorite series gets going this weekend and as usual, it looks like this could be a good one. The folks that have been sailing all winter ( South Sound Series) or got out last weekend for some practice will benefit as there should be some very nice breeze. For a while this week it looked like that high pressure (1045MB) that was centered over the mid BC interior might slight further to the south. Now it looks like it will stay to the north yet still dump some very cold air down the Fraser River Valley. There will also be some fairly strong breeze (25-35 knots of northeasterly) in northern end of the San Juans late Saturday and into early Sunday morning.

  • March 1 500MB
  • March 1 Surface Analysis
  • March 2 Surface Forecast
  • March 3 Surface Forecasat
  • March 4 Surface Forecast

While there won’t be much breeze when you get to Shilshole Saturday morning, eventually the northeasterly out of the Fraser will follow the path of least resistance and wind its down Admiralty Inlet and into Puget Sound. It will start out as a light northerly but become northwesterly and build as the day goes on. How much and when? That is always the question, but right now you could see 20+ for the beat from Blakely Rock back to the finish. The models are not in agreement about when the northwesterly will come down the Sound but it will come.

Tidal Current at West Point

0806    Slack

1100    .53 knts Max Flood

1324    Slack

1512    .26 knts Max Ebb

1742    Slack

So not a lot of tide, the key will be when will the northerly back to the NW. It will also depend upon where they set the start line which direction you go at the start. If the line is well south of Meadow Point and you can take a quick hitch to get in under Meadow Point you can get a slight lift on starboard as well as some tide relief before you hold a long starboard tack up the Sound.

If the line is north of Meadow Point and the wind is to left of due north, just make sure you have a nice lane to sail in and head west. As you get to the west, watch the cog and sog, watch for a knock and tack when you are almost laying the top mark. In the reverse start it’s liable to be a bit crowded at the first mark which will make a port approach just a little dicey. Besides, a starboard approach will be greatly appreciated by the foredeck crew as it will give them more time to get everything set up for a nice bear away set.     

On the run to Blakely Rock, the breeze will tend to build on the west side of the Sound first so you’ll probably hold starboard until the breeze starts to lighten as you approach Bainbridge. Gybe out until you can gybe back to starboard for your final approach to the west end of Blakely Rock. On the run also track the true wind speed so you can give the foredeck crew plenty of warning about a different headsail for the all-important last beat to the finish. Regardless, you should have them set the headsail in the starboard groove so you can do a tack change if you need to as you approach Magnolia, Four Mile Rock. Remember, it can get shallow very quickly as you approach that imaginary line between Four Mile Rock and West Point. From the aerials earlier this week it appears there may be some shallower than normal water south of the line from the lighthouse to the West Point Buoy with shoal water extending further north of that line and slightly further out from the Point. Be cautious.

After West Point, if the current is neutral or ebbing hold starboard tack until you can just lay the area north of the south end of the Shilshole Breakwater. You get a slight knock as you get close, just keep track of where the finish line is and don’t over stand the finish.

Please leave your AIS on so I can watch the race. Have a great race, good luck and be safe.

Shaner and Mack’s Miami World Cup

Kurt Hoehne PNW sailors around the world, Racing , 0 Comment
Shaner and Mack’s Miami World Cup

Kate Shaner and Charlotte Mack sent out an update after their World Cup Miami regatta last month (as part of their 29er campaign), and I’ve borrowed some of it here to update those who might not be on their mailing list. It turns out it was a challenge just getting to the starting line. But in keeping with their positive attitude, they just keep on keepin’ on. You can visit their website (and donate to their cause) here.

Kate and Charlotte trained hard this winter to prepare for World Cup Miami. In January, they sailed in the first Olympic Development Clinic of the year, and got to work with top coaches from around the country. Unfortunately, on the third day of the camp Charlotte was diagnosed with pneumonia.

After going unnoticed for several months, the illness spread throughout Charlotte’s lungs. Doctors put her on bed rest and multiple courses of antibiotics. For three weeks, Charlotte slept and healed and Kate spent time on the water, watching from the coach boat or sailing with younger teammates. Three days before World Cup Miami, Doctors cleared Charlotte to sail.

After leaving the x-ray table to come to practice, Charlotte made a heroic effort to prepare for the event. In those three days of training the team made a checklist of priorities and each day ticked off boxes to get as much done as possible.

With a fantastic turnout of 36 FX teams World Cup Miami proved tightly competitive. Light, unstable breeze kept sailors on their toes. Close racing made for excellent practice for Kate and Charlotte as they work towards their peak event at the World Championships in New Zealand next winter.

Over the next several months the team will continue to train in Miami, focusing on fitness and race course decision making. 

To improve her knowledge of racing strategy and management, Kate will cross train in other areas of the sport. She will race with the Melges 24 team Blind Squirrel, take a Navigation class from John Jourdane, and race offshore in Southern California

“Sailing is a lifelong sport and I want to learn from those who’ve spent a lifetime improving.”

Fujin Flies Through the C600

Kurt Hoehne PNW sailors around the world, Racing 0 Comment

“We spent a little extra time on the safety briefing, but that was about it.” That was how Fujin owner/skipper Greg Slyngstad’s start to the Caribbean 600 (C600) began. That attitude was telling. There wasn’t any hand-wringing or conscious worrying about the race coming up, despite last year’s scary capsize the first night out in the same race.

The crew, a mixture of pros and amateurs, was a lot more interested in finishing what started out as a great race last year but ended in disaster. Finishing what they started was just what they did this year. They didn’t “win” this year, either on elapsed or corrected time, but there probably wasn’t a sailor in Antigua that wasn’t impressed with the semi-foiling 53-footer’s performance.

Slyngstad, known locally for the Hamachi and Wasabi programs, turned to Paul Bieker several years ago to design a racer/cruiser catamaran. In Bieker style, he came up with several innovations that made Fujin dramatically different. “I remember the first time sailing it after launch. It was so balanced, and the horizontal foils on the rudders kept the bows up.” The unique chiseled, reverse sheer bows give the boat a vaguely Polynesian yet completely unique look.

Even more importantly than the performance, perhaps, Fujin has proven structurally sound. Despite the capsize and spending several days upside down, Fujin’s original structure has remained sound. Not terribly surprising, since one of Bieker’s primary roles in the Oracle America’s Cup programs was structural engineering.

Fujin required five months of rebuild. The electrical and electronics systems were completely replaced, as well as all the interior cruising components, engine and rig. However, basically, Fujin returned to the C600 course as she was configured in 2018. “There was some pressure from the crew to go with a bigger rig,” Slyngstad says, “But we chose to stay with the same size. Paul (Bieker) has always been balancing it between a cruiser and a racer.” Some roach was added to the main, which has apparently provided a speed boost.

Fujin started this year’s C600 fast and just kept going. The C600 brings together one of the more eclectic collections of racers with large multihulls, Maxi monohulls, planing speedsters and old racing warhorses. The two Mod 70 trimarans, Maserati and Argo, set a scorching paced and easily set new elapsed time records. Fujin was fighting for third on elapsed time with Wizard, a “turboed” Volvo 70. (Somebody is going to have to explain to me how one turbos a V70) Ultimately, Wizard got past Fujin to finish 22 minutes ahead.

Fujin at the dock.

In addition to Slyngstad, the crew included Jonathan McKee, Scott Smith, Mike Leslie, Fritz Lanzinger, Fritz Johnston and Gina and Andrew McCorquodale who managed Fujin’s refit. Stepping in for Brad Baker as navigator was Peter Isler. “These are all people I’ve sailed with,” Slyngstad says.

It was certainly a fast ride. Fujin’s speed over the course averaged 13+ knots, and her speed through the water averaged 17+ knots. The crew only had to reef once with the winds in the 20s. Slyngstad and his team have certainly climbed the learning curve and definitely feel comfortable pushing the boat hard. Some of the tricks they’re utilizing are changing the board height and counter-rotating the mast to depower. The week before the C600 they won the Caribbean Multihull Challenge.

Wizard

While the Mod 70s were flying ahead and Fujin was dueling it out with Wizard, six hours (!) behind was the Gunboat 62 Chim Chim which ultimately won the class on corrected time. But Slyngstad doesn’t seem to care that much about handicap honors. “I was kind of surprised we corrected on the Mod 70s,” he says. At the docks, Fujin attracts a lot of attention, especially from the French multihull sailors.

The cruisy side of Fujin.

Will we ever see Fujin here in the Pacific Northwest? It turns out we almost did. A couple of years ago the plan was for Fujin to transit the Panama Canal, sail the Transpac and then visit the Northwest. The wait was too long at the Canal, so the grand plan never materialized. “We’d probably have to have everybody in drysuits,” Slyngstad explains while contemplating bringing Fujin here. “It’s a pretty wet ride.” I guess that’s the price to pay for going so fast

Fujin will return to East Coast for summer racing, where she saw success a couple years ago. And after this year’s C600, no doubt there will be more than a few looky-loos.

SYC Women on a San Diego Weekend

Sheridan Ferguson PNW sailors around the world, Racing 0 Comment
SYC Women on a San Diego Weekend

By Sheridan Fergusan

Over this past President’s day weekend, the Seattle Yacht Club Women’s team went down to sunny southern California to race in San Diego Yacht Club’s 2nd Women’s Winter Invitational. Lindsay Bergen, Regan Edwards, Naomi Medley, and myself, Sheridan Ferguson raced J22s against some of the top sailors from the US and Mexico. 20 teams competed all told, in fleets of five in the beautiful La Playa Bay. 

We arrived on Friday and were welcomed with a lovely potluck dinner on the dock, reconnecting with friends from last year and finding new ones along the way! Saturday dawned sunny and beautiful, with a nice breeze in the morning filling to solid wind by mid-afternoon. The locals couldn’t stop apologizing for the slightly cooler weather, with the temperature sitting around 60°, but we Seattle girls were thrilled to escape the snow.  

Before the skipper’s meeting we attended a very sailing-focused yoga class for the racers, getting us in the perfect mindset for competition! For the first day of racing we took on all the teams, sailing a total of seven races, and securing a spot in silver fleet for day 2. Our learning curve through the first few races was extreme, as we got accustomed to reach other and the odd race course. A small craft advisory had brought many boats into the bay to anchor, providing a minefield through the course. Laylines were determined less by wind angle and more by an ability to dodge the powerboats swinging on their anchors. 

Masseuses on the dock provided some much needed relaxation between our energy-filled but quick races. A successful first day of racing completed, we were treated to a wonderful meal at the San Diego yacht club, with more opportunity to connect with competitors from all around the country. We called it a night early and were rearing to go after another yoga session Sunday morning, with the first few hours of racing determining who would be going to the finals! 

After three races, we progressed to the petite finals (for silver fleet) and competed through the afternoon alongside the finals (for gold fleet). More wind had filled in for day 2, with gusts to 17 knots, occasionally dropping all the way down to 4 or 5. Much to our luck in the last race of the finals the rain came through, and our southern California competition was entirely thrown off!  In (literally) our element, we pulled out a win to finish off the day, ending up with a 3rd place in silver fleet. 

Sharing a last few drinks with our friends at the awards ceremony we closed out the weekend by watching rainsqualls roll through the packed SDYC marina. A few of the team flew home that night, and Naomi and I begrudgingly hopped a plane to Seattle bright and early Monday morning. All told it was a most successful weekend, many thanks to SDYC for hosting us and for our own Seattle Yacht Club’s endless support of our endeavors! The SYC Women are looking forward to many more regattas in beautiful San Diego!

Fujin Roars through the Caribbean 600!

Kurt Hoehne PNW sailors around the world, Racing 0 Comment

Update: Chim Chim had a great closing leg and corrected on Fujin by 27 minutes. Congratulations all.

After a great start, Fujin continued tearing it up in the Caribbean 600. I was hoping to say definitively she won the multihull class, but there’s still the Gunboat Chim Chim out there with an outside chance of correcting on her.

If you want to check the final results, they’re here.

What I can say is that she was the third multihull to finish, with the only two ahead of her the two Mod 70s, Argo and Maserati, which Fujin corrected over easily. Only one monohull finished ahead, the Volvo 70 Wizard, and that was only by 22 minutes.

It’s a great result for Greg Slyngstad’s team and for Paul Bieker. I hope that in the hours that Fujin was tied up at the dock and Chim Chim was still on the course there were a few people trying to track down Bieker’s phone number.

Fujin also won the Caribbean Multihull Challenge about a week ago. There’s a great story on it in Sailing Anarchy.

I hope to come up with some juicy details about the 600 in the days to come. Anybody from Fujin who wants to chime in can email me.

Fujin’s Baaaack, Upright and Ahead

Kurt Hoehne PNW sailors around the world, Racing , 0 Comment
Fujin’s Baaaack, Upright and Ahead
Fujin shortly after the start of the Caribbean 600.

Greg Slyngstad’s mighty Paul Bieker designed 53-footer Fujin catamaran tearing it up on this year’s Caribbean 600 race.

The 600-mile race is a gathering for some of the coolest boats on the planet winding their way in a complex course around the islands at Antigua. With stiff tradewinds and warm waters, it’s an epic race.

Last year Fujin, with a crew of hotshot Seattle sailors onboard, capsized in dramatic fashion on the first night. The boat has been put back together and is certainly at least as fast as it ever was.

That was last year. This year after the first night they’re in third place on the water with only the two Mod 70 trimarans ahead. Fujin’s leading on the multihulls on corrected time. Just behind Fujin is a Volvo 70 monohull skippered by Charlie Enright.

As we did last year, we’ll followup Fujin’s exploits. In the meantime, check out the Caribbean 600 website. There’s a Facebook feed that shows updates from some of the boats, including audio. (I just listened to Pip Hare describing her race on Class 40 Hydra. The website is caribbean600.rorc.org where you’ll find the tracker and FB feed.