Remember the Oregon Offshore, that quasi-feeder race for Swiftsure? Well, it’s name and point of origin have changed to Ilwaco, Washington. I don’t have all the details yet, but here’s from organizer Craig Garrison: “I don’t know if you have heard the big news for the Offshore but this year’s pre-race venue is going to be Ilwaco, Washington and we have changed the name of the race to the Pacific Northwest Offshore. The move has us pretty excited as it gives us access to a marina with much better depth control as well as the ability to get the boats together in a single area of the marina not to mention active and committed participation from the local folks.
Bruce Hedrick has agreed to do the inspections for Puget Sound competitors. More later.
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.
This year’s Hobie Division 4 Area Championships were sailed in August on, as usual, Lake Quinault. We’re finally getting around to publishing them.
We didn’t get around to creating a full report on this event, but you can see the results here. A couple interesting things are apparent from the results. Big boat sailor John Hoag is crewing for his daughter Jennifer (they were second in their class) and Dieter Creitz took a break from all the other boats he’s good at to show he’s good at Hobies too.
But the key to this fleet isn’t in the results. It’s clear from these photos – the key is community. It is a fun-loving well organized group that absolutely knows where to hold bush regattas.
Thanks to Jan Anderson for the photos. Here are the rest. And here’s Jan’s description of the event: “It’s always a pleasure to reconnect with the Hobie community, our multi-hull (heck, sailing) family of choice, in a consistently stunning venue, with super sailing, nice breeze and weather, an unbelievable spread of food, terrific raffle prizes, and this year, even a full blown wedding! Enjoy these images – we sure enjoyed gathering them!”
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.
OK – this is old news but Jan Anderson was kind enough to share her pictures, so you should see them! The venerable PITCH regatta was sailed Labor Day Weekend, and we haven’t done a post about it – ’til now. Notable about this regatta was that only 16 boats sailed, 11 of them in the PHRF classes. The other class was the Martin 242 class. It seems a shame. Bellingham YC puts so much effort into making a welcoming atmosphere and providing great race management.
Here’s Jan’s tongue-in-cheek recap:
“Huge fleet, hard core racing, really big breeze, lots of splash and action at every mark, challenging waves, sunshine galore amidst glorious cloud patterns for backdrops, and Mount Baker overlooking it all – what a terrific combination for a GREAT regatta! Just not this weekend, regretfully. Hopefully you’ll enjoy these photos anyway!”
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 seems the Round the County race always serves up one marginal race day and one great race day. This past weekend, Saturday was truly marginal and Sunday could be called “OK,” especially if you were playing the shore along San Juan Island.
Soon after Saturday’s start. A bit of fending off, but both boats were DNFs for the day.
Saturday’s start verged on silly. Some boats were barely able cross the start before the time limit for starting expired. A lot of boats were stuck not far from the start line for hours. The race turned into a nice run in a southerly past Sucia Island, but at the turn at Patos things turned ugly.
A handful of the fastest boats were able to break through
and sail for the finish at Roche, but ended up not making it in the time limit.
For the most part the rest of the fleet crossed the halfway finish line and
pretty much stopped there. It was quite the parade of running lights as boats
headed for Roche Harbor to tie up for the night.
On Sunday the light-air downwind starts were entertaining, and it became evident early on the fleet was split on playing the shore or not. Boats holding out looked good early, but the boats along the shore had the last laugh as the northerly was found near the shore, but didn’t extend to the fleet outside.
At one point, the ORC speedsters Crossfire, Glory, Blue and Dark Star were parked up together. John Buchan and the Glory gang decided enough was enough and quit, only to see the northerly show up as they were headed home.
Nearly everybody had their moment while patches of wind anointed a few boats at a time to be the heroes of the moment. But only a few could be in front at the end.
Some images borrowed from Facebook and elsewhere:
Crossfire’s instruments when moving.
The Bob Perry designed Francis Lee, aka Frankie.
Shearwater
Aboard Dash
Crossfire’s Saturday tack
Crossfire’s Sunday track
The Bieker designed Blue.
Yeah right. Sean Bruna photo.
Kyrnos on a glassy sea.
Steve Johnson’s TP 52 Mist won the cumulative ORC class results over the two days, followed closely by Jonathan McKee’s Dark Star. The J/111 Recon won Division 0 on the strength of an excellent second day. Freda Mae built enough of a cushion on Saturday to hold on for the multihull win over Big Broderna. It’s worth noting that that the Cal 33 Cherokee won her class by nearly two hours. Who says moderate displacement older designs can’t win in light air? Results.
My RTC – Chocolate Chip Cookies Rule the Day
Why is Round the County one of the best races, not just in the Northwest – but anywhere?
Scenery. ‘Nuff said.
Anybody can win. Capricious San Juan Islands winds and currents serve up surprise winners often enough that everybody should feel they have a chance. Because they do.
By the same token, if you’re one of those afflicted with that Highly Competitive Itch, it’s a race where you can leave it at home. If you go out when in pays, it’s easy to write it off as bad luck.
Weird course. This big circle course really demands a lot of sailing skill. Playing currents, guessing the geographical effects of the wind, navigation crew work on the sail changes and plain old boatspeed. It’s a wonderful challenge, especially after a season of round-the-buoys.
Roche Harbor. What a great stopover place. All those huge powerboats make it seem like Fort Lauderdale. Maybe not.
But for me it’s about the socializing. I’m not talking about
the beer tent and all the renewed friendships that bubble up in Roche, although
that’s all pretty special.
For me it’s getting to know new folks on a crew, or getting to connect with those onboard better. In a buoy series or short point-to-point race, there really isn’t much time for socializing. It’s about the race. On RTC, there’s usually time (and sometimes a LOT of time) for connecting with shipmates.
I was the new guy on Oxomoxo, and only knew the owner Doug Frazer. By the time we locked up the boat on Sunday night in Anacortes, I had several new friendships. Sailors are generally very interesting people, and their lives outsides of sailing are fascinating. A drifty RTC is a great chance to get to know them.
Our RTC had its moments, like when we nearly crossed the fleet on port. That is, crossed the start behind us. Unfortunately we couldn’t cross and had to tack, which I’m sure wasn’t too popular with those starters at the boat end of the line.
But here’s the good news – chocolate chip cookies are a good remedy for the Highly Competitive Itch. One thing about a real cruiser racer is that it usually has an oven. And what comes out of an oven? Chocolate chip cookies. No matter how you’re doing, or have done, they taste good. They did both days.
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.
Keith Whittemore and his crew of Brian Thomas, Shelby Milne, Willem Van Waay and Mark Rodgers won the J/24 Worlds in Miami a week ago. To win a J/24 Worlds is a massive achievement, with the class still attracting top talent from around the world. As an outside observer and occasional crew, I can say that what stands out is not just Whittemore’s consistency on the racecourse, but his constancy in keeping the local J/24 fleet as strong as it is.
As usual, the PNW was well represented at a major regatta. Other finishers included Baba Louie (23rd), Tremendous Slouch (33) and Jackwagon (38) (forgive and correct me if I missed someone). There were a total of 79 competitors coming from so very many countries.
Here crew member Brian Thomas treats us into some insight of what it was like on the last day, with so much at stake. You’ll probably want to grab a tiller or pull a sheet after this….
The Final Day. By Brian Thomas
One day of racing left. Two races to go. Two starts. Ten legs, Eight sets, eight drops, countless shifts, possible thunder showers, 80 boats……a nine point lead. What could possibly go wrong?
We had won the pre-regatta and had been tied for first or leading
the Worlds from day one. Sailing well? Yes of course. But since our bonehead mistake in the 5th
race, sailing without any margin for error.
Nervous? Who us?
J/24s off the start
The night before this last day, we had discussed the
potential for one, or possibly both the other two teams right behind us in the
standings, would likely come after us in the pre-start. How 2nd overall in the Worlds, to
them, might be meaningless. It could be win at all costs, or go down in flames.
Who us..worry?
The weather predictions were favorable, if you like
mid-range breeze diminishing as the day goes on, with expected huge influential
rain/thunder clouds rolling through the course altering wind direction by as
much as 30-degrees. No worries mate…we got this.
On the drive into the yacht club that morning…Keith stated
the day’s goal so very succinctly. “All we have to do” he said, “is win the
first race! That will give us additional
point lead margin for the final race and put the pressure back on them”. As I was driving, I looked in the rear view
mirror at Mark, Shelby and Willem…..their eyes said it all. We were all thinking the same thing. Oh sure, that’s it..…we’ll just win the
first race…no problem skipper. Good as
done! Sigh….
We then fell into our morning routine. Nerves relax. We connect with our tuning partners at the dock 0815. Begin boat prep. Rig tune, hydration program, food program, clothing prep, swim the bottom, sails & sheets on deck, attend the morning sailor’s briefing, check the notice board, greet the judges, greet the PRO, gather weather intel, absorb “good luck” from competitors & friends. Discuss prior day, and expectations for today’s pre-race warm up with our tuning partner. Depart dock, 0900. Two hours to the first start.
Routine can be the perfect antidote for nerves. In our case, following our week long morning routine definitely helped us focus and forget about the self-induced pressures to succeed (or not choke!?). We motored out to the race area applying our sunscreen as we went. At 0945 we hooked up with Nautalytics (our tuning partners) for our morning 15 minutes of speed testing. 1000hrs, we do our 7 minute split to either side of the course. Right side crushes the Left side. But what does that really mean come race time an hour away? We meander downwind alongside each other sharing headings and pressure, weather predictions and general strategies we each are considering. It’s now 1030hrs, we say our goodbyes and good lucks, and sail off to begin our starting prep for the 1100 first race of the day. Ping weather end. Head to wind. Ping midline. Head to wind. Ping leeward end. Head to wind. Run the line, determine favored end, discuss strategy and wind observations and our pending expectations for the boat on boat battle ahead. Final clothing check & hydration. Gun…..6 minutes. Where are our two main competitors? Gun….5 minutes. Ah…there’s one of them, entering our sphere near the leeward end of the line. Gun….4 minutes. Clear Air (Rossi, 2017 World Champ) is beginning to set up to tail us. As expected. We grin at each other…we’ve seen this game before…we’re ready. We’re confident. All the while knowing, one small mistake and the win could yet easily slip from our grasp. No worries……
Furio working to weather. Chris Howell Photo.
They have the tail. Not too many boats at this end today. Seems the fleet prefers the weather end. Might be tougher than we had thought, to scrape them off on another competitor. Just aren’t that many of us at the leeward end. 90 seconds to go. We sense a lefty shift. Willem makes a brilliant call….JIBE!! We spin the boat from port down into a jibe, and back up hard on starboard, completely catching Clear Air off guard. They go up the line a few more boat lengths and tack back onto star board. There’s a gap. We tack over into it, and just as quickly…..we tack back onto starboard. Final approach…45 seconds. We’re setup perfectly to win the pin. Clear Air is caught between two boats. 30 seconds, patience. 20 seconds, patience. Wait for it……12 seconds, bow down, ease sails, weight to weather, accelerate toward the pin boat. 5 seconds, weight to middle, rolling up a bit, sails slowing sheeting in…accelerating…we’re going to nail it! 3, 2, 1……All Clear. We’re flying. Rossi is pinched between two boats struggling a bit. 3+ degrees more knock….time to tack and cross. As Shelby reminds us….make the first tack perfect! We roll into the tack, sheet in, hit the rail and we’re off. Crossing the fleet and never looking back. Nerves?……..what nerves?
Note: we win that race. The last (10th) race of the series is tougher but we have our two main competitors well in hand off the start. We cover them around the race course finishing 8th and winning the Worlds by a comfortable margin…
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.
Grand Prix may not be the focal point of end-of-season sailing that it once was, but it can still cook up some great conditions. With winds topping 30 knots on Saturday, crews got a workout and gear was tested. Steve Travis’ Smoke had her rig crumple. Travis took it in stride: “It was fairly simple, runner did not come on when we gybed, kite filed, mast broke…. No injuries, no other damage, etc. Took about 30 minutes to pop pins, cut halyards, etc. so top 50 ft or so went over side, along with Main, J3 and A4. Will get diver to see if they can find it so we can try to get it out of water and not pollute or damage anything. We were flying along at close to 20 knots, jibe was all fine, except one small detail!!”
Smoke
Smoke
Photos by Jan Anderson. See link below.
Smoke won the one race they completed in the ORC class, but otherwise John Buchan’s Glory dominated. Of note is Marda Phelps’ return to the racecourse with the XP44 Maverick in Class 2.
Here is SYC’s recap of the event:
Maverick
Grand Prix XLIII Regatta was a smashing success. At this annual SYC-hosted event, the competition is always tough and autumn conditions often test even the most experienced sailors. This year, competitors were met with 30 knot rain squalls and later a manageable southerly for the distance race on Friday, 20-30 knot winds for buoy races on Saturday, and a beautiful 12-20 knot northerly for racing followed by a lively awards party on Sunday. Thanks to a skilled Race Committee and experienced team of mark set drivers, races and awards ran smoothly and efficiently. In other words, Puget Sound brought the wind and Seattle Yacht Club brought the party. Congratulations to class winners John Buchan on Glory, Marda Phelps on Maverick, David Steffen on Vitesse, John Aitchison on Moose Unknown, and Bryan Rhodes on Crazy Ivan. Join us next year by competing in several local regattas to qualify. A full list of qualifying events will be published in early 2020.
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.
Keith Whittmore did it! He won the J/24 World Championship in Miami in convincing fashion, strong in both light and heavy, both early in the series and late. He won by 16 points, which is particularly tough in the tight J/24 fleet.
Hopefully we’ll be able to relay you a lot more detail on the keys to winning the Worlds, but in the meantime, congratulations to Keith, Shelby Milne, Willem Van Waay, Mark Rodgers and Brian Thomas.
Tim Wilkes photo of Seattle’s Baba Louie.
Other Seattle and Northwest boats included Baba Louie (23rd), Tremendous Slouch (33) and Jackwagon (38).
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.
We don’t know much about this mast break at the Seattle Yacht club Grand Prix regatta yesterday, other than it was blowing hard, it happened near and is a bummer for Steve Travis and the crew aboard Smoke. Hopefully nobody was hurt and they can get back up and racing next season.
We’ll try to get the details and a full report on Grand Prix. Thanks to Nigel Barron for the heads up and photo.
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.
We’ve watched Keith Whittemore tear up J/24 fleets near and far for a couple decades. His consistency in such a tough class is remarkable. With four days and eight races in the books, he’s leading the J/24 Worlds in Miami. There’s one more day and two races scheduled for what just might be a Whittemore world championship.
It doesn’t get more competitive than a tight J/24 fleet.
Copied from the J/24 class Facebook Page:
Keith Whittemore’s Furio extended his lead at the J/24 World Championship, as Biscayne Bay in Miami delivered a wild and exciting day for the 79 teams. Winds were regularly recorded at 18 knots with gusts in the 20s, testing competitors and equipment, and causing some boats to retire early. Whittemore’s Furio, who exceled in the Championship’s lighter days, also shone in the bigger breeze Friday, posting a bullet and a 12 for 32 net points in eight races. Two more races are planned Saturday to conclude the event. Chris Stone’s Velocidad held on to the runner-up position with 41 points, following a 26,5 on the day (discarding the 26). Rossi Milev’s Clear Air maintained the third spot with 42 points. The Seattle-based Furio crew is comprised of Shelby Milne, Willem Van Waay, Mark Rodgers and Brian Thomas. Whittemore explained that Van Waay has some regatta experience with Furio but joked, “The rest of us has sailed together for 4,000 years.” Whittemore also keeps a boat in Europe, and is regular on that circuit, creating friends and supporters worldwide. After Whittemore in race seven were John Mollicone’s Helly Hansen and Tokuma Takesue’s Gekko. Three J/24 World Champions comprised the top three in race eight: Mauricio Santa Cruz’s Bruschetta, Will Welles Buckaroo and Daniel Frost’s JJOne. Seventy-nine teams from 19 nations (Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Great Britain, Grenada, Hungary, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States) conclude racing Saturday. Complete event details may be found at the event website…
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.
Scheleen Rathkopf and her team are putting on the Whidbey Island Race Week for the last time before moving it to Point Roberts. Looks like there was one race in a Southerly in Saratoga Passage on Wednesday (yes, that has happened before) and lots of races the last couple of days.
I’ll try to get a report and Jan’s pictures out when the fat boy has sung. Charley Rathkopf is posting live results, so you can follow along tomorrow at work when you’re not working.
In the meantime, here are the results.Mad Dash and More Uff Da are dominating, but there’s close competition in the other classes..
If any of you folks have some pictures from the racecourse to share in the next couple days, please send ’em here, not just Facebook!
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.
