The real stories behind race results are generally way more interesting that the results lines. Take the recently concluded RS Aero Worlds sailed in Sardinia July 26-30.
It would be easy to look at the results and say, “there goes Dan Falk winning another Worlds” and leave it at that. True, but there’s so much more to the story. On the first day, after sailing two solid races and competing at the front during the third race, Falk scored a DNF. It turns out that was a major collision. As he crossed in front of a boat from another class while on a run, Falk’s leech loaded, perhaps in a puff, spinning him into that other boat. A hole in the other boat was the result (Aeros are not exactly bulletproof) and Dan’s day ended.
On the evening of the second day, illness hit. Food poisoning? Other competitors shared the similar illnesses. Regardless, it was a sleepless night as Falk’s body got rid of absolutely everything not tied down in his stomach. The next day he faced a choice between being miserable in his hotel room or being miserable on the water, and he chose the latter. To make matters worst, there were lack of wind delays and the fleet spent seven hours on the water. That’s time spent about 6″ off the water, which is a long day for sailors at 100% health.
Class winners, including Dan Falk on the right.
He faced the final day in a haze. Not even fully aware of the results (he was virtually tied with Madhavan Thirumalai for the lead), he needed to win the final two races to win the regatta. Sailing in a weakened conditioned, but completely relaxed, he did just that.
That win and several other impressive performances cemented the Seattle RS Aero fleet as a powerhouse. Last year the fleet dominated the worlds, winning all three classes (differentiated by sail size) in the Columbia River Gorge Worlds. This year Keith Hammer finished third behind Falk in the “9s,” Jay Renehan was 4th in the large “7s” class, and young Dieter Creitz was second in the new “6s” class.
There was a good mix of conditions, and with air temperature in the 80s and water temperature around 70. Family members not sailing enjoyed the beaches and general aura of Sardinia.
Stepping back from the Seattle story, there are few things worth noting. RS Aero is thriving in Europe. More than 120 sailors showed up for the event. The variety of sail sizes, particularly in the lower ranges, have made the boat accessible to a wide variety of sailors. For instance, one might wonder why there were “5” and “6” classes, but those were two of the largest fleets. That also meant that juniors and smaller women could more easily compete.
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.
Sail Sand Point is Seattle’s Non-Profit Community Sailing Center and it has been an oasis for small boat sailors in this area since 1998. This summer they are hosting their 25th Birthday Party Celebration and Fundraiser on the evening of Thursday July 27th over on Lake Washington and you should attend to celebrate and support their work! For this special year’s party they are taking over the beautiful deck of the Magnuson Cafe and Brewery overlooking the lake to celebrate with passed apps, dinner, open wine/beer/cider bar, live music, an award presentation to Rod Dembowski (King County Council President), student sailor remarks and a mess of fun raffles (including free haulouts, Kraken/Sounders/Mariners/Storm tickets, Hood River vacations, ski/snow packages, boat shows, local cruises, a kayak full of beers and LOTS more)! Many local sailors will be in attendance and YOU should join the mix.
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 like me, you have some mixed emotions any time a sailing movie comes out. I keep hoping one of those brilliant movie minds will somehow share with the world how great sailing is. Sometimes it comes close. More often, we get The Whomper (Wind) or the abysmal All is Lost. I’m pleased to report that True Spirit, the recently released Netflix movie about Jessica Watson’s circumnavigation, is engaging and accurate enough. It is only cringe-worthy in a few places, which for a sailing movie makes it a success.
Actress Teagan Croft as Jessica Watson
First off, Jessica Watson’s story is remarkable. You might remember when in 2010 the 16-year-old sailed into Sydney Harbor to be greeted by 100,000 thousand adoring Aussies including the prime minister. She is the youngest person to solo circumnavigate nonstop. While much of the sailing world wasn’t aware of her trip until that moment, Aussies had been tracking it all along. The movie makes clear just how important this voyage was to Australians.
The movie splits time between “Jess” on the boat and her family watching from home. Unlike sailors like my childhood hero Robin Lee Graham, today’s adolescent voyagers can (and do) call home daily on satellite phones. And with help from big sisters on shore, they even blog en route.
As far as the sailing footage and computer-generated monster waves, I’m reminded of A Perfect Storm. Some sensorial things can’t be generated in a computer. The cringe-worth moments were an overly drawn-out pitchpoling which left the lovely S&S 34 upside down for an eternity. While it surely felt like that to Watson, the sailors in the audience will likely cringe at the boat being upside down long enough for the EPIRB to go off, that information to be picked up by the rescue services, and a phone call made to the family.
Anna Paquin had the most impressive acting performance as Watson’s mother, transitioning from supportive and loving to her daughter and family, then breaking down with fear when the time came to be afraid. Teagan Croft does a good job of portraying Watson, and director Sarah Spillane managed to craft a movie that is inspiring but not too sappy.
The real Jessica Watson.Photo by Kate Dyer
My favorite moment in the movie was when the sailing community pulled together. I’ll bet they did just that. And I’m so glad Watson did her circumnavigation in a modest (but well built and prepared) older 34-footer. No need for new or big.
You might remember Maidentrip, the story of Laura Dekker’s circumnavigation. That too was a worthwhile movie and an amazing story.
I’d suggest going to the history vs. Hollywood website page to weed through the real vs fiction versions.
As an aside, moviemakers seem to be drawn to idea of a girl circumnavigating as opposed to a boy. One thing that True Spirit, Maidentrip and Jeanne Socrates‘ voyages make clear: the love for sailing and the desire to head out to sea doesn’t have much to do with gender or age. Girls of any age are just as drawn to it and capable as boys of any age, if not more. No serious sailors I know would see it any other way.
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.
Sail Sand Point, Seattle’s local non-profit small boating and sailing center are hosting Octoberfest on September 10-11 which is the final (and largest) youth regatta on the 2022 Northwest Youth Racing Circuit (NWYRC). This series is put on by local clubs and sailing centers with support from numerous volunteers and families. Youth sailors are encouraged to register asap for this fun event and everyone is welcome to come down and watch from the best regatta viewing locations in the region directly adjacent to SSP– Magnuson Park’s public pier, or from the deck of the Magnuson Brewery and Cafe.
Sail Sand Point is a local treasure introducing countless youth, new sailors and underserved communities to sailing every year and their one month long summer fundraising campaign ends on Labor Day weekend. This year contributions will help provide funds for new equipment, sail and powerboat parts, and much needed repairs to their fleet of vessels which are used by over 12,000 people each year through camps, classes, racing, rentals and free community events. Each year SSP spend roughly $27,000 on keeping their boats on the water and in great condition and they are hoping to raise that through this campaign! Secure donations can be made at: https://www.sailsandpoint.org/donate/
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.
And now for the most impressive crew in this year’s Race to Alaska (R2AK). Mustang Survival Team Rite of Passage is the youngest team ever to complete the race, which they did yesterday finishing 9th in the wee hours of the morning. The brilliant writers in R2AK headquarters wrote up a wonderful team profile, which should be read. (As all the profiles should be! They’re that irreverent, er, entertaining.) Congratulations to Nadia Khalil, Francesca Dougherty, Sebastian Dougherty and Enzo Dougherty. You guys rock. Make sure other young people hear your story – We’d love to run anything you have to say here in sailish. Without further ado, here’s their story from the R2AK race boss:
Mustang Survival Team Rite of Passage
In hopes of avoiding another “kids these days” conversation, I’ll put it right out there: Mustang Survival’s Team Rite of Passage has an average age of 16.75. They now hold the record for the youngest team to ever complete R2AK, as well as the youngest racer: Francesca Dougherty, 15. It does take a minute to let the ‘wow’ of it all settle down, because right when we think we’ve wrapped our heads around how incredible this is, they go and reflect that the difficulties of R2AK include high school (high school!). “We couldn’t have done this without our mentors. Finishing the school year and prepping for R2AK at the same time was a lot. Our mentors helped us to the start line and we took it from there.”
Okay, forget it. There is no way to talk about this team without bringing age into it. It’s like telling a joke with half the punchline, it’ll never land the same—but whatever tired stereotypes about this generation just don’t seem to apply.
Meet the teenage incredible behind that tracker blip you’ve been rooting for: Nadia Khalil, Francesca Dougherty, Sebastian Dougherty, Enzo Dougherty and a Santa Cruz 27: Mustang Survival’s Team Rite of Passage.
This is a team with boating pedigree. Siblings Enzo and Francesca are 2nd generation R2AK’ers, Nadia a varsity sailing team racer, and Sebastian—can we stop a minute to say how irritating and confusing it is that he has the same last name as Enzo and Francesca, but no family relationship?—spends his days on a family boat that happens to be the neo-legendary Hamachi, a J/125 and winner of the 2019 Transpac.
Up and coming sailors all, the team had long considered the Race to Alaska a life goal, dream board material that would have been out of reach for most 15-18 year olds. Yes, because of their pedigree, but being in their presence you immediately pickup that behind their affable exterior there’s something unnervingly competent about them.
Enzo, the engineer and rigger of the group, built out the pedal drive they were going to be spending days on, and supplied the Santa Cruz with enough gear to rerig it if necessary, including a legacy tool box. “We brought 100 feet of Dyneema and my dad gave us the same tool box he used in 2015.” Heirloom redefined. Like all teams, each experienced different trials; separate and distinct moments of wavering. For Nadia the challenge was never the sailing. “Headspace was so hard. Being in a good mood and being motivated was way harder than moving the boat.” Cape Caution was a universal high/low. A psychotic point of land with such a swing of behavior that one team can pass it calmly and without notice, while the next day its exposure, lee shore, and steep, confused seas create a ride of terror. For Rite of Passage, it was the best and worst. “We were going around Cape Caution in the middle of the night.” Sebastian recalled, “Ginormous waves and hitting 12 knots (of boat speed)! It was the fastest we went on the trip. We were surfing waves!” But they all realized that if one of them went overboard at that time, they would never be able to get them back. “If we would have lost someone overboard, we’d have lost them.”
Woah. A virtual hug for their parents who were watching the tracker like the rest of us, and read that for the first time right now, too. Kudos to your offspring, and to you for believing in them.
The race has always had a knack for exploiting a team’s weakness: sleep deprivation, worn gear, failing bodies, questioning judgment. It’s always about making it to Ketchikan before something breaks or the doubts take over the mind. Nadia and Fancesca’s knees were failing them from endless hours on the bikes, sleep had become a rare and sea-pitched commodity, but even then, Nadia found a highpoint. “Francesca and I were on watch and pedaling for four hours. We hadn’t slept for a long time and were having a conversation about something and then I realized, we were talking to each other, but having completely different conversations! I was hearing Francesca’s response in my head and responding to that, not what she was saying. It was hilarious!”
Yeah, Nadia, on land we call that auditory hallucinations.
Kids these days and their shenanigans.
Like many teams landing in Ketchikan, these four didn’t have a plan for “What next?” But it doesn’t much matter. Adventurers find adventure and how to descend from Race to Alaska’s summit doesn’t need to be discovered for these four today. Today it’s fish and chips, hugs with loved ones who flew in to bask in their achievement and reflect heartfelt admiration, and sleeping in a bed that doesn’t rise and fall with every wave.
If you’re over the age of 20 it’s hard to impossible to look at this achievement and not reflect back on what youth meant for yourself. If you’re like me it was more like petty vandalism and skylarking than heroism. Are they heroes? We guess it’s how you define it, but if you spend your days being better than you were the day before, why be anything else?
If you’re under the age of 20, hell even if you’re older, whoever you are, it’s my sincere hope that their heroics inspire you as much as they’ve inspired me. Mustang Survival’s Team Rite of Passage, you didn’t just race to Alaska, you fulfilled a long held dream. You proved to yourselves and the entire internet what you are capable of, what the rest of us could be. You showed us an alternative narrative to the blanket dismissal of a generation, helicopter parenting, and some vague belief that without forced march interventions the explorations of anyone born after 2000 will be limited to Mine Craft’s square and pixelated geography. You self-motivated IRL. You achieved, you inspired, and you’re just getting started.
Welcome back to land, Mustang Survival’s Team Rite of Passage. It’s been an honor.
In a world where kids are sometimes scared to go to school and are often conditioned to be afraid of everything, these young adults showed they’re more than capable of doing the extraordinary. For more on the team’s efforts, check out the Instagram page @teamriteofpassage.
–KH
(An earlier version of this post implied the team was affiliated with the Rite of Passage community organization. It is not.)
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.
It doesn’t quite roll of the tongue like Laser North Americans, but the ILCA (née Laser) Class is coming out of Covid-cancelled activities with strength and numbers. In the PNW, the ILCA 7 (Standard rig) 6 (Radial) and 4 (4.7) fleets are being buoyed by a talented bunch of youngsters. One of them, Alex Zaputil, recently competed in the ILCA North Americans in San Francisco and has served up this report.
ILCA North Americans 2021
By Alex Zaputil
Alex working upwind.
I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to compete in the 2021, ILCA (Laser) 4.7 North American Championships in July at St. Francis YC in San Francisco. There were many nations represented over the classes including: USA, Canada, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Mexico, BVI, St. Thomas, and Chile. I car-topped my Laser down arriving to a temperature of 60 degrees: a little bit cooler than I was expecting, but with warmer water than Seattle, I quickly acclimated. I was lucky to join the Alamitos Bay YC Race Team (and friends from Opti days) with coach Paul Didham, for training and the regatta. I learned many tricks and tips for sailing in big breeze! Most days the racing strategy was pretty similar: short tack up the sea wall as it was a 20+ knot westerly and a building flood tide. However, by the last day, an ebb began earlier on with a slightly lighter westerly (12- 15 knots) which mixed things up a bit. This was a 4-day regatta, but I had 2 training days before to get all tuned up and gather local knowledge- thank you also, Andrew Holdsworth! The courses were much longer than around here, as it was a championship regatta, so my months of fitness training paid off! As there were so many boats there were two alternating groups: one from about 11-2:30 and the other from 1:30-5:00. My best race in the regatta was a 5th, with a few times 2nd around the first weather mark. I was happy with my finish of 10th overall in a very competitive fleet. I found San Francisco to be the coolest place to sail ever with Alcatraz on one side of the course and the Golden Gate Bridge on the other: I hope to go back again soon!
Thanks a bunch, Alex, for this report and heartfelt congratulations on the 10th/25! There were several other PNWers in the 75-boat 6s fleet, but apparently none in the 24-boat 7 fleet. Scuttlebutt ran a report on the event, and the results are here.
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.
Seattle singlehanded sailing is booming. The Frostbite series, run by the Seattle Laser Fleet, now dubbed the Seattle Dinghy Fleet as it’s split between Lasers and RS Aeros (plus a few Optis share the course), has short courses, competitor-led race committees and some great competition. The ascendency of the RS Fleet has attracted both new sailors and highly experienced sailors looking for a new challenge.
Lasers, in turn, have become the boat of choice for many younger sailors, with the Radial and 4.7 rigs enabling smaller sailors to compete. Parents often attend the races in RIBs and Whalers, and act as shore crew for their kids.
Four Frostbite days have already been sailed, the Most recent being this past Sunday when it was blowing 20+ at West Point off Shilshole Bay Marina. For the last two Frostbites, it’s safe everyone went home tired and satisfied after some challenging conditions. Here’s a recap of the December 6 event from none other than Hanne Weaver, who has competed, and won, at the top levels of the Laser fleet:
Another fantastic day sailing on the Puget Sound. I was able to participate in the 3rd Frostbite series race. I was impressed by the number of sailors who came out. The wind came from ESE about 5-12 knots with some good current pushing us back. While racing I would ask myself two questions: do I hug the shore and get away from the current or go toward the middle and get better wind? What I found that worked best for me was just tacking when the wind shifted. I knew I wanted to finish on the top right of the windward mark because there was always a right shift. I made sure I have a plan for each race before it even starts.
By mixing up how we start keeps me on my toes. Since we got in the way of the shipping channel, the race community wanted to race us back down to the Meadow Point buoy. This meant a downwind start; the goal is to have clean air. I have worked on my down winds for many years. What I look at while I go down wind is the wave speed, angle and how close they are together. This helps me determine when to pump and carve.
Once down at Meadow Point buoy, another race course was set up. Great wind, great weather and great sailors, what more can you ask for. It was wonderful to see new faces and old ones too. I cannot wait to get back out on the water and race against you all again.
Following are some of John Beaver’s photos. The rest are here.
Two 4.7s chasing a standard rig
This past Sunday, the big breezes kept some people off the water, and chased others home early, but it was certainly great sailing. There’s nothing quite like sailing a lightweight singlehander in big winds.
Mark Ross submitted the following report:
Our appreciation to volunteer race committee Giancarlo Nucci and Andrew Loe for running Frostbite #4 races on Sunday, January 3, 2021. They did a superb job of clicking off the races in difficult mark-setting conditions. Approximately 15 Aeros, 8 Lasers a handful of Optis participated. What a great way to start off the new year.
Fantastic winter sailing conditions with warm temperature (upper 40’s), wind shifty (predominantly from the S and SSE), and wind strength hovering in the mid to upper teens and puffing into the mid 20’s. There were some good waves for planing downwind and also a lot of chop. It looked to me like quite a few boats went upside down at one time or another. When sailing by the lee downwind the waves were rolling into the leeward side. My death roll was a result of getting hit simultaneously by a hard gust and a nice rolling wave. Looking at the pictures provided by Giancarlo Nucci and John Beaver you’ll see some awesome dark threatening clouds and others with blue sky–I don’t remember seeing any blue sky but the pictures don’t lie! And no rain.
The following photos are from Giancarlo Nucci. The rest are here.
The Frigid Digit Regatta is coming up January 23/4 (Seattle Dinghy Fleet and Corinthian YC-Seattle) and there are Frostbite events February 7 and 28th and March 14. Check out seattlelaserfleet.org for more information. To register for Frigid Digit, please go here: https://cycseattle.org/event-3801728/Registration.
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.
There are few, if any, more Covid-friendly, appropriately socially distant activities than dinghy racing. Especially for kids desperate for some kind of sporting activity. That reality, and the Seattle Laser (and RS Aero!) fleets’ ongoing organizational efforts, helped make CYC-Seattle’s Turkey Bowl a big and successful event last weekend. Even with cancellation of Sunday’s racing because of too much wind, the event was a tremendous success. While there are a lot question marks regarding upcoming social events and regattas over the coming months, one thing is certain: The Seattle singlehanded scene has provided great sailing throughout this troubling year and is well set up to do so moving into the future. Seattle’s RS Aero fleet continues to thrive and attract the very best talent, while the Seattle Laser Fleets – 4.7, Radial and Standard rigs – have become the place of choice for youth you develop their skills while having a great time, and a haven for some of us oldsters.
There were other fleets as well. Seven brave Opti sailors were on the course, four 505s and a lone Vanguard 15.
More than 20 RS Aeros turned up, and Dalton Bergan dominated with two firsts, a second and third. In the biggest Laser fleet, Hannah Weaver made a triumphant appearance winning in the Radials. There are excellent pictures from Jan Anderson (above) and John Beaver.
I put out the call for input about the youth fleet, and immediately got this back from Alex Zaputil, skipper of Zap, the winner of the Laser 4.7 class:
Turkey Bowl , as you know, was a one-day event. It was great to have a 10-boat fleet- the largest so far this year. Despite the forecast for Saturday, it turned out to be a generally lighter day. The first two races were a southerly of 12-15 and pretty puffy. On the first race, the fleet bunched up at the committee boat so much that I found it faster to start at the pin with speed, port tack the fleet and tack back to consolidate. Tacking back to starboard fairly quickly was important, as the chop early in the day on port tack was not very fast! Hiking hard upwind was key. As the wind lightened for the last two races, the fleet became closer and going to the middle/right upwind paid off. — Alex Zaputil
And the following report came from Mark Ross:
Singlehanded fleets competing included RS Aeros (21 competitors), Laser Standard (5), Laser Radial (11), Laser 4.7 (9) and Opti (7). Double handed fleets included 505’s (4 boats), FJs (4) and Vanguards (2).
One of the Aero sailors described the sailing as follows: On Saturday four races were sailed with a mix of wind conditions. The first two races were medium breeze and the last race was light. The wind and current were going opposite directions throughout the day, so keeping the bow above the chop and the boat dry was important. The pin end of the start line was being pushed up the course with the current resulting in several general recalls in the very aggressive Aero fleet, and the RC worked hard to keep the line square. The pin end of the start line was still generally favored. There were shifts on both sides of the course with longer lasting left shifts. You could go left or right up the windward leg as long as you maximized the time on the lifts and covered the fleet when there was an opportunity to do so. On the downwind legs it was important to have a good visual on the mark and it usually worked to sail close to the rhumb line while taking into account a few degrees of offset for the current.
Unfortunately on Sunday morning racing was postponed and competitors remained on shore as the wind was consistently blowing around 30. Shortly after noon the race committee canceled racing entirely for the day as the wind remained strong and there was no expectation that it would drop. Thus the finishes on Saturday resulted in the following regatta winners….Dalton Bergan (RS Aero), Owen Timms (Laser Standard), Hanne Weaver (Laser Radial), Alex Zaputil (Laser 4.7), Barrett Milne (Optimist).
Thanks to CYC for putting on a great regatta.
–Mark Ross
The next frostbite is scheduled for December 6. Register here and dress warmly.
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.
The Seattle Laser and RS Aero fleets were the first local groups to counter Covid with the “It’s not really a race but we’re out there” kind of racing events that became the norm in this very strange year. It turns out that singlehanded sailing is one of the, or possibly the, most socially distanced sport one can do in a pandemic. So now that fall is here and with renewed interest in singlehanded sailing the Seattle Laser Fleet/RS Aeros are enjoying even greater participation in their already successful Frostbite series.
Laser 4.7s
RS Aeros at the start
Laser 4.7s
Laser 4.7s
This past Sunday, 36 sailors (19 RS Aeros and 17 Lasers of various rigs) enjoyed perhaps the ideal “frostbite” conditions. 5-12 knot northerly winds, balmy temperatures and bright sunshine gave racers a beautiful day of sailing. A handful of Optis joined the fun. The winds dropped during the day, but never enough akento diminish the racing. The race committee provided ample racing, and stood by for the occasional capsize. Coach Cam was on hand in the SYC Whaler.
There are no results to post, because none were recorded. A quick glance at the Aero fleet made it clear that it’s competitive enough that the same sailors were not always at the front, and in fact some excellent ones found themselves “back in fleet” on more than one occasion. In the Laser fleet, the disparity between the Standard, Radial and 4.7 rigs became more pronounced as the day wore on and the winds lightened. Generally speaking, going right after the start toward Golden Gardens seemed to be the right tactic. Occasionally, holding off from hitting the beach seemed to work. There were waves to be worked, and some real gains could be made carving turns on the runs.
Perhaps the biggest news was the prevalence of young sailors in the Laser fleet. There were healthy numbers of 4.7 and Radial rigs and in fact there were only a couple of Standard rigs. Young faces were everywhere, having fun and enjoying the outdoors and fellowship at the same time.
In the end, everyone was a winner on what may be the best sailing day of the year of really good singlehanded sailing. The next Frostbite is December 6, but before then the CYC Turkey Bowl on November 14-15 should be a great event. Check out seattlelaserfleet.org for more information. Frostbite registration is here.
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.
