Victoria, BC remains one of the great PNW sailing destinations. For racers, it’s the Swiftsure race. For cruisers, Victoria is a natural cosmopolitan destination that can be part of a San Juans/Gulf Islands/Barkley Sound adventure. And it appears that one of the more interesting attractions will be strong for years to come. Thanks to the estate of Cora Shaw, the Maritime Museum of BC has a CAN$1 Million endowment to work with. It’s great to see Victoria embracing its maritime history in such a profound way. More from the Times Colonist.
It is the last days of the Seattle Boat Show which closes tomorrow so don’t even think about going on Sunday, Weather looks great for either the indoor or outdoor venues, so enjoy. The best day for wind will be Sunday and as long as you’re not watching Super Bowl, it will be a nice pre-frontal day for sailing.
We are still experiencing a dryer and cooler than normal winter with only .84” of rain in the gauge compared to an average of 1.33”. Year to date we’ve only had 3.93” compared to an average of 7.11”. Don’t worry, there is still plenty of time to make up for this shortage. Plus in the upcoming week, we will also be getting another short shot of Canadian Cool around mid-week, so keep the woolies handy.
The surface analysis and sat pic for today show a beautiful low-pressure system with an attached front just ready to come ashore with cool, unstable air behind the front. This is significant as this may bring thundershowers to the area on Tuesday. Both also show the two weak fronts that will be coming ashore in California bringing more rain and snow to the Central Valley and Sierra Nevadas.
The only problem for the Winter Shaw Island Classic will be that while there may be enough wind to start, it is just going to get lighter over the course of the day. At least there won’t be much if any, rain. The rest of the Salish Sea will experience the same.
So more rain on Tuesday and then maybe by next weekend, Welcome to winter in the Salish Sea!
A perfect weekend for a boat show. If you’re seriously interested in a boat, there is no better time to look at one than in the water on a rainy blustery day! We will certainly have that today with winds to 30 knots this afternoon and plenty of rain. The best part is that you won’t be competing with looky-lous. They will just be at the indoor show which this year is huge so the lines won’t be too long to get into the boat you want to see.
So much for the forecast of a wetter and colder winter because of La Niña. OK, it might have been a bit cooler in January but the rain and snow pretty much stayed away. For January we only had 3.09” of rain compared to an average of 5.78” so 2.69 behind for the month. Last year we had 7.06” in January. Looking at today’s charts we are due for a series of systems starting today and continuing through the week, with the potential for a fairly strong system about mid-week. Might be a good time to check on the boat, re-tie the mooring lines, and check the fenders. Then you can go to the Boat Show and check on the deals available on those items!
Today’s surface analysis, sat pic, and Doppler radar all provide quite a dramatic view of what’s happening around here. Gale warnings for the waters and high wind warnings for western Washington. The Coast and the Strait of JdF will see the highest winds with a strong ESE breeze today and tomorrow with a brief respite on Sunday as we will have a strong post-frontal onshore flow down the Strait and strong NW flow offshore. This will keep the winds in the Central and South Sound fairly weak.
The surface analysis chart for today shows a complex pattern of six low-pressure systems with attached cold fronts aimed at the Pacific NW. By tomorrow three of the lows offshore will have combined to form a very large system with a cold front that extends from the north end of Vancouver Island almost to Hawaii. While the center itself will move into SE Alaska, the West Coast will feel the effects of this cold front since there is no ridge of high pressure to fend it off.
The 48-hour surface forecast chart, always one of my favorites, has a Roser Low Index rating of 12 which generally indicates an active week of weather for our area. The other interesting feature is a moderate high-pressure system (1034MB) in the Pacific off of Southern California. Combined with the zonal flow of the Jet Stream, this will keep systems coming into the Pacific NW. No Pineapple Express so the snowpack will continue to build in the Sierra Nevada’s and the Cascade’s.
Have a great weekend, enjoy the boat show and if you do head out on the waters, be sure to check on current conditions. It is that time of year and conditions can change rapidly!
Seattle sailor (and mate!) Craig Horsfield along with James Oxenham just won the Globe 40 Race leg from Ushuaia, Argentinato Recife, Brazil in the Class 40 boat Amhas. The win was sealed when their offshore course paid big dividends and they negotiated the tough conditions along the east coast of South America. The leg took 20+ days and covered 3803 miles. While leading the race, the Japanese entry Milai hit an unidentified floating object. They were forced to retire with serious damage.
Craig seems more happy than tired.
The leg victory puts Amhas in contention for an overall race victory. We’ll be following the last two legs with great interest!
As is visible on yesterday’s surface analysis and sat pic, we’ve got a weak frontal system that has passed over us and will continue to the east. Behind the front, a weak onshore flow will develop today however it won’t last long as a strong high-pressure system in southern BC will bring a strong offshore flow and cooler temps to the area. This developing ridge of high-pressure will also keep us with one of the driest Januarys ever with less than 3” of rain so far.
There isn’t much going on this weekend as most boaters are anticipating the opening of the Big Seattle Boat Show just one week from today. The interesting feature on today’s surface forecast chart is the 1051MB high developing over southern BC. This will bring a strong outflow with freezing temps through the Fraser River Valley and over the weekend this will also bring a strong outflow through the passes in the Cascades.
The folks in the San Juan Islands will feel the effects of this outflow with winds of 25-35 knts of NE breeze with the possibility of higher gusts. This will spread south over the weekend with the areas below the gaps in the Cascades getting the brunt of this breeze, especially in the south Sound. The central Sound will stay with a light breeze.
You can start planning which seminars to see this weekend as well as get your tickets online. That way when the Show opens you’ll be set.
Well, finally the wx picture is starting to change. The Canadians have gotten tired of being the only ones with a big ridge of high pressure to defend the coast and have sent the ridge south to the US. So we now have four separate centers of high-pressure along the coast and with the jet stream now becoming meridional as it approaches the coast, this will keep the major storms away however since the high is only 1035MB, fronts will still drag across the area. Note today’s sat pic, we can finally see the coast south to Mexico. Expect another weak front tonight and into early Saturday morning. Another front will come through the area on Monday.
The interesting feature of the front tonight and into early Saturday will be the post-frontal onshore flow of wind down the Straits, especially in the Eastern Straits where we could see 35-40 knots of westerly with higher gusts along the Whidbey shore. This will ease late Saturday and into Sunday as the next front approaches.
Also of interest will be the 96hr surface forecast chart which shows the high pressure strengthening offshore to 1036MB and a formidable ridge developing over the coast from SE Alaska to Southern California. This will keep our weather relatively mild into early February. Won’t help to continue to build the snowpack but at least it won’t cause a huge melt-off. Another point of interest on this chart is the western Pacific. Note that the ice accretion line extends south to 40N all along the Asian coast with the sea ice line not far behind.
For the Salish Sea other than a rainy Saturday, the weather will be mild. Winds will be strong as noted above however boaters can expect a light breeze over the central and south Sound for most of the weekend.
Nothing to do now but get ready for the Big Seattle Boat Show which will be open from Feb 3-11th at Lumen Field and Bell Harbor. Go online to SeattleBoatShow.com to get your tickets and plan which seminars you’ll attend and there are plenty of those.
Here it is the 6th of January and we are almost 1” behind the average rainfall for this date and almost 2” behind where we were a year ago. Looking at the upcoming weather this will probably not change over the next week as we will have warmer than normal temps with scattered rain.
Today’s surface analysis chart and sat pic show yet another impressive set of low-pressure systems off of our coast with more lurking. The problem for the Duwamish Head Race will be that these lows and attached frontal systems will be directed either due north, paralleling the coast, or even off to the NNW. This will keep the wind at 5-12 knots from the E-SE in the morning before the gradient eases as the front moves offshore. By about midday, the breeze will ease to about 5 knots and become variable. Plan to finish before mid-afternoon when the Sound will glass off from Alki to South of Des Moines. Luckily, tidal currents will not be much of an issue.
Also of interest today is the 48hr surface forecast chart which shows two lows combining off the California coast and a third low-pressure system in the western Pacific that is forecast to undergo bombogenesis as it intensifies from 989MB to 963MB.
The 500MB charts also are not changing much with the jet stream maintaining its zonal flow across the Pacific and coming ashore in Southern California.
As these fronts continue to pass offshore the coastal waters will continue to experience occasional strong breezes and high seas.
For the race at least it will be a relatively warm rain in light air.
We’ve all seen the handwringing. We’ve all heard the pontificating. I’m one of those. We’ve all read the varying opinions as to why participation in sailing and racing is struggling.
ILCA Worlds Start. Plenty of countries represented in a still vibrant class.
“Big-boat” fleets are shrinking. Dinghy fleets are often on life support or only come together for Nationals, Worlds or Regionals. The US Sailing Championships do not have the prestige they used to. It’s great to see kids out there, but it seems they’re generally not carrying the love for racing into adulthood. Maybe they are, they just can’t afford the time or money.
What we haven’t heard or seen that much of are fully successful solutions. One might just have arrived with Starting Line Sailing (SLS) venturing into new ground as a builder of ILCA dinghies (yes, Lasers to many of us) and Hobie Cat. Two of the most successful boats at introducing sailing to the masses will now be produced by one of the most dynamic sailing groups around.
The solutions to a diminished sailing have been in the works for decades; community sailing programs scattered throughout the country, US Sailing endorsed education programs, editorialists in print and online proposing all kinds of solutions, one-design fleets such as Lightings making boats available to up-and-comers. All of these efforts have had some effect and should be applauded. None have had THE effect.
The key may be found in manufacturing and distribution. Enter Starting Line Sailing. SLS has a simple mission: “The goal is simple – grow sailing by keeping it accessible and fun.” The company isn’t exactly new. The driving force is George Yioulos, whose West Coast Sailing became a major force in small boat sailing over the last 18 years. In 2021 SLS was formed and acquired Zim Sailing and Dwyer Rigging and Masts. (Disclaimer – West Coast Sailing has been a sponsor of Sailish, but I’d write this piece anyway.)
George Yioulos
Yioulos is a whirlwind of energy. From the start, West Coast Sailing (WCS) was all about taking care of customers. Finding Lasers and parts for them when there were none. There was a WCS gear truck on site at big regattas so sailors could buy those last-minute fittings and clothing. Boat lines like Hobie and RS Sailing were added. WCS sponsored regattas and some of the more notable sailors.
An online storefront was very successful and expanded WCS’s reach internationally.
Then Yioulos “retired” and passed the reins to the team he built. But the Whirlwind couldn’t stay out of it long, especially when his deep convictions about making sailing accessible were calling.
The latest move is even bigger – taking on the manufacture and distribution of Hobie Cats and Lasers, the definitive “get people sailing” boats. This makes perfect sense. It’s no secret that there’s a bigger market, and profit, for Hobie products such as rotomolded kayaks and sunglasses. Why not bring in a sailing-focused supplier for the boats themselves? Things are happening fast. Hobie Wave and Getaway tools were moved to a new rotomolder in the US. Production to start in Februrary. Hobie 16 molds have arrived in Rhode Island at Zim Sailing. Production to start in late January.
Manufacturing sailboats is hardly a financial sure thing. In fact, the demise of sailboat manufacturers throughout North America is somewhat staggering. “It just might bankrupt the company, but I truly believe that it’s what sailing needs,” explains Yioulos.
Yioulos cites Vanguard Sailboats as an example of a successful small boat manufacturer. “This will be like creating Vanguard Sailboats 2.0,” he says.
The Hobie 16.
From my standpoint, the real potential of these new Hobie and ILCA arrangements (and any future ones Yioulos stirs up) stems from Yioulos’ experience as dealer. Yioulos knows firsthand what works in the Booties on the Ground world. Dealers need to be able to have a solid pipeline for parts, and if they’re in a small market, they can’t be expected to buy truckloads of product. There are many ways to get boats efficiently and cost-effectively into the hands of customers and Yioulos has the hands-on experience to draw on.
Dealers need high quality boats that don’t need to be fixed at the dealership before going to customers. Too often new boats have “issues” that are expensive distractions for the dealer and cause for a lot of customer distress.
Even more importantly, knowing Yioulos’ focus on supporting sailing on a very local level, it’s not hard to imagine sailing communities becoming excited about getting on the water. “The community aspect is vital,” Yioulos says, and he means it. We know that soon after two boats are on the water, it’s likely there will be a race, followed shortly by a regatta.
From my standpoint, it’s great to see this kind of energy coming into the manufacturing corner of the sailing world. It’s easy to get jaded and cynical about sailing and racing’s future. This is a breath of fresh air, and just maybe a whirlwind of fresh air.
A bland marine industry news press release this is not. Yioulos isn’t the kind of guy to wring his hands. He’s the roll up your sleeves type.
Our call for more STAPY (Sailish Totally Arbitrary Performance of the Year) awards worked! Alert Reader Jim Stewart submitted the following:
You have to include Leo Goolden with his rebuild of the historic TallyHo in Port Townsend. He must get a million views a month on his YouTube channel and is a huge benefit to the local wooden boat community.
-Jim Stewart
I had not heard of Leo Goolden, but a quick look at some of the videos (check out www.youtube.com/@SampsonBoatCo) is eye-opening. Goolden is undertaking a massive project, the restoration of the 120+ year old gaff boatTally Ho. This restoration has been going on for 5 years and Goolden’s YouTube channel has 431K subscribers! A lot of questions come to mind, like what’s Tally Ho‘s backstory? How did Goolden get here? More importantly, where does he get the energy for this project? What will Tally Ho end up doing when she’s beautifully functional again? My guess is the answers are all in the videos, and I suggest readers with an interest go to his YouTube channel. In the meantime, here’s a taste:
Leo at the beginning of the Tally Ho project
If any other Alert Readers have a nomination, send it my way.
What a way to end a crazy year of weather. That doesn’t, of course, mean that things will be any different next year. In true La Niña three-peat fashion, we will end the year with above-average rainfall. Month to date we’ve had 6.88” compared to an average of 5.36” and it will continue to rain through the rest of the day before we ease into what should be a relatively dry weekend. For the year we are at 39.6” which is a whopping 3.73” behind where we were a year ago and yet only .6” above average. The good news is that our snow-pack is still above average and at least for the foreseeable future it will stay that way. Great news for skiers but watch for avalanche hazards.
Today’s surface analysis, sat pic, and Wx Radar all show what we are in for today with a 978MB low-pressure system off of Vancouver Island with an impressive cold front that extends almost to Hawaii. When combined with the zonal nature of the jet stream (see 500MB chart), not much is going to change. While we may get a brief respite from this wet pattern over the weekend, next week will return with consecutive days of rain with occasional wind. Welcome to January.
The surface forecast charts and the 500MB charts also show good news for our friends in California as they will get more much-needed rainfall as well as additional snowpack in the Sierra Nevada’s. The long-range (96hr) 500MB charts show the jet stream continuing to be very zonal and continuing to drift to the south, coming ashore in Mexico by the 3rd of January.
For the Salish Sea, we can expect a coolish weekend with some light rain tomorrow but generally light wind. So the anchorages will be sparsely populated and it won’t be howling at night. A perfect weekend for cruising.
