As I watched the resuilts come in from the ILCA 6 (Laser Radial rig) Worlds scores come in from Vallerta, I was certain that I’d be reporting overall wins for my friends Bill Symes in the Legends (75+ year old) class and Al Clark in the Grand Master class. Alas, a black flag DSQ in this morning’s first race and a third in the last race cost Symes the overall win. He had, after all, a nearly perfect scoreline. Clark had a tough final day as well, but finished off a hard fought victory. Congrats to both of them.Here’s the press release:
Vallarta, Mexico – Although Hurricane Blas threatened to steal the breeze, the wind gods prevailed on Banderas Bay for the final day of the ILCA 6 Masters World Championships. With the hurricane moving west, two more perfect races were completed under sunny skies and warm temperatures in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico. The 10–12 knot wind put the onus on boat speed and tactics for all the divisions. Downwind technique was also critical – those able to catch the waves most efficiently could make big gains on the fleet.
The final day brought a shake-up in the Legends division, for sailors over the age of 75. American Bill Symes who was unstoppable throughout the week, was caught over early in the first race of the day allowing fellow American Chris Boome to take the win and move into a tie for first overall heading into the last race. In the final race, Boome managed to sneak ahead of Symes and clinch the championship by one point over Symes.
Australia’s Jeff Loosemore added to his incredibly consistent event to win the Great Grand Masters division by a comfortable 25 points over former Olympic gold medalist, Miguel Noguer of Spain.
Allan Clark of Canada closed out a hard-fought victory in the very competitive Grand Masters division, with the overall championship decided in just the final race. After a capsize on the first leg, Clark’s victory appeared in jeopardy, but Australian David Luketima’s fourth place in the final race was not enough to close the difference for the win.
Great Britain’s sailors Ian Gregory and Jon Emmett closed out the championship in style, winning the Masters and Apprentice Masters divisions by comfortable margins.
A thank-you goes out to the Vallarta Yacht Club and all the volunteers, staff, and event sponsors for an unforgettable week of sailing.
Our wet and cool June continues, probably until the 5th of July. Today’s surface analysis shows the Pacific High(1032mb) at 38N and 150W with a real mashup of weak high and low-pressure systems surrounding the Pacific NW. The overall effect of this will be an increase in the onshore flow today which will gradually ease on Saturday. This means that by tomorrow morning there will still be a flow of breeze through the Chehalis Gap and down the Strait of JdF. As usual, it has to meet somewhere and that will be the central Sound.
The really interesting part of these surface charts is what effect this will have on the R2AK. Three teams have decided to go up the outside of Vancouver Island, which may have looked questionable yesterday however as the pressure gradient eases over the inland waters including the Strait of Georgia, the only wind may be outside Vancouver Island. The bad part of this may be that there will be plenty of wind, 15-30 knots, from the NW from the Brooks Peninsula to Barkley Sound starting late this afternoon. This will continue until into early Saturday while easing to 15-20 from the NW, which will mean a hard beat up the Island until conditions ease late Saturday and into Sunday. The inside boats will have 10-15 knots of NNW breeze until just after midnight when it will go very light. This will last until late Saturday night and into early Sunday morning. This will be a fun one to watch.
If you’re doing Pacific Cup or Vic-Maui this year you will also want to watch Hurricane Blas and Tropical Storm Celia. Only a month into Hurricane season and we are already on our third named storm. Currently, conditions do not favor the further development of these systems however the Pacific is warming so this could change.
The other interesting chart is the 96hr surface forecast chart which has the Pacific High setting up nicely at 40N 140W which if this trend continues could mean a record-setting pace for the Pacific Cup.
The “Proving Ground” stage of the Race to Alaska (R2AK) is completed, with 32 teams having proven themselves ready for the full trek to Ketchikan from Victoria, starting at noon today. While it howled and thumped in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, some teams felt waiting it out was the right move. A steady stream of competitors came into Victoria yesterday, coming in before the extended deadline. From the R2AK Facebook page:
Great photo of all the teams at the lighthouse on Dungeness. Blaine, the keeper was fantastic and rolled out the hospitality cart for them. The teams are staying put until Wednesday morning to cross, but have enough people for a good badminton tournament in the meanwhile.
Teams are: Wave Forager, Oarcle, Zen Dog, Don’t Tell Mom, Let’s Row Maybe
Teams stuck on Dungeness Spit have been earning their keep by clearing the pond and lining the paths with driftwood. The spirit of R2AK is strong.
Helen Baker photo
This year the course has opened up teams going up the west side of Vancouver Island. R2AK Field Reporter Jim Meyer breaks down the outside inside question here. And Seattle world class sailors Jonathan McKee and Matt Pistay discuss the safety aspects here:
The first leg of the R2AK is called the Proving Ground, giving competitors the chance (obligation) to show they’re ready for the full Race to Alaska. This year it’s been a real test, with three capsizes yesterday, four people pulled from the water from stricken boats and one dismasting.
The Northwest Maritime Center organizers saw this coming and gave competitors extra time to complete the leg, with the strong implication that if there was a doubt about going into the teeth of the winds and waves, some might think better and wait a bit. Several did. Others were set up for offshore sailing in rough conditions and made it safely into Victoria Harbour. Dark Star (Team Pure and Wild) was first in.
Welcome back from the pandemic, R2AK, and we see you have a new wrinkle. Everyone’s favorite, if not to participate in, at least to follow, is back. In fact, it’s already started with boats finishing in Victoria for the Proving Ground leg from the start in Port Townsend this morning. Tracker is here. As you may remember, this first leg must be completed if teams are going all the way the Alaska.
The new wrinkle is that teams can now go up the west side of Vancouver Island, with the only gate on the course being at Bella Bella. This means that boats like Dark Star (Team Pure and Wild) have a great option to stretch their legs offshore.
In the meantime, Victoria is going to be hopping with adventurous folk until the start of the leg to Alaska on Monday. The first leg is already not without twists. From the r2AK Facebook page: Update from the course: Razzle Dazzle, B Team, and Runaway Redux capsized, all safe. Narwhal dismasted and is safely back in Port Townsend, spirits are up. Stay safe out there.Dark Star was first in and is tied up safely in Victoria. The race committee saw this coming.
Proving Ground Update from Race HQ
With a weather forecast between seasick and dangerous for the next two days, R2AK High Command is extending the proving ground by 24 hours.
Race start is still 5 am, Monday 6/13.
Racers will need to finish in Victoria no later than 5 pm on Wednesday, 6/15.
No change to any Victoria schedule of events.
Racers missing the Tuesday skipper’s meeting will get a make up on Wednesday.
Second start in Victoria is high noon on Thursday.
Will it be faster on the outside? Let’s let time and Jonathan McKee answer that. McKee and team Pure and Wild will head offshore in Dark Star. She’s the fastest monohull to do the race since the race’s inception, and capable of some unreal speed.
The finish line is still far away from Bella Bella in Ketchikan and has been seen before, races can go right to the end.
Northwest Maritime Center’s non-sailing adventure race Seventy48 (results here) saw a record number of entries and new elapsed time record. How do folk row and paddle that fast? Here’s the recap from race headquarters and a few photos:
SEVENTY48: 2022 RECAP
In 2021, Puget Sound was vindictive—less than half of the teams rang the finish bell—enough so, that we were flummoxed at the record number of teams enlisting for 2022, until we saw names, like Paddle On…Paddle On, Ted, Bad Rabbit, and Get Kraken; all back for another try. We knew a grudge match was brewing. Puget Sound clearly had been doing burpees for a year and was ready. More like a race through a water park, rain drove through the Gore-tex layers and even the start line held sodden eagerness in every eye. We stood on the dock yearning to utter the now-familiar benediction. Namaste racers. But it was not time for that. It was time to Namasgo. And Namasgo quickly.
89 teams crossed the finish line in Port Townsend with Team Imua taking line honors and setting a new SEVENTY48 record of 9h 35m. Team Wave Forager set the solo record of 9h 39m, and Teams like Get Kraken avenged their 2021 losses—a favorite line uttered by a team was, “I gotta stop, so my daughter will still want to hang out with me in the future.”
Every team’s worst moment is different and personal, but all involve one of the universal three: broken gear, broken body, or broken spirit (preferably not more than one at a time). The inverse is avoiding those three. However, what makes success will always be philosophically and/or drunkenly debated. Second-guessing will be rampant because we are human, loving to nag on ourselves and others. The only unifying point of all the seesaw of emotion and vociferous debate is this; 116 teams decided to line up on June 10th and put their best and worst to the test. Without that kind of risk—the kind that leaves you raw and vulnerable, scared and hopeful, daring and adventurous—all our lives would be dimmer sadder copies of ourselves. And we’d have nothing to talk about today. Huzzah to the racers of SEVENTY48. We’ll always want you to stay, but will always ask you to go.
HERE ARE THE 2022 SEVENTY48 CLASS WINNERS:
First Overall: Team Imua. 9hrs 35mins By Yourself: Team Wave Forager. 9 hrs 39 mins Facing Forward: Team Boat. 11 hrs 6 mins Standing Up: Team KrugerSEA. 14 hrs 12 mins
Team Boogie Barge, Photo by Kelsey BrennerTeam Dumas Bay Brethren. Photo by Audry RogersTeam Convergence Zone, photo by Vicki Beaver
Once again there will be a parade of paddlers leaving from Tacoma in about an hour for an adventure race featuring human-powered boats only. No, it’s not sailing but let’s call it a close cousin.
From a previous 7048 start.
Brought to you by the same Northwest Maritime Center folk who bring you the R2AK (more on that race in a separate post) this event is simple and challenging. The course is 72 miles long with only two required waypoints, one a boat off Point Defiance and one the bridge over the Port Townsend Canal. Yes, they’ll be paddling at night if they want.
Fittingly, our friends at NMC ask the question “Why?” And they answer it: “Based on the lawless self-reliance of R2AK, we wanted to compress crazy stupid into 48 hours and make it a different kind of hard. Think of it as powerlifting for 48 hours.”
At last count 43 teams were entered, ranging from 6-person outrigger canoes to one person paddleboards. Like the R2AK, it’s worth looking at the teams if for no other reason than perusing the creative if sometimes corny names. Looking for a Porpoise and Forgetting Forward are a couple of my favorites.
Plenty of boating going on in the Salish Sea this weekend along with plenty of rain except for a break on Saturday where the temps will warm and the rain will ease. Speaking of rain, how about over an inch yesterday and we are now up to almost 2” of rain for the month compared to an average of .5” for this date. Even with this prodigious amount of rain this early in the month we probably won’t break the record for the wettest June ever which is almost 4.00” for the month. This is a good news/bad news situation because while it keeps our lakes and snow pack up it is also causing plenty of green growth to occur late in the season. If we have, as projected, above normal temps and below-normal precip, in July and August all this growth will die and dry out becoming fuel for fires. We shall see.
Today’s weather analysis chart, sat pic, and Doppler radar all show a series of weak weather systems which will move in tonight and into tomorrow morning. By mid-afternoon Saturday, a stronger onshore flow will develop bringing a westerly breeze down the Straits. The surface forecast chart for Saturday shows the next front approaching the coast and very little pressure gradient over the area.
Tonight at 1900hrs we’ll have the start of the Seventy48 Race in Tacoma where strictly human-powered craft will race to Port Townsend. Conditions will be pretty much perfect with a tailwind of 10-15 knots all the way to Pt No Point(PNP). After about midnight from PNP to Pt Townsend, the breeze will be light and variable until about mid-afternoon on Saturday when the onshore flow will bring a NW breeze to Admiralty Inlet. This will build to 12-15 for the rest of the day on Saturday.
Sunday afternoon and evening will see a stronger onshore flow come down the Strait of JdF bringing a westerly breeze of 20-30 knots to the area. By 0500 Monday, the start of the R2AK feeder and weeder race to Victoria, the breeze will be light in Pt. Townsend but will build to 20-25 as the fleet crosses the Strait towards Victoria.
This year could have been very interesting if the race had started last weekend or earlier this week as some boats almost certainly would have tried to go up the outside of Vancouver Island in breezy southerly conditions. That looks to be off the table now.
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.
When West Coast Sailing introduced the RS Aero to the Pacific Northwest, it was pretty clear there was a sea change brewing. That sea change will be official when the RS Aero Worlds takes place on the Columbia River Gorge June 25-July 1.
At the time, I and many other Laser stalwarts were fed up with the acrimony between Laser Performance and the International Laser Class Association. The Laser, while still an Olympic class, had been technically lagging as any 40-something year old design would. Along came the RS Aero, boasting a hull weight of a little over half that of the Laser, carbon spars and a more ergonomic and efficient layout. At the time, I wondered aloud if it would replace the Laser. It hasn’t. They now co-exist. The ILCA won the war with Laser Performance, retained its Olympic status and ILCA regattas are in full swing around the world. But the moment did allow the RS Aero to also establish itself worldwide. Which brings us to this point.
RS Aero fleets have been growing around the world, with plenty of regattas throughout Europe despite the Covid times. The rise of the class hasn’t been as dramatic in the United States. One place it has been dramatic is here in Seattle, where the bulk of the older Laser sailors moved to the Aero early on. West Coast Sailing was eager to help the new class, and managed to get boats into the Northwest quickly while also supplying the necessary support as the fleet established itself.
As one of the founding Aero fleets in North America, and with one of the world’s great sailing venues a three hour drive away, it would make sense that the first World Championship in North America would be on the Columbia River Gorge. This is the 4th Worlds, the other three occurring in France, the U.K. and Australia. Fifty seven boats are entered in the 5, 7 and 9 (sail size categories) representing USA, Australia, China, Ireland, Canada, Great Britain, and Uruguay.
One question remains to be answered. Northwest singlehanded stalwarts Carl Buchan, Dalton Bergan, Dan Falk, Andy Mack, Jay and John Renehan and Stasi Burzycki are all entered, with many other excellent local sailors also strapping in for what promises to be some fast sailing. Will they be fast enough for to take on the Brits, et. al.?
Ed note. As a strong Laser proponent (and still an owner), it took me a while, but I’m also now an RS Aero owner. My boat has the provisional name Dark Side, because I’m now there as well. I can safely say the RS Aero is challenging and not for the feint of heart.
Helen Baker photo
