There is plenty of sailing going on the weekend with CYC
Turkey Bowl, the Squaxin Island Race, Snowbird #1 and the GHYC LeMans Race.
Unfortunately, the south Sound Races will be light while center Sound Races
will enjoy near-perfect conditions all-day Saturday. Saturday night a stronger
system will bring very breezy conditions to the north Sound, Admiralty Inlet,
the east end of the Straits of JdF, and the San Juan Islands. This system will
weaken as it passes through on Sunday. By Sunday morning the Turkey Bowlers
will have a nice 15-25 knots of post-frontal southwesterly breeze.
Unfortunately, as this system leaves the area, the breeze will ease
substantially by mid-afternoon Sunday.
15 Nov 500MB
15 Nov Surface Forecast
16 Nov Surface Forecast
17 Nov Surface Forecast
18 Nov Surface Forecast
19 Nov 500MB
19 Nov Surface Forecast
For the center Sound folks on Saturday, this will mean a
southerly breeze of 10-12 knots with the usual shift to the SE as you get
closer to the Seattle side of the Sound. As you get more to the middle of the
Sound the breeze will tend to stay out of the south with puffs to the SW. As
the day goes on and the barometer starts to drop this will mean that the breeze
is going to shift back to the SE probably by early afternoon and build to 12-15
knots. As the afternoon goes on the breeze will increase slightly to a steady
15 with puffs into the low 20’s.
Today’s satellite image.
Sunday will start with 15-20 knots of SW with the
possibility of higher gusts. By early afternoon the breeze will begin to ease
and stay out of the SW. As the puffs begin to swing more around to the W, the
breeze will begin to drop and by mid to late afternoon, it will become very
light and shifty.
Overall, the weather pattern is shifting and while we may be
almost 4” behind in rainfall for this month, the gap should narrow with a
steady diet of frontal systems being directed by the jet stream into the
Pacific NW. The forecast for the 19th shows an impressive set of
low-pressure systems in the northern part of the mid-Pacific with two strong
cold fronts that extend almost as far south as Hawaii. They will weaken as they
approach the coast however there are more systems after this one and they will
bring more rain and maybe some snow for the mountains.
The whole phenomenon has been a great message that has been too long in the shadows. As a journalist it’s been fun and a little surprising to watch. As a sailor it’s been thrilling.
The story continues as the boat heads to Antigua via the Panama Canal, and then the US East Coast and Europe. It turns out there are PNW connections to Maiden‘s current voyage with Seattle liveaboard Cary Kaczowka and Julia Briggs who apprenticed with Brian Toss in Port Townsend onboard as “mile builders” crew.
Maiden back in the day.
I’m hoping to have more insights and info from Cary in the weeks to come. So far, she says “We have a few New Englanders aboard, a new Skipper Liz Wardley (her blog is up on themaidenfactor.org website and it’s really great). I’m really getting used to a boat this size, a watch system and flying a staysail for the first time. I’ve never been on one tack for multiple days either! Mind is blown.
I’m looking forward to relaying Cary’s experiences with Sailish readers. This is a lot more than a boat, a crew or a passage.
A little more about Cary from the Maiden web site:
Cary Kaczowka
Cary, 28, is originally from Seekonk, Massachussetts, USA and attended Bishop Feehan High School. She graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Design Innovation & Society from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2013, and holds a M.S. in Materials Engineering from the University of Southern California. Cary has worked as an engineer with The Boeing
Company in Seattle, Washington for six years. She is active in the Society of Women Engineers, where she volunteers as a leadership coach. Sailing has been a part of her life since age 13 when she learned to sail on Yarmouth
Recreation’s wooden knockabouts in Cape Cod, MA, USA. During summer internships she was able to race weeknights in both Newport, RI and Charleston, SC – always the highlight of the week. Upon making her way out to Seattle, WA she began volunteering as an instructor at the Centre for Wooden Boats. She began racing locally, and she eventually bought her first home: a 34’ sailboat, a Catalina 34, S/V Sea Haven. Much of her free time is spent racing on local boats, maintaining her sailboat, cruising the Puget Sound and Salish Sea, and racing Sea Haven in local events such as Sloop Tavern Yacht Club’s Race Your House annual regatta. Owning her first big boat has been empowering and certainly changed the course of her life, and has helped reinforce her confidence as an engineer. She finds fulfilment sharing and teaching sailing, especially with women who are looking to refine their skills and get comfortable on the water.
Cary was eager to sail with the Maiden crew in order to gain offshore experience, improve her racing skills and learn from a talented crew of sailors, and looks forward to sharing her experiences with the local racing and sailing community.
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.
It’s Round the County so it really doesn’t matter what the weather will be doing, it will still be a great time. We have had an incredibly dry November so far which, for what is traditionally the wettest month of the year, just a little strange. Plus it’s going to be almost 60-degrees F today. The surface charts give us a pretty clear picture of what is going on. We still have a weak ridge of high-pressure guarding the Pacific Northwest and that combined with the jet stream is directing our traditional fall soakers well north of us and into SE Alaska. This is not going to change until the middle of next week.
Today’s surface analysis shows the remnants of a weak front moving across southern BC today and that has brought a southerly flow over the area which will persist into tomorrow. Sunday will have a northerly flow develop and by late Sunday this will become an offshore flow as high-pressure rebuilds over the area. The 96-hour surface forecast chart the strongest low-pressure system(956MB) we’ve seen this fall lurking in the mid-Pacific. We’ll see if this will be strong enough to break up our ridge of high-pressure.
Nov 8 500MB
Nov 8 Surface Analysis
Nov 9 Surface Forecast
Nov 10 500MB
Nov 10 Surface Forecast
Nov 11 Surface Forecast
Nov 12 Surface Forecast
For RTC on Saturday, this
will mean wind (8-12 knots from the SE) for the start however as the gradient
eases the wind will drop. This problem is compounded by the geography of Orcas
Island and Mt Constitution which as the breeze eases will create a wind shadow
extending from Orcas across Boundary Pass. The boats with TALL rigs should
prevail. The other problem will be that after about 1030 the tide will be
flooding in Boundary Pass and while it’s not a big flood, it will still be
difficult to fight.
Currents in Rosario Strait.
Saturday
0706 Max Ebb 1.08
knts
1000 Slack
1300 Max Flood 1.23
knts
1548 Slack
1948 Max Ebb 2.41
knts
Sunday
0742 Max Ebb 1.11
knts
1042 Slack
1336 Max Flood 1.14
knts
1606 Slack
2012 Max Ebb 2.77
knts
Current in Haro Strait
Sunday
0654 Max Ebb .83
knts
0930 Slack
1306 Max Flood 1.4
knts
1618 Slack
For Sunday as
a weak northerly flow comes in, the problem will be reversed as the wind shadow
will go south from Mt. Constitution and over the finish area.
November 8
1200 Hr. Nov 9
MM5 1200 Nov 9
On Saturday I
have Crossfire around the course in
about 5.75 hours finishing between 1430 and 1500 hours.
Have a great
time and leave your AIS on so I can at least armchair quarterback from the
computer.
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…
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.
The Cruising Club of America is a remarkable organization, promoting safe and adventurous cruising - and the Bermuda Race - among other things. Here they recognize one of the PNW’s own, Haley Llahmon. Here’s Scuttlebutt’s written piece. And here’s CCA’s video:
OK - It’s not Puget Sound or the Strait of Georgia, but we’ll peek at some great Bay sailing any time. Especially when it involves our sponsor West Coast Sailing and their nifty RS 21. By the way, there were three of the 21s at Annapolis doing some dubious but still interesting racing next to the US Sailboat Show venue.
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).
