We pulled into the waiting line at the Kingston ferry and through the fog I saw an unexpected sight – an old flat bed truck with what appeared to be a Jensen Healey struggling to stay on board. A Jensen Healey? On a flat bed truck? So I wandered over. I didn’t get [...]]]>

We pulled into the waiting line at the Kingston ferry and through the fog I saw an unexpected sight – an old flat bed truck with what appeared to be a Jensen Healey struggling to stay on board. A Jensen Healey? On a flat bed truck? So I wandered over. I didn’t get the whole story but the gist of it was that for $300 cash money this historic pile of rust, whitworth (or maybe just metric) bolts, dreams and unlimited potential, fresh from being excavated from the salal could be mine. One voice in my head raised from a youth spent reading Road & Track started telling me “this is an unbelievable deal, buy it.” The other voice whispered in my other ear that this will be the easiest of the $300’s you’ll spend on this one. Look at the rust on the axles and bottom trunk panel. Why do you think it was parked in the first place? So feeling good I could still identify a Jensen Healey in the fog, walked away.

I’ve spent parts of August working on projects of the boat and homeowner variety. It’s always fun going out for a race with your pals but sometimes hanging out on the boat and doing some small project is what’s called for. Drilling another hole in the deck and remounting hardware in the ongoing search for the perfect rigging, or a piece of refinishing or woodwork that’s been waiting to be done. Small projects, easily taken on and eventually finished within a reasonable chunk of time.

Not everyone sets their sights so low. Every day at the dock and in the yard you see projects that seem too big to take on coming along with determination and grit and wallets that whine and keep giving. I look at Toccata gleaming and showing off 26 years of labor, now in the final stages of being rigged and outfitted before the next adventure. Or Arequipa of San Francisco and Hamburg getting one more coat of varnish, one more door rebuilt, one more oddly shaped piece of teak fitted. What people with will and talent can accomplish is amazing.

I remain thrilled that someone has the fire to take on these projects. And I feel fine knowing I passed on the Jensen Healey.  Now if an Olson 911S shows up …..

Same course as last week (SYTBF), 5.39nm with the start at 18:05:00.

Finishes: 1     Oden                  18:55:26 2     The Wizard     18:57:30 3     Vivace              18:58:34 4     Annie Too       18:58:39 5     [...]]]> 13 boats participated in one of the better sailing evenings this year.  It was especially nice to see Annie Too back out and as beautiful as ever.

Same course as last week (SYTBF), 5.39nm with the start at 18:05:00.

Finishes:
1     Oden                  18:55:26
2     The Wizard     18:57:30
3     Vivace              18:58:34
4     Annie Too       18:58:39
5     Sirocco             19:03:02
6     Pacemaker      19:03:11
7     Impulse           19:03:47
8     Boreas               19:04:52
9     Thatuna            19:05:30
10   Coco Solo        19:06:26
11   No Name          19:06:40
12   Tzieu                  19:06:58
13   Eclipse               19:10:12

What was it like to see salmon so thick in the rivers you could “smell them blocks away”? What seafoods were harvested on the beach? What was it like during the heyday of fishing on the Strait of Juan de Fuca?

“Voices of the Strait”, a documentary [...]]]>

What was it like to see salmon so thick in the rivers
you could “smell them blocks away”?
What seafoods were harvested on the beach?
What was it like during the heyday
of fishing on the Strait of Juan de Fuca?

“Voices of the Strait”, a documentary by Al Bergstein interviewing people who have lived out here on the Peninsula over the last 50 years will be shown on August 26th   7:30 PM – PT Marine Science Center – On the beach at Fort Worden – Admission Free.

You’ll meet folks like Ray Hunter of Discovery Bay and Orville Campbell who grew up in Port Townsend in the 20s and 30s as they discuss the way they grew up, the changes they’ve seen, what we have lost, and how we might restore it.  We will also be showing a short documentary interviewing some of the scuba community on the changes they have seen in the last twenty years. The scuba video was done by local Port Angeles high school graduate Cameron Little and features Sudi Parker and Mike Hensen of Admiralty Dive Shop.

Voices of the Strait is a production of Mountainstone Productions, with sponsorship by the Feiro Marine Life Center in Port Angeles the Puget Sound Partnerships’ ECO Net environmental education group. Please come out to see these short videos, and participate in the questions and answers with a panel of participants, the video production team, and the local groups that helped sponsor the video.

Finishes:

1    Vivace       19:05:28 2    Rush           19:07:49 3    Sirocco      19:08:30 4    Thatuna     19:18:26 5    Coco Solo  19:18:48 6    Pacemaker 19:21:57 7    No Name    [...]]]> Last Friday’s race was  relatively long (5.39nm) course which included dock to trestle mark to tower to #2 buoy to finish at dock.  Starting time was 18:05:00 and 11 boats participated.

Finishes:

1    Vivace       19:05:28
2    Rush           19:07:49
3    Sirocco      19:08:30
4    Thatuna     19:18:26
5    Coco Solo  19:18:48
6    Pacemaker 19:21:57
7    No Name    19:27:27
8    Wisper         19:34:54
9    Exploration 18   19:39:02
10 Eclipse          19:39:26

Lorraine also started but retired.

=================================

Are the sailors in your fleet tired of sailing around the [...]]]>

Perhaps to start a conversation, here’s a column from the June, 2010, issue of Sailing World on varying the racecourses beyond windward – leeward. What do you think? There’s a poll at the bottom you can enter your opinion. Jon

=================================

Are the sailors in your fleet tired of sailing around the same old racecourses year after year? If so, inject some excitement into your races with a few easy ideas. From the “Jobson Report” from our June 2010 issue

It’s much different nowadays, because we’ve come to expect perfectly aligned windward-leeward courses, but it seems sailors are growing tired of the same-old, and it’s time for race committees and sailors to branch out and try new course configurations, or, in some cases, revive a few old traditions.

I’ll never forget my very first sailboat race. I was six years old at the time, and my responsibilities on the 15-foot, gaff-rigged Sneakbox included bailing out the leaky boat and holding on to our paper chart, which had the racecourse outlined on it. At the first mark we led the fleet, and I had the boat completely dry. But when the skipper asked what the next mark of the course was, I couldn’t say. The chart had fallen out of my pocket and was now floating on New Jersey’s Barnegat Bay. We eventually lost our lead, and the race, and since then I’ve made it a point to know the correct course to sail.

As I reflect on those early days, I fondly remember how the racecourses were always set around a collection of buoys scattered around the Bay. The race committee usually tried to set a course that featured all points of sail. It was unpredictable and always great fun.

You can read the whole column at the Sailing World site here.

Thanks to Elizabeth Becker for some great shots from the PTSA sponsored 6 Meter (or is it Metre?) NA’s. Great shots, great boats. More photos coming soon.

2010 North American Six Meter Championships August 13 – 15, 2010 Port Townsend, WA.

Conditions: Sunny and Hot, [...]]]> [[Show as slideshow]]

Thanks to Elizabeth Becker for some great shots from the PTSA sponsored 6 Meter (or is it Metre?) NA’s.
Great shots, great boats. More photos coming soon.

2010 North American Six Meter Championships
August 13 – 15, 2010
Port Townsend, WA.

Conditions: Sunny and Hot, 7 races, no throw outs, 8 – 10 knots both days.

The 2010 North Americans took place over the weekend of August 14 -15 in Port Townsend, WA. To say the conditions were excellent would be an understatement, with consistent 8 – 10 knots for the 7 races under clear blue skies and warm temperatures. The event opened on Friday evening with a reception at the Port Townsend Foundry courtesy of Pete Langley. On Saturday the Olympic Mountains to the west were clear as were the Cascade Mountains to the east. The races were 5 – 9 miles long on the western end of Quimper Bay with shifts of 5 – 10 degrees making things interesting for the competitors. Tidal currents were present, though not extreme. In the Moderns it was Andy Parker and Finnegan leading after the first 4 races, with Rainer Muller’s Saskia II (Olympic medallist Ross MacDonald driving) carrying a 1 point lead over Nick Booth’s Flapper. The 2009 World Cup winners, KC 10 Gallant, had a tough start to the regatta with an over early in the second race and then hitting the mark while in the lead in the 3rd.

On Saturday evening the excellent meal, beautiful view, and warm comraderie at the Wooden Boat Foundation.. Sunday’s dire weather prediction (light and variable) was inaccurate to everyone’s relief and the same consistent breeze from the west allowed the Race Committee to efficiently run 3 more races, 2 of which were twice around the course – approximately 9 miles. Bob Cadranell’s Arunga put in a dominating performance, with 3 wins on the last day to win it all. Andy Parker in Finnegan was in hot pursuit and a threat for the overall until an error in judgement at the bottom mark forced a 720 degree turn, and he was then out of contention. It was a seesaw battle in the Classics with leads changing between races and legs, but Rainer Muller’s Saskia II ended the day with a 4, enough for a 1 point cushion to take the Classic title, which is symbolized by the Olin J. Stephens II trophy. The Arunga crew wins the Gooderham North American Championship trophy, as well as the US Nationals Trophy. The first 3 places in each division took home an etched tumbler, with the overall winners receiving a lovely 6 metre half-hull mounted on a mahogany plank, all courtesy of Molly & Bob Cadranell.

We could not have planned a better weather weekend, hot and sunny both days. On Saturday we got our downwind spinnaker run shortly after the start, and were able to keep them up almost the entire [...]]]> Thanks Sym for these pictures of Saturday’s party and Sunday’s
light wind start.

We could not have planned a better weather weekend, hot and sunny both days. On Saturday we got our downwind spinnaker run shortly after the start, and were able to keep them up almost the entire day. There were some holes to be found but Thatuna did a remarkable job of staying in the breeze and drove around the entire fleet. Saturday finished with Sea Puppy, an F 24 tri from Sequim being single handed all weekend by Bruce von Borstel crossing first, followed by Frank Lawson’s sharp J/105, john B, from Port Ludlow, and the Thatuna.

The barge had been reserved and stocked with pizza. Add some adult beverages, a lovely summer evening in Port Ludlow and it was hard to beat. A special thanx goes out to Sym Sebastian for putting together a great barge party, safe to say all had a good time there…

Sunday looked dismal for wind with a forecast of 3 building to 6. But as the race started in front of Port Ludlow we were given nice, fairly constant pressure. At the same time the slack disappeared and the ebb began to build.

Step’n Annie, ThaTuna, and NoName chose to seek better pressure and went across to Bush Point and had a great chase all the way to the finish line.  john B, Vivace and The Wizard picked the middle of the water. Impulse, betting on the first ebb showing up on the Marrowstone side aimed at Marrowstone Island and was swept around the corner along with Sea Puppy. The wind built to a great breeze all across the Inlet with all boats charging along on starboard, tacking only in search of more current.

Opportunity knocked for all boats only to be swept away by the current or a wind shift. Boats that stayed in the ebb were rewarded with a couple of knot boost but lose the current and you slowed. Several of the front pack found themselves swept back on their first try at Marrowstone Point requiring another tack or two to finally get clear.

In the end, Sea Puppy crossed the line first on both days followed by john B. It was a real treat to have such well sailed and interesting boats join in the fun and we look forward to crossing tacks with them again soon. Thanx for coming. With a second on on Saturday and a first on Sunday on corrected time, Impulse, sailed double handed came in first followed by Sea Puppy and john B.

A special thanx goes out to Sym Sebastian for putting together a great barge party in Port Ludlow, working RC on Sunday, and sending along some pictures. Also thanxs to Myron and Rob Marean for the start and finish line efforts in PT, and for “Flying J” committee boat duty’s in Port Ludlow.

Satch continues to contend that this is the best race of the year and it’s hard to argue that point. Remember, there is always next year!

Port to Port Race Results

These are based on Satch’s estimate of 14 nm distance.. Information is provisional and subject to modification
Regatta results saved: Sunday, August 15, 2010 4:04:59 PM PDT

Division: PHRF A (8 boats) (top)

Notes

Information is provisional and subject to modification

Version 5.6.03: Regatta scoring by JavaScore, an Open Source project available at http://www.gromurph.org/javascore

<br /> Port to Port – Race port to port 2

Port to Port

Race port to port 2

Information is provisional and subject to modification
Regatta results saved: Sunday, August 15, 2010 4:04:59 PM PDT

Division: PHRF A (8 boats) (top)

Notes

Information is provisional and subject to modification

Version 5.6.03: Regatta scoring by JavaScore, an Open Source project available at http://www.gromurph.org/javascore

<br /> Port to Port – Series Standing – 2 races scored

Port to Port

Series Standing – 2 races scored

Information is provisional and subject to modification
Regatta results saved: Sunday, August 15, 2010 4:04:59 PM PDT

Division: PHRF A (8 boats) (top)

Notes

Information is provisional and subject to modification

Version 5.6.03: Regatta scoring by JavaScore, an Open Source project available at http://www.gromurph.org/javascore