(Seattle, WA)- CYC Seattle’s annual fall buoy regatta delivered grey
skies and solid breeze for the Pacific-northwest Slipping Sliding and
Crashing regatta (PSSC). DNF’s and DNC’s dominated the results as
mainsails flogged apart, spinnakers shredded, rudders broke off,
skippers went swimming and Melges crews waved to the spectators as they
slipped along sideways with their keels in the air.CYC set up two race courses with the smaller boats sailing off of Shilshole and the bigger boats sailing up North off of the Highlands. 37 boats made it out Saturday for the South course and the North course garnered 35 boats with 2 one design classes, including J/105s and 4 PHRF groupings. DNF’s and DNC’s were so wildly prevalent that nearly all classes had alphabet soup on their score card.
The first fronts of the year came through with power Saturday with winds on the South course hitting 25 knots and up in the North course reaching a little higher into the 30 knot realm. Waves built up for the North course, outside of the protection of West Point on the Southerly breeze, but the Sound remained relatively flat for the 37 smaller boats on the South course. The RC on the South course kept things moving with only minutes between races, no time for sail changes between races and with whatever rig tension they had. By the end of the day, after 7 races, the only thing the racers on the South course were complaining about was sore muscles, bruised arms & legs, and hungry bellies as they finally had some time for lunch while sailing into the marina.
Up on the North Course the big boat class was going at it. By 3:30pm the RC had the big boats heading in to the marina, trying to leave enough time for the sailmakers to repair all the carnage on the course, getting everyone back out for Sunday’s 25 to 35 knot forecast. On the South course the RC sent everyone in to re-coup and get some much needed rest after the windy tough day.
By morning the forecast hadn’t changed and a strong front was still supposed to come through bringing with it winds into the 30 knot range. At start time, though, boats had their big jibs out and pulling, sailing along in a nice 10 to 12 knots of breeze out of the South. Things built as the day went on but barely into the 20 knot range, good sailing conditions without that survival feeling everyone knows and loves in tight buoy racing.
The J/105 DELIRIUM owned by Jerry Diercks was able to continue holding on to first against Lorenzo Migliorini’s ALLEGRO VIVACE who was consistently biting at their heels all weekend. Finishing just 2 points in front of ALLEGRO VIVACE, DELIRIUM was able to stand on top of the podium after a tough weekend of sailing.
Down on the South Course the PHRF class saw Bob Mayfield and Pat Nelson’s always dominating J/29 SLICK hold court over the fleet and sail away with first for the weekend through consistently placing in the top of the class in all of their 10 races. Sailing photo credits- Jan Anderson For more Corinthian YC PSSC sailing information
