Thursday, May 22, 2014

J’s Trump Vashon Island Race

J/145 sailboat- JEDI sailing in Seattle (Seattle, WA)- The second part of the Tri-Island Series for Seattle YC’s hardy group of offshore sailors took place over the weekend with one IRC and six PHRF classes working hard to not get dinged by a TLE (time-limit expired)- somewhat of a known experience sailing in those parts of Puget Sound when fronts slow down as they hit the majestic Cascade Mountain ranges.

While their first race was not much to brag about (taking an 8th in the Smith Island Race), their performance in the Vashon was nothing short of scintillating.  John Tenneson’s J/145 JEDI took home the big pickle-dish, winning IRC 1 Class and, as a result, vaulting themselves up the series standing to second overall behind John Buchan’s TP52 GLORY.

A similar scenario played out for the J/133 CONSTELLATION in PHRF 2 Class.  There, Ron Holbrook’s crew pulled off a 2nd in the Vashon to also move into fourth in the series standings.

The two J/109s in PHRF 3 Class seem to be playing a game of “trading places”, with both having one good score plus a DNC.  While Stu Burnell’s TANTIVY won the Smith Race, it was Jerry Woodfield’s SHADA taking 3rd in the Vashon Race; currently Burnell is in second for the series.

PHRF 4 Class is a mixed bag of 35ish footers that includes a J/33, J/100, J/35, J/36 and J/105s.  All are experienced offshore campaigners, it shows since 7 of the top 11 are all J/Teams!  Currently, on top of the heap is Tom Kerr’s J/33 CORVO with a 1-3 for 4 pts.  Tied for second is Jim Geros’s J/105 LAST TANGO with a 2-5 for 7 pts.  Sixth is Rick Poulin’s J/105 DELIRIUM, 8th is Svein Ellingsen’s J/35 BERGEN VIKING, 9th is Shawn Dougherty & Jason Andrews’s J/36 MONKEY BONES, 10th is Bill Daniel’s J/100 TOURIST and 11th is Steve Summers’s J/105 LIFE IS GOOD.  Sailing photo credits- Jan Anderson.   For more SYC Vashon Island Race sailing information