Blakely Rock Light Race Report

(Seattle, Washington)- Daffodils shimmered on the wave tops once again as sailors floated those yellow emblems of spring into the winds while rounding the beacon on the rock and remembering the light that was taken from us too early – a race that should be properly called the Kelly O’Neil Memorial.

66 boats made it out for Corinthian Yacht Club Seattle’s Blakely Rock Light race; the first in their three race Center Sound Series- - conditions couldn’t have been better for slowly sweeping out the proverbial cobwebs! Winds were out of the north at 6 to 8 by start time and at 10am class one led the fleet off the line towards the first mark in the course. With a starting area off Shilshole Marina the Northerly breeze takes sailors up to a temporary mark set off the tank farms south of Edmonds, then all the way south to Blakely Rock before returning to the finish area off Shilshole Marina, a distance of just over 20nm – an easy distance for any boat out there.

Picture 66 boats working up the sound in sunny skies, through the last of the ebb and the winds building up towards 10 knots as it slowly oscillated right to left. The solid J/105 one design fleet became the indicator for many as they split across the course and those from behind watched who had the advantage on which side of the course before making their tactical choices. The right seemed to pay on that first beat and in the middle of the fleet the big Wauquiez 40 Different Drummer waterlined out of the lee of the little J/88 before tacking over to layline and rounding first in class 5.

Most in the fleet pushed west into the last of the ebbing current and as the later starters compressed into the fleet ahead a few boats were seen heading off to the East, towards Shilshole Marina.  Winds built a touch more on the run down the sound, solid 10’s and 12’s with a few puffs to 14 knots as the sun continued to warm up the city and create that solid thermal suction as temps downtown moved into the 60’s.

Rounding the rock and the long drag race across the sound to Magnolia began. Each boat battled for a clear lane and if you got your bow across a boat that was slightly faster and could sail slightly higher you were tossed off the wheel and had to tack away to clear before coming back on port and lining up again for Magnolia. While sailing through the yellow memories of Kelly one particular J/105 stuck their bow between the new J/88 and Blakely Rock while being told “that isn’t going to work for you” by the mainsail trimmer. As they hardened up the J/88 easily peeled them away, the 88 was able to point higher and pull out faster sending that J/105 off on starboard as one of the first boats on the clearing tack.

Below them, the new J/122e JOYRIDE lined up below the J/111 ADALGISA, bow to bow as they hardened up on port with the always fast J/29 SLICK and the J/88 to weather of them. After a minute of setting up, that shiny blue CSR Marine paint job on the J/122e began edging out on the J/111 and with their bow down and speed building they lifted right up around the J/111 forcing them into a clearing tack and leaving the J/29 and J/88 in their dust. Speed and beauty combined to make sailing fun, even if you’re just watching the action from afar.

The bigger faster boats continued to blow through the fleet on the long tack towards Magnolia Bluff and the closer you got to that shallow muddy beach the better you made out against your fleet. Tough to keep a clear lane but if you got forced outside to the left you found yourself coming back in on the transoms of your competitors. Next up was West point and how to get across the sand bar without running aground but stay close enough in to spend the least amount of time in the adverse flooding current. A true depth sounder test and the J/29 Here and Now played it in tight and close. With cheers of triumph as the numbers got bigger and bigger on their screen they hardened up after gaining a huge advantage on their fleet after crossing the sand bar so close inshore.

But then an odd thing happened; usually you tack onto port and get out of the current along the beach and sail away from anyone on the outside. But there was still a finger of ebbing current out in the middle of Shilshole bay. If you held out to the left just long enough boats tacked over onto port in positive current and lifted right up past the ship canal towards the breakwater before tacking over onto layline and the finish. A tricky day for the hidden currents but what a civilized day for sailing in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Wind, sun & sailing combined in that perfect way to slightly challenge everyone without stressing anything to the breaking point – spring is truly here.

And now for the results.  Class 2 was taken by the J/27 TRUE NORTH, owned by Andy and Jamie Mack. Class 3 was won by those risk takers on the J/29 HERE & NOW, owned by Pat Denny, correcting just 3 minutes in front of the J/29 SLICK.

The seven boat J/105 One-Design group, Class 4, was dominated by JUBILEE, skippered by Erik Kirsten. Just a minute back in 2nd was #272 DELERIUM leaving third to #403 INCONCEIVABLE.

Class 5 saw Sail Northwest’s stock J/88 taking second.  Then, in Class 6 it was Commodore Stuart Burnell and crew aboard their J/109 TANTIVY securing second overall.  Finally, the big, fast, blue J/145 DOUBLE TAKE took third in the IRC fleet.  Thanks for contribution from Ben Braden at Sail Northwest.   Sailing photo credits- Jan Anderson   For more Blakely Rock Light sailing information.