J/CREWS PREVAIL IN NORTHERN CENTURY RACE

 

(Anacortes, WA)- In the "it's never too late to report" department, the Anacortes Yacht Club hosted the Northern Century Race in the beginning of the fall. It is a 100.0 nm offshore triangle that delivers the toughest race you’ll ever love. The course extends through and around (skipper’s choice) the San Juan Islands, and each year competitors are met with a unique set of challenges and some of the most beautiful conditions the Salish Sea has to offer.

Though a 50-mile option exists (for the sane people), the Northern Century 100 course starts to the north in Fidalgo Bay off Anacortes and heads further north to Point Roberts, then south any way you choose to Hein Bank, followed by a return finish at Anacortes.


The race starts on Friday evening, and night-time spinnaker runs are the norm on the way up to the first mark of the course. Due to the time of year, meteor showers and phosphorescence that light up the night add to the excitement of the race.

Bruce's Briefs from Sailish.com had this sobering forecast to offer the sailors this year:

"We said summer had arrived last week and this weekend it will arrive with some very, very warm temps especially on Sunday. Today’s satellite pic shows just how spectacularly clear conditions are over the Salish Sea.


That’s both the good news and the bad news as the Surface Analysis Charts show our Pacific high weakening and tending to flatten while a thermal trough of low-pressure expands along the coast running from San Francisco inland to southern BC. This will convert our current onshore flow to an offshore flow on Saturday which will bring some downslope winds and compressional heating to the area, hence the high temps. The weather charts also show the distinct lack of any kind of pressure gradient over the area. This will make for, once again, a very challenging Northern Century Race.

The real challenge for this race is that in this transition period from onshore to offshore flow, the Race course is right in the convergence zone where the flow coming down the Strait of Juan de Fuca (SOJ) meets the flow coming down the Strait of Georgia (SOG). As the flow coming down the SOJ weakens, the flow coming down the SOG will build slightly turning the southerly/southwesterly flow over the San Juan Islands to a north/northwesterly flow. The big question is always, when will this happen? The models are not in agreement which is not surprising considering the lack of a pressure gradient.

The keys for the race are getting out of the starting area, getting through the lee of Guemes Island, and getting up Lummi Island. From there to the Point Roberts Buoy there will probably be more wind slightly to the east of the rhumb line. The wind will be light and from the south/southwest with it generally going very light after around 0200hrs. You would really like to be around the Pt Roberts mark before 0200 and then be sure to take your time at the shorten course mark.

One model does have a northerly of 5-8 kts filling down the SOG and down San Juan Island just before dawn. That combined with the big ebb of the day could get you to Hein Bank in time to catch the flood to the finish. If you’re a big boat with a tall rig and really wanted to roll the dice, you could try sailing down the inside of San Juan Island and gamble that you could make it out of Cattle Pass before about 0900 Saturday morning and the start of the big flood of the day. The big boats could finish by mid-afternoon Saturday.

For the once this year, expect the lighter air to be in the SOJ while the central Sound will have a delightful northerly of 10-15 knots on Saturday before it becomes light on Sunday. This will be a great weekend to be on the water just be sure to have plenty of sunblock and be sure to reapply throughout the day."

That was a pretty accurate forecast by the famous "Bruce the weatherman"! It was a light airs race, with beautiful vistas, and lots of flying code zeros to keep things moving. 

In the three divisions that had thirteen J/Crews participating, each had a podium finish by a top J/Boats team. In the Full Crew 100 Division, taking second was Jim Hinz's J/120 HINZITE. The balance of the top eleven included Dougherty & Andrew's J/125 HAMACHI in 4th, Cathy Van Antwerp's J/111 VALKYRIE in 7th, Phil Dean's J/80 RUSH in 8th, Bob Brunius' J/120 TIME BANDIT in 9th, Jason Vannice's J/35 ALTAIR in 10th, and Tolga Cezik's J/109 LODOS in 11th. An amazing performance by these teams in very challenging conditions. 

Similarly, in the Doublehanded 100 Division, J/Crews took 5 of the top 10! Taking the silver was Vincent Townrow's J/105 KINETIC. They were followed by Christina & Justin Wolfe's J/111 RAKU in 4th, Emre Selzer's J/80 RECKLESS in 5th, Mike Powell's J/33 KEET in 9th, and Karl Halfkinger's J/35 SHEARWATER in 10th. 

Finally, in the Full Crew 50 Division, taking 3rd was Walt Meagher's J/35 SUNSHINE GIRL. All in all, kudos to all crews for their perseverance and concentration to get the job done!

Also, in the recent Scuttlebutt Sailing Newsletter, there was a great article by a participant in the race that gives you a front row seat perspective on the amazing beauty and the trials and tribulations of sailing this tough race.  Read more here on Scuttlebutt.  Sailing photo credits- Sean Trew 

Virtual Seattle YC Grand Prix Adventure!

 

(Seattle, Washington)- The Seattle Yacht Club Grand Prix regatta was cancelled due to the Covid restrictions. As a result, a group of passionate, determined sailors put together a virtual race.  "Virtual" being defined as not online, but "word of mouth" promotion to go sailing on the water, doing the same race because Seattle YC was not permitted by the State of WA to host it!  So, between social media and emails, there was online registration, course information and finish time input. The 17.0nm courses were set up for Saturday and Sunday with a start between a buoy and a painted rock on the Shilshole Breakwater. 


According to J/Northwest dealer Ben Braden, "it was amazing! We had 22 boats signed up for Saturday. But, the weather Gods didn't cooperate. Although a spectacular, beautiful day, it blew 30 knots. It was windy enough that just 5 boats raced; four of which were J/Boats! However, with much milder conditions on Sunday, just as beautiful and blowing 15 knots, TEN J/Teams showed up to get a chance to go for a sail amongst friends. Lots of camaraderie for all!" Thanks to J/Boats Northwest Ben Braden for this report. 

Fun J/99 DASH video sailing Pacific Northwest!

 

(Orcas Island, WA)- The brand-new J/99 DASH Racing recently went out in 20-35 knots a few days ago on West Sound, Orcas Island, Washington. 

Dash Racing is all about LIVING YOUR DASH! Based on Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands, Stephanie and Ken race their J/99 racing sailboat throughout the Pacific Northwest.


As Ken said, "we got DASH out in 20-35 knots today on West Sound. Such a stable boat! Most challenging part of the day? In/out of the slip!".   Watch their J/99 DASH sailing video here   For moreJ/99 shorthanded offshore speedster sailing information

J/Crews Crush Spectacular Down The Sound Race

(Seattle, WA)- One of the most popular offshore races in the Puget Sound summer series is hosted by the infamous and fun-loving members of Sloop Tavern Yacht Club. Their “Down The Sound Race” is a double-handed overnight rally race. The race goes from Seattle up to Gig Harbor on Saturday. Then after overnight festivities, race back on Sunday.

The sailors enjoyed postcard perfect weather conditions all weekend; 80 degrees, blue skies both days, 10 to 15 kts out of the north. It doesn’t get much better for double-handed racing than that!

Tom Kerr had a J/33 named CORVO for years and upgraded to the J/105 two years ago. “I should have done this years ago,” commented Tom after he purchased her and started racing in the Seattle J/105 one-design class.

The downwind run Sunday was so good that the first ten finishers beat the Sloop Tavern RC boat to the finish! As a result, the boat that finished first- the J/120 GREY WOLF- set the line and took people’s finishes down until the committee boat made it!

Double Handed Flying Sails Classes
The J/109 LAPA- owned and skippered by Michael Campbell- took second place in the PHRF Class 2 Double Handed Non-Flying sails division.

In Class 5 Double Handed Flying Sails division, Leo Morales’ J/27 got the bronze.  Meanwhile, their stablemate Ulf George Gwildis’s J/30 IMPULSIVE took fourth just 3 minutes in arrears on corrected time after two days of sailing.

Jessica & John Aguilar-Kazaras’ J/29 RUBY crushed it in Class 6 Double Handed Flying Sails division, winning by over 13 minutes.

Class 7 was the J/80 division.  Winning was Phil Dean’s RUSH, followed by Taylor Joosten’s CRAZY IVAN in second and Richard Demmler’s TASTES LIKE CHICKEN in third position.

The J/105’s swept Class 8 Double Handed Flying Sails.  Winning was Tom Kerr & Serhad’s CORVO 105, followed by Steve Summers’ PUFF in second and Sara Billey’s PEER GYNT in third.

The Hinz/ Butler duo on the J/120 HINZITE pulled off the silver in their Class 9 Doublehanded Flying Sails division, missing the class win by a mere 2 minutes after seven hours of sailing over two days.

Doublehanded Flying Sails Overall
J/Crews took 7 of top 10 overall in the Double Handed Flying Sails division, nearly sweeping the podium. Winning was the Kerr/Serhad duo on the J/105 CORVO 105. Third was the J/120 HINZITE, fourth the J/105 PUFF, fifth the J/105 PEER GYNT, sixth Tad Fairbank’s J/100 SELAH, eighth the J/80 RUSH, and ninth the J/80 CRAZY IVAN! Congratulations to all, fantastic performance!

Jack & Jill Division
There was another prize for the top man/woman “Jack’n’Jill” team for the two 21.667nm races on Saturday and Sunday. Winning was Summers’ J/105 PUFF!  For more Down The Sound Race sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

J/FEST Northwest Regatta Preview

(Seattle, WA)- The 2018 edition of the J/FEST Northwest Regatta will be hosted by Corinthian YC Seattle and J/Boats Northwest for forty-seven teams that include a PHRF class, and one-design fleets of J/24s, J/80s, J/30s, J/97E’s, J/105s, and J/109s.

For 26 years, J/Fest NW produced some of the best racing and after-race socializing available on the planet.  This year it is a two-day regatta (with a Friday night PHRF fun race) open to all J/Boats owners and crew.  The on-the-water activities are hosted by Sail Northwest and CYC Seattle.  Shoreside activities will be at the CYC Seattle Shilshole clubhouse Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday evening’s dinner and door prize extravaganza is always a sellout.  So, come on down and join us for what Northwest Yachting Magazine called “the most looked forward to regatta of the year”- J/FEST Northwest.

The eight-boat PHRF Division includes a fun, eclectic mix of J’s from across the spectrum of time.  At the top end of the spectrum are the sisterships, the J/46 CLAYMORE (Michael Johnston) and the J/44 ASYLUM (Kyle Caldwell and Jamie Thomas).  At the other end of the scale is the J/32 DRAGONFLY (Anice & Alan Flesher).

The eleven-boat J/24 class includes some local, notable, celebrities, like TREMENDOUS SLOUCH (Scott Milne) and TUNDRA ROSE (Carl Sheath).

With eight J/80s, it is the largest turnout ever for this class in the PNW.  Some notable teams are Bryan Rhodes’ CRAZY IVAN and Mike Poole’s JOLLY GREEN (J/80 #1!!).

The J/97E class has Rocky Smith’s INDIGO HORIZONTAL and Eric Barlow’s IRIE. The J/30 class includes Cindy Gossett’s OUTLAW and Jim Bottle’s CELEBRATION.

The always-popular J/105 class of eleven teams has just about all the movers and shakers in the PNW participating. In fact, it’s like a class reunion for 105-lovers!  Amongst the 105 cognoscenti are Jim Geros’ LAST TANGO; Tom Kerr’s CORVO 105; Eric Hopper, Matt Davis, Doug Scherk’s FREE BOWL OF SOUP from Portland, Oregon; Chris Phoenix’s JADED; Jerry Diercks’ DELIRIUM; and Ryan Porter’s AVALANCHE.

Similarly, the five J/109s will be sure to have spirited racing for the Pacific NW Championship Trophy!  Top contenders will certainly include Stu Burnell’s TANTIVY and Jerry Woodfield’s SHADA.  For more J/Fest Northwest Regatta sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Three Buoys Fiasco Race Preview

(Seattle, WA)- The notoriously fun-loving Sloop Tavern YC in Seattle, WA is hosting the newly famous “Three Buoys Fiasco” race.  Like the San Francisco Bay brothers down south that pioneered the Three Bridge Fiasco, the masterminds in the Pacific Northwest thought that sounded like a great idea.  So, in an ode to the SF Bay friends, the race is devised in a similar, devious fashion- three marks are determined prior to the day’s race based on wind & weather conditions, then once you start, you can choose to round them anyway you want, so long as you go around all three!

Loving the organized chaos will be seven J/Crews from across the region.  Two J/105s are going for it (Jeremy Boynes’ AVALANCHE & Jim Geros’ LAST TANGO), two J/80s are in the mix (Alan’s’ STELLAR J & Lek Dimarucot’s UNDERDOG), Bill Daniel’s J/100 TOURIST will be there, so will be Ulf Georg Gwildis’ J/30 IMPULSIVE and Leo Morales’ beautifully restored J/27 WIZARD.  For more Three Buoy Fiasco sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Swiftsure International Yacht Race Preview

(Victoria, BC, Canada)- The third Memorial Day classic has to be the premiere offshore race in the Pacific Northwest- the world-famous Swiftsure International Yacht Race!  Starting on May 26th off the waterfront park in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia, 171 yachts will be doing their best to achieve fame and fortune on one of the three races- the classic Swiftsure Lightship Race of 138.2nm, the Hein Bank Race of 118.1nm, the Cape Flattery Race of 101.9nm, and the Juan de Fuca Race of 78.7nm.

Cape Flattery Race
By far the most popular choice for the thirty-five J/crews participating (20% of the fleet) in the overall event is the Cape Flattery Race, twenty-six in total going the 101nm sprint around the Juan de Fuca Straits!  Six of them are J/105s, with most of the top teams sailing, such as Doug Pihlaja’s ABSTRACT, Doug Schenk’s FREE BOWL OF SOUP, Chuck Stephens’ PANIC, Jim Geros’ LAST TANGO, Chris Phoenix’s JADED, and the 2017 Fleet Champion- Erik Kristen’s MORE JUBILEE.

Similarly, there are five J/109s racing, including Mike Picco’s WILD BLUE, Jim Prentice’s DIVA, Tolga Cezik’s LODOS, Mark Hansen’s MOJO and Tom Sitar’s SERENDIPITY.

Sailing in one big division will be some very experienced offshore crews, such as Alex Smyth’s J/111 65 RED ROSES II, three J/120s (Bob Brunius’ famous TIME BANDIT, Justin Wolfe’s SHEARWWATER, & Chris Johnson’s WITH GRACE), two J/122’s (Tom Kelly’s ANAM CARA & John Murkowski’s JOY RIDE), Ron Holbrook’s J/133 CONSTELLATION, and Scott Campbell’s J/46 RIVA. 

Finally, in this race will be a fleet of classic J’s, including three J/35s (George Leighton’s TAHLEQUAH, Jason Vannice’s ALTAIR, & Andrei Vassilenko’s AORANGI), Willie Wong’s J/36 HARWAR, Tom Keffer’s J/42 VELOCITY, Ron MacKenzie’s J/37 FUTURE PRIMITIVE, and Phil Wampold’s J/92 ZAFF.

Hein Bank Race
There is only one J/team that will be participating in the second longest race, the 118.1nm Hein Bank Race; that is the famous navy-blue J/160 JAM sailed by John McPhail’s race-winning crew from Seattle and Gig Harbor YC.

Juan de Fuca Race
There will be four J/crews sailing in the 78.7nm Juan de Fuca Race.  Two of them are J/30s (John Collins’ SPUD and Colin Bishop’s REDUX) and others are Adrian King-Harris’ J/33 “J” and Walt Meagher’s J/35 SUNSHINE GIRL.

Inshore Racing
Finally, in what amounts to some fun and frolic along the buoys that skirt the pretty Victoria Harbor waterfront will be three J/teams; Tom Kerr’s J/105 CORVO, Ed Pinkham’s J/109 JEOPARDY, and Bart Blainey’s J/30 LIMELIGHT.  For more Swiftsure Race sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Tough Scatchet Head Race

(Seattle, WA)- The second race of the Center Sound Series is now on the books, a three-race even hosted by Corinthian YC of Seattle.  The start on Saturday was at 10:00 AM.  The 26.0nm course left the starting mark buoy to port, round Scatchet Head Lighted Gong Buoy (LL#16555) to port, and finish by leaving the finishing mark buoy to port.

In Class 2, John Sezer’s J/80 RECKLESS has a 4-6 so far and sits in 4th place, followed by the J/80 TAJ MAHAL in 5th and Leo Morales’ J/27 WIZARD in 7th.

Crushing Class 3 was Pat Denney’s J/29 HERE & NOW, counting two 1sts in their scoreline for the series.

Class 4 was comprised of the J/105 one-design class.  At this time, Erik Kristen’s MORE JUBILEE is leading with a 2-1 for 3 pts, followed by Jim Geros’ LAST TANGO with a 1-4 for 5 pts and Chris Phoenix’s JADED with a 4-3 for 7 pts.  It is tight racing amongst these tenacious competitors!

In Class 5, Don & George Leighton’s J/35 TAHLEQUAH sits in 5th place with a 5-4 and just behind them is Natalie Pryde’s J/92S SHIVA with an 8-6 tally.

In general, the J/109s normally rule their Class 6, but they had a rough go of it this time around.  Top J/109 was Stu Burnell’s TANTIVY in 3rd place with a 6-3.  Chris Johnson’s J/120 WITH GRACE sits in 4th with a 4-5.  Then, Jerry Woodfield’s J/109 SHADA was 5th with a 7-6.

By far the most “loaded” class for talent was Class 7, with some of the Pacific Northwest’s top sailors in their ranks.  Nevertheless, John Murkowski’s J/122E JOY RIDE sits in 2nd place with a 2-4, just one point off the leader Carl Buchan (he’s an Olympic Gold Medallist!). Sitting in 6th place is Shawn Dougherty & Jason Andrews’ J/125 HAMACHI with a 6-5.

In the “big boat” class, we find Bill Fox sailing the redoubtable J/160 JAM into 3rd place so far, with a 3-4 tally.  Not bad for a “cruising/ racing” boat racing against a trio of TP52s, and a custom RP55!  Sailing photo credits- Jan's Pics/ Jan Anderson.  For more Corinthian YC Seattle Center Sound Series sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.