For some fleets the Puget Sound Sailing Championship Regatta, or PSSC, is the annual year-end wrap-up of the Corinthian Yacht Club Seattle buoy racing season. For the Lasers and RS Aero fleets it is the start of the Frostbite season. In recent years participation in PSSC has not been large in numbers but it is surprisingly rewarding in that it remains competitive yet carefree and a very fun way to spend the weekend.
Racing started at 11am on Saturday with a sunny blue sky and an easy northerly breeze at about 8-10 knots. While the wind would shift a bit in either direction it was long in coming and all said and done was fairly steady. Doing all the basics right, from getting a good start to finding clear air, keeping the boat moving, and not making mistakes made for a winning formula. In mid afternoon the wind was picking up and steadily increased from 13-17 knots for the afternoon. For the last few races the waves built right up, as did the chop and confused sea state from other boat traffic and short tide changes, favoring those who could steer through it and keep the boat moving well upwind, and then working the waves for acceleration and speed downwind. The windward mark was moved to the northeast commensurate with the 15 degree wind shift. Those that worked right in the last races tended to make out best around the windward mark. A lot of us were ready to call it a day after the planned 6 races. With good forethought PRO Geoff Pease sent us on one more short race in anticipation of a “no wind” forecast for day 2.
On Sunday, the race committee got one race off in a very light wind. By the time the Aeros got to the first mark the wind on the left side of the course was dubious. When the Lasers got around the first mark the wind had died across the course and and the Lasers struggled toward the leeward mark. Eventually the slightest of a whisper from the northwest worked from the back of the fleet forward as the sailor who was well out front watched the fleet baring down. That little wind moved west and thus was a very tight reach into the leeward mark on starboard. Gybing around the leeward mark boats marched the lay line on a loose port tack to the finish.
RS AERO RESULTS (11 competitors): At the end of the first day, counting 6 of the 7 races after a throw-out, Dan Falk lead the 11 boat fleet. Dan started off a little slow on the first 2 races with a 4th (his throw-out), then a 3rd, followed by four bullets and a 2nd. Michael Johnson followed with three 2nd place finishes and three 3rds. Keith Hammer was in third with his best races of one first and two 2nds. The one race on Sunday did not change the final order of the regatta results and thus in that order was Dan, Michael and Keith “at the podium.” It is worthy of note that the RS Aero 9 World Championships in June found these three on the podium, in order, Dan (1st), Keith (2nd) and Michael (3rd).
LASER FULL RIG RESULTS (5 competitors): John Hodges started Saturday off well with two first place finishes, three seconds and one 3rd after the throw-out. This had him tied for 1st in points with Mark Ross, who missed the first race, sailed to the wrong mark on the second race (finishing 4th) and then pulled off four 1sts and a 2nd. Going into Sunday John and Mark changed the lead most of the way up the first leg until John suddenly accelerated and was well ahead around the windward mark and the downwind leg by the time Mark got to the weather buoy. As detailed in the second paragraph, with all boats adrift, luck found Mark with a whisper of wind and John fought to round the leeward buoy right on Mark’s stern. That race decided the final order for the regatta and it was Mark in first, John in second and Jim Santroch in third. Kudos to John Manix, the only participant who travelled from outside the region, and Dylan Young who finished with a 1st and 2nd in the first two races and, as the only super-light weight competitor, didn’t really have a chance sailing a full rig in the 5 higher wind races.