88 degrees Fahrenheit. Imagine that! A record high temperature to start off The Seattle Laser & Aero Fleet Frostbite Series for 2022-2023. A somewhat hazy sky from forest fire smoke infiltrating Shilshole Bay and the Sound, although a little less than on land and not nearly as dense as could be seen in Mukilteo and north.
The wind was light at about 5 mph NNW, but plenty enough for the 8 Aeros and 5 full rig Lasers to have a very competitive afternoon of racing. We started off with a few short warm-up races to the windward mark and directly back to the start-finish line (downwind finish). Then the Race Committee dropped a leeward mark making for a relatively long course by Frostbite standards. Wasting no time, the next starts came immediately after each finish making for about 7 races each fleet. It appeared to me that the boats heading out from the start toward deeper water and then a long port tack to the windward mark tended to make out better. The tide was short and outgoing which may be what made the difference presuming the current to be faster toward the middle of the Sound. Regardless, the windward mark roundings were tight, and with the long downwind leg there was a surprising amount of position changes getting to the leeward mark.
Our appreciation to volunteer race committee Dan Falk and Wendy for running Frostbite #1 races. Great mark setting, square starting line, lot of races. As a BONUS, they were able to follow both the Aero and Laser fleets during racing and offer some coaching tips/comments. Very much appreciated. After racing and all boats put away, Dan joined the Laser sailors in the parking lot for a brief discussion of strategy on the course and some sailing techniques. Dan hopes to make a post-racing debrief a standard practice with both fleets following every Frostbite event.
The next SLF Frostbite series race is Sunday afternoon November 6, 2022, starting at 12:30 PM. Sign-up through seattlelaserfleet.org
Frostbite #2 on November 6 is the last chance for Frostbite racing prior to the Turkey Bowl Regatta. The Turkey Bowl Regatta is November 19-20, 2022.