Miserable weather from start to finish…but I’d do it again in an instant! We rigged in pouring rain and it continued all day right through racing and de-rigging. Apparently it was sleeting at some point but I never noticed. I was soaked-through after the first two races and was surprisingly chilly given the mild (mid-40 degree) winter temperature.
On the other hand the wind made it well worthwhile. RS Aeros, ILCA 6 & 7s and Optis shared the course in a gusty 15-20 mph southerly, veering slightly southeast through the first two races. Both races favored FAST. Those who jumped out ahead at the start on a short starboard beat, tacked onto port and dialed in the speed on a direct fetch to the windward mark were surely to lead the rest of the way. It was a breezy broad reach downwind to the turn at the pin of the start/finish line, twice around, concluding with downwind finishes. (course AFAF)
As the wind shifted to the east in mid-afternoon the race committee moved the windward mark to the Shilshole Marina break-wall and also added a true leeward mark. The windward mark position was adjusted between the next 3 races as the wind direction jostled between east and southeast. Coming off the land the wind remained shifty and gusty at about 8-12 mph. The course was windward, then downwind rounding the finish pin, second windward, downwind to the leeward mark and then upwind to the finish. (course BFBZF)
Sunday was a different story. The rain disappeared but so did the wind. Sailors never left the dock and shortly after noon the race committee canceled racing for the day. Based on the 5 races completed by the RS Aeros on Saturday, Dalton Bergan finished 1st among the 15 competitors. Jay Renehan finished 2nd and Michael Johnson 3rd. Although four ILCA 7s registered for the regatta only two ended up racing and after duking it out in 4 races Mark Ross finished the regatta ahead of John Hodges. Four ILCA 6s competed in three races resulting in a first for Vittorio Litrofa and Sammy Farkas in second. Three Opti races with 5 participants resulted in a regatta win for AnTe Lin and Reagan Starke second.
Although attendance was light it was still great sailing and an exhilarating day on the water.
Cheers,
Mark Ross