Race Report | Port Townsend Sailing Association

America’s Cup Live Broadcasts This Weekend

If you have the time and interest you can tune in to the live broadcasts of the America's Cup series races from Venice this weekend. Quite a treat to hear the familiar "Guys, we got a cluster f**k here" spoken by a highly paid athlete in an Australian accent.

It's an amazing sight with the Cup catamarans racing in the narrow confines of the bay in front of lovely and historic Venice.

You can find the races at http://www.youtube.com/AmericasCup.

PTHS Sailing Team Shines in the Season’s First Regatta

On March 3^rd, the Port Townsend High School Sailing team competed in a season “kick off” regatta hosted by the Seattle Yacht Club. Sixteen races were sailed in shifty and gusty winds ranging from 5-18 knots. Port Townsend finished towards the back of the fleet in the first few races. Rather than allowing this to foretell their position in the regatta, team members chose to learn quickly and apply the lessons to the next race. Maintaining this philosophy of foreword thinking and constant learning, the team quickly positioned themselves towards the front of the fleet where consistency and calm nerves then paid off.

continue reading » PTHS Sailing Team Shines in the Season’s First Regatta

2012 Shipwrights’ Race Results and Photos

Leland Gibson's MORNING FLIGHT flying past Pt. Hudson on the way to the red buoy. Photo Ace Spragg

The race was held on Sunday, after gale warnings and lumpy seas prevented the usual Saturday start. Sunday was a glorious day to be racing on Port Townsend Bay, and the fleet of almost 20 boats looked fabulous!

Thanks to our sponsors: The Northwest Maritime Center and Cafe whose support for sailing on the Bay is always appreciated, Sunrise Coffee, PT Brewing Company, SEA Marine and The Port of Port Townsend. Thanks as always to Myron and Dave of the Port Townsend Sailing Association Race Committee for running the race.

More photos after the jump by Ace Spragg of the NWMC who was in the Martha J, and Elizabeth Becker who was on Union Wharf.

Results:

A Class (Racing)

1. Wizard                        Dan Gintner
2. Coco Solo                   John Carey
3. Thatuna                      John Lynes

B Class (Cruising)

1. Ramble                        Jon Kaplan
2. Step’n Annie              Satch Yarbrough
3. Suva                             Lloyd Baldwin

Some other notable awards:

Taku Award – for the best start: Thatuna
Peg Leg & Bronze Belaying Pin – for the first to finish: Wizard
Van Hope Award – for the youngest crew: Suva
Shanghai Award – for the most “pickup” crew: Sjovind

more photos after the jump
continue reading » 2012 Shipwrights’ Race Results and Photos

Evelyn 26 NIMBUS Takes Duamish Head Overall

NIMBUS formerly known as IMPULSE of the PTSA

From Ballard Sailor’s report on the 2012 Duamish Head Race on Pressure Drop.

By 2pm the mid raters were crossing the finish line en masse, but amongst them was a little 26 foot boat sailed by one of those old Des Moines Sea Scouts – [...]

MARTHA, Making Wood Look Good…Again!

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Night Cap Series 2011 / Race 3 / First race completed

The Night Cap Series has gotten off to a rough start. In Race 1 the winds diminished enough that no boats finished. Race 2 was abandoned due to a Gale Warning and winds gusting to near 40.

10 boats came out for Race 3 and all “finished” though Kolus’s finish could not be counted as they finished in the wrong direction and did not re-cross the line in the right direction. No Name and Second Wind did the same, but then crossed in the right direction.

The RC made a mistake in signing the tower for a port rounding which could have caused traffic problems, and then made an error in changing the rounding direction during the race.

The Wizard was the first boat to round the tower and seeing that they were taking it to starboard, Sirocco called the RC and asked if it wasn’t supposed to be a port rounding. I was in error to tell Sirocco on VHF that they should follow The Wizard in rounding to starboard as that was a safer direction. The correct response would have been “sail the course as posted.” Because the race committee course board set the course to round mark T to port (any letter without an underline means round to port), any boat rounding to starboard should have been DSQ. Due to my error, no boat will be disqualified for rounding in either direction. We will try not to repeat this mistake and urge participants to pay close attention to the course board.

At this time, the race 3 results are also the overall results.

continue reading » Night Cap Series 2011 / Race 3 / First race completed