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.

White Cap 2012 Race 6

10 boats came out for a cool evening with variable winds.  Before the start, a good NE wind looked like B first then, whoops NW light. Became NW building after start.  Quick race.

These results are being amended 5/20/12 to represent Sirocco’s new rating certificate putting her PHRF at 177.

Also there has been a question about the lack of DSQ’s at the Ferry Dock.  It appeared that there were boats between about 20 yards and 120 yards from the dock.  Without a mark there, it is not possible for us to determine which boats are the proscribed distance from the terminal.  We will try to have a mark there in the future.


continue reading » White Cap 2012 Race 6

Port to Port 2012

SCIROCCO and THATUNA racing back to PT. Photo by Wendy Feltham from SILENT WAY

(Results revised Monday, May 14.  Norma Mae has been given a provisional rating of 150 and Sea Puppy’s time has been included)

Eleven PT boats, and one Sequim boat (Sea Puppy), were ready to challenge Port Ludlow sailors Sunday morning for a race to Port Townsend.  Apparently the sight was so intimidating that no Ludlow boats dared to join in, or maybe they are all NBA fans (who knows?).

Silent Way was the first to call the RC as they finished.  By the time I got to City Dock the fifth finisher, Sirocco, was about to cross the line.  A big thanks to The Wizard for taking times in my absence.  My GPS time for Sirocco was 14:48:12 and the Wizard’s time on course for Sirocco was 2 hours 53 minutes 12 seconds.  To accommodate for this 5 minute difference, I subtracted five minutes from the time on course given for finishers 2, 3 & 4 (Silent Way, The Wizard, & Dorado) so they would be in sync with the 8 finishes I subsequently took via GPS and Sea Puppy’s time which was taken with GPS.  Confused yet?

In addition to the rated boats, Pleades finished 12th at 15:11:58.


continue reading » Port to Port 2012

White Cap 2012 race 5

13 boats came out for a beautiful evening on the Bay.  Unfortunately the later starting boats missed a great opportunity to top the fleet by remembering that the Sailing Instructions specify staying 100 yards from the ferry terminal EVEN WHEN NO FERRY IS PRESENT.  It’s not our idea, but the Coast Guard’s.

So we pulled a “PT” and pretended that since the entire fleet was in violation, then “whatever.”  Sirocco had been setting a little tet off the ferry dock, but not lately.  Not that they are to blame, esp. with two boats sailing inside the terminal pilings!

We realize that without a mark, judging 100 yards can be difficult, but if one boat had made an effort to at least demonstrate some respect for this rule, we would have had to disqualify the rest of the fleet.


continue reading » White Cap 2012 race 5

White Cap 2012 Races 3 & 4

Ironically, Race 4 ended almost the same way race 3 never started-no wind.

With a steady NW breeze at the start, it seemed that Indian Point to the tower and back would offer the best possible windward/leeward opportunity.  The situation began to deteriorate as the fleet attempted to round the tower and never improved.

Of the 10 starters, 6 finished.  Results are incomplete since Vivace finished before Step’n Anne at 19:47:15 but I’m not certain of Vivace’s PHRF.


continue reading » White Cap 2012 Races 3 & 4

White Cap 2012 Race 2

12 boats and at least one 505 came out for a pleasant evening of racing.

I’d like to suggest a big shout out to our newest RC member, Lenore Collins. Many of you have already met her as Manager of West Marine. We certainly appreciate her vast experience and enthusiasm for Race Committee!
continue reading » White Cap 2012 Race 2