PT Nationals Bound. Needs to Raise Funds ASAP!
Our kids have done a great job this years. Now it's our turn to step up. Sorry I have been behind on regatta reports, it's been crunch time! By virtue of great sailing and pure grit by the kids in what came down to a total nail biter regatta, Port Townsend has qualified for Nationals. We won by a mere 2 points over 32 races. The regatta was not decided until the final race (between Bainbridge and ourselves). Long story short, we are heading to Chicago Yacht Club in less than two weeks to compete with the best of the [...]
White Cap 2013 Race 4
Photo by Craig Wester This week we were fortunate to have a committee boat (YEA!), Jon Kaplan’s Ramble. Thanks Jon! With Ramble between the I and T marks we could set a windward-leeward twice around course. The wind was about 12 kts gusting to 18 or so, pretty ideal conditions. Many boats ran the line for the start and it got crowded at the pin. Silent Way was forced over early but apparently didn’t hear the recall. An erroneous PHRF rating for Martha has been corrected. Everyone should check the ratings we are using in case other errors [...]
White Cap Series Race 4 Photos
WIZARD, PTSA White Cap Series, Race 4. Photo by Michael DeLagarza More great photos by Michael DeLagarza after the break. […]
High Tech Restoration
Capt. Nat's offset machine is even cooler.
AC History
Long, but good.
Win a LIFESLING!
Win a Lifesling by practicing two MOB drills Boating safety is a concern to all sailors and in an effort to promote safety; the PTSA is encouraging the entire fleet to practice man-over-board drills. During the spring and summer race series all boats which complete the man-over-board drills and watch the LIFESLING video will be eligible to win a new LIFESLING (value $150, compliments of PTSA and West Marine) Of the two drills, the skipper can be at the helm during one of the retrievals. The second drill should be run by a member of the crew. It [...]
White Cap Series Race 3 Photos
Lapworth 45 Ocean Racer ANNIE, TOO doing what she was born to do. Photo by Craig Wester click for bigger image more pics from White Cap Race 3 after the break […]
White Cap 2013 Race 3 Results
Doug and Ann out in RAVEN on another blustery evening looking good and going fast. Photo by Wendy Feltham. This week nine boats came out to enjoy a warmer evening than the past two races. The wind was from the west and hovered around 18 – 20 kts. which made for a fast race, everyone finishing within an hour. The course was SITBF. The ‘D’ mark would have been included but it was accidentally left on the dock. Once again we include a second set of results for this race using the golf handicap. Based on last week’s [...]
Mystery Ketch Mystery No More
IDRIL at Patterson Glacier in Alaska. In last Friday's race report, PRO Dave Burrows wrote, "This week we welcomed a new boat to our fleet, a gaff rigged ketch. We didn’t get her name yet and have assigned a provisional rating." In response, skipper Michael Truex sent along the following ... "[Here are] a few photos of IDRIL in her home waters near Frederick sound, Alaska. An Atkin "Jonquil" by design, she is 33' 9" by 10' 6" with a draft of 5'4." I carry all sail up to around 25 knots, which turned out to be handy [...]
Providing GPS Data to DSC VHF Radios
The DSC (Digital Selective Calling) "panic button" is one of the more important safety innovations in the last few years. Pressing the button for 5 seconds will send an automated mayday call to all nearby DSC radios. The mayday message will sound an alarm on other boat's radio and then show the position of the distressed vessel. The mayday message will also interrupt any conversations occurring on any receiving radios. The Coast Guard automatically sees and records the message. The fact that the GPS coordinates do not have to be relayed over voice is quite an innovation. There [...]
White Cap 2013 Race 2
On a cold and cloudy day, a beam of light appeared to welcome PEGASUS back on the Bay. Camera and possibly photo by Satch Yarbrough. Once again we had plenty of wind, around 18 kts at the start, varying in strength and direction (S – SE) throughout the race and steadily building to 25+ at the end. The course was SDIGIDBF and all boats finished within the time limit. This week we welcomed a new boat to our fleet, a gaff rigged ketch. We didn’t get her name yet and have assigned a provisional rating. We include a second [...]
Cold Water Shock and Drowning
Dr. Kent Benedict gave a talk on cold water shock and drowning at a recent U.S. Sailing Safety at Sea seminar in the Bay Area. Like many of the talks at the seminar, the topic was presented in light of the tragic race drownings in California last year. Dr. Benedict related that all of the Low Speed Chase deaths at the Farallone Islands were caused by drowning, not by trauma or hypothermia. This drowning was probably initiated by cold water shock. When suddenly submerged in cold water, the body will start an uncontrollable gasping reflex for 10 to 30 [...]
PTHSST Takes Big Bus to Island Cup and Wins
Start 2 at the Island Cup. High School sailing is taking off on the Salish Sea. Photo by Shawn Thomas Coach Erik Coburn reports on the Sailing Team’s most recent regatta. Port Townsend High School Sailing Team (PTHSST) extended their regatta winning streak to three at the Island Cup hosted by Friday Harbor High School Sailing Team at Roche Harbor Resort. This regatta was the most highly-attended regatta in PNW High School sailing history, with 28 teams and over 180 kids in attendance. The Port Townsend team sailed to the regatta in Port Townsend style aboard the PT-berthed [...]
PT Wooden Boat Festival
Great video by OffCenterHarbor.com hit the web on Sailing Anarchy this AM. Thanks Erik Coburn for the tip.
Boat to sell? Bring it to Port Ludlow Saturday
Customers peruse the goods at last year’s show. Photo courtesy of Port Ludlow Marina From Deborah Bach on Threesheets NW... If you’ve got a boat to sell, Kori Ward wants to hear from you. Ward manages Port Ludlow Marina, which will host the fifth annual “For Sale by Owner Boat Show and Marine Swap” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, April 13. But as of yesterday there were just seven boats registered for the event, compared with 25 last year, and Ward is encouraging owners with boats to sell to get in touch with her. “We [...]
Swiftsure Encouraging Classic Yacht Entry
This year the Swiftsure International Yacht Race is making an effort to encourage the entry of “classic yachts”. These boats probably don’t qualify as classic yachts but the Strait looks tame and the mountains lovely. The Swiftsure International Yacht Race is no ordinary yacht race; it’s a festival of four different race courses with excitement and camaraderie that draws as many as 200 of the Pacific Northwest’s sailboats and an international audience of thousands to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. 2013 will see the Royal Victoria Yacht Club (RVYC) host the 70th Swiftsure International Yacht Race from May 23 [...]
Spring 2013 Whitecap Race 1 Results
Good to see Ted Pike’s ANNIE, TOO back on the water and in her element, good, strong pressure. Photo by Wendy Feltham Eight boats came out for what turned into a rugged race. The wind was from the SW and steadily building at the start. Later readings of 28+ kts were measured at the dock, it was stronger out on the course. The course was SDGBF and it was quite a struggle to reach the windward mark at G. It was great to see Martha joining us and to have Annie Too back in competition. Full results and [...]
First Race of the Spring Whitecap Series Friday
It's been a long winter but PTSA's 2013 racing season starts tomorrow when the gun goes off around 6 PM for the first Spring Whitecap Series race of the year. Where The Friday, April 5th start will be a dock start off City Dock. Starts At Friday's race there will be one start for all boats sailing the long course. In the future we hope to offer two starts with the second start being for what we are calling the PT Fleet consisting of all boats, both wood and fiberglass, we are encouraging to come out and join in the [...]
The Long Leg (1935) by Edward Hopper
Thanks to Libby Atkins for posting this on Facebook. Sailing season has arrived.
Call to Action
Call To Action This is an urgent message from the Recreational Boating Association of Washington (RBAW). Last session, the Legislature raided $3.3M from the boaters’ $9.7M un-refunded gas tax funds (the Recreation Resource Account) that are dedicated to launch ramps and other related water-access projects for boaters around the State. Please email your Legislators now asking them to restore the Recreation Resource Account in the Capital Budget to its dedicated $9.7M level. The process to send emails is easy and just takes a minute. Please click on the link below to log in and send a message to your Legislators. [...]