Summer Cat’s Paw Series – Race 1
Twelve boats came out to enjoy a warm sunny evening and the committee boat operated flawlessly. The wind in the middle of the bay before the race was 6 – 8 kts. with infrequent higher gusts, the direction steady at 280 deg M. A temporary leeward mark was set to establish a true windward/leeward leg from “I”, some variety was added by including reaching legs. The course posted was SILBLF and, rather than a reach, LB was a fetch. As the wind was forecast to soften, the time limit was increased to 2.5 hrs. After the start the [...]
Kevin Jones aboard the Capri 25 BACKBEAT completes a SHTP qualifier
Kevin Jones aboard his Capri 25 and Jak Mang and his Ingrid MAITREYA are preparing to leave PT for San Francisco and the start of the 2014 Singlehanded TransPac from San Francisco to Hanalei. Here’s the story of Kevin Jone’s qualifier from the Singlehanded Sailing Society’s blog. I did my qualifier last week ( May 1, 2014) . Left Port Townsend at about 1300 on April 28th. Beat out of Admiralty inlet against a stiff current for seven hours. Once I got into the Strait the wind was mostly from the East, oscillating in a narrow range from ENE to [...]
Headsail Trim on a Reach
Photo #1 Dan Newland offers up some ideas on outboard sheeting when reaching. Here are some photos I happened to stumble into when I looked at PTSA racing pictures. The pictures illustrate why you need to go to outboard sheeting when reaching. Modern high aspect, low clewed jibs/genoas work well going to weather but suffer on a reach. When you crack off your headsail on a reach what happens is you twist off the top of the sail reducing power while the clew continues to line up with the inboard track. if you switch the headsail lead to [...]
Spring Whitecap Series 2014 – Race 7
SPARKLE, PEGASUS and STEP’N ANNIE head out for the nights adventures. Photo by Peter Leenhouts. This was planned as a “make-up” race to try to to complete a six race series should a regular race not be completed. And compensate for last week’s bust it did! Although there was no noticeable wind at the Boat Haven at 4:30 pm. and the various forecasts couldn’t agree between North at 2 kts and SSW at 7 kts., the wind at the dock came up suddenly at 5:15 pm. We were seeing 5 – 7 kts cycling between 280 and 295 [...]
Spring Whitecap Series 2014 – Race 7 Photos
Thanks Wendy for another great set of photos. [imagebrowser id=71]
Puff Response Upwind
At some point these hot days may bring in the dinner winds and with it some gusty conditions. Here's a video from Bill Gladstone of North U on the right way to respond to a heavy gust, trim don't feather.
Found after 500 years, the wreck of Christopher Columbus’s flagship the Santa Maria
from The Independent Shipwreck found off coast of Haiti thought to be one of the most significant underwater discoveries in history More than five centuries after Christopher Columbus’s flagship, the Santa Maria, was wrecked in the Caribbean, archaeological investigators think they may have discovered the vessel’s long-lost remains – lying at the bottom of the sea off the north coast of Haiti. It’s likely to be one of the world’s most important underwater archaeological discoveries. “All the geographical, underwater topography and archaeological evidence strongly suggests that this wreck is Columbus’ famous flagship, the Santa Maria,” said the leader of a [...]
Protection Island Race With NWMA This Saturday
Let's get a great turnout of all you folks who have been asking for longer courses. The NWMA sailing instructions are at http://www.nwmultihull.org/northwest-multihull-regatta-2014 Last minute update. There will NOT be a buoy at Kanum Point, now you MUST round the Island (in either direction - your choice). I suggest you designate a crew member whose sole duty is to project the course forward on the chart and watch the depth sounder with no distractions. Don't forget the strong current set.
Spring Whitecap Series 2014 – Race 6
The short version is that 14 boats came out, the wind didn’t, the course was too long and no boats finished in time. So we will try again with the make-up race next Friday. Actually, of course, the details are more complicated (and maybe interesting?). All the wind forecasts were for 4 – 6 kts. from the South, all the reports showed a Northerly 6 -8 kts. gusting over 10 and tending to be strongest outside the bay. A heavy rain shower came through about 4 pm and reduced the wind strength considerably though maintaining its direction. The Race Committee [...]
Mixed PT Fleet Round Pt Hudson Buoy
Photo by Satch Yarbrough So I thought this was an interesting perspective, a World War One fort in the background (Fort Warden) and the schooner ADVENTURESS sailing behind a nuclear sub coming into the bay. I was standing on the bluffs at Fort Flagler, looking back across Port Townsend Bay. Camera is max zoomed, so not the clearest, but hey, this was a very long way away!
Farewell SIROCCO
One our Bay’s quickest and loveliest boats, Steve Scharf’s SIROCCO. by Larry Fisher It’s often said that all boats are for sale, yet it was hard to believe the rumors we started to hear a few months ago. Could it possibly be true that Steve Scharf was preparing to part with Sirocco? For even in a town blessed with more than its share of special boats, Sirocco was a standout: beautiful, fast, meticulously maintained, and possessed of an esprit de corps that the rest of the fleet could only envy. But after 10 years Steve has sold Sirocco [...]
Protection Island Race, Saturday May 17th
NWMH and PTSA Protection Island Race, Saturday, May 17, 2014 Tired of the Tower? It's time to get out of town. The Northwest Multihull Association are holding their annual regatta in Port Townsend on May 16, 17 and 18. PTSA is providing a race committee for them. On May 17 th. NWMA are running a Round Protection Island race and for all you PTSA’ers that have been begging for longer races they have agreed to a second start for our fleet. There will be a rounding mark at Kanem Point at the far west end of Protection Island. [...]
Spring Whitecap Series – Race 5
No pictures from Race 5 but here’s a picture by Steve Stanton from Race 3. Photo by Steve Stanton. PTSA 2014 White Cap Series Race 3. In summary, we were once again presented with good racing conditions, winds were better than predicted – in the 7 – 9 kt. range at the start building later to 10 – 12 with long duration gusts to 14+ kts. The wind direction throughout the race was WNW with only occasional small shifts noticed at the committee boat. There was a fifteen minute postponement of the start due to the committee making [...]