Seven boats showed up at City Dock, 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2024, for the first distance race of the season. A strong ebb, 10 knot Northwesterly breeze, and a cloudless sky made for a very pleasant port tack all the way to Smith Island and a glorious spinnaker run back to Port Townsend. To round out perfection, the notorious (“washing machine”) turbulence north of the Point Wilson lighted Buoy #6 to Partridge Bank was barely present.
The J120 speedster Magdalena (Greg and Leslie Barron) took line honors, completing the course in four hours twenty-five minutes. The beautiful Danish spitsgatter Cito bested the fleet on PHRF handicap. Well done Citoand crew (Sean Rankin, Peter Robenson, owner of the custom Sloop Pleides, NWSWB student Spencere Ericksen, and Tally Ho crew member Patrick Kingshill). Two Thunderbirds, Falcon and Owl, battled closely around the course, never separated by more than 10 seconds for the entire 22 mile course. David James and crew on Salsa closed quickly at the end, returning to City Dock just 15 minutes behind the Thunderbirds. David Rust and his crew on the Sweden 45 Amsala flashed broad smiles rounding Smith Island. Newcomer Maluhia took the scenic route. Welcome to Maluhia and crew.
Most of the fleet rounded the Islands from east to west (counter-clockwise). The winning move, said Dale Dunning on Owl was to ride the port tack to near the southwest tip of Smith Island, round clockwise and take advantage of the current heading south along Whidbey Island. Magdalena headed west looking for the pronounced counter current along North Beach to Point Wilson, but they paid a steep price crossing the main part of the ebb flow out Admiralty Inlet. Sean Rankin reports: “We rounded Smith island counter clockwise. It was a difficult split decision, as we were really close on the two birds on approaching the island, and I was reluctant to split away from them at the island. But we went with Pedro’s wise choice to go round the other way. But we knew the current was good on the other side of the spit and would round faster, and come into the westerly sooner out in the straights, which happened on both accounts.”
See you all on April 27 for the Partridge Point distance race. Note: in order to encourage participation, you will be able to sign up for all future Distance races ahead of time at PTSAIl.org. A little peer pressure never hurts!
Port Townsend Sailing Association