Bertram Levy’s Murrelet: The Wooden Boat Tradition is Alive and Well in Port Townsend
By Roland Nikles Port Townsend, Washington, is proud of its wooden boat tradition. At the twilight of the commercial sailing era it was a bustling seaport, strategically located at the entrance to Puget Sound. Shipyards, boatwrights, foundries, shipping agents, a majestic customs house on the hill, and a busy waterfront have left their mark. Today Port Townsend identifies as a Victorian sea-port and arts community. The wooden boat tradition has shifted from the utilitarian to the aesthetic. […]
Photos from the PHRF Whitecap Series 2019
The PHRF Whitecap series was a success with good racing and some beautiful evenings. Plans are being made for a PHRF fall series. Stay tuned.
Distance Series – McCurdy Point Race, 2019
Before the start the wind was varying between 340° & 010°M, 2 – 5 kts. By the start the wind had steadied on 330° and built to 6 – 7 kts with the occasional gust to 9. It was sunny and warm, a beautiful day for a race. Unfortunately, as the fleet was approaching McCurdy Point, the wind died to the point that they were unable to progress against the building flood. Nobody finished. Next up in the Distance Series is the ever popular P to P race and party on May 18/19 weekend […]
Distance Race Series 2019 – Bush Point Results
Four boats came out in the face of a forecast for a Southerly gale. The wind at City Dock after the start was coming from 175°M at 13 Kts. with gusts to 16. Reportedly, after the boats rounded Marrowstone Point they found 30+ kt. southerly winds and 3 foot seas. Magic Bus retired with a broken main halyard. Knot Raven, equipped with reef points, wisely retired, apparently before breaking anything. Owl did not report a finish.. Distance Series 2019 Bush Point Race Information is provisional and subject to modification Regatta results saved: Monday, April 15, 2019 8:01:57 PM [...]
Distance Races
ALERT Bush Pt. Race 10:00am April 13, City Dock ALERT Bush Point Race - Addendum to PTSA 2019 Sailing Instructions SCHEDULE – Saturday April 13 th. The Warning signal will be at 10:00 hrs on City Dock. RULES – As in 2019 Sailing Instructions for PTSA Races, except as amended herein. COURSE – Cross Start line at City Dock towards NE. Round mark "SC" to port (it's the yellow mid-channel buoy West of Bush Point). Cross the Finish line at City Dock towards SW. Course distance is 14.9 nm. CLASSES – All boats will start together and race with [...]
April Whitecap Series 2019, PHRF Race 1
Mid afternoon the running of this race was in doubt as the Southerly wind was around 30 kts with gusts over 40. The forecast was for amelioration and after 16:00 the wind, still Southerly, was around 10 – 12 kts and the whitecaps had disappeared. […]
New Friday PHRF Race Series
Since a number of the boats in the PHRF fleet could not make the Wednesday evening races we have added a new series that will run on Fridays starting at 6:15pm. The first race is 4/5/2019. All boats are welcome. If you are not sure what PHRF means and want to know more click here. And don't forget the kickoff party this Thursday!
Tour-de-Bay Race Results and Distance Series Final Standings
The Tour-de-Bay was the fourth and final race of the Distance series. The course set was SBHGIYTBF, 11.9 nm. The start, from City Dock, was delayed by half an hour for lack of wind. For the early part of the race there was good wind East of a line from Point Hudson to Indian Island Navy Pier but very little to the West. Half the fleet persisted and finished just before the 5 hr time limit, the rest did not report a finish. […]
Distance Race #4 – TOUR-de-BAY, This Sunday.
The TOUR-de-BAY Distance Race is this Sunday, July 29 th. This race provides a challenging change from short W/L courses. An approximately 15 nm. course, depending on wind, set inside the bay. With multiple legs varying from .5 to 3 nm., using all points of sail, in and out of current. Every sailboat welcome, with or without a PHRF rating. Start from City Dock at noon.
Distance Series, Port-to-Port Race Results
Eight boats came out on a warm and sunny weekend for this popular, two race, overnight party. The races are part of the Distance Series. The Saturday race had the potential for congestion with the PTYC Opening Day parade and the massed finish of the STYC Race to the Straits pursuit race. These proved to be non-problems. The wind on City Dock at the start of the Southbound race was ~8 kts. ±2, hovering around 290 ±10 deg.M but it appeared weaker and more Northerly away from shore. With the N wind and flood current the leaders turned in times [...]
Distance Race Series – Port to Port – May 5 th. & 6 th.
The first race starts from City Dock on May 5 th. at 14:30 hrs. The Sailing Instructions are available for printing here P to P 2018 . Or you can read them:- […]
2018 – Distance Race Series – McCurdy Point Race
It was a cool, but not rainy, race with better than expected winds. Four boats came out and everyone finished in under three hours. Owl was first across the line with an impressive performance beating the three much bigger boats. Next distance race is Port to Port from PT to Port Ludlow with an overnight stay in Ludlow (May 5-6). Sparkle leads Pacifica out of the bay. Martha and Pacifica Owl leads Pacifica into the Strait. Pacifica under spinnaker. […]
2017 Distance Race Series – Sequim Bay Race
Although not a competitor, Andiamo Again was the only boat to represent the PTSA in Sequim Bay during the SBYC Hospice Regatta. Consequently, she was the only boat to cross the starting line for the race returning to Port Townsend. Wind and tide conditions gave a quick trip. […]
Distance Race Series 2017 – Bush Point Race Results and Series Standings.
After a half hour wind delay, the small fleet headed out into the flood with a light easterly breeze. Only one boat reported a finish time. […]
Bush Point Distance Race – Saturday
Bush Point Race - Addendum to PTSA Sailing Instructions SCHEDULE – Saturday July 1st. The Warning signal will be at 10:00 hrs on City Dock. RULES – As in 2017 Sailing Instructions for PTSA Races except as amended herein. COURSE – Cross Start line at City Dock towards NE. Round mark "SC" to port (its the yellow mid-channel buoy west of Bush Point). Cross the Finish line at City Dock towards SW. Course distance is 14.9 nm. CLASSES – All boats will start together and race with a PHRF handicap. IDENTIFICATION – All boats, especially visitors, check in with the [...]
Distance Race Series 2017, Port to Port Races – Results and Series Standings
The Southbound race Saturday afternoon started with a light Northwesterly which only got lighter and more variable. In the end the time limit was extended as two boats were within five minutes of the line and the last had already retired. The start of the Northbound race on Sunday was delayed half an hour waiting for a light Northerly breeze to enter the bay. The ebb increased the apparent wind and all boats finished well within the time limit. […]
WBF Shipwright’s Regatta Results
26 th Annual Shipwright's Regatta - Feb. 25, 2017 This year’s Shipwright's was greeted by light southerly breezes. A long triangular course was set so that if the wind didn’t pick up boats would have a good distance to travel within the 2 hour time limit. If the wind picked up they could sail the course twice around. The start was postponed for 20 minutes while there was no wind. The wind remained light so the course was shortened to once around. This worked out well as the fastest boat finished less than a minute short of one hour, and [...]
Bush Point distance race this Saturday (7/30/2016)
The start is at 12 noon at city dock (don't forget to check in with the race committee). Cutoff time is 6pm. Round the Bush Point buoy to port. Record your own finish time and send it by email to the race committee. Currents should be perfect out and back. Keep a good lookout when you are in the shipping lanes! And have fun.
Port to Port Race this Weekend
Remember the Port to Port race is this weekend. See the distance race page for details. And the Catspaw series continues tomorrow (Friday evening). The weather is supposed to be nice, so there is no excuse not to go racing!
Protection Island Race 2016 – Results (update)
Martha rounding Protection Island (photo by John Lynes) Eight boats came out to enjoy our second distance race (it gets boring going round the buoys all the time) in spite of a weather forecast for light winds and rain. The course length was 22.1 nm. as measured from the 3 fathom line at each headland. The start was on schedule, even though the fleet barely had steerage-way and the wind was oscillating between S and SE, because of the need to benefit from the tide. After about 10 minutes struggle the fleet picked up steadier and stronger [...]
Around Protection Island Race this Saturday (5/21/2016)
Round the island either way. The second distance race of the year, around Protection Island, is this Saturday. The length of the race, without tacking, is approximately 24 nautical miles. Currents will be perfect for heading out and coming back. For all the details see the distance race page.
Smith Island Race – 2016 – Results
Great turnout — Fickle winds — Lots of time on the water. [Photos available here] Twelve boats came out for the first long distance race of the season, including some we were welcoming for the first time. Winds before the start were very light northeasterly but, after a five minute postponement to allow a laggard to find the starting area and also to allow a visible tongue of wind to reach the start line, most of the fleet got away smartly. Then the wind in the starting area died and a couple of boats at the back of the pack [...]
Weather looks promising for Smith Island Race tomorrow
National Weather Service Forecast EAST ENTRANCE U.S. WATERS STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- 857 AM PDT FRI MAR 25 2016 SAT SE WIND 5 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT. SAT NIGHT S WIND 5 TO 15 KT BECOMING W 15 TO 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 OR 2 FT BUILDING TO 2 TO 4 FT. Mostly cloudy with a high of 55 and 0% chance of rain. See the distance race page for more information.
Schedule Reminder – “Tour-de-Bay” Distance Race – May 30 th.
Let's get a turnout like this! Only two weeks to the Tour-de-Bay Race. On Saturday May 30 th. we will start at City Dock at 11:45 am. and sail a 13 -15 nm. course back to the dock, depending on the wind. The course rounds almost all of the permanent and temporary marks listed on "Marks and their Labels" at least once, hence the trip around the bay that some have been lobbying for. You should check you have the latest edition of Marks and their Labels and the Mark Location diagram aboard - you can download them [...]