Sir Isaac Wins Her Class in Winter Vashon Race
Sir Isaac, skippered by John Bailey, finished first in her class in the Winter Vashon Race held on December 6th, 2025. John reports "We really had a fun time sailing in the event this year. Lots of wind, sun and just a bit of rain.This may have been our quickest trip around, finishing sometime just after 3 pm. Almost a week later and I'm still drying sails."
Scallywag wins the Nelson Trophy at 2025 Six Meter Worlds
PTSA member Adam Henley and crew traveled to New York for the INTERNATIONAL 6 METRE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS held SEPTEMBER 17 – 26, 2025 at the SEAWANHAKA CORINTHIAN YACHT CLUB in OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK. They won the Nelson Trophy presented to the first boat in the Open Division constructed prior to 6 September 1979. The crew consisted of Adam (skipper), Chance Bates, David Linger, Ken Monaghan, and Vincent Townrow. Well done Adam and crew! For all the details click here.
Pt. Partridge/McCurdy Pt. Race Results, July 12th. & 2025 Distance Series Final Scores
PTSA Pt. Partridge & McCurdy Pt. Distance Race Results :- July 12th. 2025 Start Time - 09:11:00 Course – Pt. Partridge & McCurdy Pt. Course Distance (n.m.) -- 21.5 Wind (knts) At Start - NW, 6 – 7 G11 Score Sail # Boat Name Skipper Name Boat Type PHRF Rating Finish order Finish Time Elapsed Time Correction (T on D) Corrected Time Adjust- ments Boat Name Score 1 642 Owl Dale Dunning Thunderbird 170 1 16:30:40 07:19:40 01:00:55 06:18:45 Owl 1 4 161 Salsa David James J29 FR 123 RET RET/4 Salsa 4 4 39954 Andiamo Again Doug Young [...]
Smith & Minor Island Race :- June 14th and 2025 Distance Series Standings
Smith & Minor Island Distance Race :- June 14th. 2025 Start Time - 10:05:00 Course – Smith & minor Is. Course Distance (n.m.) -- 27.7 Wind (knts) At Start - NE 2 – 3 Score Sail # Boat Name Skipper Name Boat Type PHRF Rating Finish order Finish Time Elapsed Time Correction (T on D) Corrected Time Adjust- ments Boat Name Score 1 642 Owl Dale Dunning Thunderbird 170 3 16:25:17 06:20:17 01:18:29 05:01:48 Owl 1 2 161 Salsa David James J29 FR 123 2 16:16:25 06:11:25 00:56:47 05:14:37 Salsa 2 3 1069 Merlin Mark Blattner Thunderbird [...]
Martha Does Swiftsure 2025 – A Short Video
The Schooner Martha was one of two Port Townsend boats to do the Swiftsure race this year (the other being Sir Isaac). Here is a short video by Chance Bates.
Sir Issac Wins Swiftsure Lightship Classic for Monohulls 2025!
Ann and John Bailey and crew have won the Swiftsure Lightship Classic for Monohulls. That is the long course of 138 nautical miles. They finished in 35 hours and ten minutes, only ten minutes ahead of the second place boat (26 minutes ahead on corrected time). Congratulations to the whole crew for a job well done! We hope to report more details after they get home.
Distance Race Results:- Protection Island April 19, 2025
Distance Race Results:- Protection Island April 19, 2025 Start Time - 10:05:00 Course -- Protection Is. Course Distance (n.m.) -- 22.1 Wind (knts) At Start - W 7.0 (4↔11) Score Sail # Boat Name Skipper Name Boat Type PHRF Rating Finish order Finish Time Elapsed Time Correction (T on D) Corrected Time Adjust- ments Boat Name Score 1 642 Owl Dale Dunning Thunderbird 150 1 15:51:31 05:46:31 00:55:15 04:51:16 Owl 1 2 1256 Road Runner Ken Lane Thunderbird 150 2 16:06:13 06:01:13 00:55:15 05:05:58 Road Runner 2 3 161 Salsa David James J29 FR 123 3 16:16:25 [...]
Sir Isaac Excels at Patos Island Race
Ann and John Bailey, sailing double handed, finished first in their class, and fourth overall in the Patos Island Race sponsored by the Sidney North Saanich Yacht Club. Competing in the long course of 67 miles, they actually sailed 90 miles to make that distance, finishing at 2:42am in dense fog. Conditions were challenging with strong currents and very light winds at crucial marks (like rounding Patos Island shown in the photo). Well done Ann and John! For more details see the event website.
Sir Isaac Rocks Winter Vashon Race 2024
The Winter Vashon Island Race is hosted by the Tacoma Yacht Club and is a clockwise race around Vashon Island, starting at the south end of the island. This year's race was held last Saturday, and Sir Isaac, skippered by John Bailey, again had a great finish, taking 2nd in her class. She also did well overall. Congratulations John.
Round the County 2024
The 2024 edition of the annual Round the County (RTC) race, hosted by Orcas Island Yacht Club and Friday Harbor Sailing Club, was held on November 9 & 10. One hundred and twenty boats showed up to race. Among them were Port Townsend's own Martha, and Sir Isaac. Sir Isaac got 3rd in her division and 13th overall. Martha got 13th in her division and 65th overall. Well done to both boats and crews! See all the results here. Read a 48North race recap. The video below was taken aboard Martha and is by Chance Bates. [...]
Bush Point Race Results and Distance Series Final Results
This generally popular series was plagued this year by winds not following their forecast (so what else is new?). The first race, Smith Island One, had the most reasonable predicted and consistent winds. Seven boats completed the 27.7 mile course in about 5 hrs. For the second race there was a Gale warning in the Strait so plan B (New in the SI's this year) was called, and a longish course (7.1 nm) was set around the buoys within the bay in the anticipation of it being more sheltered. It is possible that many of our racers are unaware [...]
Protection Island Race 1 Results & Distance Series Standings _ May 11, 2024 (Rev. 05/18/24)
Protection Island 1 Distance Race Results:- May 11th. 2024 (Corr. 05/18/24) Start Time -- 10:05:00 Course -- Protection Is. Course Distance (n.m.) -- 22.1 Score Sail # Boat Name Skipper Name Boat Type PHRF Rating Finish order Finish Time Elapsed Time Correction Corrected Time Adjust- ments Boat Name Score 1 161 Salsa David James J29 FR 123 DNF/1 DNF/1 Salsa 1 1 4530 Amsala Paul Rust Sweden 45 69 DNF/1 DNF/1 Amsala 1 1 ? Furthermore Ari Rubenstein Moore 24 168 DNF/1 DNF/1 Furthermore 1 [...]
Sir Isaac Gets 23rd in Race to the Straits 2024
Sloop Tavern Yacht Club's Race to the Straits, a two day event which started in Seattle on May 4th and ended day one in PT then saw the fleet race back to Seattle the next day, had over 100 boats participate. PTSA member John Bailey sailed his 49ft custom schooner Sir Isaac single handed and got 23rd overall. John reported doing over forty tacks in a strong southerly on the second day. In a related note, PTSA's race committee supported the race by being on station off the Point Hudson bell buoy for both the finish on Saturday and [...]
Distance Series 2024 “Pt Partridge/McCurdy Pt” – April 27
Commentary to follow Results: for Nominal “Pt. Partrige/McCurdy Pt “.Distance Race - April 27 2024 Start Time 10:35:00 Course SGHCGHF Course Distance (n.m.) 11.7 Score Sail # Boat Name Skipper Name Boat Type PHRF Rating Finish order Finish Time Elapsed Time Correction Corrected Time Adjust- ments Boat Name Score 1 1256 Road Runner Ken Lane Thunderbird 150 1 12:57:20 02:22:20 00:29:15 01:53:05 Road Runner 1 2 642 Owl Dale Dunning Thunderbird 150 2 12:59:13 02:24:13 00:29:15 01:54:58 Owl 2 3 1177 Falcon Roland Nikles Thunderbird 150 3 13:01:10 02:26:10 00:29:15 01:56:55 Falcon [...]
PTSA Fleet Blessed with Perfect Conditions for Smith-Minor Islands Race
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. [...]
Smith Island 1 Distance Race Results:- April 13th. 2024
It was a great day of racing! Results below. Smith Island 1 Distance Race Results:- April 13th. 2024 Start Time 10:09:00 Course Smith & Minor Is. Course Distance (n.m.) 27.7 Score Sail # Boat Name Skipper Name Boat Type PHRF Rating Finish order Finish Time Elapsed Time Correction Corrected Time Adjust- ments Boat Name Score 1 D8 Cito Sean & Inger Rankins Spidsgatter 26 255 5 15:49:30 05:40:30 01:57:43 03:42:46 Cito 1 2 1177 Falcon Roland Nikles T-bird 150 2 15:05:52 04:56:52 01:09:15 03:47:37 Falcon 2 3 642 Owl Dale Dunning T-bird 150 3 15:05:57 [...]
Sir Isaac Rocks the Southern Sound
PTSA members Ann and John Bailey, aboard their trusty schooner Sir Isaac, got second in their class of 16 boats, and fifth overall out of 79 boats, in the 2023-2024 South Sound Series. Congratulation Ann and John!
Sir Isaac Wins Division in Winter Vashon Race
The results for the 2023 version of the Winter Vashon Race show that Sir Isaac, owned by Ann and John Bailey got first in their division of eleven boats! Well done Ann and John. Winter Vashon is the first race in the Southern Sound Series, which consists of four races sponsored by four different yacht clubs. John says: "The wind was up, mostly in the high teens to low 20’s. Our 1st 15 miles of spinnaker run we completed in 1hr 40min. Then we sat in a hole, then close reached and beat the rest of the way back. [...]
Martha Round the County Video
Nice video of Martha during the 2023 Round the County race by Chance Bates.
Sir Isaac Wins Division in Round the County Race
After day one Sir Isaac was first and Martha was second in their division, Pacifica was in the middle of the pack. After day two Sir Isaac was still on top with Martha and Pacifica further down the leader board. It sounds like there was plenty of wind and all the crews had a good time.
Protection Island 2 Distance Race Results and Series Standings:- June 24th. 2023
At race time the wind on the dock was measured at ~0.5 varying in direction between E & W through N. The start was delayed to wait for the wind to settle and also to avoid conflict with a rowing race expected to cross the course. For the 10:20:00 start there was a 3 kt Easterly. As the fleet was passing the NWMC the wind suddenly sagged and backed beyond N before building back to 5 kts causing some interesting maneuvering of the fleet. The long finish times as well as wind records from North Beach and Diamond Point [...]
Smith Island 2 Race Results and Distance Series Standings
Smith Island 1 was wisely cancelled for a gale, conditions for Smith Island 2 were forecast to be, and were, at the lighter end of the scale. This probably led to the low turnout of only three boats. The wind at the dock before the start was NE, 2-3 kts. and very variable. The forecast for the Strait was for slightly stronger breezes. During the start sequence the wind increased to 4 kts but softened again after the start. The combination of strong tides and fickle winds frustrated the fleet and all retired. (Claiming to be the last to [...]
Protection Is. 1 Race Results and Series Standings – May 13, 2023
Ten boats came out for a hot, cloudless and initially almost windless day. A change to the Sailing Instructions was announced. There were to be two Starts - First (A flag) Every boat that was not a Thunderbird, Second (B flag) Thunderbirds. This is part of an effort to improve competition in the PHRF fleet. To paraphrase "The Thunderbirds have been winning so much, they got tired of winning". The T-birds elapsed time would be measured from the first Start. The Thunderbird PHRF rating has been temporarily reduced from 195 to 150 sec/mi (included in the results below) to [...]
Distance Series 2023 – Pt. Partridge/McCurdy Pt. Race Apr. 22
Following just two weeks after the Smith Island race, which was canceled due to a gale, the new Pt. Partridge/McCurdy Pt. race had almost ideal conditions. Seven boats came out for a good start with wind from ~145 degM at 10.5-11 kts. (forecast to increase a little) and with half of a strong ebb remaining. Finishes were fast and remarkably close for a distance race. Pt. Partridge/McCurdy Pt .Distance Race Results:- April 22. 2023 Start Time 10:08:00 Course Pt. Partridge/ McCurdy Pt Course Distance (n.m.) 21.1 Score Sail # Boat Name Skipper Name Boat Type PHRF [...]
Bush Point Race Results & 2022 Distance Series Final Standings
Bush Point Distance Race :- July 30, 2022 Start Time 10:06:00 Course Bush Point Course Distance (n.m.) 14.9 Score Sail # Boat Name Skipper Name Boat Type PHRF Rating Finish order Finish Time Elapsed Time Correction Corrected Time Adjust- ments Boat Name Score 1 1248 Kuma San John Lynes / Jim Heumann T-bird 198 1 16:00:48 05:54:48 00:49:10 05:05:38 Kuma San 1 2 7019 Pacifica Doug Jones S&S 49' Yawl 123 2 16:20:46 06:14:46 00:30:33 05:44:13 Pacifica 2 3 1177 Falcon Roland Nikles T-bird 198 DNF 00:49:10 DNF/3 Falcon 3 3 39954 [...]
Distance Race Series, Protection Is. Race Results and Series Standings
Eleven boat started and were seen putting up their spinnakers as they rounded Point Hudson. Three boats actually finished after a day of big wind shifts, wind holes, and strong currents. Protection Island Distance Race Results:- May 14th. 2022 Start Time 10:00:00 Course Protection Is. Course Distance (n.m.) 22.1 Score Sail # Boat Name Skipper Name Boat Type PHRF Rating Finish order Finish Time Elapsed Time Correction Corrected Time Adjust- ments Boat Name Score 1 1248 Kuma San John Lynes / Jim Heumann T-bird 198 2 15:31:07 05:31:07 01:12:56 04:18:11 Kuma San 1 2 642 Owl [...]
Smith Island Race 2022 – Results and Commentary
(Results below) Smith Island Kicked off the PTSA Distance Series in Ideal Conditions. It’s blowing a moderate gale at Smith Island this Sunday morning (whole trees in motion and difficult to walk against the wind) gusting to fresh gale (wind breaks twigs off trees, walking impeded). The waves on Partridge bank are piled high and breaking. Not so for the 2022 running of the PTSA Smith & Minor Islands race held on Saturday, April 2. The fleet was blessed with glorious sun and a steady fresh breeze from the SSE, steadily backing to the SE and then east, [...]
Five PT Boats to Compete in the Around the County Race
PTSA boats Sir Isaac, Martha, Pacifica, and Vamoose will race in this weekend's Around the Country Race. The schooner Wolfhound, from New Zealand but for now sailing out of Port Townsend, will also compete. They will be joining over 100 other boats in this one of the premier races in the Pacific Northwest. The course circumnavigates the San Juan Islands with a stop over on Saturday night in Roche Harbor. Total distance is approximately 76 miles. Most of the boats will have AIS so you can track them on the web with any marine traffic app. Start time is [...]
PTSA Distance Series – Bush Point Race and Series Results (Revised – 08-06-21)
The Bush Point Race was the final of the three race Distance Series. This year the first race, Smith Island, was cancelled due to dangerous conditions in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Thirty Five mph Westerly winds and Four ft. seas in the area of Smith Island. Through a series of miscommunications, two boats were originally reported DNF. PTSA Distance Series 2021 - Bush Point Race Start time/Date:- Saturday, July 31 st, 2021./ 10:05 hrs. Length = 14.9 Pos Sail Boat Skipper Rating Finish Order Finish Time Time Allowance Corrected Time Time Behind Adjust Pts 1 1177 [...]
Protection Island Race 2021
These are the results reported as of Monday evening. While Shore stations showed variable 5 - 8+ kts of wind from a steady NW direction, the long finish times show the race to have been an exercise in patience and persistence. See race report below. PTSA Distance Race Series - Protection Island Race Start 10:05 pdt, Sat. May 15, 2021 - Distance 22.1 nm. Pos Sail Boat Skipper Rating Finish Order Finish Time Time Allowance Corrected Time Time Behind Adjusts Pts 1 944 Mabuhay Barron, Greg 198 1 17:59:18.0 01:12:55.8 06:41:22.2 00:00:00.0 1.0 2 S 8 [...]
Smith Island Race Cancelled Due to Gale
Attention Attention The 2021 Smith Island Race scheduled for Saturday Apr. 10 is cancelled because of the following NOAA forecast for the Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca:- "W wind 25 to 35 kt easing to 15 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Wind waves 4 to 6 ft subsiding to 2 to 4 ft in the afternoon". Other wind forecast sources tell a slightly less dire story but still dangerous to our fleet. Any rescheduling will be announced later.
Sir Issac Wins Shaw Island Winter Classic Race 2021
On February 6th, twenty-three boats took off in big wind to go clockwise around Shaw Island for the Orcas Island Yacht Club's 2021 Shaw Island Winter Classic. There were two classes shorthanded and fully crewed. And many different types of boats were represented, including a number of J/70s. Ann and John Bailey, in their schooner Sir Issac, were in the shorthanded class. And they won the race! Second across the line and first overall on corrected time (by about three and a half minutes). Congrats Sir Issac.
Sir Issac and Martha Rock in “Rogue the County”
PTSA big boats Martha and Sir Issac participated in the two day "cruise" around the San Juan Islands that substituted for the Round the County race, which had been cancelled. Conditions were sporty and a number of boats dropped out after day one. Sir Issac and Martha persevered and got 6th and 8th respectively. For more details and some good photos see this post on Salish.com. Or see the "official" results.
Protection Island Race Report – 7/25/2020
With a light wind the fleet took off into the fog at 10am on Saturday. Not all results are in but it sounds like it was an interesting day. Several boats stayed close to shore around point Wilson and ran into kelp and a back eddy. Falcon reported that they got stuck in the kelp patch from which it took them an hour to get out then they turned around and went home. Kolas finally got to Protection Island around 5pm before giving up. Rumor has it that Pacifica turned around at [...]
********Protection Island Race Next Saturday********
The 2020 Protection Island Race is scheduled for Saturday July 25th. starting from City Dock at 10:00 hrs. The date and time have been chosen to coincide with favorable tidal currents. All boats suitable for the possible wind and sea conditions are invited to participate. The addendum to the Sailing Instructions in printable PDF format is here- Protection Island 2020 SI's NOTE: There will NOT be a Friday night race on 7/24.
News Flash: Raven wins 2019 T-bird Internationals!
Just in from Steve Scharf in Boston: the Raven crew took THREE first place finishes today to win the 2019 Thunderbird International Championship Regatta! Congratulations to Steve Scharf, Jon Piskula, Simon Miles, Jeff Brantley, and Angie Brantley! Raven wins 2019 Internationals
T-bird Internationals 2019 – Day One
Steve Scharf has reported from the 2019 T-bird International Regatta in Boston that it was a light wind day, but after a one hour delay they got off three races. Eleven boats participated and the Raven crew got a seventh, a first, and a third putting them in second place at the end of day one. You can see the results on the regatta web site.
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 […]
Next Up In Distance Series – McCurdy Point Race This Saturday
ALERT! McCURDY POINT RACE ALERT! McCurdy Point Race, 2019 - Addendum to PTSA Sailing Instructions SCHEDULE – Saturday April 20st. The Warning Signal will be at 12:00 hrs. from 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 the McCurdy Point Buoy (Red, #4) to Port. Cross the Finish line at City Dock towards SW. The Red Pt. Hudson Bell Buoy #2 is to be left to shore-ward as usual. The Red #6 buoy North of Pt Wilson is to be [...]
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 [...]
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. […]
McCurdy Point Distance Race This Saturday
Due to the unsteady weather this time of year, and following the rugged conditions experienced in last year's Protection Is. race and especially the Smith Is. race, they have been merged, this year, into the McCurdy Point race, which is shorter and in more sheltered waters. It is our desire for the crews to return happy, and on boats that are unbroken. It is just the beginning of the season. The Race start is from City Dock at 09:00 Saturday 04/14. If it mostly floats, has sails and we can guess at a PHRF number, you are heartily invited to [...]
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. […]
Reach for Hospice Regatta – Sequim Bay September 16th, 2017
The Sequim Bay Yacht Club has sponsored the Reach for Hospice Regatta since 1991, supporting the Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County (VHOCC). The 2017 regatta will be the held on Saturday, September 16th. The Notice of Race can be found here. The cost is a donation for $50 (but boats are encouraged to donate more). Registration can be done on-line via the US Sailing Regatta Network. The Regatta is on Saturday, as stated above, then on Sunday there will be a race back to Port Townsend, which is the last race of the PTSA distance races series. Last year the Sparkle crew [...]
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. […]
Port-to-Port Race Coming up Next Weekend (June 17-18, 2017)
Join us for the annual Port Townsend to Port Ludlow (and return) race. Sailing Instructions are below. The Sparkle crew will be providing some grilled meat options for the Saturday night BBQ. Please bring a side dish to share and a dessert if you feel inspired by a delicious idea. The Sparkle crew is hosting the dock breakfast on the party barge Sunday morning. The moorage reservations for Port Ludlow need to be made in advance and as soon as possible. The space is limited but they do have room for us. Please let them know that you will be [...]
Smith Island Race 2017
Smith Island start Smith Island start Martha racing around Smith Island (photo by Robert Ambrose) Following a blustery week, and faced with a Gale Warning, the twelve boats reporting for the start found very light winds and calm seas. As race time approached long scans of the surface showed no dark patches to indicate wind. The very light NE draft was not enough to register on the RC anemometer. However the fleet was demonstrating steerage-way, although barely stemming the current by the pier, so there was nothing to be gained by a postponement and [...]
Final Results – NW Regional Thunderbird Championship Regatta
It was another great day of racing. Challenging and shifty, but fun. Final results below the photos . 2016 Thunderbird Western Regional ChampionshipSeries Standing - 7 races scored
Ted Pike Memorial Regatta – Saturday August 20th, 2016
Ted Pike Ted Pike came across this fun regatta format during a stay in Southern California where it is popular, and he believed it would translate to our area. He enthusiastically introduced it to the PTSA board and was actively planning for it (and had it put on this years schedule) when he passed. All the details are included in the attached Sailing Instructions but an overview of the concept will help understanding. The Ted Pike Memorial Regatta is open to all Port Townsend Sailing Association members and invited guests. The regatta begins with the boats anchored, with sails furled, off the beach South of [...]
Bush Point Race 2016 – Updated Results
Falcon having fun on the way to Bush Point.Picture by Eric Anderson Five disparate boats came out for a warm sunny afternoon on the water. The goal was a trip from City Dock around the yellow mid channel buoy SC, off Bush Point and back to City Dock, ~15 miles. The wind on the dock at the start was a steady Southeasterly at a brisk 8 kts. After the start, as the fleet headed out of the bay on a long starboard tack, it was noticeable that their heel increased as the wind grew and they joined the [...]
Port-to-Port Race – 2016 – Revised (Again)
On Saturday six racers started from City Dock into a light (4 – 5 kt.) Southeasterly for the trip, outside Marrowstone Island, to Port Ludlow. The race was to be followed by a barbecue party at the Marina. The race was scheduled for a flood tide and the wind improved after the start as the leading boats finished the 13.4 nm. course in under 2 1/2 hours. For the start of the return trip there was a 10 kt breeze blowing into the mouth of Port Ludlow bay. The leaders needed 2 3/4 hours to make it back to City [...]
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 [...]
Upcoming Events!
Racing is almost here! The following three events will all happen within the next two weeks. Smith Island Race, the first PTSA race of 2016 is this Saturday March 26th. It is the first of five long distance races scheduled for 2016. Let's get a good turn-out for this one! The start of racing kick-off party at 6:00 pm on Thursday March 31st at the Northwest Maritime Center. Beer and wine will be available. Besides being a celebration we will discuss the various events planned for the year and race committee chair Dave Burrows will go over the revised sailing [...]
2016 PTSA Schedule Promises Fun Year
The 2016 sailing schedule promises a busy, fun year. The calendar is updated on the site with the exception of several events that are still being scheduled. They will be updated as we know more. If you'd like a paper copy of the schedule you can download a paper copy by clicking here. Sailing on the Bay starts with the Shipwrights Regatta on February 27th. A couple of events worth noting: The Distance Racing Series is growing with more races to get you out of the Bay. For some of us, the opportunity to sit on a long tack is [...]
Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race – Day 1 – 27 Dec 2015
A tough first day again breaks boats.
Schedule Changes to Note
The Sequim Hospice Regatta is actually on September 12th, not the 19th. Changing our calendar to reflect that allowed the start date of the PTSA Fall Nitecap series to be moved up to Sunday, September 20th from the 27th. So..... Sequim Hospice Regatta - September 12th. First PTSA 2015 Fall Nitecap race - September 20th. and, remember... Thunderbird Northwest Regional Regatta – Sept 5th and 6th 2015 The Thunderbird regionals will once again be held on Port Townsend Bay. We can look forward to two days of exciting racing and a tasty dinner at the Pope Marine building at 6pm [...]
SPARKLE Shines at 45th Shaw Island Classic
PTSA member Guy Hupy and the SPARKLE crew won "First in Division" and "First Overall Monohull" at the 45th Annual Shaw Island Classic. Photo by Kim Carver The 45th Annual Shaw Island Classic Sailboat Race was held on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2015, sponsored by the San Juan Island Yacht Club. According to the Journal of the San Juan Islands "The race, with 35 boats participating, started at noon with a light breeze. All entrants made it past the half-way point, but the wind came to a stand-still back at the mouth of Friday Harbor." In the end, Guy [...]
Battle Field – 52 Super Series
Just like on your boat but different ...
MARTHA Gearing up for Monday Transpac Start
Ted Pike made the journey from Port Townsend to visit and sail on MARTHA, It’s good to see friends from Port Townsend. Edensaw Woods has been a strong supporter of our endeavors at the Schooner Martha Foundation and we thank them for their support. MARTHA is preparing for a San Francisco departure and the crew have all gathered for a Friday evening dinner at the Saint Francis Yacht Club. Special thanks to the Saint Francis for hosting MARTHA the week before our departure for Longbeach. We find it an interesting fact that as MARTHA and crew prepare, we [...]
Photos from Day 1, R2AK
Click any image to open slideshow. All photos by Sean Trew.
Maritime Center’s Jake Beattie on the First Hours of R2AK
The start of the 2015 R2AK. Photo from the Port Townsend Leader. Jake gives an excellent interview to Marcie Sillman of KUOW.ORG. PTSA Commodore Piper Dunlap of Team Huan (nee: hexagram 59) was an early finisher on a Hobie 20.
Wave Writer – The Iditarod with a Chance of Drowning
Kurt Hoehne looks at the Race to Alaska and the Team Pure and Wild proa entry. Team Pure and Wild seatrials their new Brown Bieker proa off Shilshole. Photo by Peter Howland photography. By Kurt Hoehne In today’s world, there are few adventures with Big Questions. It seems every adventure has been done at least once before. Somebody’s going to find a new route to the summit, win the game on a superlative performance or lucky bounce, or find that extra bit of speed around the race. Those are relatively Little Questions. Maybe that’s the appeal of the [...]
Port to Port Race Results
Five boats hit the starting line on Saturday during a window in the High School Sailing Team’s Regional Regatta which had about 50 boats on a course in front of the NW Maritime Center. The 2 pm start was chosen to gain advantage of a strong flood tide in Admiralty Inlet. The course went outside Marrowstone Island and finished at the daymark near the entrance to the Port Ludlow marina. Winds were generally light, northerly, with the occasional hole, particularly approaching Port Ludlow. The first boat covered the 15.4 nm., mostly leeward, course in a little over 3 hrs. the [...]
And we Worry About Our Unpredictable Winds!
2 Dead After Storm Strikes Alabama Sailing Regatta http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/27/us/2-dead-after-storm-strikes-alabama-sailing-regatta.html
Two U.S. teams on the Podium at the 2015 SAP 505 Worlds in South Africa
https://youtu.be/OkDLXPTF2vc
Volvo Ocean Race Fleet Doubles Cape Horn
Brunel and MAPFRE are neck-and-neck as they round Cape Horn. Photo courtesy of VOR/Rick Tomlinson After racing from New Zealand to Cape Horn, BRUNEL and MAPFRE round the Horn two minutes apart with AZZAM a mere 15 minutes behind. And you thought T-Bird racing on the Bay was competitive.
Volvo Ocean Race – Great analysis of Sanya to Aukland by Juggy and Matt
http://youtu.be/Bky_oTOB_c8
McKee’s Key West Minute
Inspired by the Seahawk's win in the NFC Championship game, Jonathan McKee draws some lesson we can use on the race course. Monday, Jan. 19 Sometimes inspiration and truth can come from unexpected sources. I am referring of course to the Seattle Seahawks amazing come from behind victory over Green Bay in the NFC Championship last night! Of course I am a Seahawks fan, as every red-blooded Seattleite is. But even if I wasn’t, there were some relevant lessons. Number one: Never give up! Even as they were playing terrible throughout most of the game, even as the game seemed [...]
Sailors’ Most Annoying Habits from Team Brunel
http://youtu.be/1VPubDPWv8U
Ian Walker on One-Design Racing
http://youtu.be/CFUczd9DNkg Walker brings Azzam home to Abu Dhabi on Leg 2 of the Volvo Ocean Race. Podium for Leg 2: Team Brunel, Dongfeng Racing Team, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.
VOR GIRLS EMPLOY NEEDLES
http://youtu.be/snT-1MsCee8 VOLVO ACUPUNCTURE
Volvo Race Team SCA Battling the Agulhas Current
Thanks to Linda Newland for the recommendation on Facebook. "Day 2 out of Cape Town in the Volvo Around the World Race. Great video from the women's team. Not for the faint hearted. Wish I was there."
Racing the Atlantic Doublehanded
From the New York Times, a great video on racing across the Atlantic doublehanded by Chris Museler.
Local Connection Shines at International Canoe Worlds
Eric Taylor reports that the top three boats were designed by Chris Maas from Center Island in the San Juans and powered by Taylor sails from Port Angeles at the recently completed International Canoe Worlds out of the Richmond Yacht Club on San Francisco Bay. There's lots of great boat design and boat building talent nearby, and sail maker's, too, including Eric Taylor with Taylor Sails from Port Angeles and our own Sean Rankin. 2014 World Champion Mikey Radziejowski © Leslie Richter/www.rockskipper.com. Well, the weather had the final say, as the weather so often does. Racing was blown [...]
PT Singlehanded Transpac Sailors Get Ready
PT’s Singlehanded TransPac sailors are now completing their final tasks before the start of the race on Saturday, June 28th. After turning the corner and heading south, Jak Mang in his 38″ Ingrid MAITREYA had a couple of days of easy sailing. But that changed as he got closer to San Francisco Bay and found himself in gale. Here’s his story from his blog, S/V MAITREYA. You can follow the race at the Single Handed Sailing Society’s website. Jak Mang’s 38′ Ingrid, MAITREYA. Sunday, June 15, 2014, Tied up at the Berkeley Yacht Club at about 8:30 Saturday [...]
Report on PT Sailors at the the 505 North Americans in Santa Cruz
Dan and Piper keeping it flat upwind in Santa Cruz breeze. Photo by John Navas Piper Dunlap reports in on the 5o5 North Americans in Santa Cruz Port Townsend sailors, Sugar Flanagan, Sean Rankins, Spencer Snapp, Dan Ginther, and Piper Dunlap all made the pilgrimage to Santa Cruz, CA last weekend to compete in the 2014 505 Dinghy North American Championship Regatta. This was the first time that each of these sailors has competed at this level in the class, and they all came home tired, sore, a little humbled, but satisfied having raced against the best in [...]
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 [...]
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.
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. [...]
Olson 30 Set Up for the Single Hand Transpac
Adrian Johnson gives a short tour of his Olson 30 during the 2012 Single Handed TransPac. Adrian won in 2010. Later in 2012, he sailed the boat to Australia. Idefix 2012 - Tour of the boat from Adrian Johnson on Vimeo. AdrianJohnson.info
Anyone Got a Spare Set of Foils?
2013 Highlight Reel from Penalty Box Productions, new footage includes Moth Worlds, Little AC, E and A scow Nationals, CMRC, Nacra 17, Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta, Melges 20, 24 and 32, Charleston Race Week and more. Tracks: Dogfight - The Bloody Hollies Weapon of Choice (instrumental) - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Annoying music and other sailors having too much fun in warm weather. Yee haw, what more could you want?
New Equipment / Skill Requirements for Sailboat Racing
So effective March 1st this year there is revised equipment / training requirements, if you venture outside our bay you may run into a club with the checklist below, such as the Swiftsure, Round The County, and other events. Might be a good idea to print out this information and have it around so you can run thru the list before you get inspected. Click the link below to open the file. sers Hope you all are getting ready for the Shipwrights Regatta on February 22nd! Satch
And Now, Something Completely Different
This video was from the 36th annual Cividale Castlemont Hillclimb. The driver is Liber Federico, at the helm of the Gloria C8F, an open wheel racer with power from a motorcycle engine. Turn up the sound, hit wide screen and watch the video (actual run footage starts at 3:00 mark). Great parking lot at the end of the run. Thanks, Owen.
When You Capsize, The Sails Keep the Sharks Away…
Thanks, Piper, for sending this along. Commonwealth Film Unit made this compelling video of the Sydney 18s in 1967. It went on to win at Cannes Film Festival later that year.
T-37 Model Yacht Racing Going Strong
T-37 racing at the SYC. Photo by Neil Rabinowitz from Northwest Yachting. Heads up, there's a race Sunday, December 1st, and you're invited! T-37 model yacht racing at the public dock across from the Ajax Cafe by the Boat School with the first race starting at noon. There's a good chance you'll get handed one of the controllers and get a chance to sail one of these powered up model yachts. With just two channels, one winch trims the sails and the other runs the rudder, sailing the boats isn't hard. But like any kind of sailboat racing, [...]
Riding The Storm Out In The Southern Ocean
From pressure-drop.us, the Clipper Round the World race meets a powerfull storm in the Southern Ocean. Dear Readers, I feel I owe you a full explanation of the previous day’s storm activities, so here goes, let’s go back to 16 November. All signs (fleet reports, Clipper Race weatherman Simon Rowell’s weather predictions and my pigtails) were that the front would hit us sometime mid to late afternoon, local time. Mid-morning we had dropped our other headsail which meant a loss in speed as it was great surfing but prudent given the incoming weather forecast. We were now running with just [...]
Round The County Race, 2013
Dan Newland Reports on PEGASUS’s Race in the 2013 Round The County. Photo’s by Sean Trew. PEGASUS at Round The County, 2013. Photo by Sean Trew This years’ RTC was an interesting contrast between what should have been and what was. It should have had decent wind Saturday with light winds Sunday but reality has its own agenda. The County Race (RTC), it is an annual race that races around San Juan County which comprises all the major San Juan Islands like Orcas, San Juan and Lopez Islands plus the nearly countless smaller islands, rocks and reefs of [...]
A Treat for the Club
So I have been working on a video that has been posted to Youtube, It was originally a "Super 8" series of movies taken during the 1968 Acapulco race, and the 1963 Transpac race, aboard Ted Pike's beautiful Annie Too. It is over 50 minutes long, but is pretty epic sailboat racing offshore, Turn up the sound, youtube allowed the audio which is great, and period correct for the most part. The only way to see this video is to use the link, or go to my youtube channel. ( Beercanracer ) Here is the link: Have fun, and hope [...]
Everybody Know How to Swim?
7 miles between the bridges.
Terror in the Southern Ocean – Whitbread Round the World Race 1997-98
There's been a real shortage of sailing terror videos on the site lately, but this helps solve that problem. Jeanne Socrates is in town and she mentioned that in her recently completed solo, non-stop circumnavigation, she spent 4-months in the southern ocean.
The J’s Race at the 2013 St. Barths Bucket
Thanks, Piper, for the great tip. Eye candy indeed. The J's race at the 2013 St. Barths Bucket. from Onne van der Wal on Vimeo.
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 [...]
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 [...]
22nd Annual 2013 Shipwrights’ Regatta Perpetual Awards
From Ace Spragg, the hard working Waterfront Programs Manager at the Northwest Maritime Center Special thanks to the regatta sponsors: Port of Port Townsend • Port Townsend Brewing Co. • Sunrise Coffee • Sea Marine • Northwest Marine Center of Excellence TAKU AWARD: First wooden boat across the START line: Won by: Sirocco PEG LEG: First boat across the FINISH line: Dew Flicker THE HOOK: Last boat across the FINISH line: Idrill THE GOLDEN TRIDENT: Saltiest boat or crew: Deadwood, who capsized 3 times! DIRECTIONAL HELMET: not awarded, since everyone made it in safely in a squall! WACK-O-MATIC: Best use [...]
Shipwights Decision by 8 AM Saturday, Feb 23rd
From Ace Spragg, Waterfront Programs Manager, Northwest Maritime Center... Special Notice: Due to the high wind and seas warning, there is a chance the race will be postponed. We will make a decision whether or not to race by Saturday at 8am. Please call 360-385-3626 x103 at 8am Saturday, or check the web site here or here. If the race is postponed, we will hold it Saturday, March 2nd; Skipper's Meeting at 9am, race at 12:00.
Memories of Summer
Click for bigger image. Northwest Maritime Center Photo by Kim Carver
Fall Nightcap Series Race 2 Results
9 boats showed up for a repeat of Satch’s course of last week. He definitely knew the way, with a strong first across the line. A new boat, Yasmin (It’s an Alacrity 19 built in 1965 with a nice thick fiberglass hull and rebuilt in 2012 by Rob Parish…, new rigging made myself, kind of a Yangtze river rig. It’s a twin keeled hull, 18.5 feet… probably won’t win any races, but might be fun to enter anyway. So far my racing experience is with my 11’2″ junk rigged dinghy and on the Wizard (a moveable ballast), joined in and we [...]
Irish Olympic Sailing Commentary
Thanks, Satch, for passing this gem along.
PTSA Members at WIRW
[slideshow id=48] DORADO and SILENT WAY have found the going tough so far at Whidbey Island Race Week. A big thanks to Wendy Feltham for sending over some pictures. EDIT: More pictures added to slideshow. We'll keep posting them as Wendy sends them in. Three new pictures added Wednesday. Three more on Thursday.
Calling all Etchells
This is to remind you of the Port Ludlow Etchells Fleet #26 SUMMER REGATTA to be held August 4-5. The format will be similar to previous years. Saturday August 4th: Competitors will gather at 11am Saturday for a Skipper's Meeting on the docks. First Race - Approximately 12 noon. Weather cooperating we plan to get in a least three races. BBQ or other eating event after sailing on Saturday - approximately 5 PM for beverages, food frenzy to follow. Sunday August 5: 12 noon - weather cooperating, at least two more races. No race to start after 3 PM. This will allow [...]
Singlehanded Transpac Promo Video
Thanks to Jak Mang for sending along this link. Got something you'd like to see on the site? Tell us about it at webmaster@34.220.204.41 2012 Singlehanded Transpac Promo from Pierson Jacquelin on Vimeo.
Swiftsure 2012
Swiftsure results here, Sean Trew's site here, Pressure-drop site here. We are here. Glad we got that straight.
Port to Port 2012
(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 [...]
Ken Read, VOR Leg 6, Day 16
Battles on the ocean are hard. Especially in super light air like what we have had out here the last few days. The chess match is long and painful and very often has stops and starts that stretch out the agony. We are amongst it with CAMPER at this stage and there is a lot of runway left and tons of potholes along the way. First of all, this could not be more unlike every other leg we have had in this race. Dry, cool nights and warm days. T-shirts and shorts always. No hint of a need [...]
2012 Port-to-Port Race, Sunday, May 13th,
The Port Townsend Rigging sponsored 2012 Port-to-Port race is a challenge race between two yacht clubs: The Port Townsend Sailing Association and the Port Ludlow Yacht Club. In the distance past there was likely a moment in some local sailor's dive where one slightly tipsy resident of one town pointed a finger at the resident of the other town and announced that "you lads can't sail and your bottom needs cleaning." No doubt many of the historic races started this way - a drink, a taunt, a trophy. Australia got the Sydney-Hobart, we got the Port-to-Port. It's our own local [...]
A Rare Tragedy at Sea Hits SF’s Sailing Community
After the glorious, easy evening on our Bay that was Race 2 of the Spring Whitecap Series, it's hard to remember that things on the water can go wrong quickly and profoundly. The conditions in San Francisco for the Farallones race were much more challenging with winds in the 20's and a confused, 10 foot swell when the ocean ready Sydney 38, LOW SPEED CHASE, with eight experienced crew suffered a terrible tragedy. Associated Press story from the Silicon Valley Mercury News. By LISA LEFF and JOHN S. MARSHALL Associated Press Posted: 04/15/2012 12:17:26 AM PDT Updated: 04/15/2012 [...]
Got Wood? Here is Another Race Just for You!
First Annual Yellow Island Wooden Boat Regatta Deer Harbor, Orcas Island, Saturday May 19, 2012 Any kind of wooden sailboats may enter. Non-wood boats are also welcome but will receive no prizes. The course will have a starting line with a committee boat south of the Deer Harbor Marina. The marks of the course will consist of various small islands and rocks in the area, as well as a race buoy located near the marina. The race entry fee of $15 is payable before the 9 am skipper’s meeting at the Deer Harbor Boatworks the morning of the race. [...]
Key West Race Week Day 1, Big Boats in a Building Breeze
The wind builds into the low 20's and the big boats fly in day 1 of Quantum Key West Race Week. Video by TP2, thanks Craig Montague for the tip. Always fun to look at the sail shapes and check out some of the jib sheeting angles. Amazing.
Evelyn 26 NIMBUS Takes Duamish Head Overall
From Ballard Sailor's report on the 2012 Duamish Head Race on Pressure Drop. By 2pm the mid raters were crossing the finish line en masse, but amongst them was a little 26 foot boat sailed by one of those old Des Moines Sea Scouts - Mark Harang on his new Evelyn 26 NIMBUS (formerly IMPULSE). Now Harang is no stranger to this race, having won the South Sound Series overall in the Thunderbird 26 Rev back in 2000. But in his first race on his new boat Mark, with Kathryn Burnette and Brad Baker as crew, pushed this [...]
Ahhh shorts, I remember those – Sailing Thunderbird Sailboats {in the summer}
more summer T-Bird sailing photos here ....
America’s Cup 34, a tech overview
The media presentation of sailboat racing has forever changed based on the work done for the 34th Cup races. It's really excellent and if you haven't seen it you can replay the races on YouTube here. At the center of those changes is Stan Honey, well known sailor, navigator and electronics wizard. The first down lines super imposed on the TV show football field, Stan's work. Nascar car tracking and data, Stan's work. And now he has brought that technical expertise to help clarify and explain his own sport, sailing. From the Panbo electronics blog, a review of the equipment [...]
MARTHA, Making Wood Look Good…Again!
[slideshow id=38] MARTHA cleaned up in her division in the 'Round the County Race this weekend, and possibly overall as well. MARTHA was the only boat from Port Townsend that attended (that we know of). The weather forecast kept many boats at the dock and slammed a number of the ones that went out. Check out roundthecounty.com for race results and stay tuned for the race stories! Until Kathy and the crew update their story, you can read a fun story from Ben Braden whose Moore 24 finished second in class behind MARTHA and 6th overall here. Photos lifted from [...]
Alexandra Cup 2011, Tight Racing in Bigger Breeze
ACE leads LADY VAN in the breezier conditions of this year's Alexandra Cup for R Boats. For two years we have watched LADY VAN dominate in the lighter winds on Port Townsend Bay. Now it appears ACE is coming into her own in the higher breezes facing the boats this year at the Alexandra Cup for R Boats in Vancouver at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club. To quote ContenderCAN2399 on Sailing Anarchy, "Great to see how the design choices made in the 20's (what combo of length, sail area and displacement to chose) are playing out in the [...]
Pics from the Sloop John B
Sym Sebastian sent in some pictures from the September 17th PLYC race on Frank Lawson's J/105, JOHN B, with Chris, Kathy and Sym crewing. Sym mentioned that it was blowing a steady 20 with gusts to 28. Got some pictures? Send them in. [slideshow id=36]
Dan and Mike at The Northern Century
[slideshow id=34] From Dan Newland ... Here are some pictures I took of the "Northern Century Race" Mike and I just did. It's a 100 mile race from Anacortes to Pt Roberts, then Hein Bank and back to Anacortes. We tanked it and finally withdrew Saturday night after 23 hours, 18 miles to go and facing a building ebb against us with no wind. We had already sat 4 hours slating in no wind and 3 knots of current going backwards and sideways between the southern part of San Juan Island and Victoria where the current sounded like a running [...]
Polynesian to Pomo
Story by Kimball Livingston from his always interesting blog, Blue Planet Times … In this space I have celebrated anything and everything driving the technological future of setting forth upon the water. Now is the moment to appreciate a few unique efforts to preserve the heart and spirit of what went before, and what we hope will be a future for the waterways calling us to set forth upon the water, forever and forever. Finishing the 2011 Transpacific Yacht Race from Los Angeles to Honolulu, more people than ever arrived in Honolulu on their high-tech raceboats talking about [...]
Surviving to tell the story of Rambler 100
From Scuttlebutt It was Monday (Aug. 15), and the Juan K designed Rambler 100 had but 265 miles remaining in the 608 mile Fastnet Race. They had just rounded the infamous Fastnet Rock, and needed to complete a short 7 mile beat before they could turn left and enjoy the hayride home. But then, at 5:45pm UK time, the unthinkable happened: the keel bulb broke off. Here Rambler 100 navigator Peter Isler shares his story from onboard: In 23 knots of wind, we were headed upwind after rounding Fastnet, and heard the big bang. The boat immediately flipped [...]
Port to Port 2011
The 9 PT boats and 2 Port Ludlow boats, got off to slow start from City Dock but at least it was windward. Once around Marrowstone, it became a long day on the water with little wind and ever increasing ebb. No boats finished within the 5 hour time limit, but a decission was made in Port Ludlow to extend the time limit for all boats that could finish under sail, which were Gypsy and John B from PL and Sea Puppy from PT. […]
NOTICE TO ALL PTSA RACERS
Change in the Sailing Instructions for the Summer Series We apologize if we confused some of you by naming the temporary tetrahedron mark off the ferry dock “K”. Even though we have never used the “K” for Kala Point mark, it is still on the course map that way and I should have thought of that. So to correct the problem, we have renamed the temporary tet mark that is usually placed out from the ferry dock “D”. D for Don’t Go There (or D for the people who did go there.) The D mark can also be used as [...]
Tales From The Edge: The Port Townsend Dash
Littlebluedunebuggy provides a tantalizing narrative from Saturdays epic on Puget Sound on the entertaining Pressure Drop. Well, it was definitely a good day for the SC27 on Saturday. After plopping the boat in the water at about 10:30 am and rigging up we depaterted the dinghy dock around 11:20. We took our time motoring south down the marina & bent on the main. Now the main was deployed and we reached off towards Meadow point. 2 jibes (difficult ones with just the main up) We jibed to port, and waved to the Shilshole Bay Yacht Club Committee boat [...]
The Port Townsend Dash
Ben Braden, famous Evelyn 26 sailor who went on to smaller boats, has a post up on Pressure Drop about the PT Dash, an ongoing attempt to set the fastest time from Shilshole to the red buoy off Port Townsend's Point Hudson. The record seems to be currently held by NORN, a hot rodded SC27. Maybe someone from the Port Townsend end of the PT Dash would like to take a crack at the record. The Port Townsend Dash (or PT Dash) is an old time story of drunken (or otherwise) IOR sailors that wanted to "borrow" someones [...]
Zhik 2011 Moth Worlds – Final Day Highlights
Out of 110 sailors that started the regatta, Seattle based Dalton Bergen finished 18th and Lindsey Bergen finished 48th. Another winner was the videos themselves that raised the bar for showing sailing at it's best with great photography, great production, and the combination of voice over and interviews. All of which wouldn't not have been possible but for the unbelievable coolness of the foiling Moth. In some way this boat is going to affect the future of performance sailboats.
Day Four, Moth Worlds
25 kts of wind, some great crashes, and the rich get richer as the leaders stretch out their lead and the Australians remain dominant. A note from Dan Kaseler of Raptor Sails. "There are a few people using [Raptor Sails at the Worlds], including Dalton, and his wife Lindsey.... Unfortunately Dalton blew up his boat yesterday, and so fell out of the running. Lindsey is in a tight battle for the top female athlete."
Moth Worlds, the Local Angle
Lying in 15th place on day three out of a field of 109 boats is Seattle’s Dalton Bergan. With all top 10 finishes except for a DNF in the final race, Bergan is doing a great job in this highly competitive class. While most of the field at the Belmont, Australia based world championship are using KA Australian made sails, Bergan is using Port Angles made Raptor Sails. Dan Kaseler, owner of Raptor, until recently made the fastest sails in the world as a windsurfer using Raptor Sails broke the world sailing speed record. An excellent sailor in his own [...]
Zhik 2011 Moth Worlds
Sailing these days feels vaguely like that cartoon of the Ascent of Man in which the hominoid rises from the dirt to the upright position. In sailing, that cartoon would show a full keel, to a fin keel, to a planing hull and now a boat flying on foils. And no class demonstrates what may be the future of sailing better than the Moth Class.
Sydney Hobart Forecast: Buckle Your Seatbelts
By Jim Gale, Rolex Sydney Hobart media team After several years of mostly tactical racing in comparatively benign conditions, the 2010 Rolex Sydney Hobart is set to return to its more traditional ways, with competitors told today that they are in for some very tough, boat and spirit-breaking sailing for at least the first 300 nautical miles of the race. The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted that early in the race the fleet will strike a southerly change on the New South Wales coast, and by early Sunday evening the winds will have built to between 20 and [...]
Sparkle and Escapade
From the archive of the Balboa Yacht Club, a shot of Sparkle and Escapade racing for the Santana Trophy. Check out Sparkle's aft mainsheet trimmer's cockpit.
Round the County – A PNW Favorite
Orcas Island Yacht Club’s 2010 Round the County race was run in near perfect conditions for July - but this is November! Saturday’s 8:40 am start off of Lydia Shoals was in light air causing many of the racers to hoist up their drifters, poetically renamed “accelerator’s,” (who wants to drift) and the fleet headed off south down Rosario Straits with the building ebb current. Click here for the entire write up and some great photography at pressure-drop.us
Route du Rhum Starts Sunday
The Route Du Rhum starts this Sunday. 87 skippers have signed up to singlehand the race across the Atlantic from Saint-Malo in France to the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. The race is open to multihulls and monohulls, which are divided into several classes according to their overall length (LOA). With huge crowds expected at both the start in Saint-Malo and at the finish in Guadeloupe, it is obvious that the level of interest in sailboat racing, especially solo racing, is much higher in Europe. The thought of solo sailing one of the 60 foot multihulls (or monos for that matter) [...]
Stig Places 3rd in PSSC Melges 24 Class
Stig Osterberg's Melges 24 No. 401 heads upwind during CYC's Puget Sound Sailing Championship Big Boat Weekend held on Puget Sound Oct. 9 and 10. Ten one-design and PHRF fleets participated in the regatta, run on two race courses by Principal Race Officers Charley Rathkopf and Kevin Cunningham. The Melges group, with 16 boats, was the largest fleet in the regatta. In the photo of third-place finisher No. 401 are, from left, Brian Huse, Osterberg, Renee Erickson, and Ren Chandler.
Moore-phing Into Another Decade, The Moore 24: Still The Classic
Thanks to Josh Greene for pointing out this history of the Moore 24 that first appeared on the web site Pressure Drop here. Article by Jeremy Leonard of Surf City Racing It’s a bright, sunny afternoon in early October 2010 and a fleet of 30 Moore 24s are sailing their North Americans out of Santa Cruz Yacht Club. I’m in the hills above Santa Cruz and I’m standing in a redwood grove on the spot where the plug for a boat named Grendel, the predecessor to the Moore 24, was almost destroyed. Grendel was designed and built by [...]
Sugar and Spencer Win Bellingham Bay One Design Regatta with Three Bullets!
Team Port Townsend 505 represented well September 18th and 19th at the Dale Jepsen Bellingham Bay One Design Regatta hosted by the Bellingham Yacht Club. Port Townsend 505 sailors Sugar Flanagan, Spencer Snap, Sean Rankins, Charlie Dore and Erik Coburn (who drove for Whidbey Island’s Paul Von Grey) made up the team. It was a fine event which was comprised of many Lasers (sailing their District Champs), Flying Scots, A-Cats, Tasars and 505s sailing on two courses. Though the forecast called for rain both days, Saturday was warm and sunny with a light-but-steady four to six knot breeze. [...]
Fast, spectacular, wingsail catamaran unveiled for 34th America’s Cup
The draft rule for the spectacular AC72 Class has been published, following the announcement on 13 September that a catamaran would be used for the 34th America’s Cup. Encapsulating the 34th America’s Cup – the best sailors in the world on the fastest boats – the AC72 will be a physically demanding boat capable of top speeds twice the windspeed. The new AC72 class is the first-ever wingsail catamaran class for the America’s Cup and the fastest-ever class in the iconic 159-year-old competition. It replaces the ACC monohull class, which was created in 1988 and first raced in [...]
2010 Reach For Hospice Race, SBYC
The Sequim Bay Yacht Club has invited members of the Port Townsend Sailing Association to join them for the 2010 Reach For Hospice Race to be sailed September 18th in Sequim Bay. The event promises to be a fun time and a worthy fund raiser for Hospice. Registration will start at 10:30 am in the SBYC Clubroom with a skippers meeting to follow at 11:00 in the great room. Final description of the courses and any modifications to the instructions will be made at this meeting. The full Entry and Sailing Instructions can be viewed here.
2010 Little America’s Cup in C Class Cats
If the next America's Cup is sailed in catamarans with hard wing sails, this could be a dress rehearsal. Video comes complete with fast boats, scenes of damage and destruction, annoying music, and rough language. What more could you want? Lifted from Sailing Anarchy.
Port to Port 2010
[slideshow id=26] Thanks Sym for these pictures of Saturday’s party and Sunday’s light wind start. We could not have planned a better weather weekend, hot and sunny both days. On Saturday we got our downwind spinnaker run shortly after the start, and were able to keep them up almost the entire day. There were some holes to be found but Thatuna did a remarkable job of staying in the breeze and drove around the entire fleet. Saturday finished with Sea Puppy, an F 24 tri from Sequim being single handed all weekend by Bruce von Borstel crossing first, followed by [...]
Wahooooo! It’s a Sunny Summer Weekend!
Lots to do this weekend. - Port to Port Race. Registration and sign ups will be at the Skipper's meeting at the Maritime Center, Saturday morning at 9:30. Race starts at 1:00 on Saturday for the hoped for downwind ride to Port Ludlow. Sunday's race starts at 9:30 for what is forecast to be a beat back to PT. We have the party barge with pizza's at Port Ludlow. Satch showed me his chart plotting and navigation skills by folding up a business card to one nautical mile and computing the distance as around 14 miles or so. [...]
Erik Tries a Swift Solo at the Gorge
I recently was given the opportunity to attempt to race a Swift Solo skiff in the Columbia River Gorge. When my 505 crew and good Colorado buddy Philip Ryan told me of the possibility of getting a loaned boat I thought, “Go down to the Gorge to sail an overpowered singlehander with a main, jib and a HUGE kite all while hanging on a trapeze? Sounds like what I call fun!” In the back of my mind I knew there was a distinct possibility I would be blown off the river. I’ve sailed there three times previously and [...]
Upcoming 6 Metre North Americans in PT
Exciting news from Adam Henley, the 6 metres are coming back to Port Townsend Bay for their North American regatta. Dates are August 13 - 15th, so far 10 boats are signed up. The host club is the Port Townsend Sailing Association.
Port Ludlow YC Tala Pt Regatta this Saturday the 19th
This Saturday on June 19th, the Port Ludlow Yacht Club Tala Pt Regatta will be feature two races. Boats (and owners) that like longer race legs will be please with the course and you get to see some different real estate. For more information go to their web site at PLYC. Speaking of Port Ludlow, don't forget the Port-to-Port Race August 14-15. In addition, the rumor is that one of the PLYC's best races is the 20 mile Satchet Head race, August 28 but then again, they have two days of racing September 18-19 for the Marrowstone Island races. If [...]
Swift? Surely not!
[slideshow id=20] Pegasus fighting for a spot on the line Pegasus XIV does the 2010 Swiftsure race The 2010 Swiftsure was many things this year but fast wasn’t one of them. It had a few moments of excitement but the word was “Well, it’s never like this…” Swiftsure normally starts with an upwind leg, the price you pay to have a good, solid downwind finish. Oh that it were so this year. On the other hand, we can’t say we weren’t warned. Our weather briefing Friday started with “It looks like great wind at the start with this high offshore [...]
67th Swiftsure Predictably Unpredictable
As we wait to hear about the race from Dan and the crew on Pegasus, a photo of Pegasus by Jan Anderson at her Flicker site. a photo by Sean Trew at www.pacificfog.net, and a race report from the Swiftsure site. Victoria, BC – Gear buster to drifter, the 67th Swiftsure proved challenging for its competitors. In 15 knots of wind the first two starts went off without a hitch, but Class 3 was recalled. Principal Race Officer Jennifer Guest postponed the start sequence to allow enough time to get all the Class 3 boats back for their [...]
2010 NW High School Team Race Championship
Port Townsend was one of seven schools that made the trip to Sail Sand Point to compete for the 2010 NW High School Team Racing Championship title and a berth to the ISSA National Team Racing Championship for the Baker Trophy. This was the first time that the Port Townsend Team has competed in the Team Racing Champs; and the group of happy, sun burnt sailors, sailed extremely well and came in 4th. There was one senior and six freshman who competed: Jackson Delagarza, Olivia Gibbons, Cody Kowalski, Coleman Riddle, Emily Bufford, Britz Grant and Darby Flanagan. […]
Hydroptere – The History of a Dream
Interesting video on the French sailing hydrofoil, L'Hydroptere, Alain Thebault's decades-long obsession to turn his surface piercing foil-driven trimaran concept into the world's fastest sailboat. As Sailing Anarchy pointed out this morning, the video ends with a quote from Winston Churchill, "Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." l'Hydroptère - L'histoire d'un rêve - The story of a dream (3 min) from Team Hydroptère on Vimeo.
America’s Cup Visits Anacortes
From Kathy G, here's a picture of Ted Pike and his son standing next to the Americas Cup trophy in Anacortes.
Bringing Back American Classics
From Kimball Livingston’s always interesting blog, Blue Planet Times, Published: March 8, 2010 With classic American racing yachts, there’s more than one meaning to the phrase, bring’em back. Any wood boat that’s been out there a while will surely have been “brought back” one time or more through restoration procedures that we can reasonably hope are unreasonably fanatical. There’s also: Bring’em back home. Dorade, courtesy Sparkman & Stephens Association For a while it seemed that all our classic raceboats were off to the Med. Lately, less so. I knew I had to write about this when I heard that Dorade [...]
Fast Sails Come From Port Angeles
In fact, in 2005 Port Angeles' Dan Kaseler of Raptor/Gaastra/Vandal Sails made the world's fastest sail as Finian Maynard on a windsurfer set the record of 48.7 knots using a sail Dan designed. In 2009, Dan won the Pacific Coast Championship in his Melges 24, and he's currently developing his Raptor sails for one of the most interesting boats around, the foiling Moth. In February, his sails took 1, 2 & 3 at the U.S. Moth Nationals, but in the notably light wind at the Worlds in Dubai, they are having a tougher time. You can learn more about Raptor [...]
Anacortes Built Boat Racing on Monday. Maybe.
33rd America’s Cup starts Monday, Feb. 8th. Does anyone care? While the history of the 33rd America’s Cup up to now has not been pretty, the best two out of three races are scheduled for Monday the 8th, Wednesday the 10th, and Friday the 12th in Valencia. The continual war in court between the battling billionaires has driven away the sponsors, the challengers, and for many, any interest in the race. The boats themselves though are spectacular. BMW Oracle was built at Core Builders in Anacortes ~ Length and width – 90′ x 90′ mast height – 185′ tall (and [...]
In Praise of Martha and Her Crew
[singlepic id=45 w=465 h=365 float=center] The following article ran last November in the new Northwest boating site, Three Sheets Northwest, to celebrate Port Townsend’s own schooner Martha’s victory in the recent Round the County race. In case you missed it, here’s the article and some pictures by Sean Trew of Pacific Fog. […]
Pegasus Goes Round the County
A Beginner’s guide to the Round the County race, by Dan Newland Close to Thanksgiving, many boaters love to sail “South of the Border”, however that generally assumes the US border, not the Canadian. But for 21 years, sailboats in the Puget Sound area have participated in a two day event that is more akin to an ocean race than an inland sail at a time of year that often brings storms, snow and freezing rain. Being new to the area, we had not sailed on any of the larger, well attended and competitive races in the area. [...]