15 minute read
TYC Winter Vashon
WINTER VASHON: SNOWPOCALYPSE? NOPE. WILD RIDE? YES!
by Peter Nelson
We went into the first weekend of December with a foreboding weather forecast of snow, cold temperatures, and a wind forecast between 4 and 15 knots from the northeast, southeast, or northwest…take your pick. Racers wanted wind to get around the course, but weren’t too thrilled about the prospect of freezing wind chill.
When we woke up Saturday morning for this annual circumnavigation of Vashon Island, we were greeted (in Bremerton) with 3-4 inches of snow. The question was, “Will any of our crew be able to show up, much less WANT to show up?” We hit the road early for Tacoma Yacht Club (TYC) to give us extra time on the roads, and extra time to dig the boat out of the snow drifts we imagined piled high on deck.
Boy, were we surprised when we showed up at TYC with nary a bit of snow…and sunny skies! Was I dreaming? A quick pinch from my girlfriend, Sandy, confirmed I wasn’t dreaming, and we were off to the races.
The race started under sublime conditions — a 10 knot northwesterly. The fleet beat into and up Colvos Passage under sunny skies with breeze that built to a relatively steady 12-14 knots. There were a few dead spots along the edges and more than once we saw boats digging into the shore a boat length or two too deep.
At the north end of Colvos, the wind picked up to 18 knots, with gusts to 20. With a strong ebb on, things got sporty in the steep chop. Aboard my Farr 395 Time Warp, we elected to lay a reef in to see how the boat would perform. To our amazement, she settled down and took the chop like a champ.
A quarter mile or so north of Vashon, the committee placed a temporary mark that everyone fetched easily on the outgoing tide. Then the fun really started! Class 2 (the fast guys like Absolutely,
Photo from Olson 30, Scoundrel, by Andrew Nelson.
Annapurna, Freja, Madrona, and Terramoto) led the fleet around the mark and chose not to hoist a spinnaker immediately. Moments after rounding the weather mark, we decided that rigging for a spinnaker couldn’t hurt. You know what happened next. We decided it wasn’t blowing that bad and we went for the hoist. The boat took off and we were suddenly hitting 9 and 10 knots consistently, and saw a top speed of 14.2. Yeehaw!
Our closest competitor, and eventual class winner, John Leitzinger’s Kahuna crossed our bow on starboard. We had closed the gap significantly and were back in the race. As we approached Point Robinson, we were unsure whether to take it wide so we were not sucked into the lee of Maury Island, or rhumb line it for the finish.
Too late. Kahuna did an early jibe and that was the right call. We got our jibe in uneventfully which, for this shorthanded crew, was a success. Now we were on a tight reach and “Back of the bus, boys!” came the call from the helm as we tried to keep her on her feet.
We were gaining steadily on Kahuna, but John was protecting his windward quarter. We owe them 9 seconds per mile, and if we were going to make this a race then we needed to get around them. A quick bluff up, followed by a dive to leeward netted nothing. The only way around them was by going above.
Our tactician, Jeff Janders, called for a controlled round up, but there is nothing controlled about rounding up in 14 knots of breeze with 18 knot puffs.
We got the boat back on its feet several boat lengths to weather and behind Kahuna. By this time, I suspect Kahuna realized they had their time saved on us and let us by. Either way, we didn’t care. We roared over the top of them, and were now firmly positioned to take line honors in our class and ended up crossing the line about one boat length in front of Kahuna. What a race!
Overall, it was a great day rounding Vashon Island — and it didn’t snow! A big thanks and good job goes out to the organizers, race committee, and all the other racers.
Editor’s Note: For a fun story about the author's epic post-finish sideways-sailing spinnaker douse, check out the full version of this article at 48north.com.
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BOATS FOR SALE
$22,500
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$29,000
‘91 SCHOCK 35 SAILBOAT
Quality racer/cruiser. Well maintained, upgraded. Bottom foils faired/painted 2018. Diesel htr, hot water, refer/freezer. Furuno Navnet chart plotter GPS, AIS. Digital charts Vancouver Is. to Oregon. Radar, autopilot. Dodger + Bimini covers. Perkins M30 eng. Flexifold 3 blade prop. Full set sails w/ cruising genaker. Lying Brownsville.
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Marie Anne, a Friendship Sloop; they originally were gaff rigged fish boats in Maine. Mahogany planking, two-cylinder Yanmar, sails, interior and cockpit cushions winches. The owner, now deceased, worked out of state for eleven years. The boat was in saltwater storage, under cover in Seattle. This is a boat for someone who loves a historic type vessel and can fix her up. Negotiable price.
» Contact Paul Kelton • pkeltop@gmail.com • $3,500 C&C 33 SAILBOAT FOR SALE
Excellent sailing boat, multiple sails including great set of racing sails, trailer. LOA – 32’6", Beam – 10’6", Draft – 6’4", Weight – 9800 lbs.
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48º NORTH
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Vamoose is a competitive, clean and well maintained 40' racer cruiser, with the emphasis on performance. Full inventory of North 3Di sails and B&G electronics. Look at her photo album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/6VYS3o3wqrEvQrfC9 and read the EXTENSIVE equipment list: drive.google. com/file/d/1K_sKIqiTMsKEDuwkyK5MnT8TkM2HjL4_/ view?usp=sharing. Port Townsend » Contact Nick Reid
• ptnick@gmail.com • $165,000
47
ALERION EXPRESS 28 Beautiful 2008 Alerion 28, “Alegria”, meticulously maintained, original owner, Flag Blue hull/Beige nonskid. All standard equipment plus Hoyt Jib Boom, varnished interior/exterior, sink, marine head, swim ladder, bow and stern pulpits with double lifelines, shorepower, second battery, upgraded winches, goldleaf name, etc. Located Pt. Richmond, CA » Contact Mike • lassto22@comcast.net • $109,000
$35,000 $4,200 $3,500
1978 NORTH SEA 34 PILOTHOUSE
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$32,000 FOR THE SAILORS WHO ARE DREAMING TO SAIL AROUND CAPE HORN, BUT HAVE ONLY
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• Sail.Paganel@gmail.com • $4,200
$8,630
ERICSON 32-3 1985
Selkie is a well-cared for cruiser in excellent condition, great for light winds, but can handle rough weather with grace. Perfect single-hander, but comfortable with 6 for daysailing, 4 for overnights. Engine/ related systems serviced regularly by TriCounty Diesel. Sails are 6 years old. Below she is lovely & comfortable, new upholstery, new fridge/freezer, new forced air heating. Luxuriant wood throughout.
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$35,000 GO TO THE END OF THE EARTH!
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MARINE EQUIPMENT
1985 CLASSIC GAFF RIGGED SCHOONER WILHELM H. STARCK
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48º NORTH 48
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• (360) 306-0953 • a64me@yahoo.com • $3,500
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