Racing Sheet BY DOUG HANSEN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAN ANDERSON
Making It Happen With COVID-19 social distancing mandates in place, some yacht clubs are stepping up to the challenge by providing short-handed sailing options for racers to get out on the water and compete. They are offering a mixture of double-handed and short-handed crew race options as alternatives to a full-blown keel boat racing calendar. Everything from weekend distance racing to weeknight double-handing is proving that, with the appropriate precautions, racing is far from dead in the Pacific Northwest. One of these events was the Around Whidbey Island Race, hosted by Oak Harbor Yacht Club. Normally a fully crewed race, the entries were limited to five crew per boat for a fantastic race around the island. The start was set up just to the west of the notably treacherous Deception Pass and the fleet sailed counterclockwise around the length of Whidbey Island to a finish line set up at
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the Oak Harbor marina entrance. The enthusiastic fleet got underway just after 10 am in typical Northwest summer fashion; with light air but no shortage of smiles throughout the fleets. With only eleven entries, it was inspiring to see such a range of boats and racers represented in the fleet. Racers, cruisers, and even a spectacular “Aero� rotating, rigged cruising sloop came out for a day on the water. A mix of close friends and families taking to the water with a common goal is at the fundamental core of yachting, and seeing this kind of camaraderie and teamwork in these days of absolute uncertainty is nothing short of inspiring. The day wrapped up with most of the fleet finishing the 65-mile course in the early hours of the morning after many long hours of low side hiking. Shannon Buys onboard Vertigo took home the corrected time win for the day after sixteen
