The 2007 Toliva Shoal Race is in the books and so much for the Sophomore Jinx. You hear all the time about how something or somebody has a great first year, only to follow up with a so-so next. The infamous Sophomore Jinx didn’t rise up and get me in my second year as Toliva Chair. It wasn’t any of my doing though. After a baptism by fire last year, and everything turning out great because of all of the great staff that took me under their guidance, I decided to tempt fate and volunteered to chair again this year. I knew that topping last year’s festivities would be impossible; the best I could hope for was to match what happened last year.
With the same people in the key roles again this year and a tremendous influx of help from Olympia Yacht Club members, I had no worries that this edition of Toliva Shoal would be as good as any other.
First, I would like to thank Olympia Yacht Club and South Sound Sailing Society for allowing me the opportunity to be Chair again this year. Second, I would like to thank all of the volunteers from both organizations, who put in countless hours so the race would be as much fun as it is every year. Third, I would like to thank all of the participants in the race, without you there wouldn’t be any fun to be had.
New to the program this year was the very successful Raffle for High School Sailing Program. This event wouldn’t of raised almost $1,000 for the kids if weren’t for the generosity of West Marine, who donated all of the prizes given away. Thanks go out to Rhonda of West Marine and Geoff Raymoure of the High School Sailing Program for organizing this event. Thank you for supporting the youth sailing movement in the South Sound area.
I have heard from people the past two years that I have been associated with this race that we throw the best party around. With all of the great food and fun that happens Friday night at the banquet and party. To the great post race get-together, I can see why I get that kind of response from everyone.
In the early morning of the race, I got up to see the weather forecast was going to be. The prediction was for a front to move in about 1300. At that time there was a very light marine fog layer, and I could tell this was going to burn off and reveal a fantastic sunny morning. The prediction was for the possibility of record high temps. This later proved be true, Olympia set a record of 62 for this date. It was a good thing that the temps were as high as they were, this took the sting out of the projected southwesterly that collided with a northerly out of Dana Passage.
From my observation point at Dofflemeyer Point, it looked as people were enjoying the sunny warmth, both aboard the boats and viewing upon the shore. I then headed for Johnson Point The northerly dominated as the fleet approached Johnson Point. By now the first boats had rounded the point. Now there were three distinct different packs of boats in Dana Passage. The wind began to swing around to that southwesterly that we were suppose to have all day.
I boarded Sean Trew’s photography boat and headed out into Dana Passage. After checking out the fleet from the Boston Harbor end to beyond Johnson Point, we encountered some very fluky air down to Lyle Point. But the southwesterly continued to build. As the southwesterly built, this consolidated the fleet from being spread over about 12 miles, to about 8 miles.
When the first boats were approaching the mark, it was decided to shorten the race there due to the approaching adverse currents and the distance that the fleet spread over.
Congratulations to Tachyon for first boat to finish and Gladiator for first overall.
Congratulations go to all who participated in and conducted the 2007 Toliva Shoal Race, The Race Around the South Sound.
Don Waterhouse, McSwoosh