Well, another month has quickly passed in our sailing season. Since my last article, we have had two Inlet Series Races: Eld Inlet and McAllister Creek. These were a couple of light air extravaganzas!! What is up with this weather? I’m married now, but if I was single, I’d never date a woman named La Nina!! I though Winter meant cold and breezy!
The Eld Inlet Race started out light, and finished lighter. It looked like most boats were able to finish. It was a pleasant day, just not much wind. Then, before McAllister Creek, I had a long conversation with our race officer for that race, Jeff Johnstone. We talked about all possible outcomes of a light air race. I am happy to report that he did an excellent job deciding to end the race at a pre-arranged shorten course mark, Itsami Ledge. Nice job Jeff! Only two things that irked me: 1) we on Balder picked the pin end of the line, and that was the further distance to finish, and 2) that Jeff on the big RC boat was grilling up something tasty on the bar-bee, and did not hail us to join him!!!
Speaking of no wind, I noted that today was the scheduled start of the Americas Cup in Valencia, Spain. It was quite a picture: a giant catamaran and a giant trimaran, some 90 feet in length, sitting out several miles offshore in the Mediterranean with just glassy water all around them! I guess little old South Sound is not the only sailing venue that gets no wind days. I found it interesting to read of the technology behind the American boat: it has rigid sails, controlled in several different sections by hydraulic devices. Perhaps 20-30 years from now that technology will filter down to the average person’s boat.
Before I close, let me remind you of our Spring race committee training class. This will be held at Apollo’s Pizza, 2302 Harrison Ave. N.W., Olympia March 4th at 1830. Come and join others as we go over the ins and outs of running a South Sound race event. This training class will especially help you in setting courses and running the buoy races of Spring and Summer. See you there!
Good Sailing to you!!
Joe Downing, Starlight, Star 6381