Toliva Shoal 2011 is officially over and what a way to go out as Race Chair. The racers had wind and sun. It was a gorgeous day and made for an awesome race. It was fun to have the race go the full distance and have all racers complete the course by 1900 hours.
We had 68 boats start and 56 boats finish. As the racers came in there were many tales of the wild day on the water. I’m sure we will be hearing stories for weeks to come.
The fun started Friday night with a truly wonderful dinner, complete with appetizers and dessert. All put together by Thera Black and her awesome kitchen crew. Not to mention beer from Fishtale Brewery. Racers sat around talking about other races and planning strategies for the race the next day.
Saturday was an early start. Breakfast starting at 0700 and then off to the boats. Norm Smit was our PRO again this year and did a fantastic job. His daughter Laura was his capable assistant. Thom Abbot was on the mark boat and kept track of all the boats as they rounded Toliva Shoal.
The Race was finished back at the Olympia Shoal. The first boat, Pax the Space Spider, crossed the finish line just after 1400 hours. The last boat just finished before 1900 hours. As the racers came in to talk of the race and the day on the water there was hot soup, salads, rolls, and cookies waiting for them. Even for the last boats in.
I have many thank yous for helping to make this a memorable weekend. Thera Black and her wonderful kitchen crew. Thom Abbott for bringing the beer and manning the bar Friday night. He also was on the mark boat and kept us abreast of where the boats were. Norm Smit as my PRO, and of course Laura who is his wonderful daughter and assistant. All of the power boaters who went out to help make this a safe race and provided boats so we could track all the sail boats. Mike and Patty Phillips, Skip Strait, Pat Brower, Catherine Bander and Rich Hurst. Micki McNaughton and Sandy Whitmore for all your help Friday night, it was much appreciated. Our scorer extrodinare Susan McCrae who is there year after year.
I would also like to thank the Olympia Yacht Club officers who came Friday night to welcome the sailors. Commodore Carol Robinson and her husband Chuck Eich, Vice Commodore Leslie Thompson and her husband Brian, and Rear Commodore Mike Contris and his wife Vonnie. The Commodore of South Sound, Myra Downing, was also on hand to welcome all the sailors.
Clean up went quick Sunday morning. South Sound and OYC members came in and made fast work of cleaning the clubhouse. My final Thank You goes out to Steve Worcester who always keeps me in line and makes sure I make the deadlines.
Don Waterhouse will be the Race Chair next year. I only hope that the Race will come close to what this year’s was.
Debe Andersen