Jeff Kloppel and I did the Down the Sound Race August 1 and 2. This race is the companion to the very popular Race to the Straits. It’s a double handed race with reverse start by your handicap; therefore all racers should get to the finish around the same time for the party. The race is from Shilshole to Gig Harbor on Saturday and then back north on Sunday.

We had a full day Friday hauling the Antrim 27 Redline up to Ballard via I-5. Driving the boat through Ballard on 65th street was a site to behold. ,,, I don’t recommend that route. After a long day of setting up the boat we didn’t have time for a practice sail. The race would be our first doublehanded attempt.

We started in 0 to 1 from the north. Eventually we managed to get around West Point and start making some progress. It was a strong ebb and we got parked next to Blake Island with a handful of boats. Eventually we were able to sail into Yukon Harbor for relief. Once into Colvos the flood began but we still needed to work the Vashon side for relief. After reaching Olalla the wind built from the west to around 15 and we were able to hold our chute making 11+ knots through the water. We went for speed over current and passed a number of boats going straight down the middle of Colvos.

As one comes to expect the wind died a Pt Richmond and we found ourselves fourth overall with a good lead over the rest of the fleet. The three boats ahead of us were all taking the great circle route to the finish at Gig Harbor and we did the same. We all sailed up to a boat that we assumed was the finish but it was just a pleasure boat. The finish was further south and further into the beach. All four of us gybed to the east of the false committee boat on a small puff and then the wind shut off completely and the flood came ripping in. We got to within 50 yards of the finish line but soon found ourselves being swept through the Narrows. We fought the flood for about two hours before retiring from the race.

The Sloop Tavern threw a great party at Arabella’s Landing in Gig Harbor. Some sailors swapped horror stories of the finish while the slower boats couldn’t understand what we were complaining about, they had wind to the finish.

Sunday was another start in a fast ebb with no wind. Again the wind filled in after we drifted past Pt Richmond. We had a nice upwind leg trading tacks with the Sierra 26 Uno all the way to the Southworth ferry dock where the wind died and the fleet separated. Boats that made it past Restoration Pt before the flood came in were able to finish the race. Those that did not could not beat the 19:00 time limit. We threw in the towel in Elliott Bay.

Only one boat in our class finished each day. Overall honors for the weekend went to the Islander 36 Whistling Swan. Lots of hard work and two days of intense sailing and two big ole’ DNFs. I don’t think that I’ve ever had that much fun getting a DNF, it was a great weekend of sailing, teamwork and camaraderie.

K. Reese Cassal, Redline