W
hidbey Island Naval Sailing
Association’s biggest event of
the year, Round Whidbey, is a two day
endurance run of 65 nautical miles
beginning at Deception Island on May 9.
The course is counter clockwise finishing
in the proximity of Red Number 2 buoy,
Oak Harbor.
WINSA
Organized events got underway
with a barbeque Friday afternoon at
Round Whidbey Island Race
Cornet Bay State Park. As boats started
arriving, Rod Hubbard put the chicken,
burgers and hotdogs onto the grill. Club
members outdid themselves with pot
luck dishes and condiments. By the time
Commodore Gary McIntyre started the
Skipper’s meeting at 7:00 pm; 35 sailors,
By the time we reached Possession
family and friends were enjoying a rare,
O
ur experience in ‘Round Whidbey
2009 was unforgettable. In the Point, we thought we were no longer in
mild spring evening. James Maconachy’s
hours before leaving for Cornet Bay my the competition for lack of other boats in
hats and T-shirts went fast rounding out
crew and I frantically reinstalled cleats, view. Then we noticed a regatta headed
the first day.
winches, as well as new instruments. our way from the west, spinnakers flying.
Saturday morning all boats were
The boat, newly named My Maria, hadn’t We actually thought that Everett must
away from the dock by 0800. The fleet
been sailed since I brought her home from have had a race going at the same time. It
rushed through Deception Pass, which
Everett in October. It was as if she was wasn’t until we saw some of our friends
was ebbing at 6+ knots. True to tradition,
grinning ear to ear as we removed her that we came to the blissful realization
W.D.Mayotte provided his retired
former, ill-fitting name of Sasquatch. that we were now at the front of the pack.
gillnetter, Sova, for the committee’s
This was to be my first race as skipper, We took many pictures to preserve the
start boat. He set out a 200 yard line,
and the first run on my now fully working moment, thinking that it might not stay
running normal to the beach. The 24
sailboat, with my new crew, having not that way. Then most everyone, including
competitors were met by light breezes
done a single practice drill of any kind. us, lost all wind. As it ever-so-slowly
that came and went.
As a group, the four of us averaged less built, we worked hard for our .2 knot
The fleet split with eight boats
than a year each of sailing experience. speed, then .4, .7, and so on. All through
sailing west and the rest taking a more
Even still, we enthusiastically sailed the night we watched our vane, telltales,
traditional course by sailing near shore.
onward to challenge so many seasoned and actively heeled the boat, eking out
As a southwesterly breeze filled in,
adversaries. a better position one boat at a time. By
it was quickly apparent sailing away
Race day was blessed with gorgeous morning light we again had no wind. It
from shore (on port tack) was the better
sunshine, blue skies, and precious wind. took about three hours after we knew
strategy this year and they quickly left
Being newbies, we didn’t jockey for we couldn’t make the 1:00 pm deadline
the 16 inshore boats behind. It is a long
position at the start, but hung back, for us to accept it and pack it in.
race and a lot can happen, and usually
knowing this was more about endurance I believe I can speak for my crew in
does, in 24+ hours.
and diligence than a perfect start. We saying that for us this race was all about
Later as the light northwesterly
chose to largely parallel the coastline and experience-gaining practical sailing
built everyone was reaching southward
soon only had a few boats within view. knowledge, having a great time with
feeling as though Admiralty Inlet could
About halfway down the coast we threw friends, and adding yet another adven-
be made by the ‘turn’; and, with luck,
out our spinnaker and with the currents ture to a fine collection of memories. In
the fleet would be at Possession Point
were doing an incredible 9 knots - a lot this spirit we count the race a complete
before sundown. Winds held until
for a San Juan 24. success.
evening allowing Icon to fly down Puget
— by Michael Thomas
Sound obtaining speeds of up to 15 knots
under full main and spinnaker. Second
all the way was Scott Ellus’ Shenanigans
followed by Circe, Sorcerer, and Spectre.
By dark, however, winds did die
away and the rest of class A and all of
Class B stalled out between Possession
Point and Green bank. Congratulations
to Icon who set a new course record with
a corrected time of 10:56:34.
— by Charles Gordanier
48° No r t h , Ju N e 2009 Pa g e 55
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