T

hree Tree Point Race, the third and final race in

Corinthian Yacht Club's Center Sound Series, provided 62 boats with a fun, if near windless, day on the water. The 29.5 nm, reverse-

start, two-leg race begins in the vicinity of the Shilshole breakwater and procedes south to the turning mark just southeast of Three Tree Point. Leaving the mark to starboard, boats return to the finish line at Shilshole. The race can be shortened at the turning mark for a course distance of 14.4 nm, and the race committee's decision to do so this year, was welcomed by the sailors, due to the extremely light breeze of the day. The race began in a light

Corinthian YC

Three Tree Point

100 feet behind us when we jibed to the east. After about five minutes the wind shifted back again and we jibed back to a southerly course. Carl Buchan (wily dog that he is) kept on to the east. When we both jibed back, we found the boat positions were now reversed.... He was about 100 feet ahead of us! And that was how we finished, 100 feet behind Carl and his beautiful boat, Madrona. By the way, the route to the far west taken by Flash, Dark

Star and Neptune’s Car really

didn't pay off for them. We all came back together about five miles from Three Tree Point, essentially neck and neck."

Speaking of Banshee, Tim

south-southeasterly, about 5 knots. The ebb would turn to a flood at Seattle at 9:50 am, which would continue until 3:15. It was sunny and 46°. We, on Here and Now, crossed over the start line and immediately headed east where there was a bit more wind as well as some ebb relief in the back eddy of Shilshole Bay. As we turned south and approached the Magnolia shore, the push from the locks was in our favor. After rounding West Point, we

again went east, where, 10 feet below us, shells and rocks on the bottom glistened upwards in the late March sunlight. At one point the winds decreased to a knot. We turned south on the rhumb line to Alki Point. The breeze was shifting and picking up just a bit and by the time we reached the latitude of Magnolia Bluff, it had settled in the north-northwest, so we set the spinnaker. Off to the east, hugging the coast, we spotted the committee boat YC5 tracking south, no doubt intending to shorten the course at Three Tree Point. David Lynch of White Cloud said,

“Although the usual strategy has been to head in for the breakwater, it certainly didn't look to be working for boats in the starts in front of us. That, and a right- hand wind shift, forced us to sail close to the rhumb line to West Point. We took a few hitches to stay in clear air-- there was a lot of traffic from the fleets that

48° NORTH, MAY 2010 PAGE 54

photo courtesy of Gary Stuntz

”Well, after about five minutes, and with our course almost 90° to the rhumb line, we concluded that we were now sailing the 'dumb line'.”

— David Lynch

started earlier.” After rounding West Point, ”the wind backed a bit, making it perfect to fly the asymmetrical kite. As we approached Alki, basically rhumb- lining it, the wind started to rotate to the northwest. We watched the P1

boats Flash, Dark Star and Neptune's Car

sailing farther and farther to the west. We thought, ”They're smart guys… they must know something we don’t!” Well, after about five minutes, and with our course almost 90° to the rhumb line, we concluded that we were now sailing the 'dumb line'. From that point, our strategy was to play the wind shifts and sail the favored jibe as much as we could. One mistake we made: Madrona was about

Cleary, also of White Cloud, added added, ”There was a Melges 32 in our class (P2), but they were just plane (not a typo!) gone. We did not feel we were even racing that rocket!” Jon Cruse, who sailed wi th Kahuna, a 1D35,

described their race this way. ”It was a fairly typical light-air race where sometimes separating from the greater fleet pays off and sometimes not. As in any light-air race, we did our best to keep the boat moving, avoid any really dead areas (by watching other boats), and take advantage of the currents where possible.” After rounding West Point, ”Kahuna went toward the west somewhat, but the move didn't seem to pay off as we ended up down in the standings.” Jon wrapped it up with a sentiment

felt by many racers that day. ”Retiring was not considered as an option, but the finish with shortened course was welcomed.” Boats eventually motored and

sailed back to Shilshole for the post- race activities and awards party at Corinthian's clubhouse. Taking first, second, and third overall in the Series,

was Banshee, Madrona and Flash.

The Corinthian Yacht Club's Center

Sound Series is sponsored by SLAM and Fisheries Supply.

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