The boats forming up off of Passage Island.
Last year we competed in this race and finished last out of 5 boats. This year we knew we could do better. Unlike last year we were short crew; work schedules and other scheduling conflicts meant that only Curtis and I were able to race. We arrived at the boat and motored out to the start off of Passage Island. The ebb helped propel us out there in record time.
It was a strange day for weather; Environment Canada predicted 10-15 knots of Southeasterly wind in the morning veering to 20 knots of Southwesterly later in the morning. When we arrived at the start there was 8 knots of fluky Southeasterly breeze. We lined up and waited for our start as the fast boats were sent off to Halibut Bank.
Fast boats away!
Our division was started 3rd and we had set ourselves up on a nice reach running down the line and bearing away at the last second to cross the line and head out towards the strait. We had seen the previous fleet of boats that stuck close to Bowen sail into a wind hole and come to a dead stop. This worked out well and there was a tight pack of division 5 and 6 boats jocking for position as we headed out.
Now the first tactical decision came; when to bear away and raise the kite. We watched some of the boats with A-kites hoist them in short order and head in. With our symmetrical spinnaker this was not a very good option with the wind firmly on our beam. Finally our time came and the kite went up. The wind was variable and we found ourselves racing a head of boats a short distance to windward and leeward and then we were nearly becalmed watching the same boats race a head. In the end the course seemed to favour those who went out from the islands the most. The wind was very visible on the water and boats fought to stay in the wind chasing it in almost every conceivable direction.
We watched boats like LARK, CRYSTAL DOLPHIN, and VOLARE rounded the mark off Popham Island. Discouraged we doused and made our rounding. As we came around the wind finally started to fill into the 15 knots of Southeasterly that was predicted for earlier in the day. It was now a tacking dual. Division5 and 6 effectively were one tacking back and forth back to the start line. Some boats were sticking close to shore short tacking up the islands. Others were heading out on long tacks out in the strait. We opted for the middle road sticking out more than being in. It was working for us beautifully. We gained major ground. We over took division 5 boats and maintained a healthy lead over VOLARE and MARBELLA.
The race was getting exciting. The boat was sailing beautifully. As we closed passage island we had a SNAFU with a jib sheet stuck in a cheek block. MARBELLA made their move and went into Howe Sound and tacked back out towards the finish line. CRYSTAL DOLPHIN had finished by now and LARK was about to cross after coming in from a long tack out into the strait. We now were trying to finish ahead of MARBELLA for line honours. As we got within 200 meters of the finish line the wind shifted to more of a Easterly and shut off. We coasted at a knot as MARBELLA closed to the line. We were on starboard and getting close to the committee boat at the North end of the line. MARBELLA was trying to sneak around at that point too. The gods smiled on the WEASEL however and we coasted over the line as MEARBELLA stalled and sat two boat lengths off the line. In fact they were unable to cross the line for another 20 minutes!
A sea weasel spotted on the dock at Snug Cove.
Darryl regales us with tales of how he dated Curtis's mom.
Darryl regales us with tales of how he dated Curtis's mom.
Following the race we sailed over to Bowen Island where D-Hog joined us. We sat at the pub and watched the Canucks lose. Following that we met up with CRYSTAL DOLPHIN and shared some beer and war stories. When the dust finally settled we woke up to a beautiful sunny morning and headed home.
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