2009 RNSA Single Handed Race Report

SEA WEASEL heads out of False Creek.


I had first heard of this race a four years ago before I had the SEA WEASEL. It sounded pretty intimidating at the time but I knew I wanted to try it one day. Not long after I got my boat I began single handing it. At first just motoring around and soon day sailing. Last year I got into it in a big way and did two races single handed and did numerous over night trips by myself. Finally this year I decided I would participate in the biggest single handed race in the area; the Royal Naval Sailing Associations' Single Handed Race. The event is co-hosted with the False Creek Yacht Club and the Nanaimo Yacht Club. The race starts at the mouth of English Bay and proceeds to Nanaimo and back the next day.



The STEVESTON LIFEBOAT was used as the R.C. Boat.


The morning of the race I took a cab down to the marina since Cheryl was unwilling to get up that early. I boarded the WEASEL and began making my preparations. Luckily the boat was well rigged in terms of safety gear since I had just completed the Southern Straits a few months before. In terms of modifications made to the boat for the race there were few. I had every single line lead aft to the cockpit. My "autopilot" was a bungee cord around the tiller. I had a line tied to the tiller and run outside the stanchions so I could steer while at the mast. I put on my jack lines and as soon as I left the dock I strapped myself in with my tether.



The start line.


The Environment Canada marine weather report predicted 15-25 knots of SE wind in the strait and when I was motoring out before the race I checked the conditions. There was 19 knots of SE wind at Halibut bank and 18 knots E at Point Atkinson. I went with my reefed #2 and a double reefed main. I thought I could shake them out if need be. I didn't think I would need the kite but I rigged it anyway. I also lashed my #1 with a second set of sheets already on just in case the wind died and I needed to upgrade. The boat has some heavy bungee lines on the bow so it was secure but ready to go in a moments notice.



Boats forming up at the start line.


At the start the wind was in fact quite light; maybe 8 knots from the E. I shook out all of the reefs I had set and began reaching back and forth in front of the start line. While there were the usual suspects I knew, DUSTY MAUCH, WILLOW, PSYCHO DUCK, etc., there were a whole host of boats I did not know. When the start came I was ready and came up at the line on a starboard tack with TRIGGER, a TCYC boat on my side. I could have forced him up and over the line early but, he was on our TCYC team so I gave him room. When the starting horn went we were the first across the line by a long shot. I began slowly reaching out towards the first mark at Cape Roger Curtis (the SW corner of Bowen Island). I would have to gybe back and forth but I saw heavier wind out in the strait and did not want to chance it.


SEA WEASEL crossing the line within seconds.

At this point WILLOW crossed the line without her jib up and quickly flashed out her A-Kite. As usual Jason flew by me reaching. It was on. I ran forward and rigged my spinnaker. The boat was nicely balanced and I found that I could actually stay up there with the boat holding its course for some time. I hoisted the kite, doused the jib and was off. Jason was having to gybe back and forth in the E breeze. I could run dead downwind right at the mark and was gaining fast. Then Jason hit the more SE breeze and took off. I now knew that being on a starboard tack was not going to work so I gybed the boat in the calmer conditions. In fact it was a breeze. The boat was quite happy and remained balanced as I did the gybe which was very smooth.

TRIGGER and SEA WEASEL were first across the line.

Now I was ready and when we cleared UBC the SE wind kicked up and I took off reaching. It was sailing at a bit of a impossible angle but it was fast and straight VMG. I was now flying at 7.5 knots. The rest of the fleet seemed to be going North towards Passage Island, all except the dark horse Ed in DUSTY MAUCH who opted to do a flyer down south. As we neared the mark many of the northerly fleet had to douse and go with their jibs to get around Bowen, Ed came flying in. The area now became congested with much of the fleet all together. It was pretty exciting. I rounded the mark and quickly hoisted my jib. There was too much traffic at the mark for me to deal with it first. As soon as it was up I doused the spinnaker into the cockpit. While it did get wet it was a pretty problem free douse.

Reaching towards the finish line in beautiful conditions.

After the rounding it was a close reach to Snake Island and the finish. The fleet was still closely packed. I was averaging 6.5 knots very slowly larger and faster boats began to pass me. I was happy to see that it was only when we were 8-6 nm out that the 1D35 and Olson 30 passed me (when your usually in there dust you take your small victories).

Closing in on the finish line.

Bored I now set about repacking the chute although I doubted I would need it. I put the kite all away and settled into the task of finishing the race. As I got within the last 6 or 7 miles I noticed the wind come full a beam. Now I was ready and before any of the competitors around me could I flashed out my kite and took off. Only that old salt Trevor J. on MUMBLES II was right behind me with his Welsh flag kite. Now I was able to get up to speeds over 7.5 knots. I closed and then crossed the finish line. It was quite honestly a perfect day.

The WEASEL was flying through the last few boat lengths.

The WEASEL crosses the line.

Snake Island to starboard.

MUMBLES II trying to catch up.

Looking back at the finish line.

I then set about derigging the boat as I reached towards Nanaimo Harbour. I had never actually been to Nanaimo before by water and only driven through it by land so this was new for me. I called "Rusty" on channel 16 and got my slip assignment and berthed at the Nanaimo Yacht Club. We had all finished in record time. The RC boat had to go at full speed to keep ahead of the fleet and set up the finish line. Now it was time to sit back and relax.


The Nanaimo Yacht Club.


The SEA WEASEL representing.

The hosting yacht clubs and the RNSA put on a great event at the club house. The dinner was excellent. There were tons of door prizes and all said it was a great time.

Everyone enjoying the sun and reliving the race.

Trevor relaxing.

Jason V. of WILLOW wining an air horn.

Trevor Jenkins of MUMBLES II.

Ed K. of DUSTY MAUCH gets some new binos.

I find the TCYC burgee on the wall.

Julie of PSYCHO DUCK wins something.

The next day it was the race back. The course was starting from Snake Island and heading back to the QA buoy and then the Point Grey bell buoy. The wind was very light at the start line coming in from the SE. The predictions of a decent wind looked unlikely. Again the SEA WEASEL had a good start being the first or second boat across the line within seconds.

It looked as though it was going to be along day as we slowly edged past the line. However after a quarter mile we crossed into the wind and it slowly filled into a decent breeze. Staying close hauled I remained on the same tack for the entire crossing averaging 6.5 knots. It was a beautiful if uneventful run. The fleet broke into two groups. Those that went south and those that went north. Despite not having to tack and more or less laying the line the whole way the fleet that went south did better.

As I approached the QA buoy I say many of them cross in front of me. I rounded the QA buoy closely scaring a bald eagle off it's perch. It then was a nice reach for the finish line which I crossed a short time later. From there it was a pleasant sail into Vancouver until the wind shut off and I motored in.

SEA WEASEL closing in on the finish line.

Done!!

Homeward bound.

In the end this was one of the most fun races I have participated in. I had a blast. There is something about single handing that I really enjoy. It helped that the conditions were absolutely perfect. I would encourage anyone to give this race a try. I would also like to thank everyone who organized the event; they did a great job.

Statistics:

• Participating Boats: 33
• S.W. Overall Placement: 13th out of 33
• S.W. Race One Overall Placement: 11th out of 33
• S.W. Race Two Overall Placement: 19th out of 33
• S.W. Divisional Placement: 5th out of 7
• S.W. Novice Placement: 2nd out of 5
• S.W. Corrected Time Race One: 4:16:44
• S.W. Corrected Time Race Two: 4:44:48
• S.W. Total Corrected Time: 9:01:32
• S.W. Elapsed Time Race One: 4:52:40
• S.W. Elapsed Time Race Two: 5:24:40
• S.W. Total Elapsed Time: 10:17:20
• S.W. Race One Finish Order: 18th across the line
• S.W. Race Two Finish Order: 25th across the line

SEA WEASEL was the 27th fastest boat in the fleet by PHRF rating.