The arrival in Port Townsend was busy with getting the boat launched and loaded, with of course some final jobs to be completed that did not quite get finished before.
The excitement of the other racers and race fans at the docks definitely added to the pre-race buzz. The people of Port Townsend and surrounding area definitely turn out to support the race and NWMC events.
Adding to the atmosphere was that the new race for this year was finishing before ours started. The 70-48, human power only, cover the 70 nautical miles from Tacoma to Port Townsend in under 48 hours. All manner of paddle and row craft competed, from 6 person outrigger canoes much longer than our boat, all sizes of rowing shells, and an ocean rower, to solo kayaks and rowboats, and SUPs. The turnout was huge, well over 100 boats. The winners finished in an amazing sub 10 hour time, on a two person racing surf ski.
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| The Seventy 48 finish dock, where there was always plenty of people to cheer for finishers at all hours. |
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| Ready for the 0500 start prep horn. |
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| The brand new and very fast looking Corsair 970 before the start. |
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| After the race start, exiting Admiralty Inlet. Great start conditions, ebb tide building. Tablet navigation was helpful to avoid the Coast Guard imposed no-go zone of the VTS traffic lanes inside the entrance precaution area. Entering it would get you a disqualification. We cut fairly close to one corner and had a service member coming our way in a zodiac, but he turned away when we tacked. |
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| In the Juan de Fuca Strait, the Olympic Peninsula behind us. Only two tacks the entire 40 miles, to get around the no-go zone, then riding a southwesterly the entire way into Victoria Harbor on a port tack! |
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| JT and Mark enjoying near perfect conditions. Just a few lumpy spots over some shoals from the wind against one of the strongest tides of the month pushing us in the direction we wanted to go. |
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| Vancouver Island ahead. |
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| Into the no sailing allowed zone at the middle harbor of Victoria Harbor. Just too busy and tight for the seaplanes landing, large ferrys, and recreational traffic. No we were not special to get a Canadian Coast Guard escort, they just happened to be docking their cutter as we came by! |
We finished at 11:06 after a 5:05 start, just barely over six hours, in 15th place. By any measure we are quite pleased with that time for what is about a 40 NM crossing. Only made possible by a favorable tide, great wind, calm sea state, and good work on the helm, sail trim, and decision making. Unfortunately some of the smaller boats got caught with reduced winds that didn't allow them to power through the waves as well, and then get caught by the turn to flood that would work against them.
We will see what the weather brings for the start of the full race. So far the forecast looks like headwinds.
