- Oct 22, 2014
- 21,189
The inaugural SBO PacificNW Racing Crew met on the dock and took on the 2023 Round Whidbey Sailboat race over the May 27-28 weekend aboard SV Papillon. Hayden Watson, Papillon’s owner gave me a call and said… “Hey John. Your boat is still in the hospital, you want to be my Tactician and go racing?” Feeling the withdrawals of being a beached sailor, I shouted "ABSOLUTELY!"
Papillon is a well outfitted Catalina 30 Mk 2 Tall Rig. Knowing that Hayden had just given her a fresh new suit of sails, what could be better than testing them on an overnight semi endurance race. What about crew? Hayden said he had several feelers out with Catalina owners who had shown interest. Great.
Preparation was going smoothly until 2 weeks before the race when I got a call. "Hey John, this is Hayden. We got a problem. It is just the two of us. For various reasons the other 4 guys can’t make it. Know any crew…"
"Let me make some calls." A quick PM to several SBO members and within 5 days we had 3 SBO sailors who said yes, their wives and families had kicked them out of the house to come play on the sea.
SBO Crew: Hayden Watson, jssailem, MikeHoncho, Jolly Peño, colb218
The first SBO Racing team I know about in the Pacific NW.
The race is a 65NM challenge of wind, tides, energy, and patience. Racers have 30 hours to sail the course that starts on the Easterly end of Juan D Fuca Strait. The course takes the boats Southerly along the west facing edge of Whidbey Island to Partridge Point. Race rules say leave all green buoys around the Island to port. From Partridge point we pass through Admiralty Inlet Easterly into the Puget Sound, along with all the Military and Commercial shipping traffic that visits the Port of Seattle. Our next turn point is Possession Point, the halfway mark of the race. In some years just making it to the Halfway mark within the allotted 30 hours is an accomplishment. Possession Sound leads racers North towards Gedney Island (named Hat Island by the locals) which stands at the Northerly top of Possession Sound. The last turn is at Sand Point. It leads the boats into Saratoga Passage in a Westerly direction to the finish at Oak Harbor.
Yes, we sail towards each of the 4-compass headings over the 30 hour period. The sailor’s rumor about the Salish Sea, 'untie the lines on any given day and the winds on the Sea will be on the bow no matter which direction you choose. There's that, and then the tides will, two times a day, be pushing you in a direction you don’t want to go.
Boats and crews assemble in Cornet Bay State Park on the North end of Whidbey Island, Washington. Most boats gather at the docks of the Park on Friday evening. Crews meet and enjoy a last shore prepared meal by the Race Hosts from Oak Harbor Yacht Club. The rules are discussed then crews return to their boats for the evening. Last minute fixes are done. Boat bottoms are scrubbed. Last minute scrutiny is made of weather forecasts, last beers are downed, busy work happens as sailors’ anticipation mounts for the 11AM morning start.
Boats begin leaving around 9AM to navigate the currents of Deception Passage. Sightseers wave as we pass beneath the bridge, through the rock faces on each side of the passage.
On board we discuss the water currents as this will be the first time some of the crew have transitioned through the treacherous waters of the passage.
Prior to race day Hayden had shared his goals for the race with the crew.
Papillon is a well outfitted Catalina 30 Mk 2 Tall Rig. Knowing that Hayden had just given her a fresh new suit of sails, what could be better than testing them on an overnight semi endurance race. What about crew? Hayden said he had several feelers out with Catalina owners who had shown interest. Great.
Preparation was going smoothly until 2 weeks before the race when I got a call. "Hey John, this is Hayden. We got a problem. It is just the two of us. For various reasons the other 4 guys can’t make it. Know any crew…"
"Let me make some calls." A quick PM to several SBO members and within 5 days we had 3 SBO sailors who said yes, their wives and families had kicked them out of the house to come play on the sea.
SBO Crew: Hayden Watson, jssailem, MikeHoncho, Jolly Peño, colb218
The first SBO Racing team I know about in the Pacific NW.
The race is a 65NM challenge of wind, tides, energy, and patience. Racers have 30 hours to sail the course that starts on the Easterly end of Juan D Fuca Strait. The course takes the boats Southerly along the west facing edge of Whidbey Island to Partridge Point. Race rules say leave all green buoys around the Island to port. From Partridge point we pass through Admiralty Inlet Easterly into the Puget Sound, along with all the Military and Commercial shipping traffic that visits the Port of Seattle. Our next turn point is Possession Point, the halfway mark of the race. In some years just making it to the Halfway mark within the allotted 30 hours is an accomplishment. Possession Sound leads racers North towards Gedney Island (named Hat Island by the locals) which stands at the Northerly top of Possession Sound. The last turn is at Sand Point. It leads the boats into Saratoga Passage in a Westerly direction to the finish at Oak Harbor.
Yes, we sail towards each of the 4-compass headings over the 30 hour period. The sailor’s rumor about the Salish Sea, 'untie the lines on any given day and the winds on the Sea will be on the bow no matter which direction you choose. There's that, and then the tides will, two times a day, be pushing you in a direction you don’t want to go.
Boats and crews assemble in Cornet Bay State Park on the North end of Whidbey Island, Washington. Most boats gather at the docks of the Park on Friday evening. Crews meet and enjoy a last shore prepared meal by the Race Hosts from Oak Harbor Yacht Club. The rules are discussed then crews return to their boats for the evening. Last minute fixes are done. Boat bottoms are scrubbed. Last minute scrutiny is made of weather forecasts, last beers are downed, busy work happens as sailors’ anticipation mounts for the 11AM morning start.
Boats begin leaving around 9AM to navigate the currents of Deception Passage. Sightseers wave as we pass beneath the bridge, through the rock faces on each side of the passage.
On board we discuss the water currents as this will be the first time some of the crew have transitioned through the treacherous waters of the passage.
Prior to race day Hayden had shared his goals for the race with the crew.
My goals in order of importance
- Be safe.
- Have fun.
- Improve all of our skills as skippers.
- Make it to Possession Point.
- Complete the race.
This last one is certainly the hardest and do not be surprised or disappointed if we do not reach that goal.
Part 2: The Race begins.....