For many racers in Puget Sound, this is one of the first races of what is usually a flurry of great events hosted across the region in the fall. Sailed two weeks later than usual this year, the Puget Sound Sailing Championship (PSSC) is typically marked by tight competition and professionally-run buoy racing. And, of course, great views and drinks served at the CYC clubhouse afterwards.
The forecast promised a beautiful Pacific Northwest fall weekend, with abundant sunshine and warm temperatures. Although it didn’t quite deliver as well for those of us looking for wind; PRO Charley Rathkopf and his enthusiastic crew of race committee volunteers at CYC started this year’s PSSC with a 1-hour shore delay.
Right on time, at the original first warning time of 11 a.m., several boats could be seen actually sailing in what just a few minutes prior had been a glassy Shilshole Bay. Race committee took the bait and set out, though not very far. What little wind could be seen was all close to shore and left no room for a race course. On the J/109, Lodos, we motored out around noon and quickly saw the breeze disappear again. Another hour of waiting and some solid wind had filled in, as long as you didn’t get too far out.
The 4- to 6-knot northerly that had filled in allowed Meadow Point to work its magic, making the breeze seem more powerful than it was. The committee worked fast to get a course set for all fleets and racing started about 1 p.m.
With a fairly short course set in the bay, there were not many passing lanes in the two races that were run. The acceleration of breeze off Meadow Point seemed to dominate the day with most teams looking to get to the beach at Golden Gardens and the breakwater on the way up and down the course. The two races were run in quick succession, in surprisingly stable, though light breeze. The short course and its close proximity to the breakwater meant many fleets were overlapping and there were some tight, tricky mark roundings.
Results going into Sunday were tight across most of the seven fleets racing. The wind forecast was anyone’s guess, with “light” and “variable” being the words of the day. As the fleet motored out for an attempt at an on-time start, we were met by sun and even more warmth than Saturday. A light and shifty easterly was showing as the race committee motored north before eventually settling into a spot inside Shilshole Bay again. The wind eventually settled into a more southerly direction with more velocity than Saturday, allowing for a longer course to be set. One long race was run after a short delay. With a persistent shift heavily favoring the inside corners, the race committee was proactive in resetting the windward mark for the second lap for most fleets.
The competition was tight, with many fleets seeing lead changes from Saturday to Sunday. On Lodos we had an excellent start and, knowing that we were in a tight race with Uno, Nefarious, and BOO, with limited chance at more racing, we were out to make it count. As the fastest rated design in a PHRF fleet, we kept it simple, picked our sides, and looked to keep clean lanes off the fleets ahead.
The course and wind were anything but simple, with 20-degree shifts from inside to outside and a tide line that split the course as well. We were able to have a clean race and finish, and corrected to first. Most fleets saw close finishes in consistent wind. And with the wind still looking promising, race committee appeared to be considering more racing before making the decision to head to the bar. Just in time, too, with the wind well and truly dying just as most of us made it back to the dock.
PSSC 2024 may not have set any records, but it definitely exceeded expectations and served quality racing in picturesque fall weather. Full results are available at www.cycseattle.org.
Feature photo by Erin Noelle Parker.
