Anacortes Yacht Club’s racing season kicked off with their annual point-to-point event that honors beloved community member, Girts Rekeviks.

After all these years, I think I finally really understand what is so special about the Girts Rekevics Memorial Foulweather Race — an element that I never really thought about. As you sail the course, every landmark you pass and every corner you turn brings you one step closer to somewhere great. It is such fun to race to a destination — to have no need to sail back home until you are good and ready. I love every point-to-point race, and we should do more of them!

The Foulweather Race has been run for at least 25 years. We start the race in Fidalgo Bay, just minutes from the marina. The finish has been in one of at least three island destinations at different times. Originally, the race went to Rosario Resort on Orcas Island. Then we started racing to the Islander Resort on Lopez. Both of those resorts were in off-season mode and the salty sailors of Anacortes Yacht Club were a bit of a handful, to say the least. Once we settled in on Friday Harbor, there was a whole village and “Last one to Herb’s is a rotten egg!” became a thing. 

Often, the race is a reach and you can carry the kite most of the way. Personally, I have never not hoisted the kite on the Foulweather Race. This was another no kite year. It was upwind all the way to Friday Harbor, but there was a good 10-20 knots and the sun came out and I sailed the entire race without ever putting on a jacket In February! Sweetness.

I always say that you sail in the breeze that you have, and not what’s predicted. It wasn’t all that windy at the start, and since I couldn’t see around the corner to Guemes Channel, we went big with the number one genoa on Wild Rumpus. Twenty-two boats started together on my favorite kind of distance race start — a short line and on a close reach. Just spectacular to be part of, with everyone launched in the same direction and boats of all speeds and sizes sorting it out. We took the low road at the start, trying to avoid the wind shadow of Cap Sante rock and avoid the big boats also casting big shadows. It worked pretty well, and all was good until we got into Guemes and it was pretty clear that we needed to drop down to the small jib.

Everyone dealt with the wind differently. We have hanks and had to go bare-headed for the swap. The Moore 24, Hummingbird, was in the same boat right on our heels. Some boats started with smaller sails, others had furlers, and some reefed. The breeze was more than the forecast, the sun was sunnier and warmer than the forecast, and the current was a challenge everywhere except Guemes Channel. Thank goodness for relief in the channel! It was a most fabulous day for sailing and remembering our friend Girts.

In the end, the schooner Sir Isaac joined the short list of boats that have won Foulweather and OIYC Winter Shaw overall in the same year. Congratulations go out to John and Ann Bailey, first place in the Double Handed class and first Overall. They are as kind as they are skilled, and the boat is just beautiful. Other boats with great performance include the J-105 Kinetic, winning PHRF 1 and correct only five seconds behind Sir Isaac in the overall; the J-30 Celebration winning PHRF 2; and the seemingly unstoppable C&C 24 Wind Warrior winning PHRF 3 after an epic challenge just to get to the course.

Aviator “flap hats” went out to all Division winners, as well as anyone who could use their gift of gab to explain why they deserved one at the socially-distant awards party at the dock. It was a great day on the water, and an excellent way to kick off a new season for AYC, and test the gear. Come join us, you’re always welcome!

Results

PHRF 1 

PHRF 2 

PHRF 3 

Cruising/NFS 

Double Handed