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

Racers take to the waters of Fidalgo Bay for an unexpected breezy and sunny day.
Racers take to the waters of Fidalgo Bay for an unexpected breezy and sunny day.

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.

Wild Rumpus starting with the #1 genoa.
Wild Rumpus starting with the #1 genoa.

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.

Overall winner, the schooner Sir Isaac.
Overall winner, the schooner Sir Isaac.

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 

Pos Sail   Boat   Rating Skipper Yacht Club Corrected  1  Total Pos
1  
440   Kinetic   93   Vincent Townrow [1]   Anacortes   02:45:25   1   1  
1  
2  
50   Time Bandit   54   Bob Brunius [1]   OIYC   02:46:03   2   2  
2  
3  
51847   Hravn   69   todd koetje [1]   byc / cyc   02:47:58   3   3  
3  
4  
97600   Keet   93   Mike Powell [1]   Bellingham Yacht Club   03:01:52   4   4  
4  
5  
69532   Sunshine Girl   72   Walt Meagher [1]   AYC   03:06:48   5   5  
5  
6  
43867   Heart of Gold   114   Robert Lane [1]   BYC pending   03:17:51   6   6  
6  
7  
53561   Sadie Mae   81   Justin Beals [1]   AYC   NO TIME   8/DNC   8  
7  

PHRF 2 

Pos Sail   Boat   Rating Skipper Yacht Club Corrected  1  Total Pos
1  
491   Celebration   141   James Bottles [2]   AYC   02:48:37   1   1  
1  
2  
83   Wild Rumpus   156   Stephanie Campbell [2]   AYC   02:54:54   2   2  
2  
3  
284   Capricho   129   Eric Beemer [2]   AYC   02:59:48   3   3  
3  
4  
29807   Blackfoot   153   Mick Corcoran [2]   BYC   03:05:39   4   4  
4  
5  
153   Hummingbird   168   Jonathan Anderson [2]   SJIYC   03:06:47   5   5  
5  
6  
79846   Reiver   174   Clay Walton-House [2]   N/A   04:04:39   6   6  
6  

PHRF 3 

Pos Sail   Boat   Rating Skipper Yacht Club Corrected  1  Total Pos
1  
22188   Wind Warrior   234   Dean Vandament [3]   None   03:11:41   1   1  
1  
2  
265   Little Annie   207   john gunn [3]   Anacortes Yacht Club   03:43:32   2   2  
2  
3  
234   Normandie   201   William Porter    Anacortes Yacht Club   03:58:31   3   3  
3  

Cruising/NFS 

Pos Sail   Boat   Rating Skipper Yacht Club Corrected  1  Total Pos
1  
Audit/ xxxx   Ocean Watch   0   Karl Kruger    OIYC   04:35:00   1   1  
1  
2  
32   Bliss   0   Collin Simmons    Oak harbor yacht club   04:57:48   2   2  
2  

Double Handed 

Pos Sail   Boat   Rating Skipper Yacht Club Corrected  1  Total Pos
1  
18944   Sir Isaac   93   John and Ann Bailey    PTSA   02:45:20   1   1  
1  
2  
USA 94   Raku   45   Christina & Justin Wolfe    OIYC   02:49:45   2   2  
2  
3  
59879   Endangered Species   120   Todd Feinroth    SSS   03:22:30   3   3  
3  
4  
49196   Malice   231   Kris Moa    Discovery Bay   04:26:56   4   4  
4  
All photos courtesy of Lizabeth Rose.