The most unique sailboat race on Puget Sound—the LeMans Race sponsored by the Gig Harbor Yacht Club (GHYC)—was held again on Saturday November 16, 2024. The event has been held annually for more than 50 years. The idea for this race is the result of a dinner table brainstorm between local boat builder, Ed Hoppen, and GHYC founding member and past commodore, Dick Carlson.
So, why do sailors love this race? What draws the crowds of fans lining the shoreline? The answer is part of what makes this race so unusual: an anchor.
All participating boats are anchored within Gig Harbor prior to the start. All sails are down, and the crew is below deck. As soon as the starting horn sounds, every member of the crew has a task. Usually, a pair runs forward and pulls the anchor while another group raises the sails. Skippers and crew are challenged to locate the wind and drive the boat from a stationary position—meaning no steerage—attempting to gain momentum and control and get out of Gig Harbor. The course brings racers from Gig Harbor to a mark in Colvos Passage before they return to the harbor. Boats have to manage the narrow mouth of the harbor and the tricky currents under sail, twice!
This year, with little to no wind during the skipper’s meeting, and forecasts for light winds, the decision for the race committee was easy. The 9.2 mile “short course” to Camp Sealth was the choice, rather than the longer course to Olalla.
The stage was set. Two start groups were positioned and anchored in their respective starting area “‘boxes.” The first start was 10 boats, ranging from 26 to 33 feet, with PHRF ratings from 93 to 195. Starting second (somewhat unusually 10 minutes after the first start) were a dozen faster “big” boats, with PHRF numbers 15 to 86.
At the start, you often see boats fending off, sails not rising smoothly or winds (and lack thereof) causing confusion. For the most part, both starts in 2024 were smooth and 17 of the 22 boats completed the course in roughly 4 hours.
Line honors went to John Leitzinger’s Kahuna, an Aerodyne 38. Not only did they beat the other boats in Start 2 but they made up 10 minutes on the Start 1 boats. Zulu Tango, a Farr 395 was second across, followed by Sidewinder, an Olson 30.
Corrected times gave a different look to the results. And while some might be surprised, the resident Gig Harbor racers were not shocked in any way. In fact, it was very much anticipated. The oldest boat in the fleet, T-Bird #9, Fandango, sailed by the Storkman crew (Jaime and Joan, with their grown children Ryan and Katie) took first overall. This was no surprise because local knowledge of both wind and currents within the harbor is key. Fandango was first to clear the mouth of the harbor, showing that a good start is at least as important in the LeMans race as in conventional races, probably much more. The race’s history tells us that boats out early do well, which is part of what makes the bustle of activity on and between the boats in those first minutes of the race so exciting for participants and so riveting for fans looking on from shore.
Another great story from Saturday involved the owners of Jammin, a 26-foot J/80. They gave their boat to a group of kids from Gig Harbor Junior Sailing. And the junior group did well—Jammin crossed the line in tenth position and corrected to ninth overall. Jammin was sailed by Bailey Rainbolt (11th grade, five years sailing), Tru Jackson (10th grade, three years sailing), Cameron Siegert (10th grade, two years sailing), and Charlie Yando (9th grade, four years sailing). All are students at Gig Harbor High School. Jammin was skippered by coach Dayne Hall, who is a former Gig Harbor Junior Sailing racer himself. Kudos to the Jammin owners who saw the benefit to getting young racers involved. And thanks to that same group for taking on race committee duties as well.
In the end and after handicaps were applied, the podium for the first start went to Fandango, followed by J/29 Slick and J/80 Veloce. In the second start, it was the Tripp 33, Short Circuit, in the top spot and taking second overall nearly 7 minutes behind Fandango; and then Kahuna in second and Zulu Tango.
Another terrific LeMans race is in the books, the November tradition like no other didn’t afford much breeze, but the starting protocol always offers more lively fun than any other version of a light air sailboat race start. Sailors and spectators alike had a ball, as always!
Full results can be found at www.gigharboryc.com
