Port Orchard Yacht Club Fall Regatta and What's Next

The "perfect" start of Race 2. Left to right: Great White, Tantalus, Dulcinea, Tantrum II
Great White leading Dulcinea

Tantrum II overtaking Tantalus
(Photo Credit: Steve N)

Saturday was the Port Orchard Yacht Club's Fall Regatta. This was on the schedule all year, but the organizer had a poor turnout last year and was not planning on running the regatta. The crew of Dulcinea(J105) had not raced since Whidbey Island Race Week and were going through withdrawls. So they pressured the organizer to put on the regatta and pressured other racers to participate.

So, this regatta was set up as a three race series starting at Port Orchard Yacht Club(POYC) and racing around various permanent buoys in Sinclair Inlet. The day was wet and the winds were 5-10 knots out a very unusual NE direction.

Race 1 was the shortest course available and was 2.8 NM long. We had four boats starting: Dulcinea (J105), Tantrum II(Schock 35), Tantalus(Express 37) and Great White(J35). All the boats except Dulcinea rated the same. We owed Dulcinea 20 sec/mile. I got rushed at the start and ended up near the pin end of the line. We did have good winds, but the boats on the right did better and Tantalus lead at the weather mark. They did a bear away set that took them to the right side of the course. We did a jibe set and was able to lay the leeward mark without jibing. Dulcinea closed some on us, but at the leeward mark we tacked away early and got stronger winds on the left side. We finished first and saved our time on Dulcinea. Tantrum II was third and Tantalus fourth.

Race 2 was set up as a longer course at 4.6 miles. This course has one weather mark to the east near Retsil and another weather mark across Sinclair Inlet near Pt Herron off East Bremerton. The finish was going to be a downwind finish, there was no leeward mark. Everyone had an excellant start and were lined up perfectly down the line. We were at the boat(breakwater) end of the line. We pulled away, but dit not cover Tantrum II who went right and got ahead of us. Near the first mark, we gained on Tantrum II and rounded less than one boatlength behind. The next leg is usually a beat, but since the wind had so musch east in it, it was a beam reach. Tantrum II pulled ahead again. At the next mark, we jibed around and stayed low of the finish and in better current. Tantrum went higher. The wind was too close for spinakers but as soon as it started coming aft, both Tantrum and us set spinakers at the same time. Tantrum stayed a few boat lengths ahead but was 75 yards to weather. As we neared the finish, the wind came slightly aft and we reached up and passed Tantrum finishing ahead of them by 2 seconds! Tantrum was second, Dulcinea was third and Tantalus finished fourth.

Race 3 was two laps around the same course as Race 1 for a total of 5.6 NM. The start was hectic and everyone was over early. We cleared ourselves and gained on everyone on the beat. We jibe set again. This time the wind was more northerly and we had to jibe twice. Dulcinea passed us on the run. We gained on the second beat, passed Dulcinea and jibe set again. This time the wind was more east again and we sailed the leg again without jibing. The boats behind did bear away sets. We crossed the line first, but could not save our time on Dulcinea and they corrected on us by 48 seconds. So for the last race it was Dulcinea, Great White, Tantrum and Tantalus.

Boat Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Total

Great White 1 1 2 4


Dulcinea 2 3 1 6


Tantrum II 3 2 3 8


Tantalus 4 4 4 2

This series was a whole lot of fun. I did not take it too seriously and used my "B" sails. Our crew work was excellant and I think everyone had a fun time.

Now, what's next? After the racing was finished for the day, I took the racing mainsail off and today rigged the cruising main. I also rigged the jack lines tonight and brought home the racing sails and put the bicycle on board. I am putting the boat into cruising mode for a trip north. I have a handicappers meeting in Bellingham and I thought "why not take the boat". If all goes according to plan I should get reciprocal moorage at the yacht club where the meeting is being held. Following the meeting, I plan on taking a quick trip through the San Juans. After I arrive home, I will have one day to convert the boat back into a racing boat(change sails, unload cruising gear) and then head to the other side of Puget Sound for a major race.

And then after the next race? Well, there may still be time to hike the High Divide Loop out of Sol Duc. It is only 18 miles.