Gig Harbor Islands Race-South Sound Series Race #4

Here it is a week after the Gig Harbor Race that I am finally writing about it. This is one of my least favorite races each year, so it probably explains my lack of enthusism about writing.

This race starts off the entrace of Gig Harbor, goes north through Colvos Pass, around a buoy north of Blake Island and returns to the start/finish line. Anyone that sails much in the northwest knows that the current always flows north in Colvos Pass. So unless there is a good wind, the sail south through Colvos Pass can be an arduous affair.

I started this race on Friday morning to deliver the boat to Gig Harbor. It was an easy delivery, the winds were light and the rain was light at times. But after I moored at Jerisch Park, the heavens opened up and a very soaking rain fell all afternoon. I started the furnace and stayed below reading and working on a splicing project. The boats that came in throughout theafternoon were crewed by generally soaked sailors.

By Saturday morning, the skies had cleared and the temp was near freezing. It did warm up as the sun came up. The winds were light out of the NE and with the current flowing north, it was tricky getting a good start without being swept over the line early. We got a good start near the boat end and started looking for lanes of current. We stayed mid fleet untill near Ollala when we hit a good combination of wind and current and passed several of the boats in our class.

We continued north in very light winds untill we neared the northern opening of Colvos Pass when the very light wind died and filled lighlty from the SW. The boats on the west shore got the wind before us. This brought three boats in our class passed us before it shifted to the north and filled to about five knots.

The race was shortened to the turning mark north of Blake Island. We motored home to Blake Island, loaded the crew into 'Big Red', the team truck and drove them back to Gig Harbor where their cars were and where Gig Harbor Yacht Club hosted a post race meal and social time.

Our placing was poor for this race. There was definatly some local knowledge and a little luck that helped the leaders. But, we had a great day anyway. The sun came out, the temperature was up and the crew worked well together and had a good time.

At the Jerisch Park dock the morning of the race.

Our track for the day.