Gig Harbor LeMans Race-Nov, 10

What is a LeMans Race? In motorsports, it usually refers to a race with a LeMans Start. This is a start where the drivers run to their cars, jump in, start the motor and then race onto the track. This type of start is rarely used anymore. Safety issues such as drivers not buckling in properly and cars colliding during the mass start lead to it being phased out and replaced by more structured starting procedures.

But, a race utilizing a LeMans Start is alive and well in Gig Harbor and has been raced for nearly 50 years. But the Gig Harbor race is raced with sailboats. The competing boats anchor in a "box" encompassed by four buoys. The crew hides below decks and at the starting signal run up on deck, raise the sails, weigh anchor and sail down the course.

For this race, I was invited to race onboard "Dulcinea" a J105 in my club. I like sailing on other boats sometimes. It is a great chance to learn how other boats sail. Since I have my own boat, I don't get invited aboard many other boats.

The day started cold and clear with light winds predicted. We had to wash frost off the deck of "Dulcinea" to stay aboard.

After the 0900 meeting, we motored out to the starting box near the starting line for our 1030 start. After we established our spot, other boats anchored close and the "box" became crowded. At the starting gun, our crew of four ran topside and pandemonium ensued. We ran the main sail up, raised the anchor, unrolled the jib and got underway. The wind was light out of the south as we beat down Gig Harbor towards the narrow entrance. At the harbor entrance, the fleet compressed and it crowded with all the boat trying to sail through the narrow entrance together. As we tacked out of the bay and headed north, we anticipated setting the spinnaker, but no luck as the wind shifted toward the north. We jib reached, sailed closehauled and chased very oscillating shifts as we sailed up Colvos Pass to the shortened course mark just north of Pt Richmond. We saw winds as high as 7-8 knots a couple of times, but mostly it was very light with bands of winds just out of reach and dead spots to try to avoid.

After rounding the mark, again we thought we could set the spinnaker, but the wind shifted more east and we had a close reach down the shore toward Gig Harbor. As we neared the entrance to Gig Harbor, we finally were able to bring the wind far enough aft to set the spinnaker. We jibed into the entrance and thought we would have a good run to the finish. But no! About a hundred yards short of the finish line, the wind shifted to the northeast again. We quickly dropped the spinnaker and unrolled the jib for the short close reach to the finish.

At the post race party, the race chairman said that when the 50th anniversary of the race occurs in a few years, he plans to revive the original start of the race. The way the race was run in its beginning was the skippers rowing a dinghy to their boats and then tow the dinghy throughout the race. That would be more of a "true" LeMans start!

Thanks to Matthew, Mellisa and Tessa for inviting me along on this race, I had a good time.