October 5th was the Foulweather Bluff Race sponsored by Edmonds Corinthian Yacht Club. For the first time, the course was reversed from the normal direction. It is a 26 mile race that starts just north of Edmonds,rounds the bell buoy off Scatchet Head, rounds the bell buoy off Foulweather Bluff, and back to the finish north of Edmonds. This year, the weather was forecast to be sunny, temps in the 70's but the winds were suppose to be light and maybe up to 5 knots. The forecast was very accurate! Is this really October?
I delivered the boat to Edmonds early on Friday and got a choice moorage spot at the visitors dock. I explored uptown and spent time kibitzing with old acquaintances and met a few new ones. Interesting how the sailors from outside my normal sailing area around Bremerton are so friendly.
On Saturday, the weather was as predicted with light winds from the north.. We motored to the starting area and lined up for our start. We were assigned to a class of 9 boats. We were the smallest boat in our class, most of the boats were 40 feet or larger and even though we owe some of them time, they are boat designs noted to be fast in light wind.
We got a great start and headed across the sound toward the Kitsap County shore. When we were about half way across, a large header made it a great time to tack. At this point, we were in the lead, and our competition was all heading north on port tack. But, the wind died leaving us drifting in circles until the wind filled in from the west. As we got closer to Whidbey Island, the now adverse current was setting us east and we tacked toward the west into now stronger winds. The now flooding current was flowing west to east at close to three knots. We sailed high of the rhumb line to Schachet Head before tacking to port again. We sailed a heading that was nearly twenty degrees higher than the bearing to the Schachet Head buoy just to get or COG(course over ground) to equal the bearing to the mark. Thankfully the race committee ended the race at the first mark.
In hindsight, the smartest move we could have done was to have continued all the way across the sound to the Kitsap shore for current relief and to pick up the new northwest wind. Many boats that had fallen behind at the start sailed around us well to the south and beat us to the finish.
It was still a great day. Thanks to the crew of: Walter, Kathleen, Dave, Tim, Jim and Rainer.
Results can be found here: CYC Edmonds Foulweather Bluff Race
I arrived early enough to get a prime spot at the dock.
Friday night, the harbor was filled with boats.
Friday night, the harbor was filled with boats.
Our track for the day. Lots of drifting around with the current.
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