A race with one of the best participation records here in the PNW is a single or double handed pursuit race. The Sloop Tavern Yacht Club's Race to the Straits will see 80 to 100 boats enter. A 24 foot cruising style design may start at 8am, a SC 70 around 10:15. GPS time is used as the official race time. The race course is complicated by wind system changes (holes) and challenging currents (often up to 4 knots) and multiple crossings of the USCG's Vessel Separation Lanes.
The race runs two days starting on Saturday (1st weekend in May) from Shilshole (near Seattle) and finishing at Port Townsend with a ½ way mark (take your time) at the Double Bluff buoy. Saturday night there is an awards banquet (including a keg or two of a local IPA) held within walking distance of both local marinas. Often the R2S race committee will reserve the entire Point Hudson marina which allows rampant rafting and the resulting socialization opportunities. Sunday morning the race resumes back to Shilshole. The ½ way times allow for scoring if the winds. Most years the wind (light) and current (2 to 4 knots) combine to create very exciting parking lots. There is almost a tradition of the fleet gathering at the Marrowstone Point back eddy waiting for a chance to break through. Dozens of short-handed boats short tacking in current makes for great entertainment. One year Calypso (on Starboard) almost made a catamaran out of a trimaran owing to poor communication between boats and helmsmen. Calypso's co-owner and I have participated 5 or 6 times. Several times we had 3 C&C 43s starting together with the occasional finish within boat lengths of each other. This race's combo of a fun and challenging course, cool Saturday night destination with a great party, and the knowledge that you are winning over any boat behind you makes it very popular. Martin Calypso 1970 C&C 43 Seattle Martin ________________________________ From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Hoyt, Mike Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 5:16 AM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Stus-List Gary - Pursuit racing Gary How do you determine start times for each boat in your pursuit races? We have tried a couple of methods and all seem a bit problematic but tremendous fun. Our sailors love pursuit format but it is a bit of work beforeheand for the Race Committee Mike ________________________________
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