Race Descriptions
Following is a brief description of the 2008 AYC Racing Program. Included are 12 passage races 2 regattas, 20 Wednesday evenings of races around buoys in the Fidalgo Bay area and1 Saturday of Buoy races in Fidalgo Bay. In addition especially for beginner/newcomer racers there are 5 Seminars One Saturday race program and one weekend regatta planned.
All of the races are governed by current US Sailing Racing Rules of Sailing as amended by AYC Sailing Instructions. They are handicap races, (under the PHRF-NW handicap system). The handicap is intended to equalize fast & slow boats so anyone sailing well can win. There will also be an “Open” class for those big or small without handicaps. Fleet will be divided into classes, which will be posted on the AYC bulletin board before the races. Most of the races are “Club” races but some are “Invitational” as described below.
The program for beginners or new racers will include 5 Seminars. The Seminars will start Wednesday February 27 at 1900 at the AYC Clubhouse and will continue every two weeks to April 23. Then there will be a weekend Seminar event May 3 & 4 (Andrew Kerr) and the following Saturday, May 10, there will be Beginner’s Buoy racing in Fidalgo Bay.
Details for all the AYC races are described in the 2008 AYC Racepack, which is available for purchase from Anacortes Yacht Club. For “Club” races new boats are permitted to race for one season before joining the Club but AYC membership is required for subsequent year’s participation. For “Invitational Races”, non-member yachts are not required to purchase a race packet to participate, nor is AYC membership required. “Invitational Races” include:
- Foul Weather Race
- Tulip Regatta
- Ed Knowles Hein Bank Race
- Champagne III Guemes Island Race
- Windermere Regatta
- Summer Fun Series (Wednesday evenings)
2008 Race Committee Chairman is Andy Schwenk (360) 299-2373 and he should be contacted to make arrangements to participate. The AYC Clubhouse will be open after most of the Saturday races and the Wednesday races to refresh racers and entertain all members with tales of the competition. Check the “UpComing Events”, Complete Club calendar on the AYC web site for specific times and dates.
Races sponsored by AYC include:
FOUL WEATHER RACE: an “Invitational” event that encourages cruisers to participate. The passage race starts at the West End of Guemes channel and ends near Friday Harbor. Most racers stay overnight and enjoy the social side of the event. Awards will be presented Saturday evening during social activities. Cruisers are encouraged to participate in the fine social activities and the return cruise the following day.
CHAMPAGNE SERIES includes three passage races:
Champagne I, Vendovi Island Race: starts in Fidalgo Bay and heads up the E side of Guemes Island, Leaving Jack Island to starboard, R4 E of Jack Island to port, R8 SW of Vendovi Island to port, Jack Island to port, to the start - finish line. Distance is about 14.8 nm.
Champagne II, Post Point Race: starts in Fidalgo Bay, rounds R2 at Post Point near Bellingham to port then finishes in Fidalgo Bay. The usual route is E of Guemes Island both northbound and southbound but the only mark of the course is at Post Point. Distance is about 25.3 nm.
Champagne III, Guemes Island Race: an “invitational” race and starts in Fidalgo Bay. Course is to round Guemes Island, either way then return to the start – finish line in Fidalgo Bay. Current and wind considerations or a flip of a coin may decide which way to go. Distance is about 14.1 nm.
TRI-STRAITS SERIES includes three passage races:
Tri-Straits I, Smith Island Race: starts at the W end of Guemes Channel. Course is to round Smith Island, (and adjacent Minor Island), leaving them to port and returning to the start – finish line. Distance is about 30.6 nm. Rocks and kelp beds off Smith Island must be avoided in addition to the normal challenges of wind & current.
Tri-Straits II, Lawson Reef Race: starts at the W end of Guemes Channel. Course is to leave Lawson Reef Buoy and R2 at the S end of Rosario Strait to starboard and return to the start – finish line. Distance is about 19.4 nm and watch out for the kelp beds near Lawson Reef.
Tri-Straits III, Viti Rocks Race: starts in Fidalgo Bay. Course is to leave G9 S of Viti Rocks to starboard and return to the start – finish line. Route is optional around intermediate islands such as Huckleberry, Jack & Vendovi. Distance is about 15.8 nm.
ED KNOWLES MEMORIAL HEIN BANK RACE: an “Invitational” race and starts at the W end of Guemes Channel. Course is to round G1 at Hein Bank, (leaving it to port) and return to the start – finish line. Distance is about 37.2 nm. Time limit is 11 hours.
SINCLAIR ISLAND “RUN FOR THE RUM": a passage race that starts in Fidalgo Bay. Course is to leave R4 N of Sinclair Island to port and return to start – finish line. Detailed route is not specified but shortest distance is about 18.3 nm.
CHENEY CUP ELIZA ISLAND TROPHY RACE: a passage race that starts in Fidalgo Bay. Course is to leave RG buoy north of Eliza Island to port and return to the start – finish line. Detailed route is not specified but shortest distance is about 20.4 nm.
JACK ISLAND DOUBLE-HANDED RACE: a passage race that starts in Fidalgo Bay. Course is to leave R4 E of Jack Island to port and return to the start – finish line. Competing boats are limited to not more than two people on board. Detailed route is not specified but shortest distance is about 9.1 nm.
GUEMES ISLAND NIGHT RACE: a passage race that starts Saturday evening in Fidalgo Bay. Course is to round Guemes Island, either way then return to the start – finish line in Fidalgo Bay. Current and wind considerations or a flip of a coin may decide which way to go. Distance is about 14.1 nm.
TWO REGATTAS are in the AYC program they are both “Invitational”:
Tulip Regatta: scheduled for Saturday and Sunday April 12 & 13. There will be several buoy races in Fidalgo Bay and includes social activity at the AYC Clubhouse before and after the races.
Windermere Regatta: a series scheduled for June 14 & 15 and advance registration is required. This is held annually out near Jack Island and should include 3 windward/leeward buoy races per day (weather permitting). The races will start in the morning at a time to be determined. Because of the number of boats usually in attendance the racers will probably be divided into several classes. Fleet division and start time and other instructions will be provided at the skippers meeting. The event is surrounded with social activities at the nearby AYC clubhouse. This is one of the premier Regattas in the Northwest so plan your life around this one! This is a great series to see how you
compete against the Best in the Northwest!
WEDNESDAY EVENING RACES: begin in May and continue through September. They are all indward leeward buoy races starting at 1830 in the Fidalgo Bay area. Some evenings there is ime for more than one race, but none are started later than 2030. Fleet divisions will be posted on the AYC bulletin board before the races. There is a good turnout at the AYC clubhouse for hamburgers and refreshments after these races while awaiting the race results. A great deal of noisy cheering etc. usually occurs during the reading of these results.
These Wednesday evening races are grouped into several “series” as follows:
- Spring Fun Series (NEW)
- Corinthian Series
- Otterstedt Series
- Wally’s Tours Series
- Summer Fun Series (invitational)
- Northwest Rigging Fun Series
OCTOBERFEST: a series of buoy races in Fidalgo Bay on a Saturday, and finishing with a party at the AYC clubhouse. This is the last race of the year sponsored by AYC.
AYC Races are planned to miss dates of several other sailing events in the general area, such as:
Shaw Island Winter Classic by Orcas Island Yacht Club, (OIYC)
‘Round Whidbey by Whidbey Island Naval Sailing Association, (winsa.org)
Swiftsure International Yacht Race, by Royal Victoria Yacht Club, (RVYC)
Leukemia Cup Regatta, Seattle Yacht Club, (SYC)
Whidbey Island Race Week, Oak Harbor Yacht Club, (OHYC)& CYC, Seattle
Cow Bay Regatta by Cowichan Bay Sailing Association
Pitch Regatta, BYC
Grand Prix, SYC
Round the County, OIYC
The schedule for the AYC races can be found on the AYC web site and in the race packet. Regretfully some of the AYC scheduled races still conflict with other races.