Orcas high school sailors bring home Island Cup

Saturday racing started at approximately 12:30 p.m. in blustery and shifty conditions. With 27 boats available the race committee assigned boats based on number of team members. All but one team had multiple boats to sail, many with three boats on the water during any given race. Thirteen races were sailed in breeze ranging from 5 to 20 knots. Because of the big shifts, many course adjustments were made and one race was abandoned after the start because of a 60-degree shift that allowed reaching to the weather mark from the start line. Saturday night two protests were heard, and both were upheld. Sunday racers were on the water early with the first start at 10 a.m. Seven races were sailed in shifty conditions with wind ranging from 3 to 15 knots. The puffs brought some great planing conditions and more than a few capsizes. Racing ended about 1:45 p.m. with ten races in the two divisions for a total of twenty races. Congratulations to the Orcas 1 team for a dominating performance.

April 1, 2011 12:54 pm
Pintail Barge hauling Orcas sailboats to Islands Cup Regatta at Roche Harbor.
Pintail Barge hauling Orcas sailboats to Islands Cup Regatta at Roche Harbor.

Young Orcas sailors made their island proud at the Islands Cup 2011, held March 26 and 27 at Roche Harbor.

“Thanks to another creative local business, more kids got to sail in boats at Roche Harbor this past weekend,” said coach Burke Thomas of Pintail Barge’s efforts to bring boats to the regatta.

The following race account was contributed by Scott Boye.

Saturday racing started at approximately 12:30 p.m. in blustery and shifty conditions. With 27 boats available the race committee assigned boats based on number of team members. All but one team had multiple boats to sail, many with three boats on the water during any given race. Thirteen races were sailed in breeze ranging from 5 to 20 knots. Because of the big shifts, many course adjustments were made and one race was abandoned after the start because of a 60-degree shift that allowed reaching to the weather mark from the start line. Saturday night two protests were heard, and both were upheld.

Sunday racers were on the water early with the first start at 10 a.m. Seven races were sailed in shifty conditions with wind ranging from 3 to 15 knots. The puffs brought some great planing conditions and more than a few capsizes. Racing ended about 1:45 p.m. with ten races in the two divisions for a total of twenty races.

Congratulations to the Orcas 1 team for a dominating performance.

Thanks to Bainbridge, Bellingham, North Kitsap and Port Townsend for bringing boats to bolster the fleet. And thanks to Sail Orcas and San Juan Sailing Foundation for supplying a total of 21 boats.Thanks to Paul LeBaron for coordinating the accommodations and food. The burgers on the dock were especially welcome!

Thanks to Randy Holt and Peter Risser, the markset boat drivers. In the shifting conditions they were working hard. Thanks to Steve Fogg for score keeping. And a special thanks to Brent Snow and Roche Harbor Resort for allowing us to use the facility.

Full race results are online here.

Journal of the San Juans columnist Fred Hoeppner has also written an account of the race.