The SBYC TransPuget Race was held on September 15, 2018 on Shilshole Bay in Puget Sound. Sixteen boats registered for the charity event, in which all the proceeds are donated to the Footloose Sailing Association. Launched in 1991, The Footloose Sailing Association is the Northwest’s premiere non-profit sailing program for people of all disabilities, their friends, family and caregivers (https://footloosedisabledsailing.org/)
Crossing the finish line for
a first place finish in Class
A (photo: Rubie Sanborn Johnson)
The day was forecast to be partly cloudy in the morning with showers developing by the afternoon, and winds from the south of 5 to 15 knots. This year the club set a temporary mark near Point Jefferson, and this became the first truly Trans-Puget race to be held in recent memory.
As the boats approached the starting line, the south wind was as forecast at about 10 knots with occasional puffs up to 15 or so. After a clean start, all the boats began the first long downwind reach. The wind was running over 10 knots, so everyone was making good time. After the downwind reach to “Jeff Head” it was nearly a beam reach across to Spring beach, then a beat back south to Shilshole. The race committee decided to keep the last short mile long leg to the south in the course, then a quick spinnaker run back to the finish line. The total distance was about 14 miles. Most of the boats took around three hours to complete the course.
sailing to a beautiful
second place finish in
Class-A in the highest
PHRF rating boat in the
fleet (photo: Rubie Johnson)
The award celebration was held at Ray’s Boat House, and they let us use the Fireside Room for our
gathering. (Thank you Ray’s!) Winners in each class were:
- Class A: Outlaw (Derek Storm)
- Class B: Pickled Beets (John Rahn)
- Class C: Eye Candy (Jim Marta)
Again this year SBYC donated all the race income to the Footloose Sailing Association. This came to over $1300 to their cause.
Tom Madden
Race Chair, Shilshole Bay Yacht Club