43rd Annual Shaw Island Classic results

After two months of sunshine, dawn broke grey and wet on Saturday, August 10 for the 43rd Shaw Island Classic sailboat race. Hosted by the San Juan Island Yacht Club, this race is unique in that Shaw Island is the only mark and can be rounded in either direction. It’s only a 13-mile course, but traditionally light winds and tricky currents turn it into a nautical chess game more often than not.

It was an “either way” race this year, but you wouldn’t know that from the start. Fifty-two boats ghosted over the starting line in light winds, with slower divisions starting at 1200 followed by the faster divisions at 1215. After clearing the harbor most of the fleet picked up the southeast eight knot wind on a port tack and headed counterclockwise for Upright Channel. Only three boats chose to sail clockwise on a run up San Juan Channel.

The counterclockwise boats made good progress with a decent breeze and favorable current into Upright Channel, then it got light and shifty up towards the east end of Shaw, home of a notorious “hole” at Hankin Point. Lynn Adkins, skipper of the J-111 Adalgisa, took a look at the fleet ahead and decided to do something different.

“Our move at the east end of Shaw Island is what made the race for us”, Lynn said. “We saw the boats struggling on the Orcas side and decided to turn left and go for it”.

They found breeze on the south side of the channel and picked up enough wind to pull ahead of the counterclockwise fleet, and never looked back. Lynn and his crew sailed on to be first over the finish line and first in PHRF “A”.

Meanwhile the clockwise boats had sailed that southeast wind up San Juan Channel and rode the ebb current through Wasp Passage. It was a two-boat race to the midcourse line where Moon Doggie, a C&C 110, was first over and a full ten minutes ahead of the opposing fleet. The afternoon wind had filled in to a ten knot southwesterly, making for a fast tack down Upright Channel. Then of course the wind died at that crucial pinch point between Canoe Island and Flat Point, where the building flood brought things to a standstill. After thirty minutes the wind picked up enabling the boats to make the entrance of San Juan Chanel where combined with the two knots of flood current it was a fast track back to Friday Harbor, finishing ahead of most of the counter-clockwise boats.

In the end it was a great race. The sun broke through and winds, while a bit light and variable, were sufficient for thirty nine boats to finish including two of the clockwise boats. Adalgisa crossed the finish line at 15:44 winning the fastest elapsed time trophy with a time of 3.50 hours, and first in division. Juliet, a Wilderness 21 skippered by Phil Benedict, won first place overall on corrected time and first in the PHRF D division. When asked about strategy Phil said, “I just wanted to finish that darn race!”

Prizes were awarded in all divisions that raced. Full results are detailed below. Racers and guests enjoyed a hearty lasagna dinner prepared by the San Juan Island Yacht Club’s First Mates followed by the award ceremony.

Complete race results here. (PDF)

By Jim Corenman & Peg Gerlock, SJIYC Race Committee

[Photos by Marc Forlenza & Bill Waxman]

For more sailing information, contact: Jim Corenman, Race Committee Chair at 360.378.5156
or by email: jim [@] siriuscyber [.] net

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