Wave Dancer just reported in

We've been having trouble understanding Wave Dancer's radio transmissions, although she has made several attempts to communicate with use. I believe she just reported that they are passing Donaldson (?) Island. As she gets closer to the finish, hopefully we will be able to hear her reports better.

Velocity Skipper and Crew

Velocity's skipper is Tom Keffer. Assisting Tom as crew are Bill and Kathy Cuffel, Robert Henry, Gil MacGregor and Carl Hosticka. Velocity is a J/42.

First boat over the line on Saturday is California Girl

California Girl just finished, flying her spinnaker and looking good. Her co-skippers are Timm and Victoria Lessley. California Girl, a Cal 40, is a veteran of a number of Pacific Cup Races and is now back in the Pacific Northwest.

The rest of her crew consists of Chris Brown, Andrew Nelson, Betty Lessley and Gordon Higgins.

Shamrock has rounded the corner

RC just got a voicemail that Shamrock rounded the corner and entered the Straits at about 23:07. Sadly, we didn't get to talk to them, since the phone never rang.

The vagaries of cell phone communications out here at Ogden Point means that, depending on the minute, and were the phone is located inside the RV, we can have 0 bars, 5 bars, service from AT&T (in the US - so that means we are hooking up to Pt. Angeles towers 25 miles away) or Rogers (Canadian service). We never know which, if any service we might get because it is completely unpredictable. When we answer a call, we don't want to move because we might move out of the coverage we were getting and lose the call completely.

California Girl at Race Rocks

California Girl just radioed us to say they are at Race Rocks with an eta of about 2 hours, which would put them in just after midnight.

Velocity is at Race Rocks

Velocity called in by cell phone. He says they are at Race Rocks with about 15 knots of wind. If the wind holds, they expect to arrive around midnight.

Velocity

We just got a radio call from Velocity. It was difficult to understand, but we think they said they were at Race Rocks. We hope that's what they said anyway, they are the last of the Class A boats remaining racing, the rest have all finished.

Wy'East in the Straits

Wy'East called us about an hour ago, they are approximately 26 miles from the finish. Frank says that Wave Dancer is a couple of miles behind them. We later got a radio call from Wave Dancer, but were unable to make contact.

The wind at the finish has died, probably 5 knots or less.

The last cruise ship until Sunday is just pulling out of the dock now, so the racers won't have to worry about dueling with the cruise ships when they want to finish.

Mummbo Jummbo's crew

Mummbo Jummbo, a Mumm 30 is skippered by Arden Newbrook. His crew includes communications chief (or at least the guy who regularly kept the finish line updated) Blaine Gould, Eric Simensen, Peter Guifoyle, Bryant Alexander, and Jeff Duvall.

Time Bandit finishes just 3 minutes behind Mummbo Jummbo


As the sun sets, Time Bandit finishes the Oregon Offshore. Time Bandit, a J/120 from the Seattle area, carries a crew of 10. Skipper Bob Brunius and his wife Barb, John Sheppard, Tim Cleary, Tom O'Hara, Bob Conrad, Mark Lincoln, Troy Donaldson, Joshua Siegel and James Doane.,

Finish line treats

As is the Oregon Offshore's custom, all boats are greeted with hot towels and a bottle of Champagne when they arrive at the dock. This year our greeting boat, Koinonia, a 65' Selene trawler, is doing even more. The racers are being treated with brownies and hot coffee. Many thanks to Mark Tilden and his wife Roseanne Tilden.

Next to finish - Mummbo Jummbo


So, we've heard from Time Bandit and they are on their way to the finish, when all of a sudden we look up and there's not just one sail (Time Bandit's red, white & blue spinnaker) but another tall main scooting along the Ogden Point breakwater. Sure enough, Mummbo Jummbo is out in front and speeding towards the line. They finish just 3 minutes ahead of Time Bandit.

Here is Mummbo Jummbo speeding towards the line as the sun starts to set.

Anam Cara Finishes at about 6:25 pm

Anam Cara, Gaelic for Soul Friend is a 1 1/2 year old J-122 built in France. She is Tom Kelly's 5th boat in over 30years of racing, and he says she is his "dream boat". Tom is a long-time competitor in the Oregon Offshore, although we haven't seen him in the race recently. His first Oregon Offshore was 1979 and he had the fun of being race captain in the 1980's.

Anam Cara plans to do the Swiftsure in 2 weeks and then do the Van Isle Race, a race around Vancouver Island this summer.

Anam Cara's crew has been described as "geriatric" by Tom, but it contains a number of excellent sailors with many sea miles. The crew includes John Copper from West Marine, local Portland sailors Brian Marske and Jim Madden. Out of town sailors include Bob Ross, the broker and Manager of Whidbey Island Race Week for many years and Scott Boys and Sally Hawkins from Friday Harbor. Other members of the crew are Lane Brown and Patrick Cummings.

VTS check ins

Seattle VTS has been pretty busy, so they are not keeping complete track of our boats. So far, we know they have heard from Rattler, Mummbo Jummbo, California Girl, Rattler and Wy'East. There may be others that have turned the corner, but we haven't hard from them.

We are watching the top of Anam Cara's chute as she heads straight towards the finish. We expect her to finish soon.

We just got word from the welcome committee that Riva is tied up at the dock and relaxing.

Riva's Finish Photo


Here's Riva looking smart as she crosses the finish line as the first boat to finish. Her skipper is Scott Campbell and this race she had a crew of 8 more racers, including local North Sails Rep Kerry Poe. The rest of the crew is Steve Ackerman Davis Moran, Charles Turner, Nelson Rolens, Bob Martin, Dale Diets (sp?), and Ray McCormack.

California Girl loving life

California Girl just called in, they have turned the corner and are "lovin' life." They are about 34 miles from the finish in sunny skies and 15 knots of wind. Victoria says "everyone is mellow."

She says they heard Rattler call into VTS at about 5:05 p.m.

Riva First Across the Line

Shortly after 5 pm, Riva crossed the finish line to be the first boat to finish the 2009 Oregon Offshore. Anam Cara did not get their wish that she end up in a hole!

Anam Cara reporting in

Anam Cara has just reported that they are going through Race Rocks and are hoping that Riva falls into a hole!!

So far we don't see anyone from our post here at the end of Ogden Point.

The winds are light, but blowing and the sun is bright and shining. We should be able to get some photos of the boats as they finish, unless they finish way across the water from us.

Riva reports from Race Rocks

About 15 minutes ago, Riva called us. They are going through Race Rocks and expect to reach the finish in about 1 1/2 hours.

So much for that shopping break we planned to take :) Murchies will just have to wait.