Sanitarium Finishes


Sanitarium has now finished and is heading towards the customs dock. One of her ground crew got to join us to cheer the finish.

Sanitarium's skipper is John Mosteller and he was assisted in the race by crew members
Danny Voils, Christien Rinke and Mark Allen. We're told that one of these folks just met the crew on Wednesday.

Just when we think there's a break

We just got a voice mail from Sanitarium and they are at Race Rocks. With this light air, I suspect we'll see them in a couple of hours.

Wave Dancer Ghosts Across the Fininsh



This morning's light air left Wave Dancer to gently (and slowly) slide across the finish. Although this photo shows a lot of clouds, almost all the clouds have now burned off and we have bright sunshine.

Photo time!


Wy'East waits patiently as the sun rises, hoping to make the finish. They ended up anchoring right near the finish to avoid drifting back out.

Aja with a Ya Shure sighting

We just got a call from Aja. They were within 1/4 mile of Tattoosh when the wind shut off at about 3:30 am this morning. Since the current is now going out of the straits, they are being pushed away from the finish and are now about 5 miles out.

They say they saw another racing boat, a two-masted one (must be Ya Shure), in the center of the channel towards the Canadian side. Apparently that boat is also being pushed out because of no wind.

Busy night

Well, the finish line and the hospitality boat were busy places last night! With the excellent West winds everyone had going up the Washington Coast, many boats that were not expected to arrive until some time on Saturday are here, docked and the crew has already had hot showers and a nap.

The remaining boats are likely to spend some time this morning waiting for the light air to fill in, but it should do so by afternoon. Right now, buoys show that the air is light from the Washington coast to the entrance of the Straits and all the way to Victoria. This afternoon's prediction is that the wind should fill in to 10-20 knots this afternoon and evening. The boats still out racing should be able to use that wind to finish, since most have only 30-40 miles to go, if that far.

Here at the finish line, there is a slight breeze, on the nose for any boat trying to finish.

Right now, we do not have any boats between Race Rocks and the finish, so we don't expect any additional finishes this morning.

Two of the last 3 boats have turned the corner

We just heard from Seattle Traffic that Aja as checked in as she entered the straits. They told VTS that they thought Ya Shure was just behind them. That leaves us with just one boat left to check in with VTS, Rendezvous. Hopefully we will soon hear that they, too, have entered the straits.

Thirsty Crew finishes

Thirsty has made it to Victoria. They are the 10th boat to finish the race.

Little less than half to go! Looks like it will be a beautiful day here in Victory. A few clouds in the sky, but they look harmless.

Have some great photos that will be posted a little later this morning, so check back in to see the new shots of our finishers.

Wy'East and Wave Dance End Hand in Hand

Just as the sun rose, Wy'East turned the corner and headed into Ogden Point. Wave Dancer was right on her tail. As they glided into the finish line 40 minutes later, both crews were happy to arrive in Victoria.
We got a nice close up view of each boat. I chatted with the crew of Wy'East for a moment as they floated over the finish line.

Welcome to Victoria Rattler

Rattler crossed the finish line, cruising down the middle of the harbor. The crew of Rattler; skipper, Michael Campbell, Paul Gascoique, Patrick Valade, and David Koller have made it through customs and are on land!

Wave Dancer becalmed

Wave Dancer just called and left a message. They are becalmed and don't expect to make the finish before 5 am.

Only 3 boats left to check in with VTS

I just spoke with Seattle Traffic. They have now heard from Puelche, Sanitarium and Rya, leaving Aja, Rendezvous and Ya Shure left to check in.

Looking over the breakwater I see a green masthead light, I suspect it is Rattler, who should be the next boat to finish based on who went through Race Rocks and their estimate an hour or so ago. The air at the finish is extremely light, although there is still some air moving, it's not much.

Wave Dancer ETA 4:30 am

Just got a voice mail that Wave Dancer expects to arrive at about 4:30 this morning.

Thirsty at Race Rocks, Puelche into the Straits

Alan Bergen on Thirsty just called at 0245. They are at Race Rocks and are less than 2 hours from the finish. The wind is doing 17 knots where they are.

While I was talking with Alan, Rod Macaya on Puelche was leaving us a phone message that they are entering into the Straits and are across from Neah Bay.

Wy'East about 4 1/2 miles out, Wave Dancer at Race Rocks

Just got a call from Frank Colistro, skipper of Wy'East. They are about 4 1/2 miles out. He says it's pretty light, so he expects it could take then 90 minutes to get to the finish.

Shortly after Frank's call, Steve Moshofsky, skipper of Wave Dancer called. They are passing through Race Rocks. The cell system cut him off, so I couldn't get a weather report. They say they are going about 3 knots.

Wave Dancer passing Race Rocks

We just heard from Wave Dancer, who is passing through Race Rocks at 0220. They say they have a line of sight to the finish.

Rattler about an hour out

Rattler says they are about 4 miles from the finish and expect to reach the line within 45 minutes to an hour.

Rattler clears Race Rocks

Rattler just called to report that they cleared Race Rocks at 1:10 am this morning and are heading towards Victoria.