Rage & Kinetic V - Neck & Neck


Rage has apparently re-taken the lead over Kinetic V according to the Race Tracker, but it is really too close to call......unconfirmed sources closer to the action tell me that the two lead boats are trading gybes downwind in puffs sometimes exceeding 20 knots.......remember....these are 70 and 52 foot long boats respectively.....that's a lot of horsepower! Rage is showing speeds currently of 9.6 knots to Kinetic V's 8.1 knots....but that could change anytime!

Back To The Racing - The Sun Has Set In The West

The sun sets at 8:47 pm tonight in Neah Bay with last light at 9:24 pm.....let the night racing begin!
Where will they be by first light tomorrow at 5:03 am?
This is a good time to make a note of the boats positions, in order to determine how much distance will be made during the night to come...........
There is nothing quite like having a whale or a pod of dolphins coming to join you for a midnight ride in the Pacific!

http://sunrisesunset.willyweather.com/wa/clallam-county/neah-bay.html

Sailing Humor? Could Hurricane Ashley Arrive A week Later In Victoria, B.C.?

Video courtesy of the Onion and YouTube

Disclaimer: There is not really a hurricane off of the coast right now........

Push for La Push Part II


Kinetic V still holds a slim lead over Rage; both boats are now just North of La Push and should be nearing the mouth of the Strait around midnight.
About 15 miles south of the leaders, it's Riva, then Anam Cara, then Panama Red surrounded by a swarm of J-105's...they are all still well south of La Push but making good speeds and sailing in a tight pack.....it's gonna be a wild night....



Velocity Update

It looks like there is still a fresh Southerly breeze pushing the boats North at a good pace.....it could be an interesting night for the racers under a (nearly) full moon and spinnaker.......

Here is a twilight report on speeds and directions for the fleet.....bring on the night rangers!

Kinetic V - N @ 11.8 knots
Rage - N @ 13.6 knots
Riva - NNW @ 9.2 knots
Anam Cara - N @ 9.4 knots
Free Bowl of Soup - NW @ 8.4 knots
Abstract - NW @ 7 knots
Panama Red - NNW @ 7.7 knots
Escape Artist - NNW @ 7.1 knots
Velocity - NNW @ 6.9 knots
Raindrop - NNW @ 6.8 knots
Sloop Dawg - NNW @ 6.7 knots
Passepartout - NW @ 5.9 knots
Blue Martini - NW @ 6.2 knots
Desperado - NNW @ 5.9 knots
Cool Change - NNW @ 6.3 knots
Stay Gold - NNW @ 6.5 knots
Sol Pacifico - N @ 7.4 knots
Aja - N @ 6.6 knots
Souffle - NW @ 6.7 knots

Now, Back To The Racing - The Push for La Push.....Kinetic V Takes the Lead!

Well, while we were lollygagging with the Cruising class update, it appears that Kinetic V has taken the lead over Rage and is on a direct course for the turn into the Strait!

According to the latest Race Tracker update, Kinetic V is currently heading N @ 11.4 knots with Rage following close behind at 11.9 knots.....


The Beauty of the Cruiser's Strategy - Souffle Rises To the Challenge!


Cruising....it evokes images of warm sunny beaches, colorful drinks and clear blue seas....usually.

On the Oregon Offshore race, there is no aforementioned warmth, light or heat to speak of this year....unless you're in the Cruising Class!

This year's lone cruising class entry is the venerable sailing vessel "Souffle", which, each year, reminds us again of the old sailor's adage "you're never losin' when you're cruisin'"!

But what does it mean to be a "Cruiser"?

It usually means you eat well, drink well, get to keep the lights on at night, get more sleep, have a lot of fun, don't get as wet as everyone else and always have lots of people cheering for you when you finally arrive at the finish line!

You can bet that the crew of Souffle has got something hot in the oven and are having a relatively comfortable trip North.

It is a smart move, if you plan to head North, to surround yourself with the comfort and companionship of other boats....even if you are not racing.

So, if you are shoreside, lift a glass to the crew of Souffle tonight and say a toast to the "lone Rangers" of this year's CYC Oregon Offshore Cruising Class!

Souffle "whips it up" at the start of the 2017 CYC Oregon Offshore race. Notice the Magma BBQ properly stowed and secured on the stern pulpit! Photo credit: Maria Swearingen

Souffle holds a solid lead in 1st place for the Cruising class in this year's CYC Oregon Offshore Race


Rage Stil In The Lead, But It's Close!

Rage remains to the North and slightly ahead of Kinetic V! The 2 lead boats are currently heading due NW or out to sea.....a common tactic as the sun begins to dip below the horizon....


Rage file photo:

Photo credit: Nancy Rander


Who's On Watch? What's a Watch? Which Watch is Which?

It's usually about this time that the boats and crews start thinking about "Watches", if they haven't already.......and we're not talking about an Apple watch!

"Watches" - the periodic rotation of crew on a long distance journey - are as unique as the boats and are usually dictated by habit, tradition and pragmatic need.

We mentioned the Dog Watch earlier in this blog. ...

Without going into too much detail, there are a variety of watch "styles" or types including rotating shifts, alternating rotations and various other "systems" that individual boats dictate.

The bottom line is, everyone HAS to get some sleep at some point in the race!

Some may try to go the entire distance without ever going "off watch" but it is:
a) not necessary
b) painful, &
c) not so smart

"Hot Racking" is another term used when talking about watches; it simply refers to sharing a bunk....meaning one person gets out and the "off watch" person gets in the warm berth.....it may sound a little weird until you come off of a 5-6 hour cold, wet, middle of the night watch....then it's maybe not so bad!

Here is more information about watches, and watch systems....which watch system is used tonight could mean the difference between winning and losing in the final analysis........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watch_system

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_racking

6 pm Weather Update


It looks like the record books are safe for this year's race......

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR WASHINGTON
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA
254 PM PDT THU MAY 11 2017

INLAND WATERS OF WESTERN WASHINGTON AND THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL
WASHINGTON COASTAL WATERS INCLUDING THE OLYMPIC COAST NATIONAL
MARINE SANCTUARY

PZZ100-120700-
254 PM PDT THU MAY 11 2017
SYNOPSIS FOR THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL WASHINGTON COASTAL AND INLAND WATERS...ONSHORE FLOW THIS EVENING WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH OVERNIGHT AS A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE OVER NORTHERN OREGON MOVES EAST. A WEAK LOW WILL MOVE INTO THE OFFSHORE WATERS ON FRIDAY THEN TO THE SOUTH OF THE AREA FRIDAY NIGHT. ONSHORE FLOW WILL INCREASE SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT AS ANOTHER LOW APPROACHES THE AREA. ANOTHER FRONT WILL ARRIVE MONDAY OR MONDAY NIGHT.

What Does It Look Like Out There? Here's a Handy Webcam!

As the lead boats ( Rage & Kinetic V) move farther North, their courses have turned NE, Riva is heading NW...that could mean the wind has swung to the North, making this an upwind battle....or the boats could just be on different gybes? Hard to say.....

Rage & Kinetic V are now on a course that will take them closer to Destruction Island.....what does it look like out there you ask?

Here is a webcam from the beach at Kalaloch Lodge......which looks West towards the path where all of the boats will eventually cross.

http://forkswa.com/kalaloch-webcam/

Pickin' Up the Pace!

Boat speeds up front are picking up!

Rage - N @ 14 knots
Kinetic V - N @ 11.6 knots
Riva - N @ 9.3 knots
Free Bowl of Soup - NNW @ 8.4 knots
Anam Cara - N @ 8.4 knots
Abstract - N @ 7.7 knots
Escape Artist - NNW @ 7.6 knots
Velocity - N @ 8 knots
Panama Red - N @ 8.7 knots
Raindrop - NW @ 7.7 knots
Sloop Dawg - NNW @ 7.7 knots
Passepartout - NNW @ 6.2 knots
Desperado - NW @ 6.7 knots
Blue Martini - NW @ 6.5 knots
Cool Change - NW @ 6 knots
Stay Gold - NNE @ 5.3 knots
Sol Pacifico - NNW @ 6.7 knots
Aja - NW @ 6.5 knots
Souffle - NNW @ 5.6 knots

2017 CYC Oregon Offshore - Dog Watch Update


What IS the Dog Watch you ask?

Here's the answer!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_watch

Day 1, 5:30 pm update:
Rage & Kinetic V are neck and neck ahead of the rest of the pack, led by Riva, which has taken an inside route while the rest of the fleet heads further offshore.....


Riva Makes Her Move

Riva is making 9.7 knots due North and is separating from the rest of the fleet, distancing herself from a pack of J-105's (Abstract, Soup & Escape Artist) following close behind.......



A Pleasant Trip North?

With landmark names along the way such as "The Graveyard of the Pacific", "Destruction Island" & "Cape Disappointment", the CYC Oregon Offshore International Yacht Race is not for the light-hearted!

Image source: Wikipedia
By Rayborbon - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35080086

Pictured: Destruction Island located off of the Washington coast. The island is a hazard to navigation along the route of the CYC Oregon Offshore International Yacht Race and is usually passed at night.

Want a better view of Destruction Island from land?

Try the Kalaloch lodge in the Olympic National Park on the Washington Coast, it doesn't get much more remote than this!

https://www.thekalalochlodge.com/stay?gclid=CjwKEAjwl9DIBRCG_e3DwsKsizsSJADMmJ11fQjEdYpiwmm_IbDRmUXPZnP2Of7m0g-AkVbJ5kzVCBoCmjHw_wcB




More on the  "Graveyard of the Pacific":
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graveyard_of_the_Pacific

Wind Wall for the Leaders?

It looks like the two lead boats have slowed, while the pack is coming on strong.

Here are some recent headings & boat speed readings from the fleet:

Kinetic V - NNW @ 8.6 knots
Rage - NNW @ 8.2 knots
Riva - NNW @ 9.2 knots
Free Bowl of Soup - NNW @ 8.9 knots
Abstract - NNW @ 9.3 knots
Anam Cara - NNW @ 8.8 knots
Velocity - NNW @ 8.6 knots
Escapr Artist - NNW @ 8.5 knots
Panama Red - NNW @ 8.1 knots
Sloop Dawg - NNW @ 7.6 knots
Raindrop - NNW @ 8.5 knots
Passepartout - NNW @ 6.7 knots
Blue Martini - NNW @ 7.5 knots
Desperado - NNW @ 6.7 knots
Stay Gold - NNW @ 7.2 knots
Sol Pacifico - NNW @ 6.6 knots
Cool Change - N @ 6.7 knots
Aja - NNW @ 6.3 knots
Souffle - MW @ 5.9 knots

What Is The Weather Like Out There?

Current wind and weather conditions at Ocean Shores, Washington:

https://www.wunderground.com/us/wa/ocean-shores

The Fleet Separates....and Gets Tighter!

As expected, the two lead boats, Rage & Kinetic V, are starting to put some sizable distance on the rest of the fleet.

As you can see from the race tracker, the group of boats is tightly packed, heading Northwesterly.

Riva and Free Bowl of Soup lead the second group as the fleet settles in for a long, cold, wet, blustery afternoon......I'll bet the guys on Free Bowl of Soup really DO want a bowl of soup about now!



Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head!

It just wouldn't be a real Oregon Offshore without at least ONE Cascade 36 in the race!
Raindrop, shown here, is in her element.....



Time For A Blue Martini!

It's five o'clock somewhere......