Race 2 Straits Preview

(Seattle, WA)- Rock stars of the Puget Sound offshore short-handed sailing world are congregating for the infamous Sloop Tavern YC annual Race to the Straits Regatta.  It is a weekend-long affair that starts on Saturday and heads north.  Finishers are treated to a massive celebration (party!) at the finish line that often goes well into the wee hours of the evening (morning!) for some.  Then, as everyone doubles-down on their coffee and their brain cells, they then head back down south from whence they came!  It is surely a recipe for a lot of fun, many memories, and, hopefully, not too many twists, disasters, and inappropriate takedowns!

Thirty-six J/Teams are entered! That’s 27% of the 134 entries!  And, they will all be looking forward to the weather forecast that promises a mix of conditions both days- so far the forecast shows upwind against the current on Saturday and downwind against the current on Sunday!

A massive J/105 fleet is partaking in the racing and festivities.  With a one-design start for nine teams, it will be an epic battle to work up the shore to get out of the current!  Many of the top boats will be in the fight, including DELIRIUM (Paul Henderson/ Ramona Barber), JADED (Bianco/ Barron), LAAST TANGO (Jim Geros), DULCINEA (Matthew-Gardner Brown) and JUBILEE (Kathryn Meyer).  In fact, three of the teams are also participating in the “Jack & Jill” division for mixed teams.

The big boat division will be tough, as it will include several top offshore boats in the Seattle fleet.  Hoping to claim at least line honors will be the J/125 HAMACHI (Fritz Lanzinger), but they will have a number of experienced teams thirsting for that first day “uphill” tactical nightmare, like the two J/122s- JOYRIDE (John Murkowski) and GRACE (Andy & Jaime Mack); the J/44 ASYLUM (Kyle Caldwell); and the two J/109s- TANTIVY (Stu Burnell) and MOUNTAIN (Reed Bernhard).

In the classic cruiser group are two J/35c’s- WILDFLOWER (Tom Mitchell) and SHADOWFAX (David Jade); the J/36 MONKEYBONES (Shawn Dougherty); the J/37c MERRY MAKER (Bill?); the J/35 SOLUTION (Tyson Varosyan); and the J/33 CORVO (Tom Kerr & Serhad).

Finally, in the small cruiser racer group is likely to be three J/80s- UNDERDOG (Lek Dimarucott), TAJ MAHAL (David Schutte), & JOLLY GREEN (Mike Poole); three J/29s- PLAN R (Paul Hanson), RUBY (Jessica Aguilar), & HERE & NOW (Patrick Denney); four J/30s- IMPULSIVE (Ulf & George Gwildis), CONRAD J (Adrien Felon), SLINGSHOT (Cameron Gaskill), & TAKU (Theo Singelis); two J/27s- WIZARD (Leo Morales) & NUMBER LXIII (Dennis?); and a lone J/24- FLYER (Scott Galbraith).   For more Sloop Tavern YC Race To The Straits sailing information


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