Thank you Juneau Youth Sailing

In the first cooperative event between the two sailing groups, Juneau Youth Sailing (JYS), held a dinghy seminar for SEAS members, to get us out on the boats and sailing. 

Funter Bay Hooky not much sailing

The winds did not cooperate for the hardy few who manage to get out to Funter Bay for a round of 3 potential races.

The first leg on Saturday July 25th brought 5 boats to the starting line, Freebird, Sarah Jane, Loa’a Nalu, Lyric and RainDog. With light winds all but 2 boats managed to get around Pt. Retreat and had a pleasant spinnaker run to the Funter Bay finish line. Sarah Jane finished first in corrected time but Freebird the “big red boat” as we referred to her on the course, took line honors and showed that the she can really move in almost any condition.

Leg 2 the first running of the Hanus Reef race was cut short when the wind disappeared just after the fleet squeaked past Rocky Island.  Loa’a Nalu was the first to scratch with the whales of Pt. Adolphus calling.  A week of cruising planned and provisioned, the decision was made to just keep going west. Sarah Jane and Lyric drifted for a few more hours and opted to take time to fish and relax back at Funter Bay.

Light Air Makes for Slow Sailing and Slow Gun Running!

I am sorry for the delay in posting the account of what happened the weekend of July 11-12, but the results of the races were slowed as the SEAS Club Handicapper was galavanting about in Northern Southeast Alaska's hot springs.

Shoreless, Loaa Nalu, and Haiku came around Douglas Island to join High Noon from Auke Bay to Aaron Island and back on Saturday, but were might by light winds and fast currents.  All of the boats eventually dropped out of the race with Shoreless making it the farthest down course by nearly passing Pt. Lena (1/4 of the way through the race). 

But the SEAS sailors were not to be deterred, as the light winds made for a great beach party at Auke Rec.  Aspiring, potential, and experienced sailors gathered at Auke Rec to enjoy the musical musings of Slow Gun Runner. 

Aside from the great music, there was great food and IPA beer generously donated by The Alaska Brewing Company. 

The author would like to take this moment and sign the praises of Alaskan IPA, but of course only to people over 21.

Many new members signed up and have already participated in club events, including the buoy racing on Sunday!

WINNER! 

 Most Original Float Douglas Parade: SEAS

SEAS sponsored, decorated, and drove a float through both the downtown Juneau parade, and the Douglas parade. 

The entire day was perfect, great weather, great people, and a whole lot of fun.  The SEAS folks gathered at the float in the Department of Fish and Game parking lot at 7:30 am, and the parade didn't start until noon.  So that gave SEAS plenty of time to schmooze the judges, check out the other floats, hand out flyers to other participants, and just get in the mood.

Then the floats began the procession down Egan Drive to Main Street, right on Front Street, and back on to Egan via Franklin street.  The entire parade took a couple of hours, and the driving was slow but intense as children of all ages leapt in front of the vehicle to snatch the candy being tossed from the floats.

Haiku and High Noon share honors

The inaugural Spirit of Admiralty race was close down to the wire.  High Noon, Smoke, and Haiku fought through light winds and slatting seas to complete the 213 nautical mile race.  The race was so close that it came down to the last hours of the grueling week long event.

On Saturday, June 20, 2009 10:00, the three boats began the race in Auke Bay in very light air.  As the boats proceeded south down the backside of Douglas, the fleet stayed very close.  It wasn't until 30 miles into the race that the boats began to separate, with High Noon getting out in front.

However, Haiku took advantage of very light wind during the dark hours to catch up to High Noon just north of the Brother Islands.  The breeze then filled in, and High Noon increased her lead over Haiku and Smoke.  As High Noon was finishing at Warm Springs Bay, Haiku was rounding Yasha Island, a mere 11 nautical miles behind.  However, the wind died to near nothing leaving Haiku a choppy sea, and no wind.  The last 11 miles took 7 hours to complete, putting High Noon firmly in first place after the first leg.  High Noon finished after about 35 hours of sailing, Haiku took 44 hours and Smoke came in 54 hours after the Saturday start time.