To promote the appreciation of sailing and foster a community and culture committed to advancing both sailing and sailing education in the Juneau area.

Auke Rec Beach Party and Favorite Channel Race

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!

4th of July Parade

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.

Spirit of Admiralty - Down to the Wire

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.

Spirit of Admiralty update

 

The challenging SEAS sponsored Spirit of Admiralty got off to a good start. Haiku, High Noon and Smoke, crossed the starting line Saturday morning at 1000 with light winds and overcast skies. By 1230 all boats where on a sled ride with 15 knots winds on the stern quarters down the back side of Douglas darning shades and applying sunscreen. . Haiku was the first to put up a shoot, followed by Smoke and after tacking over to Admiralty, High Noon raised their spinnaker as well and at last sighting was moving well, leading the pack.
 
 
 

Spirit of Admiralty 2009

A New Adventure Begins!

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Statehood, SEAS is sponsoring a race around Admiralty Island.  The longest inland water sailboat race on the west coast just got longer.

Three boats will be gathering at Battleship Island in Auke Bay on Saturday June 20, 2009 at 1000 to begin the race around Admiralty.  The boats are:

  • S/V High Noon, a 41' Doug Peterson designed sloop, owned by Mike Rentel and Karen Schmidt 
  • S/V Smoke, a Cascade 29 sloop, owned by David Pichard
  • S/V Haiku, a Yamaha 33 sloop, owned by Brian Lieb and Liz Agnew

After the start the boats will proceed south down Stephen's passage past the Brother's Island and enter Frederick Sound.  The first leg will continue southwest to Yasha Island, a small island a couple of miles south of the southern tip of Admiralty Island.  The boats will round Yasha Island, keeping the island to their starboard, and enter Chatham Strait.  The 120 nm first leg ends at the entrance to Warm Springs Bay on Baranof Island.

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