Funter Bay Races Marked by Great Wind and Fluky Finishes
Saturday, July 21, 2012 dawned a beautiful sunny day with a good 10 knots of breeze from the south. Haiku, High Noon, and newcomer Shiva motored to North Portland Island to meet up with Loa'a Nalu for the start of 2012's rendition of the Funter Bay races.
The committee boat, mannned by Race Committee Chair Joel Osburn, set up the starting line off of the Portland Island day mark. Promptly at 9:30 am, the horn was sounded signaling the start of the Funter Bay race. Shiva who was not racing, had already begun the run down to Point Retreat. As the boats close reached for the Strauss Rock mark, High Noon took an early lead, followed closely by Haiku and Loa'a Nalu.
Once the Strauss Rock mark was rounded, the boats could crack off into a broad reach. Haiku and Loa'a Nalu set spinnakers, for the run against the flooding tide north to Retreat. High Noon maintained a small lead on Haiku as the boats approached the all-to-present Pt. Retreat wind hole. As the two leaders drifted slowly by the sea lion inhabited bell buoy at Faust Rock, L'oaa Nalu and Shiva made up valuable ground for the unofficial restart at Pt. Retreat.
High Noon escaped the Retreat hole slightly ahead of Haiku into the 15 knots of breeze of North Chatham. Loa'a Nalu and Shiva followed shortly thereafter.
As the boats beat toward the Kittens and Funter Bay, the wind steadily built to over 20, and reefs were put in sails. High Noon and Haiku took the straightest line to the finish and went between the kittens and Clear Point where the swirling wind built to well over 20, and both boats were overpowered, and were pinching up to avoid tacking in the skinny passage. High Noon crossed the finish line slightly ahead of Haiku, with Haiku's handicap helping to correct to first place.
Loa'a Nalu and Shiva chose the more prudent path, and went outside of Naked Island and the Kittens to finish the race an hour or so behind the leaders.
All of the boats were able to tie off on the dock between Coot and Crab Cove for an evening of fun and socializing. Crab pots were set, fish were caught by the Levi ("VERY good caster"), the official fisherman from Shiva, dogs were caught, and a good time was had by all.
Sunday, the crabbers got up, checked the pots, and found 4 dungies just waiting to be cleaned, cooked and eaten for some of the finest food that can be eaten.
The boats agreed to meet at the starting line, and get going back to Auke Bay beginning at 10:00. With Loa'a Nalu acting as the committee boat and Shiva starting the sail home early, the boats began the downwind leg home.
Haiku jumped to the early lead, reaching speed of 8 knots while running toward Pt. Retreat. High Noon and Loa'a Nalu in close pursuit as the the tide and wind pushed to boats. Alas, the Pt. Retreat wind hole captured all of the boats.
While Haiku drifted, High Noon and Loa'a Nalu overtook Haiku. Luckily, for all of the boats, the tide was flooding and pushing the boats toward Barlow. This pushed the fleet into the breeze coming from Stephen's Passage into Saginaw Channel.
High Noon reached the wind first and took off towards the finish with Haiku in close pursuit. Loa'a Nalu was unfortunately stuck in the Retreat wind hole longer than both of the other boats.
As the boats beat toward favorite reef, the tide continued to flood, helping the boats get out of Saginaw before the tide change. The wind held until midway between Strauss Rock and the Portland Island finish. Haiku overtook High Noon about 1/2 mile from the finish.
While Shiva and Loa'a Nalu escaped Saginaw channel, the leaders drifted in eddies and currents, struggling to cross the 195 degree line. High Noon went much closer to the mark, and in so doing caught a back eddy and passed Haiku.
Having mistakenly taken a wider course, Haiku was 5 boat lengths from finishing when the tide changed pushing them back. Another 50 minutes later, they fought back to finish.
Loa'a Nalu struggled to finish in the dying breeze an hour an half later.
To see the results from the weekend go here: