SEAS Cup

Saturday

May 29, 2010 dawned sunny and windy, perfect weather for the annual SEAS Cup Memorial Day Taku Harbor races.  Nine boats lined up for the starting gun in the 15 knots of breeze, and thanks to the committee boat, F/V Mohap, the 10:20 start was fair and clean.  Haiku and Lyric got the best start, and had a great taking duel the entire way up the channel.  Despite a poor start, Freebird, caught the other two boats, and took over the lead never to relenquish it to Lyric and Haiku.  The wind stayed strong for the first few boats, but began to moderate later in the evening. 

The Initial 2010 SEAS race was foiled by an evening calm.

The sailing vessels Tango, Commitment, L'oaa Nalu, Surprise, Lyric, and Haiku gathered near Marmion Island for the horn that would start the 2010 SEAS Cup series.  A new idea was being tried this year, one where the Race Committee chair would call the race at the starting line based on the conditions. 

At 1100, the boats were at the line.  It was an hour past high tide, with the current racing out of Taku, Stephen's Passage, and Gastineau Channel.  Taking the current and the variable direction light winds in mind, Wade Rogers, Race Committee chair, made the only sensible decision.  A race around Grand Island, hoping for the more open spaces to offer more wind and a slight current help until the boats reached the breeze.

Well there you have it folks.... another Juneau sailing season goes down in the history books. One of the better ones in recent memory with all the good sailing days and sunny days... which didn't always necessarily coincide but none the less made for an overall good sailing season. With several new additions to the SEAS fleet, only in it's first year by the way, next year looks to be a good year with some stiff competition amongst the ranks.

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.