The weekend was shaping up to be a great one. After the wet and cold July, the crew of Haiku was really looking forward to some sunny sailing, a beach party, and some great camaraderie on the hook at Ad Cove. The forecast called for some light westerlies, which, as every Juneau sailor knows means there will be some decent breeze on the backside of Douglas, and probably some sunny weather.
Starting at 10:00 a.m between the committee boat and the North light on Portland Island, sail north up Lynn Canal. Rounding Bird Island, either direction, Skipper’s Choice. Finish in Favorite Channel on an imaginary line bearing 195 magnetic to, and within ½ nautical mile of the north light on Portland Island.
After one of the wettest July's that anyone can remember, August arrived along with the sun. Just in time for the August 3, Skipper's choice.
The second Skipper's choice race started off with a choice: there was a beautiful westerly blowing out from around the backside of Douglas, but further down the course there was a strong easterly coming out of Taku Inlet, and a calm convergence zone in between. Surprise and Shoreless both chose to start at the Marmion Island end of the line and stay high to keep out of the convergence zone.
As the skippers met on the dock, the forecast and conditions seemed to foretell of an inauspicious beginning to the 2023 SEAS cup races for SEAS. The forecast called for 5 knots of wind in Stephen's Passage, building to a possible 10 knots in the afternoon. As all Juneau sailors know, this usually means it MIGHT blow 5 at some point during the day.
Indeed, motoring down Gastineau Channel toward the Marmion Island starting point for the backside of Douglas race, the forecast seemed accurate. The channel was grease. It was flat calm, with teeny-tiny ripples near Marmion, but no indication of better breeze.