2019 NWISA Team Race Championships

The day started with bright sun and light breeze, but then transitioned to one of the most chaotic wind/weather days some of us have all seen in decades. The wind oscillated from East, to North, to South while the sun shone, then the clouds rained, then squalls chased the fleet across the bay while the committee persevered to quickly reset marks in time to get a race off and standby teams held down the fort on Gilligan's Island. 26 races were completed, with a last attempt to get race 27 off abandoned at 6PM.

Sunday started right on time, with all teams getting their boats rigged and launched first thing. At 10AM, the course was partially set, and the wind was only a hint on the horizon. By 10:14, the northerly had filled to between 5 to 8 knots and the sequence for race 27 was underway. The Northerly held all day with 40 to 50 degree oscillations and frequent puffs and smaller shifts, but it always came back to the norm just when we were planning to shift the course. Early in the day the incoming tide made starting more challenging; in one race the first boat crossed the line about 10 seconds after the horn. By 2:52PM the final consolation race was started, and by 3:09PM the tie breaker between Gig Harbor and Orcas was underway.

Overall, it was one of the best possible days for a high school team race regatta--or any regatta! The sun was out all day; the wind was perfect; and everyone rotated quickly, making it possible to get 47 races off between 10AM and 3PM.

Congratulations to Olympia, our District Team Race Champions! We will be rooting for you in Maine! :)

Thank you to everyone who traveled to Bainbridge and to all of our many hard-working volunteers!

......goodbye Gilligan's Island....until next time ;)