Sloop Tavern Yacht Club In the news

Great Pumpkin Race 2021

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 02:41:49 GMT

Congratulations to Pell Mell and the team from Ballard Sails for winning the second annual Great Pumpkin Race! Their newly painted mint green hull was barely visible off in the distance. It was gorgeous day for the grand tour of Shilshole Bay and the surrounding area. We started off heading north with about 8-10 knots of wind being sure to pass M=Meadow Point to port and not ground on the spit with the tide at just about 2 ft, then to R=Spring Beach. A tacking fest ensued since the tide was flooding by then and current was much better near the coast. We rounded the U mark and heading south west toward Port Madison Yacht Club's Z buoy near Jefferson Head, then reaching back to B=Ballard Sails buoy and home to the old Meatball = N.

Pell Mell was followed by j105's Peer Gynt and Creative, Gaucho, Shearwater and the newest boat in town Pippa a Longtail 30. Congrats to all who came out! There was delicious pumpkin pie and cider after the race and a chance to hear how people managed around that Z buoy. The consensus was "stay low"!

All proceeds raised will go to the Ballard Food Banks this month. Thanks to Carlton Wilson and his crew for serving as the PRO and Committee Boat skipper! Carlton is also our STYC Treasurer and Board member.

This was our last race of the year, hope to see you on the water in 2022. Happy Fall! Sara Billey, Race Co-Chair for STYC

Commodore's Cup Final Results

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 22:28:57 GMT

Congratulations to Dan Randolph and all of the crew of Nefarious, Farr 30, for winning the Commodore's Cup for 2021. This is the year long compilation of scores from all of the STYC regular races. It does not include our short-handed races. Full listings for all the boats is here or under race results towards the bottom.

Commodore's Cup Standings

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 15:03:06 GMT

Ahoy Sailors,

Every year, STYC awards the Commodore's Cup Trophy to the top boat in the club. The scoring is based on how each boat does in the overall scoring of the races. Twelve of our races and series count toward the cup. The exact scoring algorithm can be found in our GSI. There are just 2 more races to go to determine the winner, Fall Regatta and the Great Pumpkin Race. Here are the current standings. Great job to all who have entered! The top 3 right now are Nefarious, Creative, and Eclipse!

Coast Guard-Approved First Aid at Sea workshop

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 14:25:09 GMT

There is a CG approved First Aid at Sea workshop at Fishermen's Terminal on Friday November 12. More info here https://48north.com/instructional/coast-guard-approved-first-aid-at-sea-workshop-in-seattle/

Crew Overboard Safety Discussion

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 19:48:52 GMT

We invite all sailors to join in a discussion of how to prevent and recover crew overboard (COB) on the water. The format will be a round-table discussion. We hope everyone will benefit from coming together in conversation, encourage each other to practice COB drills, and gather resources. In particular, please plan to share online resources that you use for a COB collection we will be putting together.

This event is co-hosted by the Sloop Tavern Yacht Club and the Washington Yacht Club. It was inspired by the tragic loss of club member Greg Mueller this summer. There will be some time to reflect on sailing with Greg and what he contributed to the community. We will not focus on that COB event but instead share our other experiences, insights, materials, and wisdom to learn from each other.

Resources:

https://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?/topic/225812-quick-stop-mob-maneuver-under-spinnaker/

https://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?/topic/225625-pnw-race-week-accident/&tab=comments#comment-7573192

https://www.uksailmakers.com/quick-stop-with-spinnaker

https://www.practical-sailor.com/safety-seamanship/slings-scoops-ladders

Summary of COB Round Table Discussion 2021

Single Handed Race

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 15:51:20 GMT

STYC held their single-handed race Saturday, Aug. 28th with 24 boats on the water. It was a delightful day starting with light building to medium shifty northerlies. The pursuit start began with Aquavit at 10:50:31 and finished with Flying Colors at 11:34:33. All the boats headed to Spring Beach, downwind to West Point buoy and returned to Shilshole. There were huge wind shifts and holes all over the 11 mile course but particularly at the Spring Beach buoy and between West Point and the Ship Canal. At Spring Beach, several boats thought the buoy might be on the beach because they were confused by the strange courses of some of the boats nearest to the mark. Trent Piepho on Rock Lobster and Dan Randolph on Nefarious seemed to figure out how to round Spring Beach best. Boats with flying sails seemed to have a big advantage getting away from the hole after rounding. Creative and More Jubilee along with Three Ring Circus took the lead. Jubilee went to the north more and extended a lead and Flying Colors, a Jeanneau Sunfast 3600, caught up midway on the run south. Some of the boats who sailed more of the rhumb line course to West Point, including One Life, Rush and Underdog, were looking pretty good when the wind went way east. Eventually though the wind went back to the north and Creative led Jubilee around West Point. Another hole developed on the beat back to the finish. Creative crossed the finish line first, followed by Jubilee and Rush, who just nipped Nefarious, to round out the podium.

Round Table Discussion on Crew Over Board Practice and Procedures

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 17:44:49 GMT

We invite all sailors to join in a discussion of how to prevent and recover crew overboard (COB) on the water, with an emphasis given to raising the awareness of training, devising individual methods and distributing what resources we can provide. The format will be a round table discussion. We hope everyone will benefit from coming together in conversation, encourage each other to practice COB drills, and gather resources. In particular, please plan to share online resources that you use for a COB collection we will be putting together.

Date: Thursday Sept 16, 2021

Time: 7:00pm

Online: https://washington.zoom.us/j/91340012420

Registration suggested: Registration Form

Questions/Comments: race@styc.org

Resources:

https://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?/topic/225812-quick-stop-mob-maneuver-under-spinnaker/

https://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?/topic/225625-pnw-race-week-accident/&tab=comments#comment-7573192

https://www.uksailmakers.com/quick-stop-with-spinnaker

https://www.practical-sailor.com/safety-seamanship/slings-scoops-ladders

Moonlight Madness

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 22:36:42 GMT

There were great conditions for the first ever Moonlight Madness event with clear skies and 15 knot Northerlies sending the competitors off to Blakely Rock, then Duwamish Head and back to the finish. Sailors got some nice views of the downtown lights, a half moon and Venus to the west. The bigger boats had a bit of an advantage with waterline conditions and the breeze dying as the night progressed. The last three boats, Aquavit, True Blue and the bigger Moonshine didn't quite make it to the finish before the wind shut off completely. Freya corrected out over Peer Gynt and Mata Hari. All boats reported that they had a good time and would try it again.

Ballard Cup II

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 02:26:48 GMT

Ballard Cup, Series 2 wrapped up last night with 65 boats getting out for at least one race in the series. The all star crew on Mark Brink’s Tonic put on a series long clinic with only 7 points for 5 races for the overall win. Well done! Class 3 had the winning mix as LXIII and 6 Ft Moore rounded out the top 3 overall.

Class winners are as follows.

Class 1 Francy, Perfectly Strange, Whistling Swan

Class 2 Outlaw, Mata Hari, Rock Lobster

Class 3 Tonic, 6 Ft Moore, LXIII

Class 4 Reckless, Jolly Green, High Five

Class 5 Corvo 105, Peer Gynt, Creative

Class 6 Different Drummer, Eclipse, lapa

Class 7 Nefarious, Shearwater. Sabrosa

Class 8 Escape

Overall: Tonic, LXIII, 6 Ft Moore

Photo of Tonic by Ben Braden

STYC Sailors doing Transpac this year!

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 21:24:36 GMT

Hey Everyone, Did you see Sonic skippered by Marek Omilian will be flying the STYC burgee as an entry in this year's Transpac Race starting next week? We wish them best of luck on their journey! More info here.

Also, congratulations to Bill Stange for sailing Hula to first in class and third monohull overall in the 2021 Singlehanded TransPacific Race from San Francisco to Hanalei Bay on Kauai. Woo-Hoo! Race Results

Sloop Sailors at National and World Championships in Denmark!

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 19:49:48 GMT

We've got friends in cool places! Three of our own STYC members are currently racing in the National and World Championships in Denmark and it looks like they're having the time of their lives! Follow along with their journey through social media and check out this write up from 48North. https://48north.com/racing/race-reports/seattle-j-80-owners-are-sailing-at-nationals-and-worlds-in-denmark/

Ballard Cup II Race 4 Update

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 23:38:59 GMT

Ahoy Monday Night Racers,

We are sure that you are aware that Monday is forecast to be an all time high temperature for Seattle. Ballard Cup Series 2 Race 4 will take place but without a race committee boat on the water. Participation in all of our events is strictly voluntary. As always, it is the skippers responsibility to judge the safety of the event for your crew.

The course will be NUN. There will be no horns or flag signals on the water. The start/finish line will be between the N buoy and the Yellow Painted Rock approximately due east from the buoy. Use your designated time to start as usual, using GPS time. We will attempt to make time calls over VHF for each class along with a repeat of the course at 5 minutes, followed by 5 second countdowns at 4 minutes, 1 minutes and start. You must take your own finish time including the seconds and report it along with the name of the boat in front of you and the boat behind you if possible. The website to submit your finish time information is here: Ballard Cup II Take Your Time Form.

If you have not seen the U buoy before, here is a picture of it thanks to Paul Viola.

Stay cool, bring sun block and ice cubes, and send us your finish time!

Sara Billey and Al Hughes

STYC Race Co-Chairs

STYC Monday Night Racing

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 23:01:06 GMT

Check out this fun article in 48 North by Andy Cross

Glorious Ballard Cup: An Ode To Beer Can Racing

So, what does NEMN2 mean again??

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 21:32:47 GMT

Last night's BC race (BC2 race 3) had a few boats that didn't complete the course properly and were marked DNF. The posted course of NEMN2 = NEMNEMN requires that each boat must cross the start/finish line from the Committee Boat to the N buoy on the leg from M to E in the middle part of the course. For further information, see the explanation and pictures posted in Section 17 on "Starting and Finishing" of STYC GSI.

Thanks, Your Friendly STYC Race Co-Chairs

Round the Sound

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 04:33:52 GMT

Congratulations to Peer Gynt for winning the Round the Sound Race over the Memorial Day Weekend. They were the first boat to reach Gate 2, more than 100 miles into the scheduled 132 mile course. No boats were able to complete the full course. Good work by the whole crew, Sara Billey, Paul Viola, Amy Deckelbaum, Aden Draakkai, and Adam Schaefer. Puff finished second and More Jubilee rounded out the podium. 13 boats signed up, 12 started and 11 made it to Gate 1. Full results are on the race page. Thanks to both STYC and CYC for putting on a memorable event. More photos can be found on the event website.

Ballard Cup I

Wed, 26 May 2021 04:32:23 GMT

Congratulations to the winners of the Ballard Cup I series!!!! Ballard Cup II starts on Monday, May 24th. Are you signed up?

Class 1

Outlaw -- Cindy Gossett
Aquavit -- David Sinson
Perfectly Strange -- Paul Kalina

Class 2

Rock Lobster-- Trent Piepho
Lady Too -- Damon Darley
Sea Haven -- Cary Kaczowka

Class 3

6 Feet More -- Ben Braden (Second Overall)
Wizard -- Leo Morales
Zap -- Don Sarin

Class 4

Tonic -- Mark Brink
Mata Hari -- Jeff Blyth
Wind Dancer-- Chris McMuldroch

Class 5

RecklessSezer Emre
Jolly GreenRyan Porter
High FiveCharles Hampson

Class 6

Corvo -- Tom Kerr (Third Overall)
Peer Gynt -- Sara Billey
Creative -- Shauna Walgren

Class 7

Sabrosa -- Alex Simanis (First Overall)
Eclipse-- Kirk Fraser
Nefarious-- Dan Randolph

Class 8

Freda Mae -- Vince DePillis
Escape -- Yury Palaltnik

Race To The Straits May 2021

Tue, 11 May 2021 15:19:40 GMT

Congratulations to Christina and Justin Wolfe on the J/111 Raku from Orcas Island YC for convincingly winning our STYC Race to the Straits for 2021. Second place was the Melges 24, Distraction with Carol and Tom Greetham from STYC. Third place went to the J/27, 63 with Dan Falk and crew from CYC who nipped their sistership Wizard with Leo Morales and crew from STYC. Of special note, the top two boats were Jack and Jill crews as well.

We couldn't do the traditional course to Port Townsend and back over the weekend due the Covid constraints on gatherings, but the traditional course will be back next year as we have reservations for the NW Maritime Center for May 8, 2022. Thanks to all 67 boats who registered and participated in this year’s modified Race to the Straits!

Spring 2021

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 04:39:50 GMT

Welcome to spring time racing! In case you missed our Introduction to Keelboat Racing 101 talk, you can still catch the recording Youtube: STYC Keelboat Racing 101!

Good news! The state of Washington is entering phase 3 of the COVID-19 Road to Recovery plan on Monday the 22nd of March. As a result we have decided to remove the 5 crew restriction for our racing starting with the Carol Pearl Blakely Rock Benefit Race and Ballard Cup 1. The NOR for those races have been changed to reflect the new policiesand we will update the other NORs soon.

We would like to remind everyone participating in our races that sailboat racing is voluntary and is done at your own risk. Compliance with Federal, State, and Local rules and regulations is required by the club and enforcement is the responsibility of the skipper. In particular, skippers are responsible for ensuring everyone in their crew complies with all guidelines, rules, and regulations to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while participating in STYC races.

Skippers are required tokeep a complete and accurate record of their crew and inform them in the event of any possible exposure to COVID-19 by other crew members.

Further, please be especially careful of COVID-19 protocols while on the dock and using the facilities at the marina. This includes wearing masks when on the docks, when sitting on the rail, or whenever you are unable to maintain sufficient physical distance. We also strongly discourage after-race gatherings on boats or docks at this time.

Please note, these updated policies appear in the new NORs as “Special COVID ..” statements. These are a bit different than the usual rules in a NOR to allow for the constantly changing landscape of COVID regulations and recommendations. These statements reflect the new policy stated above.

Thanks for helping to keep sailing as safe as possible for all, while enjoying the freedom of being out on the water.

Al Hughes and Sara Billey

STYC Race Co-Chairs

Sloop Tavern seen on a Luftansa flight on the way to Strasbourg

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 19:28:35 GMT

One of our member's crew wrote in with this find on an airplane. It's a feature of Sloop Tavern featuring past commodore Grant Fjermedal and current board member Ken Chin.

Sail Northwest covers Race to the Straits

Tue, 28 Jul 2015 18:19:07 GMT

Sail Northwest covers us in a long article with photos by Jan Anderson. https://sailnorthwest.com/race-to-the-straits-2015/