Yesterday was the Hope Island Race with the SSSS club. I crewed for Ken on Rushwind, and the other crew was Wendy & Ken Eklund. As predicted the winds were light and made for some interesting sailing (slow) around Hope Island. We went clockwise around the island like a few other boats; most of the boats chose the counter-clockwise route. A couple boats went aground on the reef between Squaxin and Hope, yikes, it sure gets shallow in some parts there. Then the adverse currents sometimes meant we were going backwards, slowly.. Eventually we made it through the current and back into Dana Passage where the winds picked up and we were sailing along nicely as it was getting dark. It was chilly most of the day, but since it wasn't wet or very windy it wasn't too bad. Ken started the heater in the cabin on the way back also, which definitely helped. We quit about 6pm when the winds died completely and we could only see glassy smooth water between us and the committee boat, maybe 2.5 miles more. Race certainly could have been better, but we always have fun on Rushwind!
And that ends the 2011 race season. I think I am ready for some warm weather sailing again too!
