DUWAMISH HEAD RACE

The Duwamish Head Race always ushers in a new year of racing, and it did once again on the first Saturday of January, 2023. Hosted by Three Tree Point Yacht Club (TTPYC), the Duwamish Head Race is the second stop on the four-race Southern Sound Series (SSS). The race begins and ends in front of Des Moines Marina, and sends racers north to Duwamish Head, across to Blakely Rock, and back.

As is the case with all the SSS races, the hosting club recognizes the effort and time boats undertake to participate in a winter regatta that is away from home for many sailors. For Duwamish Head, TTPYC sponsors free moorage at the marina, provides food and drinks the night before and the morning of the race, and has a team on the dock to help race boats get in and out easily. In 2023, at least 16 race boats took advantage of this hospitality.

The forecast both Friday night and Saturday morning called for a southeast breeze of 5-6 knots, backing to northeast and dwindling over the course of the day. Thus, it came as a surprise to the racers and the race committee when they were greeted with about 10 knots out of the north-northwest at the start. The 56 race boats in attendance played the good initial hand they were dealt, getting off the start line and beating pleasantly toward Alki Point.

For the race committee, the good breeze presented a slight conundrum. Based on the initial forecast, the likelihood of a shortened course had been high. But, in the actual conditions on Saturday morning, boats were making quick progress up the course. It would have to be a ‘wait and see’ call.

Dean Conti, skipper of the Jeanneau 53, Equus, says: “Getting around Alki is always a challenge.” And that’s where things got tricky for the fleet. Once they turned east at Alki to round the mark at Duwamish Head, the breeze dried up. The fleet separated in the very light breeze, as the lighter boats did better and the heavier boats struggled. The race committee again considered a shortened course as boat speeds dropped, but the fleet's advanced position and the early time of day led them to stick with the full course.

Once around the mark, the reach across to Blakely Rock in the dying northerly provided just enough oomph to keep boats moving. Some were able to fly a spinnaker on the tight reach, some were not, and some that started with one had to douse it and head up as the breeze shifted west closer to Bainbridge Island.

Turning back south after Blakely, the fleet hoisted spinnakers and tried to keep them full in the northerly zephyrs and rain. The front pack of lighter boats got even farther down the course, causing more separation between the haves and the have- nots. There was a lot of lightwind jibing before the northerly evaporated completely.

The overall winners on TP52, Mist, thrived in the light conditions.

Photo by Jimmy Grant.

As the convergence zone took hold, the boats farthest south lost breeze first, causing a bit of consolidation. But when the breeze did fill, it was from the southwest, ensuring the lead pack would finish first.

Eventually that southerly filled to a wide range of 0-18 knots, with some big growlers making things interesting for the later finishers. Many elected to retire as the sun went down. In the end, 31 of the 56 boats that started the race completed the course.

Being a day that appealed to the light and quick, TP52 Mist, won their class and the overall. Around the fleet, class wins went to Farr 30, Nefarious; J/35 Grace E; Evelyn 32, Ratfish; J/29, Slick; and Cal 40, White Squall. Congrats to all the racers, and thanks to the hosts from TTPYC — 2023 racing is officially started!

By Joe Cline and Dean Conti

Searching for puffs in the dwindling breeze near Alki Point.

Photo by Jimmy Grant.