Classic Mariner's Regatta Port Townsend 2016

The Classic Mariners’ Regatta has been run in Port Townsend for many years and, as the name suggests, is open to all sizes of classic wood boats. I crewed for Ward on his 33ft Garden designed sloop, built in 1948. It was beautifully maintained and still had much of the original equipment. Crewmate John had sailed dinghies in his youth, but since then had only been a powerboater. Of course neither John nor I had set foot on the boat before, whereas Ward had been sailing Aura for over 20 years 23 boats entered, in 3 classes, big, medium and the 26ft Thunderbirds. It was glorious weather; a F3-4 on Saturday, a bit less on Sunday. We couldn't help but wonder what was stopping the owners of the hundreds of other boats left in the marinas from going out. The racing was of course dominated by Martha, one of the local schooners, it was built in 1907. See here for more http://www.schoonermartha.org/ I was a bit too busy to take much video during the races themselves, except we all stopped to watch Martha when we kept crossing tacks as we beat out to sea during the long distance race. Ward was very pleased that after the first two round the cans races on Saturday we had two first places on handicap and even crossed the line first in one race. So the pressure was on for the long race on Sunday. A slow beat out against a very strong tide meant the local boats gained hugely by playing the back eddies. There was considerable confusion as to the actual course as the PRO changed it by radio, unfortunately a broadcast some racers didn't hear. We did, but even so we played safe on the run home and rounded every mark "just in case". It didn't matter - we were so far ahead we were still first over the line and first on handicap in Class B. We came second overall behind the best sailed local boat "Sparkle" and easily won Class B with three bullets. After the prize giving (held inside as it was too hot to be outside) a very happy Ward sailed back to Orcas Island. See here for more http://classicdaysails.com/