Orcas Island Team Race

Last weekend our sailing team participated in its first team race. The venue was West Sound on Orcas Island, Washington. District sailors from University of Oregon (UO), University of Washington, Oregon State , Portland State, University of Victoria (Uvic), and Lewis & Clark (LC) were all staying at a camp site in Moran State Park. Unlike many college sailing regattas, we sailed Vanguard 15s instead of CFjs. Everyone was essentially on the same playing field because of inexperience with the type of boat. Team racing is more strategy than fleet racing, where boast speed is more important. Instead of buying for finishes individually, your team (made up of 3 boats) is looking for a combined score in 10 points or less. The sailing course is also shorter, so the outcome of the race is decided at the start and finish lines.

On the racing side, Saturday was "windy" (10-12 kts, 20 kts gust) with a cold Canadian wind. I have never been so cold out on the water sailing in my life. Puget Sound sported one team in the regatta and went 1-2 (lost against UO, won against Uvic & LC) in rotation. We clearly excelled against the other division 3 teams and still need impairment to be a formidable opponent of the division 1 teams. The forcast was dismal for Sunday on Orcas Island, 25 kts and raining. However, it was sunny and warm for Washington and no wind; so no racing was achieved for the day.

Our racing team: (left to right) Allya, Collin, Jennie, Benjamin Shapiro, Mike, Micheal

Thank you to UW and WWU for hosting this event and cooking us food, OIYC for making the sailboats available to the district sailors at no charge!

To see the full results of please visit: www.collegesailing.org/nwicsa