Since there was an obvious mistake in the calculations, I did them over again. But, no. GRINS, the fastest boat, really was last. And ISABEAU, the second fastest, was next to last. SLINGSHOT with the highest percentage of wins in our overall race series came in third from last. Check my numbers!

Jim McAlpine in LUCKY JIM sailed all the way to Baby Island in 4 1/2 hours. The rest of the fleet got trapped in one of Whidbey Island's famous dead spots and milled around several miles short of Baby Island. As time was rapidly running out, the Race Committee declared LUCKY JIM the winner, and set up a short course for the remaining boats. The finish line was 2.7 nautical miles short of Baby Island.

The reason the fastest boats came in last was the dead spot and the PHRF handicapping system. They raced down the course and became trapped in a windless hole. The slower boats caught up with the speeders and were trapped in the same hole. When handicaps were applied, the slower boats corrected out faster on paper and the faster boats became slower.
-- Keith Kinnebrew, PRO

Read On!

Skip Meisch, skipper of SLOW FLIGHT, tells more of the story! He recalls that as many as five different boats held the lead at different stages. Maybe more. And that the leaders all fell way back into the pack for at least a short while.

Here is the race from SLOW FLIGHT's vantage point:

After the start SLOW FLIGHT slipped back behind most of the other boats. One by one the other boats gave SLOW FLIGHT some bad air and She seemed doomed to fall out of the running. But as the boats made their way toward the Snatelum buoy, SLOW FLIGHT got upwind of CABERNET and started making way again.

As the boats all fought the current at Snatelum point, SLOW FLIGHT dared to go inside the nav mark and even sailed inside the ship wreck. The current seemed to be better (still bad for the light wind) there and SLOW FLIGHT wiggled her way into the lead. GRINS and SLING SHOT, meanwhile, tried to find better wind and less current by heading across Saratoga. But the current seemed to set them back with each tack across the passage. ISABEAU and LUCKY JIM saw what SLOW FLIGHT was doing and decided to take up the chase. ISABEAU was able to collapse SLOW FLIGHT's PBY Catalina spinnaker for a short while as LUCKY JIM slipped into the lead. LUCKY JIM stayed just slightly wide of SLOW FLIGHT and pressed her advantage with every opportunity. Then, one by one, almost all the others caught up to SLOW FLIGHT as she took her turn waiting for wind.

We could all see LUCKY JIM slowly increase the lead mixed in with periods of falling back. But, for the most part, LUCKY JIM did an excellent job of staying on top of the ever changing situations. Even the boats in the back were able to make good showings, as the fleet was relatively close together near the eventual finish line. BLUE MOON finally got up a head of steam and plowed on through the current making progress on many of the other boats. BLIDEVIND was able to wiggle her way around a few boats and fought to find the lightest current along the shore. Too bad the wind was no longer there once she started to make some real progress. SARABAND seemed to be having trouble getting out of the gate. But once she got moving, she showed some real promise. CABERNET was, as usual, persistent and kept challenging for just the right spot on the course. Then there was ROSSINANTE. What can you say about a boat that tries to scare the competition with her Frankenstein jib? Well, ROSSI did a great job of pressing on and finding wind when it was within reach. She wiggled her way through and around some faster boats at times and her efforts paid off.

I say congratulations to ALL the participants in the 2003 Saratoga Sprint. The wind was from almost every point of the compass and the current was relentless. It was a real work out and a challenge which was met by all. Way to go! -- Skip Meisch, Slow Flight

P.S. The barbecue after the race was held at the Oak Harbor Yacht Club. The main course was cheeseburgers, chicken and hot dogs. Maria Litrenta served one of her tasty salads and Rose Kinnebrew provided German potato salad and nectarine cobbler.

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