Little wind however numerous enjoyable throughout Round the County Regatta

The two-day Round the County Regatta kicked off Nov. 8. Sponsored by the Orcas Island Yacht Club, racers lined up on the beginning line at Lydia Shoal, off Obstruction Pass. The temperature was heat for November, and the rain held off, however sadly so did the wind, no less than on Saturday.

The Yacht Club’s web site said, “We could have wished for better, but what we got was still fun.”

The winners have been:

ORC first general: “SENTRI,” skippered by Peter Dennis.

PHRF general: “TC,” skippered by Hoag and Nelson.

ORC A division: ” Rosebud,” skippered by Pedlow and Holt.

ORC B division: “Maelstrom,” skippered by Dan Kaseler.

ORC C division: “Setri,” skippered by Peter Dennis.

PHRF I division: “Hana Mari,” skippered by Ged Mclean.

PHRF II division: “TC,” skippered by Hoag and Nelson.

PHRF III (J105) division: “Mazu,” skippered by Nick Wilkerson.

PHRF IV division: “Blue Shift,” skippered by Turner and Turner.

PHRF V division: “Jolly Green,” skippered by Ryan Porter.

PHRF M division: “Mahana,” skippered by Gabe Mills.

According to Betsy Wareham, one of many unique instigators of the regatta, the race started with only a handful of individuals within the late ‘80s.

“We started in 1988 with 13 boats, but we made two divisions, thinking this event would grow. It did,” Wareham stated, explaining that her dad and mom, Mike and Peggy Wareham, donated the perpetual trophies for the 2 divisions, silver wine coolers. Islanders Bank donated the general winners’ trophy, a silver punch bowl.

This is formally the thirty fourth 12 months of the race, taking a 12 months off throughout COVID. “We actually had a self-run race that year called Rogue the County,” Wareham stated.

Wareham began the race on her father’s suggestion. He and pal Sunny Vynne had talked about such a regatta over a lunch assembly. “It stuck in my head, so when I was fleet captain of the Orcas Yacht Club, and I asked the Board if I could try it. They gave it the ok.” Word bought again to Hugh Lawrence in Friday Harbor, Wareham continued. Lawrence was concerned within the Friday Harbor Sailing Club, and he informed Wareham that they wish to assist. “The joint clubs put on a race, and it has grown to a 125-boat limit,” Wareham stated.

The two main courses of boats, the Offshore Racing Congress and the Performance Handicapped Racing Fleet, are damaged into divisions by pace. The J105 Division III is considerably distinctive, Wareham defined; all of the boats in that class are the identical kind, measurement and sail space.

The M class covers multihulls, together with catamarans and trimarans. These boats have completely different crusing traits from monohulls, the remainder of the racers; subsequently, they’re grouped individually.

The racers went clockwise this 12 months, from Lydia Shoal round Davison Rock, on the southern tip of Lopez, headed west via the Strait of Juan de Fuca, previous the Salmon Bank Buoy, then up the west aspect of San Juan Island. Sailors overnighted at Roche Harbor. On Sunday, the wind was barely higher as they headed again out into the Salish Sea. This time, they sailed towards Turn Point on Stuart Island. From there, it headed northeast to Boundary Bay, then turned southeasterly towards Peapod Rocks and again to the end line at Lydia Shoal.

To see the total record or study extra about Round the County, go to For these enthusiastic about collaborating subsequent 12 months, registration usually opens in September.

Sean Trew photo.

Contributed photos by Sean Trew
Colorful masts during the Around the County race

Contributed photos by Sean Trew
The seas were calm during the Around the County Race