06/18 - 06/19 - Port Townsend Safety Launch

Plan C · From 18 Jun 2010 to 19 Jun 2010 (included)

I am a member of the rowing club in Port Townsend. At the annual meeting last night there was a presentation about a major race that will happen here next summer: the National Open Water Rowing Championship, June 19. On June 18 (Sat) is the annual Rat Island Rowing Regatta (a regional race).

I have done safety launch duty with my C Dory for the last few years at the Regatta, and was asked to do that for theOpen Water race. It occurred to me to wonder if this is something other C Dory folk would like to join in. We could have a flotilla of C Dory safety launches. We could have a C Dory gathering with a functional role in this important race.

A few notes on the Championship: the race will be about 20 miles, with the ideal intention of including some rough water. Folks will come from all over the country, and Canada. The last few events were at Gloucester MA, San Francisco and in Rhode Island.

Any takers?

Dave

DaveS · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 1:00 am Post subject:

Dave,
Count me in. I just scheduled all of my vacation days for 2010 and I just happen to be off work from 6/17 to 6/22. That weekend is now "penciled" in my calendar. When it is a definite "go", I'll "ink" it in my calendar.
Do you happen to know if the Lake Stevens Rowing Club is involved in this in any way?
Dave S.

Plan C · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:55 am Post subject:

Great! I'll be posting any updates over the next few months.

For the regatta, there are club members from a wide area, but I don't know Lake Stevens club rowers, so I can't answer that. I would expect some would be there. That race is 7 miles.

The races will consist of a variety of types of boats - shells (singles to 8's), wherries, kayaks, racing canoes, or any kind of human powered vessel. In terms of competition, it is a race of shells.

The job of the launches is to monitor the course and accompany the vessels. In four years I have not had to rescue anyone, except for the Wooden Boat Foundation's antique launch "Martha", who had an engine problem. She got a tow.

Dave

starcrafttom · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 1:19 pm Post subject:

count us in and make sure to keep me posted on the details. Can I fish while following the rowers? the cant get over troll speed right?

DaveS · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 6:08 pm Post subject:

Doryman · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 10:41 pm Post subject:

We are planning to be in MN and WI (Apostle Islands, Lake Superior) with the boat for the month of June so will have to miss this one! Sad

Warren

gwwalsh · Joined: 15 Feb 2004 Posts: 33 Photos: C-Gnome

Dave -

We are new CD 22 owners and this sounds like fun! Count us in! Our boat is currently at Gold Star Marine getting a camperback done by Anchor Canvas. We'll get her in the water this Spring after getting electronics, etc. installed and the bottom painted.

Please keep us posted.

- Gerry & Cindy Walsh, Port Townsend

TyBoo · Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 11:45 pm Post subject:

OK -

#1 - This sounds like a cool event;

#2 - There are already a few folks planning to participate or expressing interest;

#3 - The Cruises and Events list was a little sparse; and,

#4 - This event absolutely belongs on the list.

So, it is now listed on the front page and a signup is in place. Thanks, Dave for inviting us to join in. This is too cool!

Plan C · Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 1:24 am Post subject:

Thanks, Mike, for starting a list.

We might discuss what the group wants to do for overnight. We can reserve space at Port Hudson, of we could go over to Mystery Bay, by either the state park by the point, or the one in Nordland. Either one has dock space or moorages, or anchoring.

Anchoring off Port Townsend works also.

Preferences?

Dave

DaveS · Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 1:43 am Post subject:

Dave,
A slip at Point Hudson Marina would be our preference. If I'm not mistaken the facilities there are fairly new and appear to be quite accomodating. Is that where the regatta will be originating?

Robbi · Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 10:10 am Post subject:

This sounds like a fun event. Count me in.

This post brought back some wonderful memories for me. In 1978 I was living on Shaw Island and two friends of mine thought that they could row around Shaw faster that the first place sailboat in the yearly Shaw Island Classic. The sailboat race circumnavigated Shaw Island with a start and finish in Friday Harbor. I didn't give my friends much of a chance, so I bet them a case of beer that they couldn't come in first. Well, I lost the bet, and the Round Shaw Row was born. It has been raced every year since and I think I have rowed or paddled in 5 or 6 of the races. At 14 miles, it is a bit of a challenge, Smile

so I gave it up back in the 80's. The Round Shaw Row was the first of many human powered races in the area. The group "Sound Rowers" http://www.soundrowers.org/was born from this first race, and they still sponsor many races today. The Rat Island Rowing Regatta is one of these races. In about 1980 I remember rowing in the Great Cross Sound Race, a route that crossed from Aliki Point to Bainbridge, and there were over 250 entrants! Quite a site.

This will be a fun event to participate in, with out having to exert much effort. Thanks for the invite.

Robbi

Plan C · Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 8:31 pm Post subject:

The Open Water race will start and probably finish at the new NW Maritime Center (Wooden Boat Foundation) which is on the bay right next to Point Hudson. Mooring in Port Hudson would be quite convenient.

The Rat Island Regatta starts off the beach by Fort Worden, next to the Marine Science Center, and ends there also. At the end there is a very nice potluck banquet. I believe there might be some dinner post race at the Maritime Ctr. on Sunday, maybe a pay event.

I am very pleased at the response here. We can have a quite impressive presence.

Dave

Sea Wolf · Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 9:40 pm Post subject:

Robbi-

Sounds like you started a lot of frantic flailing around boating activity in your younger years! Wayward youth troublemaker, huh?

See ya' in Seattle!

Joe. Teeth

Robbi · Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 11:37 pm Post subject:

Joe, It is amazing what a bet involving a case of beer can do! Beer

Wayward youth trouble maker? Well, I think it takes one to know one Wink

See you in Seattle.

Robbi

BaseCampAnne · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 3:50 pm Post subject: Rowing races

This does sound like fun Exclamation

I have accompanied swimmers in open water in my kayak. I have also acted as a course boundary boat, but am unclear what we will do for these races.

Will we be assigned an area to monitor? I am thinking if we are safety monitors we will need to be outfitted and staffed to potentially pick up and care for rowers in case of an emergency. Is that your understanding?

Thanks in advance for any information Very Happy

Anne Cox