RAID SAN JUAN

The first annual RAID SAN JUAN! A distance race around and through the San Juan Islands.

This looks awesome! Anyone need crew?

Bump gonna do it this year! Last year was too late in the season and we got blown out by the first big front of the year. This year its September 21-22, perfect time of year with great sailing conditions and still warm. If anyone is interested contact me directly or reply here. Open to F18's and any other classes that might want to participate.

Oops I'll change the date on the JPEG!

That does sound pretty awesome.. i may have to plan a work trip up there around then!!

Care to give us a few details? Leave from where? Return to there? Overnight camping? Entry fee? Thanks!

Dave

Pardon my geography ignorance but where the he!! is it?

Puget Sound, NNW of Seattle.

Race starts and ends in Anacortes (WA). Entry fee is $150, which includes Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast and lunch. The course consists of 7 legs, which are generally outlined in the picture in the first post. Each leg is from 7.5 to 13 nm. We will camp at one of the middle stops, probably either Sucia or Jones Island. If it is light we have provisions for shortening the course at an earlier stop, Clark Island. Paddling is allowed, you have to carry a GPS, VHF, a few flares, some basic safety equipment. If there are other classes or boats interested in participating I'm more than open to having more entries than just F18's.

Is camping gear ferried to camping spots?

RAID San Juan
F18 Distance Race around the San Juan Islands

Format:
A 2 day distance race starting and ending in Anacortes, with a series of stops at Washington State Marine Parks located throughout the San Juan Islands (http://www.parks.wa.gov/). Each stop has the potential for tent camping, allowing the group to stop at any location for the night, and to continue on in the morning. Three powerboats will shadow the group throughout the event and carry camping gear, food, cat trax, and emergency items. Total rhumbline distance approximately 70 nm. Expected sailing distance 100+ nm.

Staging/Starting area:
Staging at the Anacortes Small Boat Center basin located at Seafarers Park in Anacortes. Launch and trailer parking readily available, grocery stores readily accessible. Start will be in the vicinity of Fidalgo Bay.

Checkpoints:
Pelican Beach, Cypress Island. Mooring balls available, beach space available for beaching/storing boats. Camping available. Distance Anacortes to Pelican Beach (by way E side Guemes Island): 10 NM
Clark Island, east side. Anchorage and beach space available, camping available. Distance Pelican Beach to Clark Island: 7.5 NM
Sucia Island, Fox Cove. Anchorage and beach space available, camping available. Distance Clark Island to Fox Cove: 8.6 NM.
Jones Island. Dock Space, anchorage, beach space available. Camping available. Distance Fox Cove to Jones Island: 11.3 NM.
Turn Island. Anchorage, beach space available. Camping available. Distance Jones Island to Turn Island: 7.3 NM.
Spencer Spit. Anchorage, beach space available. Camping available. Distance Turn Island to Spencer Spit: 8.2 NM.
Seafarers Park Anacortes. Launching and facilities available. Distance Spencer Spit to Anacortes: 13 NM.

Boats start together and proceed to next checkpoint. First boat to next checkpoint will wait for the rest of the boats to arrive before starting the next leg. All boats start all legs together. This will allow the race organizer to decide whether to proceed to the next checkpoint or to stay for the night at the current location. At the start of any leg, the conditions can be evaluated and the course altered to suit conditions.

Scoring:
Low scoring used and points awarded based on finish position, i.e. 1 point for 1st, 2 points for 2nd, etc... The lead powerboat will position an orange flag on the beach and establish a finish line between the flag and an adjacent landmark (outlined in the Sailing Instructions). First skipper or crew across the line is 1st, second 2nd and so on. The boat with the least amount of points at the end of all the legs wins.

Sounds awesome! Any chance boats may be available for out of towners?

Man this sounds sick. I second Jeff's question...impossible unless charter boats are available!!

Sloan just sent a PM we'll be in Seattle next week would love to do some F18 sailing to stay sharp for Hyannis.

I will see if we can come up with some boats for charter. I imagine we could put something together...

Sam, perfect time to show up in the Seattle area, next week is Whidbey Island Race Week, preceded this weekend by Dinghy's Whidbey Island, all in Oak Harbor. We're racing F18 at DWI, and then racing Melges 24 at WIRW. There are always boats looking for crew during the week if you can make some time for it. We'll be leaving our F18 rigged and ready to go sailing all week. Many times the breeze comes in really nicely in the evening (after racing) and you get some great conditions for sailing right in the harbor. Its great exposure for the F18 fleet. Give me a call on my cell, 360-250-6895, if you might make it up one day (or more).

Jeff and Sam, keep up with the NWF18 fleet here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/246470675424608/

I posted a request for charter boats or crew positions so hopefully there should be some chatter...