by Lisa Winterhalter
Owner and Skipper, Moore 24 Mordacious
I was asked by CYC Seattle's Board of Directors to write about this year's Corinthian Yacht Club of Edmonds Foulweather Bluff race on Oct. 3. I do so a little reluctantly, but will tell the tale of our day on the water.
The forecast for that day was for 5-15 knots rising to 20-30. That's what I heard at 7:00 a.m. as I dressed for the race. To say they missed that forecast is a gross understatement.
The day started just like last year, partly sunny, in the 50's and with a light southeasterly. We were the third start - first for the long course - and we got a reasonable start, windward at the committee boat. As we went along, once again, just like last year, the wind began to build. Pretty soon it was 15, then 20, then 25 and building.
This year we got lucky and had flat water and the Moore just zipped along steadily gaining speed. We were easily doing 15 knots when the wind really picked up and pretty soon we were on a sustained plane doing 18-20 or better. So quick that we were the fourth monohull to round FWB and one of the others in front of us was the other Moore, Uff Da.
The third Moore, Sputnik, was behind us and struggling from a broach caused when their downhaul let go. Up until then we had all been pretty close to each other and having the most fun you can have on a boat. We got to FWB, dropped the kite and got around the mark and were headed upwind.
This is where the day went from a great sail, to a potential nightmare.
photo: Corinthian Yacht Club of Edmonds
Lisa Winterhalter's Moore 24 Mordacious powers through the chop before the wind came up Oct. 3 during the Corinthian Yacht Club of Edmonds Foulweather Bluff Race.
Snake Oil ripped by us under spinnaker, and only three boat lengths away from us, broached. And they broached hard and fast. My crew Sandra shouted that there was a man overboard and we turned to go back to him.
There isn't a choice, and there is little hesitation in that position. I believe that none of us would ever have gotten another good night's sleep if we hadn't gone back. We made a first pass and had our hands on the Snake Oil crewman, but were unable to hang on. We were circling back, getting our Lifesling out when we saw Snake Oil coming back to us under power. So we held off and waited until the man overboard was back on board. It took four guys to lift him. And it was over 10 minutes. And both boats responded immediately - it just took that long. That's the frightening part of this story.
We regrouped and turned back upwind for the very long slog home. It was wet and wild and in a 24-foot boat like the Moore a most uncomfortable ride. By the time we got to Scatchet Head, the wind had to be up around 40 and certainly gusting over 45. We aimed for the shore and hung on taking wave after wave over the bow and all the way back to the transom.
Halfway across we dropped the mainsail and finished the race under jib alone. When we got back to the dock we discovered the inner shrouds were loose to the point of being off. I think we were lucky not to have lost the rig and possibly ended up ourselves in Snake Oil's position.
The Moore is a tough little boat and more than capable of these conditions. In fact, Wendell says "the Moores love these conditions". But of course, he says that no matter what the wind is doing.
That's my story of Foulweather Bluff 2008. Next year we are just going to continue on to Port Townsend. Forget that upwind haul and enjoy the ride. All my thanks to my crew, Sandra Stark, Darrell Carlson and Wendell Gregory, who drove most of that long upwind leg for me. Awesome guys. You're the best.
Entries in Sailing Anarchy about this incident.