2025 Protection Island Recap
William Weinstein’s ‘Terramoto’ off Double Bluff, Erik Kristen Photo
Thank you to John Stanley, Alyosha Strum-Palerm, and Spencer Kunath for contributing to this story
In 1968 at the age of 28, John Buchan won the Protection Island race on 'Warrior', a Buchan 37 he and his dad built. Last Saturday, April 26th, fifty-seven years later, he took line honors and the Class 1 win on his TP 52 'Glory'. The records are patchy, but it is possible that even though he has a long list of Smith Island, Vashon Island, Blake Island, and Hat Island race wins, it does not appear that John Buchan has won the Protection Island Race since. This year, at 84, he drove 'Glory', for the entire 13 hours and 24 minutes of the race, but William Weinstein’s ‘Terramoto’ won overall on corrected time.
Steve Travis on 'Smoke' lead 'Glory' for much of the race, that included several light wind patches where the boats drift around until the breeze fills in from a new direction and "restarts" the race. The three TP 52s, were in such a restart near Double Bluff facing the additional challenge of adverse current when a mini Riptide Rendezvous of 'Dark Star', 'Blue', 'Ripple', and 'Terramoto' joined the lead pack. Dark Star came out ahead, but by the time they got to Bush Point, 'Smoke' was back in the lead being pushed by 'Glory' and the others.
Point Wilson and the transition to the Strait of Juan de Fuca can be a messy or even violent patch, but this year it was light and flat with barely enough wind to propel the boats against the current. It took the big boats two and a half hours to cover the seven miles from Pt. Wilson to the island and 'Glory' had to back down twice to clear kelp from their keel. The westerly filled in and was pushing the boats down the Sound as the current changed to an ebb and slowed everyone's progress. As the sun was setting, 'Smoke' lead all the way to Point No Point where the northwesterly breeze gave out and the adverse current reached max flow.
Trailing is not an obvious strategy for winning, but it does provide an opportunity for the boats behind to learn from the experience of the leaders. Further aided by their handicaps, smaller trailing boats get the learning plus the time correction and William Weinstein on his Riptide 35 'Terramoto' did just that when he followed 'Glory' around 'Smoke' and over to the Edmonds side of the track. There 'Glory' was the first to get the new breeze, now from the east, and ride it for the last ten miles of the race to the line honors and Class 1 win at 22:29:10.
An hour and a half later, at six minutes past midnight, 'Terramoto' was the 5th boat to cross the line behind 'Glory', 'Smoke', 'Mist', and 'Dark Star' and secure the Class 2 win and jump ahead of 'Glory' for the overall corrected time win by more than 30 minutes.
Seattle Yacht Club runs the Protection Island Race on odd years, alternating with the Smith Island Race in the Tri Island Series. The last time the race was run on April 29th, 2023, ‘Terramoto’ won overall on corrected time, ‘Glory’ won its class, and ‘Zvi’ was first across the finish line for line honors. And the overall winner in 2021 was also ‘Terramoto’. John Buchan has won just about every race in the Pacific Northwest at least once, including the Protection Island Race, but William Weinstein and his ‘Terramoto’ team have a solid winning streak going these days.
Full results on the SYC Regattas page here
Live blog and photos on YachtRacing.tv here
History of the Protection Island Race here
Fastest and Slowest Protection Island Races here
For more information: Contact: Jay Leon, Press Officer, 206-909-4800
About Seattle Yacht Club
Seattle Yacht Club is incorporated for the purpose of encouraging yachting and boating of all kinds, and the development of the recreational marine advantages of the Pacific Northwest.
Founded in 1892, Seattle Yacht Club has prevailed over the rough seas of wars and endured the battering winds of economic storms since its shabby beginning at a rickety boathouse dock. Along the way, the Club has adapted to our changing culture over the decades and centuries. Today, housed in its elegant Mainstation on Portage Bay, the Club is one of the premier yachting organizations in the world. Its Clubhouse and moorings, 10 Outstations, services, and social activities are second to none, and its financial position is strong. SYC is one of Washington State's oldest and most enduring institutions and in 2010, the National Register of Historical Places listed the SYC Mainstation as a historic resource.