2025 Vashon Island Recap
Terramoto and Hooligan, just after the start of the 2025 Vashon Island race.
Thank you Alyosha Strum-Palerm, Douglas Peterson, AnaLucia Clarkson and Spencer Kunath for contributing to this story
No one would have guessed during the postponed start for lack of wind, that 'Glory' would record the third fastest time for the Vashon Island Race. 'Glory' set the record of 6 hours, 11 minutes, and 24 seconds in 2023, and was only 14 minutes slower this year. The delayed start helped the boats around the course this year, because the current switched to flood just as the first boats started at 10:35 AM. It was a 10 foot gain in tide over the same seven hours that the boats were on the course and clearly the tail end of it did not slow the northbound finishing boats very much.
In fact, 'Glory' and 'Smoke' were spotted off the south end of Vashon Island at 3:15 pm, and they finished at 5:00 pm. They covered the second half of the course, 24 miles, in an hour and 45 minutes. That is 13.7 mph / 11.9 knots -- all the way home. I bet it was a nice ride. Adding it up, there was a big flood current pushing the boats south, no dead spot at the south end of Vashon, and the breeze cranked up to 20 on the way home. Four hours and 45 minutes south, and one hour and 45 minutes returning north, and the whole thing was done in less than six and a half hours.
Once again, William Weinstein's 'Terramoto' was able to keep close enough to the big boats and win on corrected time, only one minute and 50 seconds ahead of 'Hooligan'. With last week's second place in Race to the Straits by 52 seconds, 'Hooligan' must be due for a win here soon. On the other hand, 'Hooligan' had a great year last year winning SYC's boat of the year, so it could also be the universe giving someone else a chance. Congratulations to Bill Weinstein and his team 'Terramoto' with Alyosha Strum-Palerm, Stasi Burzycki, Mike Goldfarb, Adam Gibbs, Julia Mamen and Tim Scanlon on board.
'Terramoto' has a commanding lead in the ORC Long Course division for the three race series after winning both races so far. Tom Andrews on his Davidson 29 'Madam Pele' won the PHRF Short Course yesterday over 'Jaded' and 'Jolly Green'. 'Madam Pele' is just ahead of 'Jolly Green' in the series with a second and a first over a first and a third. The Blake Island Race, the third and final race of Seattle Yacht Club's Tri Island Series, will be held on June 1st.
Full results on the SYC Regattas page here
Live blog and photos on YachtRacing.tv here
For more information: Contact: Jay Leon, Press Officer, 206-909-480
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.