Following the PNW Offshore

The Corinthian Yacht Club of Portland fired the starting cannon of the Pacific NW Offshore Race at noon today and 21 boats are making their way north in a moderate south westerly. The tracker is excellent, check it out here.

YB Tracker screenshot from 1634 on May 15th.

Thursday, 1640: Eric Hopper on ‘Free Bowl of Soup’ has about a mile lead on Charley Macaulay on ‘Absolutely’. 157 miles to go.

Thursday, 1920: ‘Absolutely’ caught up to ‘Free Bowl of Soup’ but progress is very slow. 149 miles to go.

YB Tracker screenshot from 1920 on May 15th

Friday 0530: The boats are just over the half way hump at La Push. No records being broken this year. Charley Macaulay and team ‘Absolutely’ in the lead, but only just over ‘Free Bowl of Soup’ and ‘TC’ with 93 nm to go. ‘Soup’ and ‘TC’ are a bit to the west and look to have just gotten into more pressure, now making 9.5 to ‘Absolutely’s’ 7… so a lead change may be in the works in the next few minutes.

YB Tracker screenshot from 0520 on May 16th.

Friday outlook: Current is on the ebb until noon 1500, SE breeze building to maybe 12 knots, then it goes light Sat night before switching to W by Sunday morning.

Correction, Friday at 11:15: Current switches to flood at 1500, so it is going to be a long fight.

YB Tracker screenshot from 0824 on May 16th.

Friday: 0825: ‘Free Bowl of Soup’ has jumped out to a 6 nm lead over ‘TC’ and ‘Absolutely’. It appears that something could be broken on ‘Absolutely’ because they are registering 2 knots less than the boats around them and should be keeping pace. Now off Makah Bay, about 5 nm to Cape Flattery and 66 nm to go.

Friday: 1040: ‘Free Bowl of Soup’ is now around Cape Flattery and 9 nm ahead of ‘Absolutely’ and ‘Hana Mari’ as they approach the Cape. ‘TC‘ is heading out into the middle of the Strait, might be an interesting move considering the current.

Screenshot of Predict Current at 10:44. ‘TC’ may be onto something because if this current visualization is right, there is no relief on the shore.

YB Tracker screenshot at 1340.

Friday: 1340: The boats that went to Canada early are struggling. Either ‘Absolutely’ has dropped out and is motoring, or they have perfected a secret weapon of sailing straight into the wind when the others have to tack. ‘Free Bowl of Soup’ has 40 nm to go, is 5 nm ahead of the next boat, and the current is starting to ease. It could get light around Race Rocks. With luck they will get to Victoria before the wind shuts off entirely at midnight.

YB Tracker screenshot from Friday 1700

Friday: 1700: This will probably be my final update before the finish. ‘Free Bowl of Soup’ has extended their lead and should make Victoria tonight, maybe even before dark.

Results should be posted on the official website once all of the boats have finished.