The annual Round the County race in the San Juan Islands has become one of the most anticipated fall races in the region, thanks to the great scenery, high level of competition and weather that always seems to prove challenging.

This year’s race is delivering again.   

Day one of the two-day regatta, hosted by the Orcas Island Yacht Club and the Friday Harbor Sailing Club, got off to an awesome start. With winds of 25 to 35 knots from the south at the start, boats hoisted spinnakers and took off. Many of the big boats in the X fleet—one of six racing divisions—reported seeing speeds in the high teens, with a few low 20s. 

And as quickly as it all started, it came to a grinding halt. 

The San Juans are notorious for blasts of wind that come over and down the sides of the numerous islands, as well as through some of the passages. With a forecast calling for 15 to 25 knots all day, people were expecting the best. Before the halfway mark, most boats were back down to genoas for a white sail reach. Turning back toward the finish, most boats found a very shifty 8 to 12 knots of breeze and not too much rain.

At the party after Saturday’s race, smiles were everywhere. With the breeze filling in from behind before the results were posted, everyone knew it was going to be a small boat day. 

Bob Pistay, sailing on David Pickett’s Nelson/Merrick 55, Strider, reported holding a steady 16 to 18 knots for the downwind run. “We had great racing with Artemis all day long. We really pushed each other forward of the field in what turned out to be a small boat race,” Pistay said. 

Matt Wood, tactician on Paul LaMarche’s Santa Cruz 70, Neptune’s Car, claims the key to the day’s race was “being able to change gears quickly, and having good sail changes.”

“The pressure was up and down all day, and you need to change gears quickly. Blowing up kites is slow,” he added.

Neptune’s Car was not the only boat to have some sail or gear damage on the first day of the regatta. Laura Urlin, sailing on the C&C 115, Illusive, was seen busily repairing a jib car that pulled off the deck. The multihull Freda Mae had some damage to its main, but its crew found the local sail loft in Friday Harbor more than willing to help.

Brad Butler, sailing on Artemis in his first Round the County, loved the “the unparalleled scenery. The kite run was pretty awesome too!”

Bruce Campbell, sailing on Steve Travis’s One Design, 48 Flash, could only describe the day as “bitchin.”  “Just a bunch of old guys having a great day on the water,” he said.

Top finishers by divison for Saturday’s leg (full results here):

• Division M | Skipper Jim Holstine and Paul Pihl  aboard O’BenAnnas
• Division X | Skipper Brian Duchin aboard Voodoo Child
• Division O | Skipper Daryl Homan aboard My Tai
• Division I  | Skippers Eric Moulton abd Betsy Wareham aboard Ptolemy
• Division II | Skippers Chris White and David Way aboard Crazy Ivan
• Division III | Skipper Robert d’Arcy aboard Martha

Nigel Barron is a well-known Seattle-based racer
who sails aboard Artemis, a speedy Andrews 53
that recently completed the grueling Trans-Pacific
race from Los Angeles to Hawaii.