Finally Here!

by David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor on 23 Jun 2010 Here in the Pacific Northwest, Junes are not pleasant. The fresh breeze and sunshine of May gives way to clouds, rain and cold. Instead of marching towards summer, 'June-uary', as it’s locally dubbed, feels like a big stride backwards towards winter.

Last Wednesday night saw our entire J/105 crew bundled on the rail, wearing full foulies, sweaters and sea boots, while discussing upcoming plans for the Fourth of July. The clouds above felt thick, immortal, and real summer sailing a distant thought.

Until now. The weather has broken with the arrival of the Solstice, and like sailing areas nationwide, the sailing scene is in full swing. Down at Shilshole Marine, one of Seattle’s big boat basins, riggers and electronics specialists are working hard at getting projects finalized, and the telltale rising bubbles of divers means that bottoms are getting cleaned. Finally! Summer as sailors know it! And just in time for tonight’s racing…

Far to the east and across a swath of the Atlantic, the last boats are now arriving in Bermuda after what has been described as one of the more 'easiest' Bermuda races in recent memory. While no records were set, the fleet also didn’t encounter the disgusting conditions that the Gulf Stream is famous for occasionally serving, and more than one midnight watch was been described as magical.

In Germany, Kiel Week has delivered light breezes, but thankfully the RC has been able to get in sufficient races before the Medal Round and we've done well there as you will see below. And in Newport Rhode Island, 15 of the world’s top Melges 32 teams are amassing for Event Number 6 of the 2010 USA Sailing Series. Stay tuned to this series as it’s sure to offer some of the week’s hottest racing.

Fair winds and following seas,