HEAVY WEATHER 2010 - 40 BOATS ENTERED Mike Henry (17 Feb 2010) The weekend of February 12-14 at the Bremerton Yacht Club was the scene of the 76th Annual BYC Heavy Weather Navigation Contest . While the days leading up to the weekend were windy and rainy, boats arriving on Friday for the start of a weekend full of social events were accompanied by slight breeze and calm seas. The social calendar opened with a Friday night social hour in the clubhouse followed by dinner and dancing to the group "Slightly Bent". Saturday morning began with a continental breakfast and arrival of the observers (finding enough observers was the single biggest challenge faced by the contest committee). Shortly thereafter, the contestants began arriving for log check-in and observer assignment. Among the special entries were a U.S. Navy Admiral's Barge and a Junior Naval ROTC-crewed boat. The first boats out departed BYC around 9:30 for the starting point of the 21.6 NM course under our famous Pacific Northwest Constant Drizzle which would make it's presence known for the rest of the day and into the evening. The good news was that, contrary to the weather threat implied by the contest name, the wind stayed away, the water was flat, temperature was in the 50's and the current was about high slack. A near-perfect Heavy Weather Contest day in February. The contest course started on the inside waters of Sinclair Inlet and headed through Rich Pass, out to Puget Sound, around Blakely Rock, back thru Rich Pass, ending with a 2.4 NM run through Port Washington Narrows to the finish at BYC. All 40 boats successfully finished the contest with some being far more successful than others with their scores. Following log check-in after the contest, all gathered in the clubhouse for a social hour of storytelling and excuse-making about the day's race which was followed by dinner and skit performances by some of the visiting clubs to the theme of "Sock Hop"; the talented Tacoma YC "skitters" performed their way to top honors, thereby winning possession of the BYC "Rubber Clam Gun" trophy for this year. The evening was rounded out with dancing until the wee hours to music by the band "Classic Ride". Sunday morning dawned with clear skies and no rain nor wind; great weather for the trip home. Following breakfast in the clubhouse, the contest awards were presented by BYC Commodore Don Park, Rear Commodore Leo Longenecker and Regatta Chair Tony Frey. The scores were in keeping with recent BYC history with only two of the 40 skippers having scores under 1.000% error, which significantly contrasts with the recent IPBA contest hosted by Queen City YC on Lake Washington where 10 of 30 contestants were under 1.000% error. Winning top honors overall was Lynn Montgomery, of QCYC, on LIKELY LADY, with a score of 0.7382% error. Taking Second Place Overall was Bill Anderson, also of QCYC, aboard THE TILLIE, at 0.8960% and rounding out the Top Three Winners in Third Place was Dave Padgett, another QCYC contestant, on SLIP AWAY, with 1.0568% error. The P/C Grady Barrentine Team Trophy is awarded to the best scoring team, consisting of the top four finishers from each club; this year, the QCYC Team of Lynn Montgomery, Bill Anderson, Dave Padgett and Jerry Zuvich (Fourth Place Overall) were the unquestionable winning team with an average score of 0.9433% error. Winning the Novice Award was Richard Kay of QCYC aboard Matana at 1.1646%. A special award was also presented to BYC log racer Tex Dominy for 45 years of participation. Following the awards, the weekend visitors got underway for home waters agreeing that log racing at BYC IS, INDEED, A SOCIAL EVENT. PLEASE NOTE - A special navigation contest will be held this year. Every five years, the International Power Boat Association (IPBA) hosts the Alaska 1000 (also known as the Capitol to Capitol Predicted Log Navigation Contest). This year's contest will start in Olympia, proceed up the Inside Passage, stopping in the cities of Nanaimo and Prince Rupert, B.C., and the Alaska cities of Ketchikan, Petersburg, Sitka, ending in Juneau. Other stops along the way include quaint marinas, quiet inlets and secluded coves, complete with barbeques and beach picnics. The actual contest legs are only a small portion of the overall cruise, occur as part of the normal route being taken and are of much lesser intensity than our local navigation contests. A limit of 22 boats has been imposed. For more information, contact Don Larson at 360-340-8478 or captdonL@wavecable.com. The planned itinerary and supplemental info can be viewed at www.ipbalogracing.org. [See also: bremertonyachtclub.org/power/10/alaska.html#alaska] Mike Henry BYC/IPBA

Photos Billie Henry

2010 HEAVY WEATHER OVERALL TEAM WINNERS: QUEEN CITY YACHT CLUB, L TO R, DAVE PADGETT (3rd OA) BILL ANBDERSON (2nd OA) AND JERRY ZUVICH (4th OA). MISSING FROM THE PICTURES IS LYNN MONTGOMERY (1st OA)

Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club's 2010 Heavy Weather Contingent. MBYC's race team enjoyed a strong showing this year.

Corrected Race Results (17 Feb)

	0830 - 1000      Breakfast (followed by Awards Ceremony)
	1100 - 1300   	 "A Fond Farewell" to BYC's Guest Boaters

	Meals may be paid for at the door.
		Friday Evening $10				
		Saturday Evening $10
		Sunday Breakf   ast $8