Terremoto spent two frozen frustrating days sailing around San Juan County in the November 9 and 10, 2013 “Round the County” Race.

On Saturday the ninth, Terremoto with the complement of Mark and David Brink, Kirk Utter, Bron Miller, Steve Brockway, and Bill Weinstein started from Lydia Shoal in Rosario Strait just east of Orcas Island in Obstruction Pass. The narrow channel created a positive current approaching four knots, which created problems for the 84 boats bunched at the start line. A general recall at the start added to the confusion.

Terremoto, in a formidable class of 20 boats, managed to win its start by riding the current and starting closest to the Committee Boat. Pressed by its faster “sister,” the new Riptide 35 “Long Board,” Terremoto pointed higher and was able to maintain a clear lane and the lead to the northeastern point of Orcas Island. However, the wind continued to lighten and soon following currents became more important than following the missing wind. Boats that hugged the Lummi Island shore to the east were able to avoid the backwater and negative current along the north end of Orcas Island. By early afternoon the fleet had separated as a negative current and a very light wind pushed most of the fleet backwards around Clark, Matia, Sucia, and Patos Islands.

Terremoto watched most of its class slowly sweep up and around it as they followed the current. When Terremoto finally passed the half-way point at the Alden Point Light House seven boats in its class were ahead of it, including the Buchan clan in Madrona, which was one and a half hours ahead. Only seven IRC boats, nine Class 0 boats including Terremoto, and only two other keel boats managed to pass the Light House by 4:00 pm.

Fortunately, the wind built and Terremoto managed to sail in three hours through virtually the entire fleet to the finish line outside of Roche Harbor. The Farr 395 Ace finished with less than five minutes left on the time limit, and Terremoto was just finishing when the Race Committee called the race on time. It was a very frustrating day because had the race continued another twenty minutes six Class 0 boats would have finished and Terremoto would have won Class Zero for the combined two days.

Sunday was a better day with a brisk breeze. The start line location, at Mosquito Bay off Henry Island, is spectacular. Victoria is just off your starboard bow across the narrow Haro Strait, and to the southwest the Olympics shimmer in the morning light. Mt. Baker greets you as you clear the south end of San Juan Island, and on a clear day you can look all the way down Puget Sound to see Mt. Rainier.

Terremoto had a difficult start because another boat fouled it but maneuvered to find a clear lane. Most of the fleet hugged the San Juan shore and bunched at Lime Kiln Point. Terremoto, Madrona, and Long Board, and a few IRC boats and catamarans, headed out in to Haro and Juan de Fuca Strait and were rewarded by a less negative current and a building ten plus knot breeze. Terremoto strained to keep up with Long Board as both boats began to plane and soon all three boats had managed to separate from the rest of the fleet and keep up with the IRC boats. At the halfway point, Iceberg Point, Long Board over sailed the mark. That small error coupled with protracted, intense tactical sailing near Lopez, Decatur, Jones, Cypress, and Blakely Islands allowed Terremoto to match the fast Madrona and Long Board to near the finish line at the Lydia Shoal buoy.

The final hour was incredibly difficult with little to no wind and an adverse current. Terremoto was able to catch Long Board on a correct time basis, but Carl Buchan “schooled” everyone with an incredible southern circular entry to the Lydia Shoal buoy. Carl Buchan’s Custom 40, Madrona, dominated the race. Long Board came in second, and Ace nipped Terremoto for third place based on its superlative first day performance.