- 'Round the County' is so aptly named because the race is, literally, around San Juan County. So if right about now you're thinking "oh yeahhhhh, like the San Juan Islands, oh yeah those are beeeeautiful...oh and the ferry ride! Who doesn't love that ferry ride?" No one. No one doesn't love that ferry ride. Know what's even better than that ferry ride? Seeing the entire thing from a sailboat all day, for two days, with 6 of your closest friends.
- The halfway point (and party) is in Roche Harbor, WA. For anyone not familiar with Roche Harbor, it's a sleepy little picturesque village-y type place which I can only surmise has expertly figured out how to appropriately warn what I can only assume it the "usual crowd" to either avoid this particular November weekend altogether, or allow an appropriate enough heads up that only those in full appreciation of one of the best sailor parties of the year interrupting the usual gentle and, er, quiet vibe of such a place. And it has a mausoleum. Do what this information what you will.
- It could very well be the only race all year you'll get to race with the beautiful Schooner Martha in all her splendor...under spinnaker or topsails she's, well, she's a very pretty girl and a downright expertly raced boat under any condition. And we love her. At 105, she's the oldest working sailboat in Washington State and the oldest living flagship of the San Francisco Yacht Club - even after having been declared a total loss and subsequently saved from a scrapyard in 1976. If that doesn't make you all warm and fuzzy inside, you cold heartless bastard, seek help.
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| Day 2, from Canada. Photo Credit Patricia DeJoseph |
Yes, I digress, admittedly there was in fact a moment during the second day's freezing wet beat upwind THE ENTIRE DAY during which I experienced an epiphany to the effect of, 'Ohhhhhh... yeah, okay, when people think we're crazy for being out here in November in the middle of the Salish Sea almost dragging out feet in the near-freezing water off the edge of a 30-ft boat in the pouring rain... I guess I understand where they're coming from."
. . . but. . . not really though.
And also I would just like to say to those people living on whichever edge of whatever Canadian Island we sailed close enough to for a nice clear view of just what kind of modern home Canadian money can buy...HI. Nefarious will likely be returning by your place of residence November 10th, 2013 sometime between 10am and 4pm. Please feel free to deploy a care package from your cliffs of Moher to sail number #USA 53 containing the following:
(2) litres of high quality Canadian rum, appropriate for sipping between tacks.
(2) bags of Old Dutch potato chips, assorted varieties OK but MUST include ketchup.
(1) huge bag of candy limited to items unobtainable in the United States.
(1) appropriately-sized Canadian flag to fly off Neffy's backstay in appreciation.
Alternatively, tying said package to a mooring buoy at a depth greater than 20' marked by a flotation device with the words "KEEP AWAY - NEFARIOUS ITEMS INSIDE" is also acceptable. Thank you kindly and I hope you enjoy our sailboat race.
2013: The year of the epic RTC sleigh ride. Hmmmm, weather?! It's time.
