4-23-11 Everett WA. The weather at this year’s Jetty Island race was spectacular. It seemed more spectacular because the sun had not made a significant showing for what seemed like months.
We unloaded our equipment and went to sign up for the race. I noticed a group of Snohomish County Sheriff’s looking at our double rowing shell. As I approached with my race number, they looked up and asked, “is this yours?” I nodded. “You know there is a speed limit in the channel?” I stared back, trying to gage seriousness. I pointed at Tyler Peterson. “You should keep an eye on that guy”
Race Director Peter Turcan went over the rules and other bits of wisdom, and 50 boats launched into the channel. After a wild crisscrossing warm up, we started lining up to the sound of the starting horn. The pack slowly drifted past the start line together, hoping that Peter was not too particular on the actual location of the start. The long horn sounded and we were off.
The pack spread out on the run to the first turn which was negotiated without incident. Everyone looked for lines close to the island, but far enough out to avoid the shallow sand shelf. The north end of Jetty island is also the outlet of the Snohomish River and we used that knowledge to stay close to the island and out of the current to make up time on Rainer and Adrian Storb, and Tyler Peterson. We entered the final channel together and enjoyed a mad sprint to the finish.
It was a great day for a great race. Thanks to the Snohomish County Sheriff and Search and Rescue for keeping an eye on us.
