I returned from a long working weekend out of town and opened the September S-t-S, to see you had included an acknowledgment of our Swiftsure Overall win on Freedom 10. Thank you. The crew was Per Lundgren from Carmel Highlands CA; Ken Johnson of Oak Park IL, (together with Knudson these three are known in the Chicago area as the Norwegian Mafia: they will help you get ahead in racing, but then take over your boat!), Bill Ingalls Cox and Rex Noah of Vashon Island.
Other reports of the race have been sketchy at best, concentrating mostly on interviews of people who dropped out. See the 48 North report and letters rebuttal from Roland Brener, Reality, finishing second OA.
Going out we went through Race Rocks in the backeddy to the right, then went across to the US side, watching the GPS. We knew the double ebb tide was helpful, slowing down the big boats ahead. In the morning, after a sickening night of chumming in no wind, we followed O-My-God’s lead, changing to our full main #3 jib combo in the light airs rocky conditions, to keep the slot open. Later, we hit 16.6 knots between the Race and the finish line, the main now double reefed. We had a “fire drill” in the inner harbor finish with still too much wind, and it was then 2230 hrs. Very unusual but good for us as these were our only sails not torn, broken, or otherwise screwed up.
Another high point was watching seven or eight desperate boats, us included, try to stagger to the mark boat in almost no wind. Everyone who tried made it around, Night Runner with just minutes to go before the Noon Deadline.
The rest of the story is that we almost did not make it to the starting line. Everything on Freedom that possibly could break did, in the week prior to the race, including: water and diesel filters, winches, the speedo, halyards and so on. To the point that we almost sailed with Cheetah, who badly needed crew. We did not and hung in there, and ended up being on the right boat at the right time.
My Membership Renewal will be in the mail right after I finish paying up for the repairs, pre race and post race.
Jon Knudson, Freedom 10
Speaking for SSSS, and myself, I want to congratulate Jon and the crew of Freedom 10! This is one of the oldest and most prestigious races in the NW. Freedom sailed the longest of the three Swiftsure courses, the original course to the buoy and back. Ed
For another account of this race, from aboard O-My-God.
Note: last year Minotaur was first OA on the shortest course.