Who will get the belt‽
In the space between the 128 crow-flown miles separating Olympia Shoal and Point Roberts, the inaugural cohort of WA360 racers continued to grind and push for every inch of advantage on their way towards the Championship Belt.
IN THE SOUTH: Shifty breezes and the tide wall of the Narrows continued to create bliss and panic for the racers of the Human Powered and Go Hard classes.
IN THE NORTH: Day 3 was decision day for many of the teams out front. The choice of Swinomish Channel vs. Deception Pass loomed ahead, and most took the straightforward route past La Conner through the slough. But as the afternoon wore on and we all furiously examined the current predictions, Mustang Survival’s Team Ocean Watch sprang out with an iron will and became the first to battle the rips and eddies to tack, paddle and pray their way at 10 minutes before slack tide through the maw, breaking through to open water at 4:45 to cheers from intrepid tracker junkies. And with the new possible now firmly established, teams Ruf Duck and Lake Pend Oreille Yacht Club followed in close pursuit.
24 Hour Fact Sheet
• 64 Race hours before first rounding of Point Roberts
• 4 Teams sailed through Deception Pass
• 5.9 Road portaging miles
• Several Beers delivered to racers by tracker