Steckman leads Renaissance to Race Week win / Sailing

Coupeville skipper Dave Steckman defended his home waters by guiding Renaissance to first place in its class in the 36th running of Whidbey Island Race Week.

In all, 68 boats spread over three divisions and nine classes participated in this year’s regatta hosted by the Oak Harbor Yacht Club Thursday through Sunday, July 19-22.

Steckman and Renaissance, racing in Performance Handicap Racing Fleet Division 8, edged Simon Miles and Raven out of Port Townsend 7-8.

Steckman and crew won three of the five heats and finished second in the other two.

Miles won twice and finished second three times.

“Finishing well in the San Juan 24 North American Championship last weekend gave Team Renaissance the momentum we needed going into Whidbey Island Race Week,” Steckman said.

Strong currents and light winds tested the Renaissance, Steckman said, presenting a challenge, along with “some tough competitors.”

“We had to stay light on our feet to maximize any performance advantages the San Juan 24 has in light air,” Steckman added. “This was a team effort in securing the win in our home waters.”

Joining skipper Steckman on Renaissance were Shannon Buys, tactician; Liz Bouma, pit; Tim Bouma, grinder; Nick de Ru, foredeck; and Cecilia Hamill, crew.

Four other Oak Harbor Yacht Club skippers took part in Race Week.

Larry Munns and Pearl Jem were third in 9-PHRF (Performance Cruising Class, NFS) with 12 points. They won the first of four heats, then added a third and two fourths. Anacortes’ Pangaea won the class with 7 points, never finishing lower than second.

The three other local skippers raced in the 7-PHRF class, which was won by Stephanie Schwenk of Anacortes aboard Wild Rumpus with 11 points.

Chad Holcomb and Yeah Dogg were sixth with 25 points, with a high finish of third in five heats.

James McAlpine and Lucky Jim were eighth with 38 points, earning a top finish of seventh.

Rex DuPuis and Gadzooks sailed to ninth place with 42 points, taking seventh once.

Another Whidbey Island racer, Freeland’s Jerry Diercks, raced Delirium to first place in the One Design Division, 4-J-105 class.

Results

One Design Division

4-J-105: 1, Delirium, Jerry Diercks, Freeland, 11 points; 2, More Jubilee, Erik Kristen, Bellevue, 12; 3, Jaded, Chris Phoenix, Kirkland, 15.

6-J-80: 1, Tah Mahal, David Schutte, Seattle, 7; 2, Underdog, Lek Diamarucot, Seattle, 9; 3, Reckless, Emre Sezer, Kirland, 10.

Performance Handicamp Racing Fleet Division

1-PHRF: 1, Wicked Wahine, Darrin Towe, Port Ludlow, 7; 2, 65 Red Roses, Bruce Chan, North Vancouver, 14; 3, Shrek, John Hoag, Normandy Park, 16.

2-PHRF: 1, Tantivy, Stuart Burnell, Seattle, 8; 2, Vitessse, David Steffen, Bellingham, 12; 3, Elusive, Jeff Whitney, Bothell, 16.

3-Sport-PHRF: 1, Eye Eye, David and Vernice Cohen, Newman Lake, 10; 2, uno, Brad Butler, Irene Place, 12; 3, Myst, Rod Buck, Portland, 14.

5-PHRF: 1, MadDash, David Jackson, Point Roberts, 5; 2, here & now, Pat Denney, Seattle, 11; 3, Gaucho, John Cahill, Shoreline, 22.

7-PHRF: 1, Wild Rumpus, Stephanie Schwenk, Anacortes, 11; 2, Avalon, Greg Siewert, Anacortes, 16; 3, Elixir, Megan Kogut, Seattle, 16.

8-PHRF: 1, Renaissance, Dave Steckman, Coupeville, 7; 2, Raven, Simon Miles, Port Townsend, 8; 3, Ignitor, Ron Ernst, Sammamish, 18.

PHRF-Time on Time Division

9-PHRF-Performance Cruising Class (NFS): 1, Pangaea, Mac and Wendy Madenwald, Anacortes, 7; 2, Teddy Bear, Gray Hawken, Anacortes, 8; 3, Pearl Jem, Larry Munns, Oak Harbor, 12.