Racing Venues
Most Fleet 1 races are held on Lake Washington out of Coulon Park in Renton. The venue is just off I-405 at exit 5 - follow the signs into the park and to the boat launch. It's a nice, big, open space with lots of parking and room for rigging. And you can even hit one of the two fast food joints right in the park for a little post-race nosh.
People generally start pulling in around 10am to get set up for our noon first starts on race days. Note: if you are crewing and arrive in a car only, make sure you DO NOT park in the launch/trailer parking lot even when it's nearly empty! (People have been ticketed ...)
Gene Coulon Park, Renton, WA
The following information is for other venues we've used for fleet races in the past when we tended to move around a bit more as well as those used for other more regional and multi-day events (road warrior races).
Puget Sound
Everyone knows that the Puget Sound is a great place to sail. It offers Fleet 1 racers an opportunity to hone their racing skills with tides and currents as a factor. Plus a losing boat can always claim that sea weed was a factor as to why their boat came in last. Wind forecasts for Puget Sound can be found at the Sail Flow website.
Located in the foot of the Olympic Moutains this location hosted the 2005 and 2009 SJ21 Western Nationals. Nice marina with ample space for car and RV camping. Weather.
Home of the Three Tree Point Yacht Club and where we've held "The Gene", the regatta honoring Gene Adams. Unfortunately, their new insurance policies have made it financially impossible to hold this event there. Launching in Des Moines is via hoist. Weather.
This racing venue has one of the best views of Seattle. There is ample space to set up and park the trailers. In addition, the Duwamish Dolphin makes one appreciate the perils of rounding hard marks. Weather.
Probably the largest launch ramp on Puget Sound. It has ample parking, and freshwater hoses to rinse your boat off after you're done for the day. Can be a bit of a power boat session to get out of the river, so make sure you bring yours. We've joined the Friday night Log Dodge race series occasionally at this venue.
Racing in this area can be tricky given its proximity to the Navy base. Weather.
This was the venue for the Seattle National Offshore One Design (NOOD) Regatta put on by the Corinthian and Seattle Yacht Club in May. SJ21s were amply represented in this event which is no longer due to financial constraints imposed by the City of Seattle. Lots of parking and room to rig. Weather.
Treasure Island
This venue near the north end of Case Inlet is where Chris Popich, long time fleet member, has a cabin. It's a bit of a drive from Seattle, but is a beautiful place with a recently rebuilt launch ramp on the mainland side at Grapeview.
Lake Washington
Washington's second largest lake is where our regular fleet races are typically held.
Located just off Rainier High School, the Atlantic Street location offers limited space for boat rigging and launching. Weather.
This well designed park in Renton offers lots of rigging space, restaurants, and ample parking. This is where fleet racing is usually held, in some years starting with a Rigging Clinic in early Spring. Weather.
This used to be a favorite fleet racing destination but the renovation in 2008 made the launch ramp too shallow and as a result launch vehicles need to back up until their tailpipes are underwater in order to launch their boats. As a result, this site has been removed from the race schedule. Weather.
Race location is right south of I-90 and above Seward Park. Weather.
Lake Union
Sailboat racing in the heart of Seattle, Lake Union is the home of the infamous "Duck Dodge" races each summer. In the past we've had a fleet race here, however, now our racing on the lake is generally participating in the Center for Wooden Boat's annual Norm Blanchard Regatta as the "Classic Plastic" fleet. There are two ways to launch in Lake Union:
This ramp is about a mile or so from the race site that requires a good 45 minute motor. Highlights include the breath stopping passage under the Fremont Bridge.
This ramp is the closest to the racing in Lake Union. However, launching can get crowded during busy weekends (especially when the Ducks are in season) and the area offers limited street parking. There is also not a lot of space to set up given the low powerlines.
Lake Sammamish
This venue offers challenging wind shift because of the nearby hills. We try to race here early in the Spring or late in the Fall season to avoid powerboats.
Ample room for set up and moorage prior to heading out to the races. Weather.
American Lake
Located in Lakewood WA, about 1 hour South of Seattle.
Fleet 1 races at the boat launch at American Lake Park (9222 Veterans Drive SW, Lakewood WA). Weather.