The Last Column of the Season

In the northeastern United States, it's easy to see the end of boating season. Ice forms on the edge of ponds, and the next thing you know, it's Labor Day.

Out here, the forecast takes only a slight turn, from 50 degrees and sunny to 50 degrees and sun breaks. The boating season doesn't really have to end, so we don't have to bother to make note of it.

But note we did, in the last Seattle Times boating column of the year.

Boating is winding down but it's still possible to get out on free Sunday afternoon sails, like the one pictured above, at the Center for Wooden Boats.

The Belly of the Beast

Mistral saw a nice spurt of work today in just a few hours -- a coat of varnish on the house, the last two screws on the pulpit/lifelines, and the removal of the Mistral carburetor. The current thinking is the carburetor is the chief source of woe for Mistral's finicky engine. The spark plugs blacken quickly, a possible sign of the engine running too rich, perhaps because a clogged jet or dirty air intake isn't allowing enough air in. Yes, this is a very complicated case, lotta ins, lotta outs. Michael will clean and rebuild the carburetor and we'll find out. The goal is to do this in two weeks, now 12 days, so we can motor down the ship canal for the Duck Dodge's last hurrah, the Rum Run, on Oct. 21.

Three Blanchards Win the Blanchard

It turns out there were three Blanchards that took the top three spots of the Blanchard regatta's large boat class this weekend: Eleanora, Jim Llewellyn's Solace and Mistral. Both Eleanora and Solace are Blanchard Senior Knockabouts. Mistral, the biggest of the three, was built in the Blanchard yard. All three feature the distinctive Blanchard portlights, rectangular with a rounded top. Just to keep things jumping, we have a picture of the winning boat from the Dragon division. This being a blog and not journalism, the name of the boat and skipper will have to wait.

Blanchard Wins Blanchard

Congratulations to the S/V Eleanora, winner of this year's Norm Blanchard Wood Regatta on South Lake Union. That's Chris Butler eyeing the jib. He and Courtney Bartlett brought Eleanora back from near death. Mistral, a fellow Blanchard, came in third among the large boats after a great afternoon of sailing that saw little need for the spinnaker and a minimum of tacking, the speed killer on the boat's full keel. It was a good weekend, again. Thanks to the crew, which included two newcomers in Sparrow and Cary. Next weekend will see a work Sunday, details of which will follow.