Seattle Laser Fleet

Welcome to the Seattle Laster Fleet and ILCA District 6. Fleet members race regularly on Puget sound and in regional regattas. Join us for the tightest one design racing in the Northwest.

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Frigid Digit 2009

It could have been a summer afternoon post-Gorge picnic, but in fact it was the Saturday hamburgers-and-chips dinner on the Saturday of the Laser fleet's 35th annual Frigid Digit regatta. The barbecue, expertly operated by John and Elizabeth Schalka, was going full steam outside the CYC clubhouse and Laser sailors chatted happily outside around tables set up on the dock. Despite four competitive races, virtually nobody seemed interested in the results. They were just happy to be racing comfortably in February.

The Seattle Laser Fleet's 35th Annual Frigid Digit regatta wasn't very frigid after all. Fleet Captain Todd Willsie and Michael Cenname volunteered to do race committee, missing sailing the event themselves. Seattle Yacht Club contributed mightily to the event with support boats and personnel including Mark Brink, Ben Glass and Brian Ledbetter all lending a hand. The entry list was surprising in that while many of the Seattle regulars didn't make the event, several new and formerly familiar faces turned up. Special thanks to the Canadians who made the trip and Sarah Steele for finding her way back into Lasers.

Other classes are joining the fun. A fleet of 7 Optimists turned up, plus two Laser radials and a 29er. Most notable, up to 5 foiling Moths raced, mostly sailed by fellow Laser sailors (once a Laser sailor, always a Laser sailor). While it took some getting used to the Moths hyperjetting their skippers several feet into the air, Laser sailors quickly stopped gawking and got back to the business of racing 20th century technology.

For the record there were 16 Lasers entered, and Carl Buchan once again (eighth time) won easily, followed by Michael Schalka and Paul Stewart. Four races were held close to shore in a patchy northerly on Saturday and seven races were held in a patchy southerly on Sunday. The conditions confounded most of the sailors (some of us in particular) at least some of the time but as is usually the case, 11 races clarified who was figuring it out and who was not.