Henderson Inlet Sailboat Race 2009

While it may not be as exciting as a Submarine Race, the South Sound Sailing Society's annual Sail Boat race through Henderson Inlet is much more fun to watch! The official start time was 9:35.... Although by 11:00 it was still looking like a submarine race as we waited for the first signs that the big event was under way. But then the Mark Boat putted into the inlet with sales down to take up its postition marking the turning point in the inlet... ...
as the glittering sunshine broke through the clouds!
Even the crows were waiting with black-eyed anticipation for the big race to begin!
And then, at 11:20, the first sail rounded the point...
Followed by another....
And soon the inlet was filling with brightly colored sails....

The first boats reach the Mark Boat. They drop their brightly colored Spinnakers and pivot tightly around the Mark Boat to begin tacking out of the inlet

The chaotic, colorful comings and goings continued for an hour and a quarter as 23 different sailboats moved through the inlet. The perfect silence of the morning was broken only by the occassional pop of canvas and the faint echo of voices calling from vessel to vessel... and the delighted chatter from those watching on the back deck as each new vessel was spotted rounding the point!

This is the last boat dropping its Spinnaker and pivoting around the Mark boat. Around 1:15 the last boat is tacking out of the inlet, while the Mark Boat is putting back to the harbor to watch the finish of the race!