Doug Christie from UK/Halsey Sailmakers in Seattle, (and a hell of an NBA guard) gives us this onboard report on setting the elapsed time record in the 2005 Swiftsure. Enjoy.

The owners:
Coruba is owned by Rob and Suzanne Fleming. Rob, a New Zealander, is the quintessential owner-driver. He drives his boats, works on his boats and is well known and respected in the Pacific Northwest. Suzanne has accompanied him on all the major races including doubled handed events. The Fleming's have owned a series of "sleds" including a Santa Cruz 27, a Hobie 33, and a Santa Cruz 50. All have been named after the very popular dark rum Coruba, a favorite of many Kiwi sailors.

The boat:
Coruba is a Nelson Marek 68 built in 1988 by Dencho. She has sailed as Marishiten, Geiko 2, and Firedrill, competing in Sydney Hobart. Rob and Zanne purchased her in 1996. She carries the standard rig upgraded to Carbon in 1997. A new keel designed by Bruce Nelson was fitted in 2001 giving her a new lease on life targeting Rob's desire to have a boat that sailed well in 15 TWS.

The crew:

• Skipper Rob Fleming.
• Runners Suzanne Fleming.
• Tactics Jeff Eckard.
• Navigator Doug Christie.
• Cockpit crew Tony Williams, Scott Anderson, Judd Lynaberry, Tom Andrews, Mark Hulburt, Dave Richardson.
• Main Marty Blanchard.
• Pit Steve Maloof, Doug Wardrop.
• Mast Greg Zaputel,Nick Cooper.
• Mid bow Alec Simanis.
• Bow Joe Grieser.

The race:
Breaking Pyewacket's record was not even on the radar as we lined up for the start of the 2005 Swiftsure. Our focus was to beat the 3 other big boats Cassiopeia (a 1995 record breaker) Icon (last years winner) and Rage. Correcting on the smaller boats is always a bit reliant on the conditions. By way of a shameless plug I would like to add that Cassiopeia, Icon and Coruba all carry Halsey Lidgard sails from the Seattle loft. All have been previous Swiftsure winners.

As we exited Victoria Harbor it was encouraging to see a fairly firm breeze about a mile south of the starting area. After a 20-minute delay we fought our way off the start line footing fast for the new breeze to the left. We arrived there a little ahead of Rage and popped onto port tack, leading and laying about 15 degrees below Race Rocks. Cassiopeia had been over early taking about 15 minutes to get back to the line, and Icon started a bit further up the line, which became a loss of distance very quickly as we extended in the new breeze. The smaller Andrews 53 Artemis had a similar game plan and it was obvious they would be a threat all race.

By the time we entered the Race, we had a good push from the current and flew through there at 14 knots over the bottom. Out in the straights it was shaping up to be a classic Westerly influenced Swiftsure with an anticipated geographical shift of about 50 degrees between the Race and Clallum Bay. It turned out to be over 70 degrees. Naturally we set ourselves up to protect the inside and threw a loose cover on Rage and Icon. Rage took a pretty aggressive stance trying hard to win the inside position but as the breeze built the downwind flyer struggled and Icon became the boat to watch.

As predicted the more we held the inside position the more we extended and while covering on port heading at Sheringham our after-guard Rob, Jeff and myself, decided it was time to break cover and start setting up for the new race that begins at Neah Bay. This meant being sure to protect for the left shift that starts about Clallum Bay and is influenced by the true Ocean wind direction.

At this time we were sailing in up to 33 TWS with nasty square waves caused by a powerful ebb. Rob had driven to this point but it was time we cycled through some of our Transpac drivers each of whom had moments of brilliance and moments holding their breaths as the free fall and crash shook our fillings out. Hawaii ace Tom Andrews found a particularly nasty piece of water for about 15 minutes as the compression of the current against a shallow ridge stood the waves on end. Good for VMG, bad for the boat.

What makes that part of the race fun is that it does not last forever and soon we were cycling back from the #4 to our full size gear. The straights are a bit of a wind tunnel and as we closed on Neah Bay and the open waters of the North Pacific, the breeze moderated and again, as predicted, took a hard shift left. At one stage we were pointing directly at the mark on Port while Cassiopeia a couple of miles behind and to the right was aiming at the same spot on starboard. Icon was directly astern and we definitely felt threatened by her ability to point very high in this lighter stuff. This is due to her 15' taller Main and 2' deeper blade.

Two years ago we lost the lead to Icon by covering so closely in light air that a huge shift left us vulnerable to her being able to get the masthead gear working and put 20 minutes on us in about 10 miles. This year Jeff and I had this burned into the memory and we were a bit nervous as we approached the port layline. I have generally had success playing this left side and was quite happy as we found the new ocean breeze first and extended again to a more comfortable lead. This also worked for Rage and Artemis both of which managed to slip by Icon and Cassiopeia.

Rounding the Lightship first is fun and to do it in daylight with breeze is always a good sign pointing to a decent run home once back in the straights. Our thoughts turned to how quick Rage can be downwind and we were seriously hoping for a gear busting ride home where we can compete with all the tall rigs behind us. We set the A1, Rob was back at the helm, and with 7-10 TWS we slid a nice course back to the center of the Straits. Neah bay is a nice spot upwind in daylight but our plan was always to avoid it like the plague as night approaches. Sure enough, not long after the outer mid channel was behind us, the breeze lightened trying to sucker us into sailing high.

Traditionally the gybe to port is hard work due to a bad angle to the ocean swell. As this breeze only arrived the day of the race there was quite smooth water so it was an easy decision to head for Canada. It was definitely text book as we found the nice header sending us down the coast in a building breeze. I tried for a while to track the enemy on the radar but found nothing as we blasted down the beach. I am a little fuzzy on when everything happened but we had our fair share of drama. Our port secondary literally tore in half flying off the base and thumping Main trimmer Marty Blanchard in the back. Winded and sore it turns out two ribs have broken. A headshot and he would not be with us.

The Carbon vang attachment and guy also decide to part ways leaving the boom a tad high for comfort with an A sail rolling around with out a pole for a while. Good fun with puffs into the mid thirties. While we rigged alternatives Jeff mostly kept us on track with a couple of gentlemanly round ups thrown in for good measure. We have a pretty good repair team lead by Rob and assisted by bowman Joe Grieser. Tony Williams the cockpit crew boss helped orchestrate, so I scurried below to my nav cave to see where we were on the planet, and plot a course that would take us easily back through the Race.

The big red arrow on the Nobeltec chart plotter indicated about 4.3 knots of current pouring out of the Race. I let the helmsman know that 27 TWS would soon be compressed and to expect the big apparent jump. As I spoke, the steep waves signaled the current flow and we blasted through the Race with the GPS showing in excess of 21 knots against the flow.

Often this breeze takes a left turn making carrying the chute a challenge. We sailed low, keyed up the three for the anticipated shy reach, then peeled. Sure enough 5 minutes later the breeze moderated again to 18 TWS and lifted. We were glad we made the decision to get to the A3 quickly, and after a few anxious moments in what was quite a soft breeze we gybed to Starboard to finish at 0313.

Ist around the Lightship, First to finish, Ist overall and Ist in class meant an extra shot of Coruba for all involved. However the icing on the cake was when the speculation of our elapsed time versus the Disney run later showed we had sailed quicker than Pyewacket for the 136.8 miles of the old course and established a new course record for the extended course of 140.4 miles changed in 2000 to allow better spectator viewing of the start area.

This was particularly rewarding for me as I was navigator/tactician in 1995 aboard Cassiopeia when we broke the 18 year record held by the famous Windward Passage. Pyewacket did a great job the next year showing how vulnerable these records are as sailing technology improves. In a race that was quite a challenge the Coruba crew would like to congratulate the other class winners, and all the competitors in the other races that make up a truly a classic weekend of sailing.

6/7/05