‘Round the County’ sailboat race next week

Published 10:22 am Monday, November 7, 2011

By MEREDITH M. GRIFFITH

Staff reporter

Hardy sailing sea-dogs will soon circumnavigate the county during the annual two-day ‘Round the County’ sailboat race on Nov. 12-13.

“This is our 24th year and we have over 75 boats registered,” race director Betsy Wareham told the Sounder. “I’m looking forward to winning. I’ve never won this race. I think it would be just a hoot.”

Wareham said the first race had only 13 entrants, and entry has grown every year.

This year’s race starts between 8:40 and 9 a.m. in Rosario Strait, just outside of Obstruction Pass. The boats will proceed north, to the sight-seeing pleasure of residents on the east and north shores of Orcas.

The boats will continue around Sucia and Patos, on around Stuart, where they can be observed from the Turn Point lighthouse, and conclude on Saturday at Roche Harbor.

Sunday’s start will be off Mosquito Pass, and those living on the west side of San Juan Island should have good views. As the race continues on around the county, folks on the south and east sides of Lopez will be able to view the fleet.

The racers will wrap up back where they started, off Obstruction Pass.

As in past years, local sailors are well represented in this year’s race. In addition to four Orcas boats and two Friday Harbor boats, some local sailors are sailing on boats from other places.

“It’s just fun,” Wareham said. “It’s just a great time, great sailing and a beautiful place to go sailing … I’m not looking forward to the pouring-down rain [predicted in some weather reports].”

For more information on the Round the County sailboat race, call Wareham at 376-2314 or visit http://roundthecounty.com/.