An interview with Angela Krisinger regarding the Seattle Yacht Club’s 2024 Grand Prix Regatta
by David Schmidt 22 Oct 08:00 PDT
October 25-27, 2024
Annapurna excels in their upwind strategy during the Seattle Yacht Club’s annual Grand Prix Regatta © Jan Anderson (janpix.smugmug.com/)
If you participate in keelboat races and reside in the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle Yacht Club’s Grand Prix Regatta should definitely be on your agenda. This annual event, scheduled for October 25-27, 2024, consistently draws the most competitive teams and vessels from the region, typically featuring two days of windward-leeward races and one day of longer racing.
Referring to this event as a regional classic is akin to suggesting that Seattle is known for its rain.
Commonly known as the “Grand Prix”, this event provides racing opportunities for boats with ORC and PHRF-NW certificates, as well as for multihulls and One Design keelboats that are at least 24 feet in length (with a minimum of five entries).
Tides, mountain ranges, and wind convergence areas often influence conditions at this event. During clear weather, participants can expect breathtaking views of the Olympic Mountains to the west, the Cascade Mountains to the east, along with Mount Rainier to the south and Mount Baker to the north; during rainy conditions, however, one might experience an authentic taste of what it’s like to race sailboats during the Pacific Northwest’s wet season (think: character-building yet still a blast).
I had the opportunity to converse with Angela Krisinger, the regatta chair for the 2024 Grand Prix Regatta at SYC, via email to gain further insights into this competitive regatta in the Pacific Northwest.
What are the expected entry numbers this year? Additionally, how do these compare to other recent editions of the regatta?
Our entry numbers are trending similarly to previous Grand Prix events. The Grand Prix is among the most popular races in the area, and the entry numbers reflect that enthusiasm. Currently, there’s substantial racing energy in Seattle due to the [recently concluded] J/24 Worlds, and the prolonged beautiful weather is encouraging people to spend more time on the water. I believe this will be one of the best years for the Grand Prix!
Are the majority of the registered boats from the Seattle area, or are you receiving entries from other regions of the Salish Sea and beyond?
We have a few boats traveling down from northern waters spanning various classes. The TP52 Shadow, from West Vancouver Yacht Club, showed great performance with the larger boats in the [spring’s] Tri-Island series, and we are optimistic for another thrilling few days within that class.
We also see several boats from the South [Puget] Sound making the trek up. Here’s hoping the delightful beverages at the after parties make it worth their while!
Based on the entries, which class (or classes) do you predict will provide the most intense competition this year?
The J/105s in Seattle represent a very competitive one-design class, and it’s exciting to see them compete against one another, especially at the start, but the ORC boats always put on an impressive performance!
What racing format will this year’s event employ? For instance, will it consist solely of windward-leewards, or will there also be a longer race (or races) featuring off-angle sailing?
Traditionally, the Grand Prix includes a series of windward-leeward races, with course modifications throughout the day based on current conditions. We also include one distance race — on one day, but we like to keep the specifics a surprise.
In terms of weather, what kind of conditions can sailors expect on Puget Sound in late October? What are the best-case and worst-case scenarios for weather?
Just when you think you’ll need to bring out all your foul weather gear, Seattle surprises you with 60 degrees and sunshine! That was the case for last year’s Grand Prix! However, the prior year saw quite challenging weather. It ultimately depends on the wind conditions.
The ideal scenario would involve a robust breeze coming from either the north or the south. At that time of year, you could experience 15 knots from the northwest on Friday and then six knots from the southeast on Saturday. That’s one of the features that makes this race so unique!
Puget Sound is infamous for its significant tidal changes. Do you believe local knowledge will play a large or small role in the regatta’s results?
We anticipate considerable tide shifts during the races this year. Monitoring your speed over ground while crossing tide lines will be especially critical this time.
What types of post-race/onshore activities can sailors look forward to?
We have some exciting plans following the races! We’ll collaborate with our friends at Corinthian [Yacht Club] for Friday night drinks, and on Saturday, SYC will provide pizza to Corinthian to feed the crews. On Sunday, we have a special dinner prepared for all racers at the Seattle Yacht Club’s Mainstation… a delightful surf and turf experience, dark & stormies, and some live music.
It’s the one day each year where sailors take over the entire facility, and it’s always a fantastic evening!
Could you share any initiatives taken by you and the other regatta organizers to minimize the event’s environmental impact or increase its sustainability?
We are pleased with the efficiency of our new mark-setting boats, use of PDFs, and compostable serving ware for Friday and Saturday.
Is there any additional information you would like to add regarding this year’s Grand Prix Regatta?
Seattle Yacht Club sincerely appreciates the support of the entire sailing community for our regattas, especially the Grand Prix tradition. It’s wonderful to collaborate with other clubs in the area so Seattle sailors have numerous opportunities to be on the water. We hope that the Grand Prix merchandise and dinner will reflect our appreciation for each participant, and [we] look forward to many more Grand Prix races in the future.