By: Chuck Skewes

Raceweek PNW made the move this year to a new home in Bellingham, Washington. After being in Anacortes for several years, preceded by Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island. This venue has been the premier Northwest sailing event for 40 years.
Not only has Raceweek been going on for approximately 40 years, but many of the competitors have been many if not all. Over half the fleet had been to 15 or more.

As the week approached and the event organizers were preparing the weather kept improving and the forecast showed great promise. It did not disappoint.

The racing had winds from as low as 10 knots and as high as 20 knots all day and every day. Some fleets had 20 races sailed, 20! The majority had 15 because of a pursuit distance race one day of 22 miles that all of the handicap fleet and J105 fleet sailed.

A few classes came down to the last two races to determine the victor, and one of the larger classes had a very impressive 15 straight bullets from the overall boat of Raceweek 2025 Shreck, sailed by John Hoag and his crew on their 1D35.

I got to be the master of the ceremony, giving out the awards daily, each day, and overall for the regatta. The Ullman Sails team worked late repairing sails every night to keep the sailors on the water.

This was one if not the best, regattas in North America this year, with perfect wind and sunny skies the entire week.

If you have not participated in one of these, I recommend you make it part of your bucket list and attend it next summer in Bellingham.

photos Bronny Daniels