SUMMER 2019
SW
032
Q The future was looking
grim for Whidbey Island Race
Week. The annual July inva-
sion of the quiet confines of
the Washington island’s Oak
Harbor and Penn Cove was wan-
ing. What once decades ago
numbered 150 boats petered
to 60-something. Small boats
couldn’t get launched because
the city wouldn’t fix the crane.
Bigger boats couldn’t get into
the marina because the chan-
nel wasn’t dredged. National
sponsors took a pass.
It appeared the wind-delay
water fights, shoreside volley-
ball and golf tournaments, epic
bowling nights and bacon-os
in the campground would evap-
orate, as so many race weeks
have around the country.
But the soggy sailors of the
Salish Sea had pulled the “Adult
Summer Camp” from the jaws ofdeath before and weren’t ready
to give up on it now. Race Week
owner Schelleen Rathkopf and
her advisory board decided a
move to Point Roberts in 2020
could spark a revival.
Point where? Roberts.
“I’ve sailed here 30 years,”
says longtime Whidbey par-
ticipant Charlie Macaulay, “but
I’ve actually never been to
Point Roberts.” He plans to sail
next year.
The name doesn’t exactly
ring a bell on the Pacific
Northwest sailing scene, but
it might well be the right placeat the right time. The racing
community knew a move away
from Oak Harbor was coming,
but conventional thought had
it going to Anacortes or Port
Townsend, already popular
racing and cruising destinations.
The Point Roberts “surprise” is
actually a very fitting move. The
town is craving more visitors
and an enthusiastic community
is eager to make it work. In fact,
it’s much like Whidbey Island
Race Week’s beginnings.
When boat dealer and cham-
ber of commerce vice chairman
Stan Stanley started his raceweek in 1983, it was largely to
generate excitement and com-
merce for the then little-known
port of Oak Harbor. It generated
that business for decades.
Point Roberts is anticipating
a similar boost. While it doesn’t
have the infrastructure of a
naval-air-station town such as
Oak Harbor, it does have beau-
tiful campgrounds and Airbnbs.
And there’s already an away-
from-it-all resort feel with
parks everywhere and beaches
galore. The famous race-week
camping community will have
several options.
On the sailing aspect,Adult Summer Camp’s
New Home
The Pacific Northwest’s once-glorious
race week relocates to start a new lifeSTARTING LINE
LOCAL FAVORITES
BY KURT HOENHEThe J/105 fleet, which has
grown in the Seattle area, is
one of many classes being
lured to the newly branded
Point Roberts Race Week.
PHOTO: JAN ANDERSON