When the leaves start falling and the temperatures drop in late August, most boating activity in the Juneau harbor system switches to winterizing engines and erecting pole frames & visqueen boat covers. To the casual onlooker, the cold weather means the boating season is coming to an end. In contrast, local sailors know that the Labor Day Regatta to Taku Harbor brings the hottest action of the club racing season, with opportunities for high winds, large boating turnouts, and 3 race legs that typically determine final positions in the SEAS Cup standings. The Regatta also provides improving sailors a chance to finish their season strong, and set the tone for their offseason preparations for next year. 

2013 has been a summer to remember. As the SEAS cup enters the last third of the season, no Juneau sailor can remember a better summer for weather, wind, and sailing.

Making for a classic race, the final Admiralty Cove Rally of 2013 may not have had the sunny weather, but the wind more than made up for a little rain.  But the weekend did not start that way.

To follow up the incredible Funter Bay races, the skippers met at 7:30 am on Saturday to decide on a course that would provide the most exciting race for the final installment of the Skipper's Choice in 2013.  After looking at the National Weather Service's wind forecast, the choice was between Grand Island and Jaw Point.   The risky choice of the circumnavigation of Grand Island (the last 2-3 Grand Island races have ended with DNF's all around) was made.

Last weekend SEAS sponsored the Funter Bay regatta.  Six competitive boats with great crew took up the challenge of racing in the annual event.  Joined by a visiting cruiser on Saturday, the boats began the race with a downwind start in near perfect wind conditions.  The breeze filled the six spinnakers to Pt.

Sailors of all ages gathered on a beach on Admiralty Island this past weekend during the annual SEAS Admiralty Cove Beach Party.  

All enjoyed good food, a moderate blaze and the company of old and new friends.One notable absents were the  bugs, they must have missed the invitation.