Over 40 yachts from as far as Bremerton and valued at upwards of $3 million gathered at Bellevue's Meydenbauer Yacht Club on Saturday for the organization's 51st annual Boomerang Race.
"Race" is actually somewhat of a misnomer, as the competition measures the ability of the captains and navigators to predict the amount of time it will take their boat to complete a pre-charted course.
Only engine RMP and compass headings are used for navigating and all electronics such as GPS, radar, chart plotters or electric ranging devices are shut off.
"It takes it back to absolutely traditional navigation skills," Meydenbauer Fleet Captain and contestant Jim Mitchell said. "It really is cool. It really helps you hone these basic skills that boaters should have."
Mitchell and his wife Lisa have been members at Meydenbauer since 2007 and ran their boat "Penalty Box" for the fifth year at Boomerang.
The course of the race this year ran from the yacht club around the west side of Mercer Island, continuing around the island before doubling back and toward Meydenbauer Bay.
Accuracy was measured for each leg of the race as well as the complete time predicted to complete the course.
The competition drew yachters from clubs around the state, including Bremerton Yacht Club's Steve Brett, who like the Mitchells has been captaining his vessel since 2007.
"For some 75 years, Bremerton's race was the largest in the world and Meydenbauer took that last year," Brett said. "It's a friendly competition between the clubs and it's a lot of fun. These guys put on a helluva show."
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Source: http://www.bellevuereporter.com/sports/141302593.html
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