End of PacRim 2012, Beginning of PacRim 2014

PacRim came once again to a formal closing on March 24th.  The closing ceremonies again showed how PacRim is much more than just a sailing regatta, it is truly an exchange of cultures, meeting new friends and seeing old friends from the 7 Countries.  When PacRim started in 1990 in Bellingham, it was organized by the Bellingham Sister Cities Association with the Bellingham Yacht Club running the sailing regatta.  The same was true in Port Stephens, their Sister Cites was the host and the Port Stephens Yacht Club ran the races.

PSYC Commodore John Way, Regatta Coordinator Bill Haskell, Port Stephens Mayor Bob Westbury

The friendship and building of relationships between the Countries truly comes out during PacRim.  With nearly 300 people involved, it is simply not possible to be a part of the event and not build new relationships.  Besides the regatta, which this year Team Bellingham took 2nd Place in all three categories, the Ambassadors and spend their days either watching the regatta from a spectator boat, or touring the community, learning about the different Countries and building lasting relationships between the Sister Cities.

1st Place New Zealand, 2nd Place United States, 3rd Place Australia (left to right)

In 2014, Bellingham will be the host for PacRim.  Bellingham is where the idea was born, and the first Regatta was held.  It was also held here in 2002.  The third PacRim in Bellingham, PacRim 2014, will again be an opportunity for the Bellingham Sister Cities Association and the Bellingham Yacht Club to again work together in showcasing our community and our yacht club.  The organizing for PacRim 2014 is beginning, and if you are interested in helping with the Organizing Committee, please contact Carol Veach, President, Bellingham Sister Cities Association (tooweather@comcast.net)

Sister Cities Representative Karen Callery with Mayor Bob Westbury, Team Bellingham Performs, Tapio Holma & Marg Wilkinson

Team Bellingham Takes 2nd Place In PacRim 2012

Friday’s races resulted in Team Bellingham moving up from 3rd Place to 2nd Place for the Etchells, Hoods and Overall rating.  The weather, however, was not cooperative for the race with a no wind delay.  Finally when there was enough wind to run the first race.  By the start of the second race the winds had picked up to 15-20.  By the end of the race the winds were blowing steady at 25-30 resulting in the last two races being postponed until Saturday.

Race Photos Provided by Henk Tobbe, Copyright 2012

Jonathan Knowles, Keturah Witter, and Steve Raiche took 1st & 2nd in the two races, placing 2nd in Etchells for the week. Jonathan was the skipper. It has been a good week for the Etchells.  The Etchells team were thankful for the kindness and generosity of the Australians to provided the Etchells.  With respect to the weather, the team summed it up well – it has been warm, hot, cold, no wind, light wind, steady wind, race canceling wind.  Fridays race was a good example.  In the morning it was a bathtub, by the time they returned to the dock it was blowing 30 and they had to drop the sails well off the dock and conduct a series of turns to slow down.

Race Photos Provided by Henk Tobbe, Copyright 2012

Al Callery, Brian Lawrence, and Terry Tavelli took 3rd & 2nd in the two races on Friday, placing them tied for 1st with Team Australia in the Hood 23 Fleet.  Although Team Bellingham started last in each race, they finished well. The Hood 23 Team echoed what the Etchells Team said about the boats – they have been working well and the boat owners have been very gracious in their support.  The Hood 23 Team also said the week has been one of tight racing, with particularly tight competition between the Team Bellingham, Team Australia, and Team New Zealand.

Race Photos Provided by Henk Tobbe, Copyright 2012

Thanks to Henk Tobbe for todays racing photos!  You can view his entire Album Here.

A Day on Tomaree Head

While Team Bellingham is out racing each day, the Ambassadors are able to enjoy local sites and cultural activities.  These have included the historic City of Newcastle, the Wine Region of Hunter Valley, and the 45 Mile Long Stanley Sand Dunes where the movie Mad Max was filmed.  Today we climbed Tomaree Head.  Tomaree Head is one of two headlands that protect the entrance to Nelson Bay.  The other Head, Yaccaba Headland, are old volcanic hills that protect the bay.

On The Way Up

Tomaree Head lies at the northeastern tip of Tomaree National Park of the southern peninsula from the headland at the northeastern tip following a strip south and then west around the coast to Boat Harbour and Little Kingsley Beach. The beaches are attractive and ideal for swimming and fishing. The park is full of birdlife and, from July to February, wildflowers. In all, the bushland around Port Stephens supports considerable biological diversity: 230 bird species, 48 mammal species and 650 plant species. (Taken From Port Stephens Australia.Com)

Butterflies, Flowers & Spiders

The beauty of the region is quite stunning.  It is not really possible to describe everything.  The birds, from Parrots to Penguins are varied and stunning.  The spiders, not normally something of interest to many, are big and colorful.  The flowers, even though winter is coming on, are numerous and colorful.

Beaches, Bark and Buds

Tomaree Head is one of the most stunning areas that one can enjoy in Port Stephens and at every turn there is a photograph to be taken.  Walking up Tomaree Head is relatively easy, in that the park service has put ladders up the head to protect the environment.  At the top of Tomaree Head, people have started placing engraved brass locks on the railings that memorialize the passing of some and the marriage of others.  Port Stephens is a special place.

Memories

 

Racing Results Day Three

Racing was a good day for Team Bellingham.  While we remain in 3rd Place overall, we took two firsts on the Hood races today, placing Team Bellingham in 2nd for the Hood 23 Fleet races.  The crew on the boat was Terry Tavelli, Mike Welsh and Brian Lawrence.  On the Etchells we took 5th Place, however it was a very tight race and we maintained our 3rd Place for the Etchells Fleet races.  Crewing the Etchell was Jonathan Knowles, Steve Racich and Keturah Witter.

A Great Etchells Team (Photographs by Jonathan Knowles)

The weather today was heavy in the morning with Westerly winds in the 25-30 knot range, so the races did get a later start than planned, although they did complete the number of races planned for the day.  While Team Bellingham is in 3rd Place overall, they are only 4 points from 2nd Place and it is not unlikely that they could finish 2nd overall if they have a good day on Friday.

A Great Hood 23 Team (Photographs By Alan Callery)

While there is still one more day of racing, as it stands now the results for the Overall Combined Fleet Score Team New Zealand is in 1st, Team Australia is in 2nd, Team Bellingham is in 3rd, Team Russia is in 4th, Team Canada is in 5th and Team Japan is in 6th.  For the Etchells Fleet Score, Team New Zealand is in 1st, Team Canada is 2nd, Team Bellingham is 3rd tide with Team Australia, Team Japan is in 5th and Team Russia is in 6th.  For the Hood 23 Fleet Score, Team Australia is in 1st, Team Bellingham is in 2nd, Team New Zealand is in 2rd, Team Bellingham is in 3r tied with Team Russia, and Team Canada and Team Japan are tied for 5th.

Racing At The Mark (Photographs by Tapio Holma)

The Beauty of Port Stephens

The site for the 2012 PacRim is Port Stephens, Australia. Approximately 2 1/2 hours North of Sydney, this area holds tremendous beauty and a person does not have to go far to see its natural resources.  From the shores of Nelson Bay, to the 45 mile long Stockton sand dunes, to the kangaroo’s on the golf course built in a National Park, it is truly a special place.  It is such a place that you never know what you may see in for form of birds, mammals, or flora.

Around Port Stephens

Tomaree National Park is a beautiful backdrop to Nelson Bay, Shoal Bay, Boat Harbour and Anna Bay. It encompasses coastal bushland, sand dunes, heathland, forests and a dramatic rocky coastline and stunning white sandy beaches. The park is culturally significant to the Aboriginal Worimi Nation. Worimi people associate natural resources with the use and enjoyment of foods and medicines, caring for the land, passing on cultural knowledge and strengthening social bonds. Worimi people living in the community today consider the park as part of a larger cultural landscape that has significant elements in various land tenures. (Taken in part from the Office of Environment & Heritage, NSW National Parks)

Natural Beauty

The earliest inhabitants of Port Stephens were the Aborigines of the Worimi Tribe.  There are numerous Aboriginal relic sites in the area, the most obvious being the “Canoe Trees” at Little Beach. The exact location of the various sites is restricted information. Port Stephens was described by Captain James Cook in 1770 in his log as “an opening forming a bay”…..”Wind southerly in the day and in the night westerly, a gentle breeze and clear weather. At 4pm past at a distance of one mile a low rocky point which I named Point Stephens… that appears from the masthead to be sheltered from all winds”. (Taken in part from the Port Stephens Visitors Centre)

At The Beach

The Bellingham Sister Cities Relationship

Since its humble beginnings in the late ’80’s and early 90’s in Bellingham, WA, the Pacific Rim Regatta has grown in both stature and importance to the countries of the Pacific Rim and the Bellingham’s Sister Cities Association. PacRim started in Bellingham as an outgrowth of the Goodwill Games held in Vancouver, British Columbia.  Members of the Bellingham Yacht Club, the Bellingham Sister Cities, along with Bellingham Cold Storage, built on a relationship with Sister City, Nakhodka, Russia (then the Soviet Union), and the first race was born.  A full history can be found here.

Friendships Are Established And Grow

The Bellingham Sister Cities Association is devoted to provide opportunities for the citizens of Whatcom County to develop relationships and build a sense of community with the peoples of the Pacific Rim. We seek to achieve international understanding, cultural sensitivities, and encourage trade and tourism. This is accomplished through cultural exchanges, educational programs, and community events. The 2012 President of Bellingham Sister Cities, Carol Veach, says “Bellingham is very pleased to send a community competitive team of sailboat racers and cultural ambassadors to represent our community in one of the most prestigious events for our Sister Cities.  We look forward to hosting PacRim 2014 on the waters of Bellingham Bay”

Cultural Presentations

This mutual partnership between the Bellingham Yacht Club and the Bellingham Sister Cities organization, continues today. During the biannual event participants travel to the hosting country and are home stayed, there are typically 5 days of racing, and social events specific to each city are held, awards are presented and gifts are exchanged. Everyone participating enjoys the friendships created. The regatta charter allows 20 people (crew and ambassadors) from each country. Including the host organizers and volunteers, several hundred people participate in this event.

Building Freindships

The Host Families

One of the most rewarding aspects of PacRim for the participants are the home stays.  It is rewarding not just for the participants, but also for the hosts.  With 100 visitors, that means there are somewhere between 25 and 50 families that share their homes.  Here in Port Stephens there are 34 hosts.

Host Families Getting Aquainted

The host families not only help keep the costs down but it enables a deep understanding of the culture and traditions of the host country that simply could not be possible any other way.  They truly give of themselves and are perhaps the principal reason that the bonds of the Sister Cities grow as they do each time PacRim is held.

New Friends

Being a host family is as much an honor as being a participant, and in some ways it is probably more work.  You open your home, provide meals, and ensure everyone gets delivered on time.  You are as much an Ambassador for your Country and Sister City as the people you are hosting.  Bonds are formed that remain for a lifetime.

Host Family Dinners