Start Times

Shortly before the race, the committee boat will display the course from a sign on the side of the boat. Besure to note how many laps, as it change depending on the wind.

NOTE: Collisions are on the rise, especially in 2nd start (which contains a majority of the boats). If you're a racer, regardless of your start, please remember not everyone on the water knows the rules or how to maneuver in tight conditions, try to give room and be aware of different skill-levels.

CLASS BREAKS: Kevin Dolan's Distance (Buchan 37 with PHRF:126) is considered the slowest boat in 1st start. Any boat faster or equal to this boat should be in 1st start. If you are racing in any other start, please move up.

	Start	Time	Boat Types	Speed (Info|PDF)	Comment Use good judgement, if you win all the time, maybe you should move up a start.
	1st Start	7:00pm	Fast Boats	PHRF < 127	Race Boats and Boats with Race Crews (Kevin's Dolan's DISTANCE is the cut-off) Farr 30, Flying Tiger 10m, J30/37/80/100/105, Olson 30, etc
	2nd Start	7:05pm	Half Fast Boats	PHRF < 216	Flying Sails, Semi-Competitive J22/24/27, Hotfoot 27, SC27, Ranger 26/29/29/30/32/33/37, etc
	3rd Start	7:10pm	Cruising/Slow Boats	PHRF >= 216	Slow, Non-Flying Sails, Non-Competitive Catalina 27, Newport 28, San Juan 24, Columbia 26, Santana 20, Ranger 22/23, etc
	4th Start	7:15pm	Dinghy Class		Give'em a Beer

Race Schedule (Themes)

Every week, a theme is assigned for the given race with a "Black Duck awarded to the best boat. Unless you have a fast boat for your start, this is your best chance for a sticker.

Race Rules

Registration: Sail by the committee boat before the start and hail with your START NUMBER. Ensure that they acknowledge you, sail out of the area. Thanks it! There are no customers, unless you go really way off course.

Raft Up Information

After the race, about 50% of the boat choose to raft-up with the committee boat and continue their revelry. It's worth doing once. But mostly, it's for people that are more interested in dressing-up and drinking.

Warning: The raft up is overwhelmingly represented by Bro's and Bra's who sometimes need adult supervision to keep boats from being broken, damaged or items stolen.

• Rafting is for the "party" at the end of the racing
• Rafting is performed on either side of the committee boat
• Rafting, if you are a big boat (30+ feet), be on the inside of the raft-up. If you are small, wait and take an outside spot.
• When rafting-up, make sure you have the attention of your boat's crew as well as the other boat's skipper/crew
• When rafting-up, have lines ready at both the bow and stern of your boat
• Raft breaks up at 10pm, listen for the HORN!
• HORN! If you hear the horn, that means the raft-up is going to break-up. GET TO YOUR BOAT ASAP!
• When leaving the raft, make sure you have clear communications with all affected boat skippers
• When crossing boats in the raft, make sure you always cross at the bow of the boats
• When crossing boats in the raft, be careful of what you are stepping on and wear appropriate shoes (spiked heels are a no-no)
• When crossing boats in the raft, always gain permission before entering the cockpit or cabin of another boat
• Participating in the raft gives implicit permission for people to board your boat
• If you need to leave earlier than 10pm, raft-up as one of the last boats
• Duck Dodge "virgins", crew members should be versed in the rules before leaving your boat to walk to raft
• Duck Dodge "virgins", there is a tradition of "kissing the master or the mast" of each boat your walk across (if offended, don't feel pressured)
• Please be considerate of other boats and ask for details from your skipper on additional etiquette.

Historical Information

Click to Enlarge

Actually, the original name was the "Tenas Chuck Duck Dodge". Tenas Chuck is the native american name for Lake Union (Chuck means "water", as in the Pilchuck, Skookumchuck, Chuckanut, Saltchuck, etc.) Duck Dodge one would assume means that in order to navigate the course one must either duck Dodges or dodge ducks. Since there are probably more ducks on Lake Union than Dodges, it is safe to assume the latter.

The original handbill announcing the first (technically second) Duck Dodge in 1974 actually has a sub-title of "Lake Union Beer Can Regatta". This was included because a friend of mine was worried that people wouldn't "get it" if we just called it the Duck Dodge.

Anyway, just some worthless trivia for you. I have much much more if anyone cares.

Ron Lloyd,
Co-founder of the Duck Dodge
(With Mike Rice and Bruce Gilbert)