RACE WINNING TACTICS IN GREAT WIND

 TUESDAY MAY 20, 2014

MAY THE WIND BE WITH YOU!

As Tuesday approaches, I think all of us are watching and wondering: How much wind will there be this Tuesday.  I certainly saw that it was extremely windy on Monday evening and was relieved that it   appeared to be less windy on Tuesday.  I was surprised when I showed up to the harbor and there was still a lot of wind, so much that some boats opted to not go out.  As we exited the harbor, it was apparent the wind was in excess of 20 knots from the northwest.

We settled on course number 3 and a 6:15 start time, attempting to keep everyone inside where it was more tame.   There were quite a few boats out, so on Pair A Dice, we decided to start on starboard tack so we would have right of way at the line.  As it turned out, there were very few boats at the line on the start, so we started at the pin on port tack.  Almost as soon as we crossed the line, we had to duck Makani’s stern since they were on Starboard tack.  We carried on inside on port  until we saw the wind lighten.  Since we had a reef in, we either had to shake the reef out or stay in the wind.  We tacked out to stay in the wind.  Makani was charging down on us on port tack.  It was going to be a close crossing, and just as I hailed “starboard” it looked like they were going to clear us, so I tried to wave them on. They came right up to us and performed a perfect Lee-bow on us.  Yes, a boat sailing just off your bow to leeward can really mess up your clear air!  We continued on for awhile and finally drifted down directly behind them and noticed how the wind got a lot better, sandwiched between the wind shadow and the bad wind from the leebow.  We finally tacked over so we could be on starboard on the approach to wharf.  By the time we crossed again, Makani crossed in front of us and tacked to steal our wind again.  These guys know a thing or two about tactics!  Fortunately, we had inside overlap for the mark rounding, so we came out of that rounding just ahead of them.  On the long downwind run to Blacks, Makani was trying to camp on our wind again, but finally decided to sail straight to the mark once we sailed too far inside.  This tactic worked great for them: straight toward Blacks and staying outside in more wind!  Why didn’t we think of that? By the time we got to Blacks they  were way ahead of us. Makani was first (again!), Pair A Dice came in second and Emeritus and Pacific Spirit followed.

Tactics:

Stewart, Chris and Paul on Makani played tactics perfectly on this night. The Lee bow was perfectly executed!  Pair A Dice should have tacked over immediately to keep clear air.  After rounding wharf,  Makani also made the wise choice of sailing the rumb line for the next mark and staying in the greater wind that was outside.  Their superior tactics won them another race!

After racing, we once again had a great turnout at the Crow’s nest.  Meeting upstairs, out on the enclosed patio seems to be a great place to eat and discuss the night’s activity on the water.

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THIS COMING TUESDAY IS BARBECUE NIGHT AT THE YACHT CLUB BRING YOUR OWN EVERYTHING AND EXTRA FOOD TO SHARE IF YOU WISH.  ONCE AGAIN THE BAR WILL NOT BE OPEN.  SEE YOU THERE!

Till next Tuesday!

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

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