Friday, October 24, 2014

CATALINA SAILBOATS RACING ON TUESDAY NIGHTS OCTOBER 21, 2014 A NORTH WIND BLOWS


A NORTH WIND BLOWS

Tuesday October 21,2014

Finally, we got a good North Breeze and a chance to use one of the courses on the “North Wind” part of the card!  Even though the nights are getting shorter and there was a big swell, we had 5 or 6 boats out for the fun.  We decided on course #15.  This course uses a start line between the start mark and Blacks, around Gov and back to start.  Since there was no designation in the course for rounding Gov to port or starboard, the instructions at the beginning of the card “all marks shall be left to port unless designated as SB” applied.

The start had Pair A Dice, Diver Down and Pacific Spirit charging off the line.  Pair A Dice started with clear air but Pacific Spirit had better speed and was sailing windward of us.  Diver down got caught in a position to leeward of both Pair A Dice and Pacific Spirit.  When we started getting the shadowed by Pacific Spirit, we tacked over for clear air.  Once we got in clear air, we tacked over again.  By tacking over earlier, rather than later we were able to take advantage of any lifts on our way to Gov.  When we met up with Pacific Spirit and Kicks again, Pacific Spirit was just ahead of us and Kicks had to tack over to avoid T-boning us.  Pacific Spirit went for a starboard rounding and Pair a Dice took it to port.

The long run back to Start had Pair A Dice leading with Pacific Spirit and Diver Down striving to outsail each other for clearer wind.  It looked like Pacific Spirit was second over the line and Diver Down was third.  Kicks had lost a piece of equipment overboard and were doing “man overboard drills”.

Winter sailing:

We are rapidly approaching the end of the season.  Next Tuesday is the last Tuesday night sail of the season.  What are your plans for winter sailing?  There are many winter sailing options.  There are races sponsored by Santa Cruz yacht club including the midwinter series of regattas. Find out about these on their web site SCYC.org.

People frequently say “sailing in the winter? Too cold for me!”.  Of course sailing in the rain is no fun, but frequently there are perfectly sunny days with 12-15 knots of wind and NO FOG.  I absolutely love sailing in the winter here.  Frequently a few boats go out and race on either day of the weekend (whichever day has the best weather).   Let me know if you want to be kept in the loop on these informal weekend get togethers.
_’)                            _/)
NEXT TUESDAY IS OUR LAST TUESDAY SAIL OF THE SEASON.  THERE IS ALSO A BARBECUE AT SCYC AFTERWARDS.
BRING YOUR FAVORITE GRILLING FOOD.
See you next Tuesday for a short sail and a great Barbecue!
Barry
 

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