ST.PATRICKS DAY TUESDAY NIGHT SAIL

 

The prediction was for a lot of wind, but it just was not showing so we left the 155 jib up.  As we left the harbor it was apparent that the start buoy was out, but Blacks was not out. We had to improvise with a course that was not on the course card.  As we sailed around waiting for the 6pm start, the wind seemed to be increasing from the North. We were amazed to see 20 knots straight off shore!

 

We decided on a course from start to Gov (P), Mile (p) finish at Start (P).  The line was between the start mark and rock view or the point at pleasure point.  We gave a 5 minute horn at 5 minutes till 6.  Being close to the beginning of the season, it appeared we were all a little rusty on the start.  At the 6pm start, the only boat that was close to the start line was Emeritus.  On Pair a Dice, I was on the helm and was struggling with confusion over points of sail.  I had broken the cardinal rule we have on Pair A Dice “Do not get far from the starting line before the start!”.  All I knew was we were nowhere near the lay line to make the start mark after tacking over on Starboard.  When I should have been sailing hard on the wind toward the line, I was broad reaching down the line, despite the pleading of my crew!  When we did finally tack over on starboard, we had to pinch to clear the mark.  It was not a great start, but we were still ahead of most of the fleet and

a perfect view of the stern of Emeritus.  This view was to become way too familiar by the end of the night. 

 

Emeritus rounded  Gov first and started their march to Mile wing on wing.  Pair a Dice had trouble setting the whisker pole, but finally got it set and started catching up with Emeritus.  The rest of the fleet was behind us as we approached Mile and Diver Down was closing in on all of us.  We tried every trick we knew to catch Emeritus, but they outsailed us.  Emeritus was first over the line and Diver Down rolled us about 200 yards from the line to finish second.  Pair a Dice got third, Pacific Spirit, Aeolian, Blue Ribbon, Sea Quake and Toad.  WE also had a new Catalina 30 out with us called Thallasia (?)

 

It is amazing.  Second night of the season and we had 10 boats out.  We hung out by the finish line to see how everyone finished, and had an invigorating sail up the harbor.  We had 17 knots of wind in the harbor.  With the north wind, we were short tacking up the harbor.  We finally furled the jib and motored to the slip.  Fred commented later that you can never be sure about the depth of the water.  We had a crew member calling out depths as we approached tacking areas. It would have been embarrassing and expensive to run aground in the harbor.  It was a nice exercise, but I don’t think I will do it again soon, with all the risks involved.

 

 

_/)                  _/)                           _/)

 

Cardinal rules:

Do you have Cardinal rules for your boat?  Some of our cardinal rules on Pair a Dice are:

·         Do not get too far from the line for the start

·         Start from the preferred end of the line

·         Start on the preferred tack (this one depends on the crowd)

 

Obviously on this night I failed miserably with all of these cardinal rules, but hey, it’s the beginning of the season, we will get better.

 

We all had a great time celebrating St Patricks day at the Santa Cruz Yacht Club after the race.

 

 

See you next week,

 

Barry L. Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice