CATALINAS SAILING MONTEREY BAY TUESDAY NIGHTS: JUNE 23, 2015 'STRATEGY OR TACTICS'

Tuesday June 23, 2015

STRATEGY OR TACTICS?

Predictions for the wind were all over the place.  Earlier in the day it was 20 knots out of the Northwest.  By 4pm the Easterly was filling in.  We had quite a project getting Pair a Dice ready.  We had to swap out to the 155 headsail and clean the bottom.  While cleaning the bottom, it became apparent that I had snagged a large piece of kelp in the rudder.  It took forever to get this piece of kelp off.  By the time we exited the harbor it was getting close to 6pm.  It was time to get the race started.  As we steamed toward the start buoy, we were trying to come up with an appropriate course.  Would the wind fill in and stay from the East?  Could we risk another encounter with SC3?  We finally decided on course 12: Start, Blacks, Start, Blacks,Finish.  By the start of the race, this course even seemed ambitious.

On Pair a Dice we were way too far from the line in a very crowded field and very little wind.  With the dying wind, it seemed everyone got caught off guard, but we were in one of the worst positions possible.  We watched in amazement as Pacific Spirit Nailed the start followed quickly by Diver Down and Makani.  The wind was so light, we were all ghosting along at less than 1 knot speeds.  As least we had the waves washing us in the direction of Blacks.  Pacific Spirit rounded blacks first followed by Diver Down and Makani.  The first to the mark were also the first to deal with very light wind with the waves on the nose, the only thing going for them was the westerly current.  As we slowly approached  blacks it looked more like a mooring field than a race. We rounded Blacks behind Tres Santos and Aeolian.  After rounding Blacks we immediately headed outside in search of wind.  It felt weird aiming away from the start buoy while everyone else sailed directly to it.  We finally got our wind and actually rounded start just ahead of Aeolian and Tres Santos.  By this time the wind was filling in again from the East and everyone was sailing again.

At the finish, it was Pacific Spirit in first, followed by Makani, Diver Down, Pair a Dice, Tres Santos, Sea Quake and Aeolian.  It seems with the frustrating conditions, some of the boats had aborted.

Tactics VS Strategy:

On this particular night I was fortunate to have multiple excellent sailors on my boat.  The discussions going on were very educational indeed.  Some very knowledgeable sailors were calling out  correct tactical moves “Tack to cover the inside at the mark!”  “We should NOT be sailing away from the mark”.  Neither of these arguments can logically be argued against.  They make perfect sense as TACTICAL MOVES.   Those on the boat that were thinking STRATEGICALLY were thinking “screw tactics, get to the wind first!”  Joe (RIP) who sailed on Pacific Spirit years ago taught us this lesson well.  Too many times we learned from his example: get to the wind, then worry about tactics.  It may be frustrating when you know tactics like the back of your hand to not have your tactical decisions play out, but we are on SAILboats which do require wind to move them.  For me the whole evening was very educational as I witnessed the diverse opinions expressed and played out.

IS THIS A RACE OR MOORING FIELD?

Rules: Starboard vs Port tack

On this night, I had a sailing judge on board and learned an important nuance in the old Starboard vs Port tack crossing situation.  We crossed a starboard boat on port tack.  We had them clear, but as they approached they luffed up to “hunt us” and called for us to take a penalty turn.  Now hunting on the course is a normal action, but in this case the two boats were on different legs.  Following the Racing Rules of Sailing, Rule #24.2 of part 2 states:  “Except when sailing her proper course, a boat shall not interfere with a boat taking a penalty or sailing on another leg.”  It would be appropriate for the starboard boat to come up to “proper course” pointing no higher than the next mark in their “hunting” but no higher if the boats are on different legs.

AEOLIAN GHOSTING BY US

Ernie Rideout:

We have all lost a very important icon in our local sailing community.  Ernie Rideout passed away two weeks ago on Wednesday.  He had a long, fulfilling life.  Those in the Yacht Club will always have fond memories of the times spent with Ernie.  Fred Molnar was closer to Ernie than most of us.  Fred shared a jewel with me that Ernie impressed on him.  Ernie told Fred something to the effect of “You may win the race, but if you have not won the respect of your competitors, you have won nothing!”  What a great jewel for Ernie to leave us with for sailing and our life.  RIP Ernie.  You will be missed.

NEXT TUESDAY, JUNE 30 WILL BE BARBECUE NIGHT AT THE CLUB.  THE CLUB AND BAR WILL BE OPEN, BUT BRING YOUR OWN FOOD AND GRILLING.  WE WILL SEE YOU THEN.

Looking forward to next Tuesday.

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

CATALINA SAILBOATS SAILING TUESDAY EVENINGS: JUNE 16, 2015 STEADY EASTERLY

Catalina Tuesday

June 16, 2015

STEADY EASTERLY

All predictions were for gnarly winds from the northwest, so I was quite surprised to see the flags blowing lightly from the South when I got to the harbor.  I was sure we would need the 135 for tonight, but the 155 was what we had on as we ventured to the open ocean.  Alas it was the right call.  By the time we got to the start mark, it was a steady Easterly blowing.  We decided to call course 11A1 for the night: start, Blacks (P), Gov(P) and finish to port.  We gave a 5 minute horn and everyone set up for their start.  On Pair A Dice, we wanted to be on starboard right at the mark.  

Alas, Pacific Spirit nailed the start and we were about 30 seconds behind them.  With our 155 flying, we were able to point a little higher than Pacific Spirit, but they rounded Blacks ahead of us by about 30 seconds again.  Pair a Dice rounded Blacks just ahead of Perfect 36 and we all marched off to Gov.  Pacific Spirit sailed in closer to shore with the thought that a building Easterly usually filled in toward the beach.  On Pair A Dice, we rhumb lined it to the mark with the pole out on port first then jibing over with the pole on starboard. By jibing the pole onto starboard we were able to avoid the waves on our bow and took them on the beam.  With the added speed from not fighting the waves we were able to sail clear of Perfect 36 which was threatening to steal our wind.  Ultimately Pacific Spirit rounded Gov about 2 minutes ahead of us, accentuating the point that maybe their stint to the beach was the right move. 

After rounding Gov, Pacific Spirit took a stint outside then tacked back over inside again.  On Pair A Dice, we noticed the wind was building more as we moved outside.  Additionally we were on the longest tack to the mark and sailing closer to the mark.  We watched closely to be certain we didn’t sail into lighter wind and a transition zone outside.  We sailed out to the layline for the finish mark as Pacific Spirit passed us on the inside. Pacific Spirit rounded the finish mark about one and a half minutes ahead of us, then Perfect 36, Kicks, Aeolian, Toad and Thalasia. 

The Dance of the Start:

Races are frequently won and lost at the start.  A great start puts you in the lead and all you have to do is protect that lead.  Starts are very challenging and it only comes with practice.  The reason I call it a dance is because you are interacting with every other boat at the start.  Quick reflexes and quick decisions are critical.  Having an uncanny ability to judge time and distance also helps.  How much time will it take the boat to cover a certain distance?  If you really want to improve your start, get out with your crew and practice passing a buoy and getting back to the buoy by a certain time.   This is a minimal exercise, but critical.  If you can’t nail a start with no competition, you don’t stand a chance with other boats involved.   

Taking time to assess the situation before the race is critical to a good start.  On Pair A Dice, we follow the following process and rules.

-Light variable wind=do not get far from the start line!

-Determine favored end of line: Luff up head to wind and the end of the line the bow is pointing toward is the favored end.

-starboard or port tack start: Port tack starts are very risky since you have no right of way, but can pay off with huge gains when done well.

-Critical: Do not do any big moves at least 30 seconds before the start, even more time in lighter wind. 

Most experienced sailors will time the line and broad reach by the preferred end of the line sailing away from the start area. Then then time their tack and approach the line on a broad reach.  This allows them to run the line while waiting for the clock to run out for the start.  Keep in mind, it is better to be early to the start than late, though be careful that you are not stalling at the start.  You want to be up to speed and sailing at the start. 

What’s with the course numbers on the course charts? 

Why in the world are there courses numbered 11A1?  I have been putting these cards out for 3 summers now.  Each summer we come up with new different courses.  I keep all of the courses that were on  each of the previous cards so if someone comes out once every 3 years, the course numbers will be the same.  The newer courses have the unusual numbers like 11A1.  These courses will always be clarified over the radio on channel 69. 

Next Tuesday will be the 23^rd.  Barbecue Tuesday at SCYC will be the following week on the 30^th.   

We will see you next Tuesday. 

Barry

Sailing Pair A Dice

CATALINA SAILBOATS DAILING MONTEREY BAY ON TUESDAY EVENINGS: AN EXCRUCIATING NIGHT

CATALINA TUESDAYS June 9,  2015

ONE EXCRUCIATING NIGHT

All indications pointed toward a wonderful night of sailing.  Sailflow and Predictwind forecasted great wind.  In the morning I noticed how blustery it was and anticipated great wind.  Getting to the harbor, the flags were certainly flying confirming a great evening of sailing.  Naturally, with this much wind we aggressively chose course 4 again: start, wharf, gov, finish.  It seemed like a no-brainer.  We blew the horn for the 5 minute warning for a 6:05 start and the wind started subsiding.  From the time the horn blew until the start, the wind decreased from a steady 9 knots to 4-5 knots.  By the end of the evening we would have welcomed 5 knot breezes. 

On Pair a dice we decided a starboard tack start would be in order and set up for this.  The problem was that we ended up with Diver Down directly to windward of us taking what  little wind there was.  They romped on ahead.  On Pair a Dice, we watched as boat after boat in the parade tacked over to the inside and got stuck in a hole.  It seemed like nobody was moving at all!  We continued to sail further out on starboard tack and noticed that the wind was shifting ever so slightly and creating a lift for us.  It lifted us so much that we ultimately sailed around wharf without ever tacking!  We knew we were taking a flier sailing so far from the rest of the fleet and we really thought it would pay off for us when we saw a dark band of wind forming on the water from the East.  It quickly closed on us and just before it hit us died completely. 

Meanwhile we watched with amazement while Pacific Spirit and Makani rounded wharf and headed for Gov, they seemed to catch some great wind inside and were leaving us in the dust!  It was excruciating bobbing around in no wind.  The rest of the boats had retired and gone in and Pacific Spirit and Makani and Pair a Dice were still out in the quickly disappearing light.  We were moving so slowly I quipped on my boat “I do have to be to work at 9AM tomorrow!”  It is not like me to give up on a race, but this was too much.  I announced on the radio “great race tonight, Pacific Spirits has won with Makani second”. It did not take long for  Makani to reply “I thing we could take them!” and quickly Pacific Spirit came back with “Game on!”.   We finally furled our sails and motored over to observe the finish and Pacific Spirit finished just ahead of Makani.  Pair A Dice was DNF! As painful as a bob-fest can be, I gotta hand it to Pacific Spirit and Makani for their great competitive spirits! 

You can observe the tracks on Race qs on this link.  You must have google earth downloaded on your computer. 

http://raceqs.com/tv/tv.htm#userId=1011017&video_offset=&track=416ef09c-2ce6-48c3-bbb7-cdd4cf2ef024&start=2015-06-09%2017%3A56%3A55.711%20-07%3A00&finish=2015-06-09%2020%3A34%3A33.789%20-07%3A00&boat=Pair&extradata=1&fleet=3&race=1&time=1433907273789&focus=Pair&rival=Makani&tab=match&view=leg

 

For this race we only had 3 boats upload their tracks.  Please download and use this free app on your cell phone. 

Bringing up YOUR game:

We all want to improve in our sailing abilities.  Many of the boats are going to great means to improve their results. Improving the bottom of your boat, lightening the boat and getting a folding prop really helps.  If you are serious about racing, emptying all of your holding tanks is step number one.  Use the Race qs app to evaluate your helmsmanship.  If your track shows you wandering all over the place, it only makes it more difficult to beat a boat with a steadier hand on the wheel/tiller. Are your tacks efficient? Races QS evaluates each tack with multiple parameters. The QRs beta indicator on Race QS indicates how well you are sailing, the higher this number, the better you are doing. One other thing is a clean bottom: essential if you are racing! 

See you next Tuesday.

 

Barry L. Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

                 /)

   /)         [.]

[.]

CATALINA SAILBOATS RACING TUESDAY NIGHTS IN MONTEREY BAY: IN OR OUT?

CATALINA TUESDAYS

JUNE 2, 2015

OUT OR IN?

It sure looked like a light wind evening as I entered the harbor parking lot.  I was considering hoisting the 155 for light wind, but Fred did not think it was a good idea.  He was spot on with this opinion.  As we exited the harbor, we could see there was plenty of wind outside.  With everyone spread out over the ocean, we set a 6:05 start time and course 4: Start, Wharf, Gov, finish.

 

With all the wind being outside, almost all of the boats started on starboard to go outside.  I thought I was pulling a slick move starting further down the line to get clear air from Diver Down and Perfect 36, which wisely started closer to the pin.  I was feeling pretty smug because I thought I had both boats pinned and could drive them all the way to the layline.  We had good speed and were keeping up with them pretty well.  I was quite surprised when Diver Down tacked over, thinking it would be impossible for them to cross us.  As I watched, it was apparent they had good speed and would cross just in front of us.  There were several tacks on the way to Wharf and several good crossing situations.  Diver Down and Perfect 36 rounded wharf just ahead of Pair A Dice and Pacific Spirit rounded right behind us.

 

As we all made our way to Gov there was a transition zone. It looked as though the wind was going to die on us, but it did not take long to see the Easterly filling in as the water turned darker by the harbor entrance.  With the transition all of the boats compressed.  The light wind was not our only obstacle since there was a Coast Guard cutter moored to Gov.  We all gave the Coasties a wide berth and made our way to the finish line.  Diver Down and Pair A Dice stayed inside in the easterly and Perfect 36 tried to go back through the transition zone and the stronger wind outside.  Ultimately this race was going to be won or lost by this decision: In or Out?  While Diver Down and Pair A Dice had a tacking duel in a pretty tight range, Pacific Spirit took one long tack in toward the beach.  When Pacific Spirit crossed us again, they were ahead of us but behind Diver Down.  At the finish it was Diver Down, Pacific Spirit, Pair A Dice, Perfect 36, Aeolian, Makani, Sea Quake, Blue Ribbon, Andiamo, Kicks.

 

Race Qs analysis:

While I was feeling smug about starting further down the line, after analyzing the Race Qs replay, it was apparent I was giving up quite a lead by doing this.  I did not do my pre-race analysis to determine the preferred end of the line.

 

Crossing situations:

Crossing situations are always interesting, some get very interesting.  As noted earlier when Diver Down tacked to cross me, it was a very close crossing but they made it.  It surprised me that they had so much speed.  Talking to Homer over dinner he said he took into consideration that I was still bucking the waves and he would no longer be fighting the waves and would be able to go faster and clear us.  It was frustrating, but a lesson well taken: consider the different points of sail and effects other than wind such as waves and currents.

 

Considerations when crossing other boats.  Starboard tackers have right of way over Port tack boats.  If on port tack, the part of the boat that must clear is the stern of your boat. This means the person checking for ranging should be in the back of the boat.  The helm-person must fight the urge to pinch, you must keep the speed up to clear.  Even if on Starboard tack, always avoid contact. Crunching fiberglass and injuries are never fun,  even if you are in the right.  If your judgement happens to be erroneous and you have fouled another boat, exonerate yourself with a one turn penalty and keep on sailing.

 

If you want to review the Race Qs replay check this site:

 

http://raceqs.com/tv/tv.htm#userId=1011017&video_offset=&track=0a5f7e70-1b75-4c32-93ed-452cf1130da6&start=2015-06-02%2018%3A06%3A12.478%20-07%3A00&finish=2015-06-02%2022%3A00%3A57.614%20-07%3A00&boat=Pair&extradata=1&fleet=1&race=1&time=1433293576002&focus=Makani&tab=fleet&view=follow&lat=36.956243&lon=-121.997858&tilt=0&range=1882&heading=-79

 

Everyone should download this app and use it.  The analysis is great and it would be great to have all boats show up in the replays.

 

See you next Tuesday.

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

 

Steve Niemann wanted to add this comment to this blog:

From Steve Niemann, So after reading  Barry's blog this AM, me and God went out on the bay for a row and a had long talk, it was enlightening.    So here is Tuesday's race from my honest evaluation, (God made me do it!)    First, thanks Barry for being kind in your blog, which left me to do my own naked evaluation.    Here it is, no excuses.          We started the race in first postion, (that always happens when you start about six seconds early!)  The crew said, gotta do a three sixty, I said ho, its just Tueday race not doing it. (More on that decision later)    We where holding our own until the Silver Fox (Homer on Dive Down) decided he had enough and fell off, gained a coulple of knots and sailed right by us. Lesson #1, speed is better than a high point of sail.      Pair a Dice was in hot pursuit and had both Diver Down and The 36 pinned, but I told the crew if Diver tacks, we will sail past their point of tack and tack also.  Diver tacked, we sailed past and tacked.  When we tacked my hat blew off and took my glasses with it, looked down pick them up, (3 seconds), then returned to sailing the boat.    Big mistake, sloppy tack lost most boat speed, regained speed, realized was I going to fowl Pair a Dice, saw their crew scrambling to avoid a collision, decided to not make a bad situation worse and stayed my course. That was a good decision, and thank you Pair a Dice.  BIG lesson here, NEVER lose focus in tight situations of WHERE your boat is, what its doing and where all the other boats are.  (Buy another pair of glasses, safety rules all!)  (Note, didn’t do the required 360 here either.)
>>>  Here is the big picture, lesson learned, Tuesday races are not just “Ho, its just Tuesday races", Tuesday is by design to TEACH AND FOLLOW, racing rules, sailing techniques, and above all safety, and sportsmanship. In my over the top exuberance I failed just about every test, all in one race!!!    HOWEVER, I have learned the lesson.   
>>>  In conclusion, I and the crew, love Tuesday races, we will be back out with the same exuberance and much more experience. 
>>> P.S.  Never try to out guess the Silver Fox.  Fair Winds, Steve
>