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
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