CATALINA SAILBOAT RACING: AUGUST 4, 2015, CLEAR AND WIND FROM THE SOUTH

TUESDAY AUGUST 4, 2015

CLEAR AND WIND FROM THE SOUTH

Checking Predict wind and Sailflow in the morning, it looked like we were in for a blow this evening.  Indeed the wind was light during the day and started to increase as the evening ensued.  In the harbor it felt very windy but there were no white caps outside.  We stayed with the 155 jib, which worked out perfectly since the wind was 15-18 knots from the south.

Looking at the course chart, someone said “where are the south wind courses?”  We had to improvise and came up with Course 6*.  The * indicating to finish at the start mark rather than Gov.   We gave a 5 minute horn and all of the boats started setting up for their start.  With the wind from the south, it gave the pin end a dramatic advantage.  Everyone knew this and all boats converged on the pin.  We were in the pack also, and with about 30 seconds to the start, I saw a path through the following boats and jibed around for a port tack start behind all of the starboard tacking boats.  It turns out Pacific Spirit had the same idea and started on port with us down the line.  Pair A Dice was slightly to windward behind Pacific Spirit.  We tacked toward Mile early so we would not get shadowed by Pacific Spirit.  We crossed Makani but Diver Down had us clear ahead in our crossing.  Diver Down is one fast boat.  Good job Vance and team! As any competitor would do, Diver Down tacked to windward of us but were not able to steal our wind.  As we approached the layline for mile, we knew Diver Down would tack on our wind.  With disturbed wind it would be difficult to clear mile, so we overstood the layline as did Diver Down.  Finally we tacked over for Mile, but overstanding allowed Makani to cross in front of us and round Mile just ahead of us.

At Mile, Pacific Spirit rounded with a comfortable lead, followed by Diver Down, Makani, and PairADice.  Behind us, Aeolian an Olson 30, Perfect 36, Toad  and Kicks rounded.  We all surfed our way around Gov and reached toward start with little change in the standings.  At the finish Pacific Spirit finished with a comfortable lead followed by Diver Down, Makani, Pair  A Dice, Olson 30, Aeolian, Perfect 36, Toad and Kicks.  It was a great race for all of us, congratulations to Pacific Spirit for their win.

Tactics and Rules:

Nothing gets more exciting than a start with good wind with one end of the line heavily favored!  Everyone wants to claim the favored end.  It is a beautiful thing to see such a competitive atmosphere and everyone following the rules of sailing. 

Once again the inside (port tack at start) was the favored move.  Pacific Spirit opened a huge lead over everyone by following the line clear inside before tacking out for Mile.  Why does this work so well?  I believe it is a combination of a current that sometimesheads toward the wharf, flatter seas and more protected (flatter water) when finally heading toward Mile.  The inside track seems to work IF the wind is consistent across the race course.

We had a great dinner and discussion at the Crows Nest after the race.

Hope to see you next Tuesday.

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice