September 20, 2016: PERSEVERANCE EVEN IN THE DARK

SEPTEMBER 20, 2016

PERSEVERANCE EVEN IN THE DARK

The first glimpse as I approached the harbor showed that an Easterly was blowing.  After getting skunked with not enough wind last week, I really did not want it to happen again.  As we left the harbor, the Northwester breeze was still blowing and even extended clear  in to the start buoy.  We decided on Whiskey 3: start, Wharf, Blacks and finish.  There were twelve boats out for the fun.  We gave a 5 minute horn and set up for the race.  As is customary for the end of the season, more boats were on the line in close proximity for the start.  It was very interesting trying to start with a dying breeze and being blanketed  by what seemed to be all twelve boats.

We sailed until we could duck and clear the boat to windward of us.  We finally tacked for clear air.  Many of the boats made it outside to where there seemed to be more wind.   With a clean path to outside we tacked back over to get outside to more wind. Once we made it to the Wharf Mark layline, we tacked over for the mark.  We had started the race near the back of the pack and as we sailed toward Wharf mark, we noticed most of the pack parked in the transition zone.  We stayed outside in the westerly breeze and then ducked in through the transition zone to round wharf.  Once we rounded wharf, claiming inside rights over Kicks we sailed toward Blacks as the sun was setting.  The wind was blowing pretty well from the east, but it was getting darker.  Word has it that Odonata finished just ahead of Equanimity, then  Pair A Dice followed quite a bit later then Makani and Kicks crossed the line in the dark.  All other boats headed for the harbor as the sun set.  Kudos to the boats that had the  perseverance to finish in the dark.

Tactics:

Always try to sail where the wind is.  We stayed outside for a long time because that was where the wind was.  

When there are divergent winds blowing as with the northwest wind outside and Easterly wind inside there is always a dead (transition zone) between them.  Getting through these transition zones is very tricky.  If possible, look for an area where the transition zone is narrow (looking at the wind on the water). When entering the transition zone, try to have as much speed as possible to coast to the new wind. Use whatever means possible to propel the boat (waves!!!).  Do not sheet the jib I tight, the last thing you need is a backwinded jib!

PLEASE NOTE, NEXT WEEK IS BARBECUE NIGHT AT THE CLUB. PLEASE BRING YOUR BEST BARBECUE ITEMS FOR THE FUN AND COMRADARIE!

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair a Dice

SEPTEMBER13, 2016: CONFUSED SEAS, WIND AND COURSE

SEPTEMBER 13, 2016

CONFUSED SEAS, WINDS AND COURSE

The wind in the bay for the week had been very robust to say the least.  Checking Sailflow in the morning, it looked like the prediction was possibly for more of the same.  When I got to the harbor after 5pm, it looked like the wind was starting to die.  As we left the harbor, it looked like there was enough wind for a race, but it was coming from a very South direction.  This normally would call for a course to Mile and back, but with the dying breeze and confused seas bashing through the waves did not seem appealing.  We finally decided on course Whiskey 5: Start, Wharf Finish.  We gave a 5 minute horn and in the 5 minutes to start the wind seemed to die even more. 

The start was excruciatingly slow.  Many of the boats headed outside on Starboard tack. Was there more wind outside?   On Pair a Dice we rode the waves inside just outside the kelp. All kelp was indicating a current headed toward shore probably from the south wind influence on the water.

It seemed like the excruciating start was only a precursor for what was in store for the rest of the evening.  The confused seas with waves coming from 3 different directions was further compounded by a very light (6 knot) breeze that seemed to shift 30 degrees every two minutes.  Driving in these conditions was interesting as the crew was offering advice like a chorus: “YOU’RE PINCHING, YOU’RE LUFFING, YOU’RE PINCHING…..”  To add to the misery it seemed like we were sailing along in a transition zone that was stalking us like a predator which we could not outrun.  We finally shortened the course as the sun was setting. The finished was accomplished by rounding Wharf mark. There were only 3 boats that ultimately finished: Wildflower, Pacific Spirit and Equinamity.  I never thought I would enjoy the sound of diesel as much as I did that night motoring back to the harbor!

Dealing with Frustrating conditions:

As with any sailing, it is all about paying close attention to conditions and your boat.  Where is the wind? Can you get to it?  Better yet, where will the wind build?  For a while, we felt we were doing well on the wind coming off the beach, but ultimately fell into the quagmire of the inescapable transition zone. In very light wind and waves, you do not want waves directly on your bow.  Pay attention to sail trim and boat heel.  Obviously Pair  A Dice did not get it right this evening since we did not even finish. It was interesting at the Crows Nest  commiserating  with the other sailors over the very strange conditions we experienced.

Other regattas:

Do not forget the mid winters starting the third Saturday of November.  If you can, it would be interesting to sail down to Monterey to observe and cheer for the Santa Cruz competitor for the Veeder cup on the weekend of September 24 and 25.

See you next Tuesday,

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

SEPTEMBER 6, 2016: CURRENT EVENTS

SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

CURRENT EVENTS

There were small craft advisory warnings for further out in the bay, but predictions for an Easterly close to the harbor.  The Easterly was definitely blowing when I got to the harbor.  We sorted out crew issues.  Last week I had 8 people on board, this night I had 3 crewmembers.  We decided on course B4 again and gave the 5 minute horn at 6pm for a 6:05 start.

In the 5 minute countdown, the wind seemed to be waning just a bit.  Pair A Dice was way too soon at the line and we slowed the boat down to let Pacific Spirit start ahead of us.  Since we were closer to the buoy, if we had kept our speed up, Pacific Spirit would have caught us barging.  Homer on Equinamity also got an excellent start.  Once we got over the line, rather than sail in bad air we tacked over since there was no way to fetch the mark on one tack.  Homer and Pacific Spirit rounded Blacks just ahead of us and Makani was right on our stern as we rounded.  This was going to be a good race!

As we approached the kelp line, it was apparent that there was a strong current flowing west.  With this information we decided to sail closer to the beach to take as much advantage of the current as possible.  The current also helped stream the kelp so it was easy to not pick up any hitch-hiking strands of kelp.  We seemed to gain on the boats that were sailing further outside.  At Gov Equinamity was first to round followed by  Pacific Spirit, Makani  and Pair A Dice.  The three leaders headed outside and Pair A Dice tacked over back inside for cleaner air.  We sailed to the kelp line and tacked over toward the finish mark.  At the finish, it was Equinamity, Pacific Spirit, Makani, Pair A Dice, Kicks, Nadaris II, Sea Quake, Aeolian and Odonata.   All boats seemed to finish within 5 minutes of each other making for a great race.

Reading Currents:

We did well on Pair A Dice until we sailed inside. I thought we were far enough out to avoid the westerly current, but it was strong enough to set us back.  Indications that the current was still in effect where we were was that the kelp was still streaming to the west.  Also, the kelp on the start buoy was indicating a westerly even as far out as the buoy when we were starting.  Lesson: Don’t sail up stream!

Tacking properly:

We were having problems on Pair A Dice with proper tacking.  I was frustrated as I was trying to get the jib in because it was hung up on ‘something’.  The ‘something’ that was keeping it from flowing through properly was the fact that I was standing on the sheets!  While racing, I will pile the sheets up on the bench to prevent this in the future (you’d think I would know by now!)

Watching other boats tacking indicated that several are having problems with this aspect also.  This is a critical time to pay attention and do things right.  After passing through the eye of the wind, the boat has slowed dramatically and you need power (wind in the sails) to get the boat moving again.  While racing it is critical for the crew to get the jib in as quickly as possible.  Note: you do not want to get the jib all the way in until the boat has come back up to speed again on the new tack.

Other Regattas:

Everyone is bringing their game up nicely.  Now is the time to set up for an official race.  The yacht club is putting on the midwinter series.  The first day of racing will be the third Saturday of November.  You will need a PHRF certificate to compete.  Many of us are going to be sailing in this regatta.  Come and join the fun.  The information is available on the website:  SCYC.org.

On September 24 and 25, the Veeder cup competition will be down in Monterey. In the past, it was two Santana 22’s that competed.  This year it will be two Santa Cruz 52’s that will compete, Elixir from Santa Cruz and one from Monterey Yacht club. If you have never sailed to Monterey, this would be a great time to go.  We should have a group of boats go down to cheer our boat on in this race.  It will be a fun event.

I will see you next Tuesday!

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A DIce

AUGUST 30, 2016: HEAVY LOAD, LIGHT WIND

August 30, 2016

HEAVY LOAD, LIGHT WIND

As I approached the harbor, it was very apparent the Santa Cruz Eddy was in full force and the Easterly was filling in.  My normal crew had the boat all ready to go and we had more than enough crew with a few visitors topping us out at 8 people on the boat.  As we left the harbor it looked like the Easterly was trying to fade just a bit.  We called for a conservative course of B4, staying inside for the Easterly.  We called for a 6pm start and the 5 minute horn was blown at 5:55.  As we were sailing around before the start, it looked like there may be more wind a little ways off shore.

The buoy end of the line was definitely favored and as the wind seemed to be dying during the 5 minute count down, it took a lot of concentration (and luck) to get a proper start.  Pair a Dice was lucky enough to be one of the first over the line along with Homer on Equinamity (Hunter 34).  As we all sailed to the first mark, it appeared that Homer fell off more toward the beach.  Was he looking for more wind inside?  As we rounded Blacks, it looked like his judgment was correct because he was just ahead of us for the rounding.  After rounding  Blacks, Homer seemed to head more toward the beach again but then turned for the outside.  Was there more wind outside?  We watched closely but thought it was not worth going outside and decided to basically rhum line it to Gov, aside from dodging kelp patches.  The kelp was showing a westerly current was in effect, which made it easy to sail west and we managed to not pick up any hitch-hikers along the way. 

At Gov we squeaked around the mark just ahead of Homer.  Trying to avoid the inside (westerly) current, we sailed outside.  Homer sailed inside for cleaner air, while we sailed further outside.  We were definitely splitting tacks with him.  The game for all of us was to not sail into a light wind area.  When we finally converged again, it was going to be a very close race.  Pair a Dice had to throw one more tack in to clear the mark and, in the lightening breeze could not get our speed up enough.  Homer squeaked ahead of us for the finish.  What a great race!

At the finish it was Equinamity, Pair A Dice, Andiamo, Kicks, Perfect 36, Nadaris II, Aeolian, a Catalina 27 and Odonata(Santana 22).  We had a great barbecue at the club.

Racing Mode:

Recently I competed in the Big Brothers Big Sisters regatta.  When I got home that night, Lisa asked me who I sailed with that day.  When I told her, she pried me with questions: ‘How is so and so? Where are they going for vacation? What about so and so?’  I sheepishly told her I did not know.  She said “How can you spend a whole day with your friends and not find out what they are doing?”  I answered “when we are racing, we are RACING!  Every bit of conversation pertains to tactics, boat speed and how to increase it!” 

It is interesting seeing different attitudes as different personalities come aboard a boat.  Some people get right into “race mode” and do everything possible to improve the boat’s place in the race.  Other people are more fascinated with otters, seals, sunsets, conversation and basically anything but racing.  Obviously there is a happy medium.  We all enjoy the ocean and sailing, but are you and your boat in “race mode” or “casual sailing mode?”  The difference may have a reflection on your standings.

I am Looking forward to next Tuesday.

Barry L.Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice