Thursday, September 22, 2016

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



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