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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