Thursday, March 23, 2017

MARCH 21: THE FIRST SAIL OF THE SEASON AND COURSE CHARTS

FIRST SAIL OF THE SEASON

Last Tuesday, we tried but failed miserably.  There is something about pea soup fog allowing only 50 yards of visibility combined with no wind that dampens the sailing spirit.  Still, Pair A Dice and Kicks motored out to the start area just to be sure.

The predictions for tonight were 12 to 15 knots of breeze and the predictions were spot on!  We motored out of the harbor with 5 or 6 boats out.  There was no start buoy so we dropped one attempting to be square with the wind and the lighthouse jetty.  The course was called: Start mark to Mile, Gov then finish at the start mark.  A five minute horn was given and everyone set up for their start.

Pair A Dice came off the line further down from Equanimity and Odonata and just leeward and behind Kicks.  We quickly realized it was going to be a long slog with Kicks giving us bad air so we tacked over just as we crossed the line.   Everyone else sailed out for a bit before tacking over.  As we sailed out, we found we were nearly going to make mile on port tack.  We ultimately tacked over for mile and actually cleared the whole fleet.  Kicks had retired due to mechanical issues.  Pair a dice was first around Mile followed by Homer on Equanimity.  We continued our slog toward Gov and Homer did a stint wing on wing DDW.  Homer passed us and rounded Gov ahead of us and was off to the start mark.

At the finish, it was Homer followed by Pair A Dice, Odonata and Aeolian.  We had a great time at the Crows nest after the sail.

Tactics:
I have found when Homer does something unusual in sailing, it is best to pay attention.  Rounding mile right behind us, the natural inclination is for most sailors to try to steal the wind from the boat in front.  We see it all the time, two boats tangling with each other going down wind and with all of the maneuvering both boats get slowed down.  Homer did the smart thing: sailed his boat away to separate from the competitor in front and it paid off for him. I’m going to remember this for future use.

Other Regattas:
We are all bringing our game up.  Sailing better, using tactics and generally racing better!  The SCYC will be having their Commodores regatta this year on April 29.   This is just like the Big Brothers Big Sisters regatta being a reverse PHRF start.  I love these “pursuit races” where slower boats get a head start and the faster boats do what they can to pass the slower boats.  It would be awesome to see a large representation of the Catalina fleet in this race.  You can register for this regatta on the club website at SCYC.org.


NEXT WEEK IS THE LAST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH: CATALINA BARBECUE NIGHT AT THE CLUB.  BRING YOUR FAVORITE GRILLING FOOD.  BAR WILL BE OPEN.

For those that did not get a course card, the information is copied below.

2017 Catalina Tuesday Courses                                         e=mc2
Whiskey, NW wind, 1st mark Wharf (start line SM & S 330M)
Miles
W 1       Start, Wharf, Mile, Blacks, Finish(stb)
4.04
W 2       Start, Wharf, Mile, Gov(stb), Finish
3.93
W 3       Start, Wharf, Blacks, Finish(stb)
3.23
W 4       Start, Wharf(stb), Gov(stb), Finish
3.07
W 5       Start, Wharf, Finish
2.68
W 6        Start, Finish at Gov (stb) (line from Gov to SC Wharf)
1.31


Mike, S wind, 1st mark Mile  (Start line SM & JLH 310M)
M 1       Start, Mile(stb), Gov(stb) (finish line is end of SC Wharf to Gov)
  2.24

M 2       Start, Mile, Finish
  2.17

M 3        Start, Finish at Mile (Line from Mile to Wharf)               
Bravo, E wind, 1st mark Blacks (Start line SM & BP 352M)
  1.06

B 1         Start(stb), Blacks(stb), Mile(stb), Gov(stb), Finish
  4.03

B 2        Start(stb), SC3,Blacks, Finish(stb)
  3.04

B 3         Start(stb), Blacks(stb), Mile(stb), Finish
  2.72

B 4         Start(stb), Blacks, Gov, Finish
  2.43

B 5         Start(stb), Blacks, Start, Blacks, Finish(stb)
  1.12

B 6         Start(stb), Blacks, Finish(stb)

  0.55

Golf, N wind, 1st mark Government            
G 1        Start, Gov, Mile, Blacks, Finish
    (start line SM & BP 352M)
(stb)                                            4.03                                                 

G 2        Start, Gov, Blacks, Finish(stb)
2.45

G 3        Start, Gov, Finish
1.98

G 4            Start, Finish at Gov (Line from Gov and Wharf)                      1.31

Oscar, Other
F 1         Start at Mile(stb) (start line contains Mile and JLH),  Wharf (stb)     1.48                                                                                                                                         
0.96
                Gov(stb) (finish line is end of SC Wharf to Gov)


F 2          Start at Mile (start line mile and sc wharf),                                     
1.50   

                 Wharf,  Mile (finish line mile and sc wharf)








                        2017 Catalina Tuesday Courses p2                             f=ma
1.  All marks are left to Port unless designated (stb) which shall be rounded to Starboard.
2.  Both the start and finish line shall be a line containing Start mark and designated landmark. There may be a temporary mark placed to designate the other of the line (will be announced)
3.  When starting, the start mark shall be passed within 10 boat lengths per the course description.
4.  When finishing, the finish mark shall be passed within 5 boat lengths per the course description.
Any foul shall be exonerated by one tack and one jibe in the same direction, executed as soon as clear from other boats.   (a 270° turn)
Monitor VHF channel 69 at start time. There may be a boat sighting the line to call “over early” boats.  If called over early and do not restart properly, you will not be given a finish.
                                   MARK DESCRIPTIONS AND LANDMARKS
Wharf= Wharf Mark       SC Wharf= End of Pier         BP=Blacks point
S= White House at Schwan Lagoon   JLH=Jetty light House    SM=Start Mark
                     
Blacks

Yellow Ball

36º 57.22' N   121º 59.29' W
Gov
White Ball
36º 57.47' N   122º 00.72' W
Mile
Whistling Buoy
36º 56.35' N   122º 00.56' W
SC3
Yellow Can
36º 56.49' N   121º 58.00' W
Start/Finish
Yellow Ball
36º 57.09' N   121º 59.62' W
s

For Basic  Racing Rules see:   https://www.latitude38.com/YRASchedule/rules.html