AUGUST 22, 2017: WE MIGHT JUST HAVE SOMETHING HERE!

TUESDAY AUGUST 22, 2017

WE MIGHT JUST HAVE SOMETHING HERE!

It was a beautiful day on the bay as I approached the harbor, the tell-tale sign of a stiff flag on the Crow’s Nest confirmed we had wind.  Would it stay with us?  I did not think  it would, so we installed the 155 jib.  By the time we left the harbor, there were about 10 boats out and another 6  coming out of the harbor.  We called for a W2 course and gave a horn at 6pm for a 6:05 start.  There was easily 10-15 knot winds in toward the beach and it looked like 15 to 20 knots outside.

 

The start was like a cattle drive with multiple boats strung along the line.  Pair a Dice started on starboard a little down the line, but still had several boats coming up behind and windward to us preventing us from tacking over onto port.  Ultimately we were able to tack over and went inside until the wind started to dwindle and tacked out for more wind.  We had several crossing situations on our way to wharf. Once we had to duck Pacific Spirit as they were on starboard tack. At Wharf it was Makani and Equanimity, Mistress Quickly (SC27), Perfect 36, Pacific Spirt and Pair a Dice.  Nothing changed with this order until all of the boats compressed with the wind dying at Gov.  Just as it was fading from the northwest, the Easterly was starting to fill in.  Before long all boats were sailing in a building easterly breeze.  There was virtually no downwind run on this whole race!  At the finish, it was Mistress Quickly, followed by Makani and Equanimity (was it a tie?), Perfect 36, Pair A Dice, Aeolian, Pacific Spirit, Kicks, Nidariss II, Dreamer (Catalina 27) Odonata, Tara and Sea Quake.

With all of these boats coming out and finishing the race it seems people are finding out that WE MIGHT JUST HAVE SOMETHING HERE!

STUART ON MAKANI, LEADING THE WAY!
WE MIGHT JUST HAVE SOMETHING HERE

SHOOTING A MARK:

There is a trick used by more accomplished sailors in making it around a mark that is just to weather and you are not able to comfortably round.  Obviously do everything you can pinching up to the mark to try to round the mark. If you see you will not round it, fall off a little for more speed just before the mark, then use this speed to coast into the wind, sheeting in the main as you go up. Have the jib uncleated as it is critical for the crew to not let the jib back wind.  If the jib backwinds at all, it will stop the boat dead and you will fail.  Just as the mark is mid ship, trim in the jib to help drive you down around the mark.  Simultaneously turn down and release the main completely to prevent being pushed into the mark.  Shooting the mark requires exact coordination of the helmsman and the crew to accomplish, but it is much better than having to throw another two tacks to round.  If you fail and brush up against the mark, you need to complete a 360 to exonerate yourself.  (Thanks to Fred Molnar for help in explaining this intricate maneuver).

NEXT TUESDAY IS CATALINA BARBECUE NIGHT! THE CLUB AND BAR WILL BE OPEN.  BRING OUR OWN FOOD TO GRILL.

 

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

AUGUST 15, 2017: GOT WIND?

AUGUST 15, 2017

GOT WIND?

Checking the Predict Wind web site through the day, it was apparent we were going to have wind. Approaching the harbor confirmed there was a strong northwesterly blowing and we changed down to our 135 jib in anticipation.  There was no hint of the wind dying or changing so we optimistically chose the longest course for this direction of wind W1: Start, Wharf, Mile, Blacks finish.  We gave a 5 minute horn at 5:55 for a 6 o’clock start.

Pair A Dice was a little early to the line and had to stall to not be OCS but eventually started on SB tack right at the Buoy.  In this position we had several boats slightly to windward  of us and had to stay on this tack until the other boats had tacked over. Meanwhile several boats had started on Port tack to take advantage of the smoother water inside.  Ultimately the inside boats prevailed and rounded Wharf first.  At wharf Sagitarius was first followed by Pacific Spirit, Perfect 36 and Pair A Dice. 

  It was an easy reach to Mile and as we rounded Mile we set the pole for the run to Blacks.  We were a stone’s throw from the stern of Perfect 36 but despite our best efforts (and wishes) we could not catch them and they rounded Blacks just ahead of us.

At the finish it was Sagitarius, Pacific Spirit, Perfect 36, Pair A Dice, Aila (Beneteau 32), Andiamo (good job Katie!), Aeolian, Kicks, Toad and Nidaris II.

CHOOSING THE BEST TACK:

It is common knowledge in racing circles to sail the longest tack first; sailing closer to the mark.  In Santa Cruz most boats will get on port tack as soon as possible trying to capitalize on the lift experienced on the approach to wharf mark after tacking toward it.  This port tack also has flatter seas, taking waves on the beam rather than on the bow.  Also, frequently there is a westerly flowing current that is stronger toward shore which helps also.  It takes some unusual circumstances to overcome these advantages.

STEERING STRAIGHT:

Many people realize you should steer a boat in a straight line as much as possible when racing.  I originally thought this made sense simply because a straight line is a shorter distance.  This is true, but when you think of the foils that pull the boat forward over the course, anything that disturbs the flow of air and water over these foils will slow your progress.  The sails are one big foil and when going to weather, the flow of air on the outer edge of this foil pulls the boat forward.  The thought is that while going to weather for every pound of pressure pushing on the windward part of the sail there are 5 pounds of pressure on the leeward side pulling the boat along.  The same foil effect is working below the water line as the water flows around the foils under the water: Keel and Rudder.  If your steering is erratic, it only serves to destroy the smooth flow around these foils.  It is the undisturbed flow that is most efficient in propelling the boat forward.    Using the Race QS app on your cell phone and watching the results on a computer is a perfect way to tell how you are doing in your steering.

OTHER REGATTAS:

Next weekend is another regatta.  The first part of the regatta is on Saturday starting with the double end regatta.  Boats will start in both Santa Cruz and Monterey and sail around a buoy out in the middle of the bay then sail in to Moss Landing harbor.  After this race on Saturday, the first race of the fall Santa Cruz SCORE series will be the race from Monterey to Santa Cruz.  This should be a very fun regatta.  Check out specifics on SCYC.org under regattas.

See you next Tuesday.

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

AUGUST 8, 2017: MISERABLE START, AWESOME FINISH

AUGUST 8, 2017

MISERABLE START, AWESOME FINISH

There was a steady northwesterly showing on the flags as I approached the harbor, so it looked like a great night for sailing.  We sorted out the crew issues on Q dock and headed out.  Even at 5:45 there was still a lot of northwesterly breeze even as far in as the start buoy.  We chose course W3: start, wharf (to SB), Gov (to SB) and finish to port.  We gave a 5 minute horn for a 6pm start.

As frequently happens, conditions changed quite a bit in 5 minutes countdown to the start.  At the start, only Pacific Spirit was in the last vestiges of the northwesterly breeze right at the start mark.  They romped off into the horizon in the still strong northwesterly that refused to come to the start area. They were not seen (except in the very far distance) for the rest of the evening.  Any boat that was not right at the buoy at the moment of the start was left in a no-win(d) situation.  All of us were struggling to make headway with the dead northwesterly and the easterly very gently trying to fill.  I was not timing it but most boats did not pass the start line until 10 minutes after the start time.  This had to be the slowest building easterly I have witnessed.  Even as it was trying to fill, it came in very small patches of wind that would propel one boat for a bit then another boat then move on to another boat.  It was amazing to me how close all of the boats were to each other as we rounded Wharf mark.  Sea Quake rounded just ahead of Pair A Dice and the whole fleet seemed to be right on our heels as we sailed toward Gov.

THE ROUNDING AT WHARF

On the way to Gov, It felt delicious to sail to weather again as the wind steadily increased.  Pair a Dice was second to Pacific Spirit (by over an hour) in rounding Gov.  Passing Gov, we continued to sail further inside for the better wind on the beach.  We tacked our way along the beach and headed out to the finish mark.  It seems half of the boats tried to sail outside and the other half sailed inside like we did.  At the finish, Pair a Dice was second (after Pacific Spirit) followed by Sea Quake, Guenther (on his Finn), Nidaris II, Rosa Nautica, Kicks, Aila (Beneteau 32), Tara, A Tartan, Toad, Aeolian and a Ranger 33. What started as a miserable start ended to be an awesome finish with most boats finishing the entire course.

OTHER REGATTAS:

It is still not too late to register for the Brig Brothers Big Sisters regatta this Sunday August 13.  You can even register at the event in the boat yard at the yacht club.  I would show up no later than 10 am if you plan to register late.  This is a great event and a great party after the event.

The fall Score series will start on Sunday August 27.  Be sure to register and compete in this fun series also.  You can register for this series on line at SCYC.org under regattas.

See you out there next Tuesday.

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

AUGUST 1, 2017: FINALLY SOME WIND! BUT

AUGUST 1, 2017

FINALLY SOME WIND!  BUT

As I approached the harbor it was apparent that there was a lot of wind with the flag on the Crow’s nest showing a strong northwesterly.  Anticipating the wind would die down, we kept the 155 jib and headed out of the harbor.  I could not believe the number of boats out and the number of boats still coming out of the harbor. Ultimately there were close to 20 boats out for the fun. There was a thick fog bank undulating back and forth between engulfing the whole fleet and leaving the bay with clear visibility.  With the strong wind coming from the northwest, we called the course W3: start, Wharf mark, Blacks, finish and gave a 5 minute horn.

On Pair a Dice, we wanted to do a port tack start, but thought it too risky with so many boats out.  As it turned out, we had a clear line and were able to start on port, only having to duck a couple of boats which were on starboard tack. There were several boats that started on port tack with us.  The march was on to Wharf mark and one by one the port tack boats tacked over to outside.  It sure felt great to be in some wind again! At Wharf it was Homer on Equinimity and Perfect 36 first around first with Pair A Dice following. 

On the long sail to Blacks, the fog came back in to obscure many of the boats.  We saw many “fog-bows” which were shafts of light shining through the fog giving a surrealistic effect.  Equinimity and Perfect 36 took a line further outside while we followed our GPS and attempted to rhumb line it to the mark. 

At Blacks, Equinimity was just ahead of us with Perfect 36 right behind us.  As soon as Equinimity rounded, they headed straight back out for more wind.  We decided to sail a little further along the shore to avoid sailing in disturbed air.  As it turned out, we sailed in to a hole of no wind and took forever to sail out of it with the waves on our bow.  Equinimity had read it right and finished 15-20 minutes before the rest of the boats. As Homer said later, over dinner, “sail for the fog line for the wind!”  Most of the boats got stuck in the transition zone at blacks as we patiently waited for the easterly to fill in to finish the race.  Understandably, food at the Crow’s nest sounded like a better idea than bobbing in a transition zone and many of the boats motored in to the harbor.  Honorable mention goes to those that finished!  After Equinimity, Odonata and Toad followed with Pair a Dice, a Ranger 33, a Tartan and Kicks sticking to it to the end.

We had an awesome evening with great wind, BUT the transition zone got us toward the end.

TO THE BEGINNERS:

We have several boats that are venturing out for our Tuesday evening “Cattle Drive”.  I want to extend a hearty welcome to all of you! Please keep in mind that racing sailboats is a learning process.  Be assured that every boat you see leading the pack started racing by coming in dead last.  As you learn more, you will start working your way up through the fleet. Just be observant of what works and what does not work and keep learning!

FINER NUANCES:

Sailing in very light wind is one of the most challenging things we do.  In transition zones, like we had at Blacks, I find it useful to close your eyes and feel the wind on your face.  Of course the wind will fill differently at different levels, so you need to also look at the windex on the top of the mast.  Always remember that any wind (going to weather) SUCKS the boat along.  It does not PUSH the boat.  This means the sails must often be relaxed a little to get air flowing around the front of the sail!  You watch your tell tales on the sails to gauge how successful you are in doing this.

Looking forward to next Tuesday!

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice