September 5, 2017: IT'S NOT OVER TILL IT'S OVER

September 5, 2017

IT’S NOT OVER TILL IT’S OVER

The flag on the Crow’s nest looked like a moderate northwesterly, but would it hold?  As we left the harbor, there were about a dozen boats out already and another 6 or so coming out. The question pondered on Pair a Dice: “would the wind hold?”  One person thought it would so we set an ambitious course.  We decided on W3 and gave a 5 minute horn at 5:55 for a 6pm start.

On Pair A Dice, we really wanted to start on port, but knew it would be suicide with close to 20 boats on the line. We started on starboard tack like the rest of the boats, but tacked over to port at the first opportunity.  We went inside until the wind started to die and tacked out into the horrible waves which were now on our bow.  We sailed through the transition zone on the way to the wind line which was inhabited by thousands of Sheerwater birds.  Many boats sailed clear inside past the wharf before tacking out for Wharf.  Mistress Quickly and Sea Bird rounded wharf mark first.  Pair a Dice was about the fourth boat around to start the painfully long slow run to Blacks.   We tried to stay outside with the sheerwaters to keep in the wind, with the hope to turn more down the waves to get through the transition zone to get to Blacks.  Sea Bird had sailed further inside and got caught in the transition and we passed them with Nidaris II on our stern trying to catch us. Looking back at all of the boats in the fleet, we felt pretty confident in the outcome of this race.

At Blacks, we were the first around with Nidaris II following us.  We sailed inside to the layline for start mark hoping for a building easterly.  We finally tacked over into the horrible bucking seas stopping our every attempt to build speed.  The wind was very unpredictable with puffs hitting all over the place like mortar shells shot from a “puff canon”.  Who could prevail in such conditions?  Just as we were painstakingly creeping up to the start mark, Homer came barreling through on port tack doing at least 4 knots when we were barely doing 2 knots of boat speed.  At the finish it was Homer on Equinimity, Pair A Dice, Nidaris II, Perfect 36, Rosa Nautica, a Tartan, Pacific Spirit, Sea Bird and Makani.  I guess we learned who could prevail in such conditions: Homer. Looking back on our confident feelings earlier, it became very apparent that its not over until its over.

It was a glorious evening with abundant sea life.  Thousands of Sheerwater birds visiting from New Zealand and whales frolicking about.  As if the sea life was not enough, we had a gorgeous sunset on one horizon and a fantastic full moon rising on the opposite horizon.

READING THE SIGNS:

The conditions between Blacks and start mark were truly challenging.  Homer said later that he had tacked outside earlier and he felt a puff on wind on his cheek and immediately tacked to take advantage of it.  It could have been luck, but I think it shows how quick decisive action capitalizes on unpredictable conditions.

OTHER REGATTAS:

We have two more days of racing in the Fall Score series.  We have all brought up our game in our Tuesday night races, it may be time to enter a real race. The next day of racing is Sunday September 24 and the last day of the series is Sunday October 22.  The first day was the sail back from Moss Landing in the end of August and none of the Jib and Main boats were in that race, so we all have a clean slate. If you have never been in a sanctioned regatta, this is your chance to see what it is like.

Looking forward to next Tuesday!

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice