Thursday, August 30, 2018

AUGUST 28, 2018: STEADY BREEZE


August 28, 2018

STEADY BREEZE

Checking Predict Wind in the morning, I was not encouraged since it predicted very light winds from about 7pm into the evening.  When I got to the harbor just after 5, the northwesterly was still blowing steadily.  We left the harbor and there were over 12 boats out, we set the line and called for course W3.  We gave a 5 minute horn for a 6pm start in the steady 10 knot breeze.

On Pair A Dice, we set up for a starboard tack start, anywhere on the line that would give us free air.  We accomplished this, but had about 5 boats following us a little to windward.  We slowly pinched up and eventually forced all boats to tack over.  We all know that it is best to tack over to port tack earlier, but on this night the waves were not impeding our progress and since the wind was a little more south (220 degrees) than normal, we did not think the boats inside would get as much lift as usual. 

We finally tacked over toward Wharf mark and found we were a little above the layline for the mark.  At the wharf mark rounding it was Avatar, followed by Patricia J, Perfect 36 with Pair a Dice right on 36’s stern.  On the long run to Blacks, Pair A Dice pulled to windward of Perfect 36 and closed a little of the gap that Avatar and Patricia J had created ahead of us.
 
At the finish, Avatar was first with Patricia J following.  Perfect 36 (49:05), Pair A Dice (50:10), Kicks (52:50), Aeolian (55:18) and Pacific Spirit (56:21).  All times are elapsed and the course was 3.23 miles.  For some reason the track for Avatar and Patricia J stopped so I could not record the time.  It should also be noted that Pacific Spirit went out of their way to help a Hobie sailor that had capsized. I need to emphasize that you must have Race QS operating to be counted.  If phone batteries run low, you can get an adapter to keep your phone charged through your cigarette lighter plug.

IMPEDING A FOLLOWING BOAT:

There is a trick that all match racers and team racers know.  When a boat is following close behind, either to windward or leeward with the possibility of passing you, you can pretty much stop them by travelling up on the main.  While this will slow your boat down a little, the disturbed wind you give the other boat will slow them dramatically and they will have to tack rather than pass you.

ASSISTING OTHER BOATERS:

Kudos to Pacific Spirit for helping the Hobie that had flipped.  In my many years of Hobie catting I have been flipped many time.  Righting a Hobie 16 single handed is not difficult with enough wind.  This Hobie was an 18, which is a little larger making it very difficult to right especially with wind lightening.  Thanks to Pacific Spirit for helping him out.

ASSISTING A PERSON IN THE WATER:

We had a person fall into the water while docking their boat on Q dock.  This presents a problem.  What is the best way to get a person out of the water and onto a dock or an inflatable?   We were fortunate to have Mike Gross show us the way.  I had always heard that you should have the person cross their arms or the rescuer cross their arms so that with the “swimmer” facing the dock, as you pull them out, their body rotates and they end up sitting on the dock.  This may work for a child in the water, but when you consider that any adult is going to weigh in excess of 200 pound when drenched, most of us would not be able to pull them onto the dock.  The proper technique is to give the person in the water something to hold onto with their hands to keep their head above water and to assist in lifting their weight, then reach down and grab them by the belt or knee to get the rest of their body on deck.  Once you get them high enough, you can roll them onto the dock.

Looking forward to next Tuesday!

Barry Keeler
Sailing Pair A Dice

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