SEPTEMBER 4, 2018: SKUNKED!

SEPTEMBER 4, 2018

SKUNKED!

My first sight of the harbor looked rather ominous.  The flag on the Crows Nest was showing a strong wind and the marine layer hanging over the water looked less than inviting.  We sorted out crew issues and exited the harbor with close to a dozen boats out already. With the wind blowing from 250 degrees (when we checked it), we set a buoy for the other end of the line and called for course W3.  We gave a 5-minute horn for a 6pm start and set up for our start.

On Pair a Dice we wanted to start on starboard tack start a little up the line from the pin end in pretty clear air.  Right after the start, as soon as we had clear air, we tacked over for the inside.  Many of the boats thought there was more wind outside and sailed outside and got stuck in very little wind.  On our inside tack, we noticed many headers and lifts and played them as well as we could.  Many of the boats sailed outside while we kept sailing further inside.  Finally we tacked over just below the lay line for wharf mark. As we approached the mark, the wind got very light and variable with headers and lifts making it difficult to round the mark.  Zoof (Islander 36) with PauL Tara was the first to make it around the mark with Pair A Dice hot on their heels.  Avatar rounded Wharf after us and was trying to close the gap with us.

As we got about halfway to Blacks, the wind started dying and one by one boats started retiring.  Usually wind will develop to get us out of this predicament, but with the heavy marine layer it did not happen tonight!  Finally we could see the hopelessness of completing the course and retired along with the other boats.  We got skunked with no wind!

WHERE IS THE WIND?

Right at the start, someone on Pair A Dice said there was more wind inside.  It sure looked that way from the appearance of the water.  The prediction was that there would be more westerly current inside.  We did not properly anticipate the shiftiness of the wind.  We were getting 20-30 degree shifts inside, but continued on inside as far as we could.  Gauging by the angle the outside boats were sailing versus our angle inside, we were generally getting lifted  in comparison.

  Why was there more wind inside?  We all know that fog and marine layers have more wind at the edges.  As it turns out on this night, the marine layer ended just offshore and was creating the wind that we enjoyed.

PLAYING HEADERS AND LIFTS:

We certainly had our share of headers and lifts on this night.  If the wind is oscillating back and forth and you are getting ready for a tack, wait for the next header.  Sail into it a little, then tack. A header on one tack is a lift on the other tack.  If you are even lifted 5 degrees, you can create a tremendous lead over someone that sails on in the header.

 

By observing  other boats courses and how it relates to YOUR course, you can tell who is getting headed and who is getting lifted.  If your angles are at right angles to each other, you are equal.  Watch for angles that are not right angles to each other to see who is being lifted and who is being headed.

Hopefully, next Tuesday will have enough wind to finish the course.

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice