OCTOBER 2, 2018: WAVES TRUMP A LIFT

OCTOBER 2, 2018

WAVES TRUMP A LIFT

With predictions of rain and a heavy fog hanging over the harbor until after 4pm, it was no surprise that it seemed like turnout for the night seemed to be light.  We had a good 10-15 knot breeze coming from about 250 degrees and a south swell mixing the ocean up for us.  With the sun setting so soon, we decided on a rather short course Whiskey 3. We set the line and gave a 5 minute horn for the start.

On Pair A Dice, we were lucky to be about half way up the line at the start on starboard tack.  Pacific Spirit and Avatar started behind us on the line and I could feel the angst as Pacific Spirit was getting some bad air from Mistress Quickly (SC27).  Finally Pacific Spirit tacked over for clear air.  Pair A Dice and Avatar continued further out on starboard.  On Pair A Dice, we saw that the further out we went we were getting lifted more and more toward the first mark (Wharf).  At the start, the waves seemed to be right on our bow slowing us down, but as we got lifted more and more, we were taking waves more on the Beam than on our bow.  About halfway out, Avatar tacked over to avoid the waves slowing them down.  When they tacked over to go inside, I thought it was certainly a mistake since we were getting lifted so much.  This meant we were taking advantage of a lift, while they were getting headed on the opposite tack.

To prove how wrong I was in my theory, Avatar rounded wharf with a substantial lead followed by Pacific Spirit and Pair a Dice right behind.  On the long run to Blacks, we thought we saw more wind outside so we set a pole to stay outside, then heat it up with a beam reach on the way to Blacks.  This tactic worked pretty well because we rounded Blacks right behind Pacific Spirit who had sailed inside toward Blacks

At the finish, Avatar had a healthy lead (50:17), Pacific Spirit (53:48), Pair A Dice (54:04), Nidaros (59:50), Sandpiper (1:02:34) and Kicks (1:06:35).  All times are elapsed and the course was 3.23 miles.

WAVES VS LIFTS:

All racing sailors know it is “always” best to sail in a lift rather than a header.  The very experienced sailors play this game efficiently to their advantage.   The thought is that a 5 degree header, if tacked on appropriately can yield a 10 degree lift.  This is normally a huge advantage if played correctly.  This is why I thought Avatar was not going to fair well going inside sailing into a header.  In our discussion later, Doug said he was very frustrated with the waves slowing him down, so tacked inside riding and surfing the waves toward the pier. When he finally tacked back out there were less waves because of the shield of the point and beat all of us to wharf and ultimately the finish!  On this particular evening, Waves trumped a lift.

I will see you next Tuesday.

Barry L. Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice