NOVEMBER 2, 2021 FIRST TUESDAY AFTERNOON SAIL

 

NOVEMBER 2, 2021

FIRST TUESDAY AFTERNOON SAIL

Predictions were all over the place for conditions on the bay.  I have learned to just go with the flow and just deal with conditions that are delivered.  Starting at 2 pm, is good because by this time in the afternoon, the weather has usually settled.  We were dealing with a steady light wind from the south across the bay and an awesome sunny day.   The wind was coming from 190 degrees, almost due south.  We had 10 boats out for the fun and called for course M2: start, mile, finish and blew a 5 minute horn for a 2pm start. Though the SCYC marks have been removed for the winter, an anchored “red stick” has replaced the start mark and is visible enough for us to use.  Thanks to the race committee for providing this.

The start was uneventful with Avatar nailing the start right on time, establishing a lead in clear air which allowed them to consistently expand their lead.  At the weather mark, Avatar was first around followed by Aquavit, New Wave, Pacific Spirit, Nidaros, Pair A Dice, Muffin, Simpatico and Kicks.

On the way back to the finish line, the wind seemed to be decreasing as we all moved slowly toward the finish.   At the finish, Avatar was first 47:03 followed by New Wave 52:30, Nidaros 54:25, Aquavit and Pair A Dice both at 54:44, Wind II 57:20,  Muffin 1:00:08, Simpatico 1:05:57 and Kicks 1:10:28. All times are elapsed and the course distance was 2.07NM.

It was a beautiful classical winter day and an awesome first Tuesday afternoon sail for the year.  Congrats to Avatar and crew for showing us how it should be done!

RACE QS:

Everyone ran and uploaded their Race QS tracks.   The track can be seen at:

 https://raceqs.com/tv-beta/tv.htm#userId=1011017&updatedAt=2021-11-03T01:15:37Z&dt=2021-11-02T13:45:02-07:00..2021-11-02T18:15:36-07:00&boat=Pairadice&time=1635889523234&focus=Pairadice&rival=Nueva%20Ola&tab=match&view=follow&lat=36.942350&lon=-121.996581&tilt=3&range=2101&heading=202

ADJ SEC	ADJ PLACE
2549.76	1	AVATAR
2903.66	2	PACIFIC SPIRIT
2911.4	3	SAILING PAIR A DICE
2920.23 2999	4	NEW WAVE 5 WIND II
3029.02	6	NIDAROS II
3137.03	7	AQUAVIT
3309.92	8	MUFFIN
3609.24	9	SIMPATICO
3855.4	10	KICKS

HARBOR ENTRANCE TACTICS:

Winter conditions require more attention to detail while leaving and entering the harbor.  There can be shoaling, which usually starts just inside the west jetty, but can also extend outside the harbor when large swells persist. Check the harbor soundings if in doubt!  It helps to have crew with surfing in their history to read the waves.  Surfers learn to “read” lumps of water in the distance and can also read how shallow the water is by how the waves are breaking.  When there is a shoal across the entrance while exiting the harbor, if you find you are going straight up the face of a breaking wave, DO NOT  let your boat crash straight down the back of the wave!  Instead try to take the back of the wave at an angle so you do not bounce off the shoaled bottom!

Once again, when entering the harbor, reading the waves is a valuable skill.   When there is a swell, you will try to time the entrance between sets of waves using your motor to speed through the entrance.  Always enter the harbor with your boat perpendicular to the face of the wave without your boat headed for a shallow part of the shoal or toward the rocks.  If you are not perpendicular to the wave face, the energy of the wave will cause your boat to spiral out of control.  You do not want to be out of control at the entrance.  Jetties and shoals are not very forgiving. 

It is important for each skipper to decide whether to even leave the harbor depending on the conditions. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO! Check with the harbor office about entrance conditions before leaving the harbor and realize that a difference in tide can affect these conditions. My personal standard is that if there is a 5% chance of crashing my boat, I will not go out!

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I asked Don Radcliff for his input on this important subject and he submitted the following.  This is great stuff!

These are harbor entrance tactics.  Exiting is another matter.  Always be aware of the state of the tide and the surf forecast before you leave.

If I have seen waves breaking in the entrance, I tend to approach the entrance at slow speed and watch for breaking waves.  If some waves are breaking partially across the entrance, I will do circles just outside the danger zone until I sense a lull.  Then it's time for full throttle, and be prepared to bail out if you guessed wrong.  Once you are within a couple of boat lengths outside the west jetty, there is no turning back.

 It is still shallow outside the entrance, beyond where the dredging ends.  If the surf forecast is for more than 10 ft, be prepared for breakers 200 yards out.

 

Look at the latest Harbor Entrance Sounding.  The shoaling has already started at the west jetty, and you need to stay more mid-channel.  Because the entrance to the harbor is at an angle to the prevailing waves, you can't be perpendicular to the wave face all the time.  However, it you see a wave starting to mound up and break behind you, turn perpendicular to it just before it hits.  Once it hits you and you accelerate, turn left and cross behind and return to mid channel before the next wave hits. 

Once the waves start breaking all the way across the entrance, it's time to wait for high tide and less surf. The best time to run any bar is just before high tide when it is still flooding. If you are on a falling tide, consider anchoring by the wharf or heading to Moss Landing.

Do not try to come in on the same wave with another boat, because you then have to worry about hitting them as well as the rocks.

If you have to pull an engineless boat in light winds, have someone prepared to drop the towline if they start to surf.

SCYC MEMBERSHIP:

I have never been one to twist peoples arms to become SCYC members. I have suggested membership to some people that I thought would benefit and each of them are happy with joining the club.

I sailed for many years without becoming a member thinking that my wife would not enjoy the club.  Finally in 2009, we joined and I would like to share some of the many benefits I have enjoyed as a member.  One of the regular events at the club is Friday Night dinners.   The first Friday night dinner we attended as new members, we were lucky to be able to dine with Ernie Rideout and immediately knew we had made a good decision in joining.

SCYC has a reputation as a sailing club!  Just dining and socializing with members can be a huge education in all aspects of sailing and racing. Dining or sharing cocktails with people that have sailed around the world or won national regattas or even manufactured winning boats can be an enthralling experience.  You can come to the club as a guest, but you will never get to know and learn from these very talented people without joining.

There are many yacht clubs where members try to impress other members with their net worth.  SCYC is not one of these clubs.  As active as I have been in this club, I do not know the financial status of most of the members. 

Speaking of other clubs, one of the things I enjoy while traveling is exercising reciprocity with other clubs.  You can only enjoy this benefit as a member. When going to Maui, I enjoy the food, drinks and ambiance of the Lahaina Yacht Club.  Going to San Francisco? Visit and dine at St Francis Yacht club or most other clubs in the San Francisco bay.  I have had the pleasure of visiting the Royal Hong Kong Yacht club, Singapore Yacht Club and Lauderdale Yacht club in Florida and many others.

The mission statement for the club is to promote sailing and without the SCYC backing, support and facilities, our Tuesday Night sailing could never have been as successful as it has become.

I have also enjoyed assisting with the many regattas our club organizes.  It is an incredible education to be on one of the committee boats with a front row seat watching as world class sailors set up for their starts.

There are many social functions that occur throughout the year and each social event is another opportunity to cement your many friendships made at the club.

The procedure for joining the club is to have two members sign your application and pay $1000.  Yearly dues are about $650.  If you are interested or have questions about joining, talk to me or any member when you are at the club.

We will see you next Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the start mark area.

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice