MARCH 22, 2022
SUNSET WIND
Predictions for the evening indicated a dying breeze. As we left the harbor at about 5:15, we
noticed a wind line indicating a developing Easterly. Easterly winds are
usually missed by Predictwind. As we
approached the start area, we anticipated that the Easterly would fill in and
set a start line square to an Easterly breeze.
19 boats were out for the excitement and fun of a Tuesday sail to participate
in what was turning out to be a BOB-fest.
No wind and a healthy current were causing some excitement as boats were
trying to avoid drifting into each other. We postponed the race for 10 minutes
as a Northwesterly wind was developing.
We called for a course to Mile and back to finish. We blew the 5-minute horn for a 6:10 start as
the wind died again. Many of the boats
were lured by the healthy wind line showing out by mile buoy and retired from
the race to motor out for a sail. It
really seemed like the thing to do and I was envious of the boats that motored
out for a fun sail rather than bob.
About 8 boats stayed with the racing and bobbed along in the
start area with the current being stronger than the wind, we were being swept
further from the start area. Finally the Northwesterly filled in and we were
able to sail with PAD crossing the start line about 20 minutes after the 6:10
start time. As the 8 boats made their way
toward Mile, we were all enticed by the vision of a boat flying a yellow
spinnaker in a strong Easterly headed our way.
At Mile, the first around was
Water Dragon followed by Sweetheart, Good Timin’, Nidaros, Avatar, PAD and Kicks. After rounding Mile, it was an exciting sail
to weather as the Easterly had filled in.
We actually saw a stretch where the apparent wind was 16 knots.
At the finish it was Sweetheart
1:00:26 followed by Water Dragon 1:01:24, Good TImin’ 1:04:19, Nidaros 1:06:02,
Avatar 1:06:15, Pair A Dice 1:06:49 and Kicks 1:13:53. All times are elapsed and the course distance
was 2NM.
As the afternoon started with
warm weather with no wind and ended with a healthy wind as the sun set and the temperature
dropped, it was a classic sunset wind.
1 WATER DRAGON 3402 7
2 GOOD TIMIN' 3577 6
3 SWEETHEART 3638 5
4 PAIR A DICE 3649 4
5 AVATAR 3711 3
6 NIDAROS 3728 2
7 KICKS 4073 1
RACE QS:
There are two things boat owners
must do to be counted in our races: register for the series and run Race QS. You can register on line at: SCYC.org > click on regattas> click on
Events> click on Tuesday night racing> click on register to fill out the
form. Please provide your PHRF
rating. If you do not have a PHRF
rating, you can click on the icon for PHRF certificate, fill out the form and
submit (with $20) to the club. To
register for the series costs $35 for members and $50 for nonmembers.
Using Race QS, you can get a lot
of information about your sailing if you mount your phone close to the
centerline of the boat and face up with the top of the phone pointed forward. Mounting the phone in this way will deliver
critical information about your boat handling (SOG, VMG, angle of heel). Doing this also prevents the track showing
your boat sailing backwards😉.
Since the start time for this
night for all boats were so delayed (from the light wind) and so diverse, Race
QS did not recognize this as a race. The
track can be viewed at:
UNUSUAL EVENING:
This evening was very challenging
for the “race committee”. Anticipating
an Easterly that did not fill in for 45 minutes while everyone was bobbing
around at the mercy of currents and very light wind was not fun for any of us. Race committees always try to set a line
where one end is not extremely favored.
Using the line set for an Easterly wind as a start line for a
Northwesterly breeze is a recipe for disaster with one end of the line so
favored. In such trying conditions with
close quarters, light wind and currents causing loss of control, it is
important to remember that we have options.
The first consideration is to avoid sailing into close quarters with
other boats regardless how much one end is favored. There is no need to crash boats for a Tuesday
night race! Remember that most of us
have auxiliary power that can be used to prevent collision. In
retrospect, with one end of the line so favored, it may have been more prudent
to cancel the race. I am still learning!
RULES DISCUSSION:
This coming Tuesday is the last
Tuesday of the month and is a barbecue night for us. We are planning on having a rules discussion
down below at the club around 7:45 to discuss some of the things that have occurred
on the water this month. We will have a
magnetic board with boat models so everyone can observe and learn.
NEXT TUESDAY IS BARBECUE POTLUCK NIGHT AT THE CLUB AFTER THE
RACE. BRING YOUR FAVORITE GRILLING FOOD!
Barry Keeler
Sailing Pair A Dice
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