DECEMBER 13, 2022 AREN'T WE BLESSED

 

DECEMBER 13, 2022

AREN’T WE BLESSED!

I got to the harbor around 1:30, and as usual, there was a breeze showing on the flags.  This is a positive sign that can quickly disappear, leaving us flat, anxious, and cursed.  We prepped the boat and left the harbor around 2 with wind still showing on the water.  We went to the start area around GOV and set a start line using the small, yellow with red flag mark.  We then motor-sailed to an area towards Steamer Lane to set the red ball mark as the windward mark.

We had about 10 boats out for the fun and called for a course: Start to windward mark, Mile and back to the finish line between the end of the wharf and GOV.  We blew a 5-minute horn at 2:55 for a one fleet start. We had a clean start with several boats crowding at the GOV end of the start line.  We all tacked our way toward the windward mark which was plagued with varying winds and current creating difficulties in getting around it.

After rounding the windward mark, we all made our way to Mile with the first to round being Avatar, followed by Nidaros, Aquavit, Big Mac, Simpatico, Perfect 36, Pair A Dice and Kicks.  As we all made our way back to the finish line, the wind seemed to be decreasing from the brisk 8-9 knot wind to a more anemic 5-6 knots. At the finish Aquavit was first over the line 39:24, followed by Nidaros 40:35, Avatar and Wind II both at 40:51, Big Mac 43:33, Perfect 36 44:05, Simpatico 44:14, Pair A Dice 44:15 and Kicks 49:20.  Times are elapsed, and the course distance was about 2.80 NM.

With the windy, rainy weather we have had in the last week, it was incredible to have such a beautiful sunny day with enough wind to have a good race. When you consider that most of the country is digging out from blizzards, we have weather like today: aren’t we blessed!

PHRF ADUSTED RESULTS:

PLACE                   BOAT                     ADJUSTED TIME

1              WIND II                                30:54

2              BIG MAC                              34:35

3              AVATAR                                35:30

4              NIDAROS                             35:42

5              AQUAVIT                             35:58

6              PAIR A DICE                        36:57

7              SIMPATICO                          37:40

8              PERFECT 36                         39:28

9              KICKS                                   49:20

 

RACE QS:

The track for this afternoon can be found at:

https://raceqs.com/tv-beta/tv.htm#userId=1011017&divisionId=86751&updatedAt=2022-12-14T00:38:39Z&dt=2022-12-13T14:45:05-08:00..2022-12-13T16:38:18-08:00&boat=SAILING%20PAIR%20A%20DICE&time=1670976505957&focus=SAILING%20PAIR%20A%20DICE&rival=Big%20Mac&tab=match&view=auto

TACTICS AND RULES:

As noted above, it was an exciting rounding of the windward mark.  On PAD, I could not round the mark and used the tactic called “shooting the mark”.  This is when you aim below the mark to gain speed, then turn head to wind to coast around the mark. The move is best attempted with no other boats close by, but this was not the case for us, with a boat entering the zone to windward of us.  While we were successful in this attempt (not hitting the mark), it was a good education for me.  To this point in the race, we were doing well, but coasting to a stop in 6 knot winds on a heavy boat is not a good tactic! By the time we got up to speed again, we had surrendered our good position.  Using this move to round a finishing mark may be appropriate, but not in the middle of the race. It would have been better to do two tacks.

 The rules involved in this situation are noted in rule 18.2. 18.2(b): If boats are overlapped when the first of them reaches the zone, the outside boat at that moment shall thereafter give the inside boat mark-room. If a boat is clear ahead when she reaches the zone, the boat clear astern at that moment shall thereafter give her mark-room.  Without these criteria being met, the outside windward boat could hail “No overlap, No room”.  When leeward boat is turning head to wind to “shoot the mark”, he can turn no further than head to wind. Turning any more than head to wind would mean you are tacking within the zone invoking rule 18.3: “If a boat in the zone of a mark to be left to port passes head to wind from port to starboard tack and is then fetching the mark, she shall not cause a boat that had been on starboard tack since entering the zone to sail above close hauled to avoid contact and she shall give mark room if that boat becomes overlapped inside her.” The rules were honored by both boats on this rounding.

LAST TWO TUESDAYS OF THE MONTH:

The next two Tuesdays are entwined with the holiday season and, with the club closed for these two Tuesdays, we have options.  If you want to race, we will be racing both days starting at 3pm.  We will also be having a barbecue at the club after each sail.  Mike Gross will be providing tools for the barbecue and, though the upstairs will be closed, we will have access to the restrooms and downstairs.  Since the bar will not be open, we need to bring our own food and drinks for each of these events.   This could all be called off if weather does not cooperate.  If we cancel, an email will be sent by noon on each day.  Watch your email if weather looks questionable.   

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice