JUNE 27, 2023 SUDDEN SHIFT IN WIND

 

JUNE 27, 2023

SUDDEN SHIFT IN WIND

Predictions were all over the place for the evening.  Predictions of 10 knot winds decreasing through the evening seemed spot on as we left the harbor at 5:15.   There was a very faint Easterly starting to build and we delayed setting the start line mark as long as possible to let conditions settle in.  Finally at about 5:40, we set the line for an Easterly breeze and almost like a signal, as soon as we set the mark, the wind immediately filled in from the Northwest.  We had to delay the start for five minutes to reset the start line for the new wind.  We blew the ten minute horn at 5:55 and called for course Whiskey 6.

Fleet A got off the line for their 6 pm start and made their way to Schuyler as Fleet B started five minutes later.  The wind had filled in nicely as all boats made their way to windward.  The first A fleet boat to round Schuyler was Sweetheart followed by  Aboriginal, Perigon, Frisky, Aquavit, Yellow Belly, Sagittarius and Tusitala.  The first B fleet boat to round Schuyler was Avatar followed by Perfect 36, Pacific Spirit, Pair a Dice, Big Mac, Toad, Sweet Pea, Nidaros and Rosie. 

All boats made their way downwind to the finish line and the first A fleet boat over the line was Aboriginal 29:04, followed by Sweetheart 29:14, Perigon 35:56, Aquavit 36:25, Double Espresso 36:43, Frisky 36:45,  Yellow Belly 37:04, Sagittarius 37:58 and Tusitala 43:13 and Wind II 46:24.  B Fleet was led by Zoop 38:15 followed by Perfect 36 40:25, Avatar  40:48, Big Mac 42:07, Pair A Dice 42:14,  Toad 42:29, Nidaros 42:53, Pacific Spirit 43:00, Sweet Pea 43:17 and Rosie 43:59.   All times are elapsed and the course distance was 2.6NM.

After seeing such light wind when we first went out and anticipating a “Bob-Fest”, it was awesome to have the Northwest fill in with a sudden shift in wind.

RACE QS:

Race QS is almost back to normal.  There are still tracks that are not recording or being uploaded. I still recommend recording your finish time as a backup. The track for this evening can be seen at:

https://raceqs.com/tv-beta/tv.htm#userId=1147771&updatedAt=2023-06-28T02:08:28Z&dt=2023-06-27T17:49:26-07:00..2023-06-27T19:08:26-07:00&boat=Aquavit&time=1687916939482&focus=Aquavit&rival=Unknown&tab=match&view=follow&lat=36.950582&lon=-121.993695&tilt=9&range=292&heading=54

THANKS TO LIBBY MCCORD ON BIG MAC FOR THE PHOTO

PHRF adjusted results:

PLACE                   BOAT                     ADJUSTED TIME

FLEET A:

1             ABORIGINAL                      27:38

2             SWEETHEART                    29:29

3             YELLOW BELLY                30:57

4\            PERIGON                             32:25\   TIE

4 /           DOUBLE ESPRESSO          32:25/   TIE

6             SAGITTARIUS                     32:46

7             FRISKY                                33:14

8             AQUAVIT                             33:18

9             WIND II                                37:10

10           TUSITALA                            39:19   

FLEET B:

1             ZOOP                                    32:00

2             BIG MAC                              32:29

3             PERFECT 36                        34:10

4             SAILING PAIR A DICE        34:26

5             AVATAR                                35:04

6             PACIFIC SPIRIT                   35:51

7             TOAD                                    35:59

8             SWEET PEA                         36:08

9             ROSIE                                    36:57

10           NIDAROS                             38:12

 

UNUSUAL WIND CHANGE:

What caused the unusual wind shift? I consulted with Paul Tara on this and apparently the fog banks and overhead clouds were exerting their effect.  The Easterly wind that was initially apparent was a very warm wind, but the fog chilled westerly wind overpowered the warmer Easterly. “We sail in the surface wind. Cold air sinks to the surface. The easterly was not well established and wasn’t cold.  The Westerly was very cold when it first filled, indicating the fog face (the energy source) was much closer to the west.” Paul Tara               

I think the takeaway for me is to be sensitive to temperature changes in the different directions of wind.

NEXT WEEK JULY 4:

Next Tuesday is the July 4 holiday. The firecracker regatta going to Monterey is happening on Sunday July 2. This means that you can participate in the Firecracker on Sunday, return to Santa Cruz on Monday and sail on Tuesday night.  I am planning on setting up our Tuesday Night race at the regular time (6pm) on July 4. I completely understand other commitments  for the Holiday, but I will plan on racing on July 4.

The club will have a special dinner offered for $20.  This includes: salads, baked beans, corn on the cob, tri-tip, BBQ chicken and apple pie ala mode.

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice