APRIL 9, 2024 REMEMBER TO LOOK EAST FOR THE WIND

 

APRIL 9, 2024

REMEMBER TO LOOK EAST FOR THE WIND

As I was hanging out on my boat early in the afternoon, I was encouraged to see the flags indicating a good breeze.  BUT,  predictions were for the wind to decrease through the evening and sure enough, by 4:30 the flags were going limp.   We left the harbor at about 5pm and I was encouraged to see good wind across the bay, increasing as we went further out.  It was apparent that the wind was receding.  It’s bad enough to have a receding hairline, but a receding wind line when trying to run a race is even worse.  I was in a quandary.  How could I have a race as the wind was rapidly dissipating?    As I expressed my consternation on the VHF, someone noted that an Easterly was building.  We quickly moved the start line ball for a 90 degree wind  direction rather than a 240 and set an offset mark.  I called for a course: start>Blacks>offset mark>S/F twice around course finishing with the S/F to starboard (Finish line an extension of Lighthouse through S/F).  We blew the 10 minute till 6 horn.

Both A fleet and B fleet got off to a good start as the Easterly filled in nicely. The first rounding of the S/F mark for Fleet  A was Flexi Flyer followed by Sagittarius, Watts Moore, Aquavit, Duet, Rosie, Interlude and Sophie.  B Fleet was led by Avatar, Big Mac, Makani,  Zoop,  Perfect  36, New Perspective, Pair a Dice and Simpatico.  There was definitely close quarter sailing when B fleet rounded the offset mark and S/F.  As the northwest wind died completely the Easterly continued to build up to 15 knots!

At the finish, Fleet A was led by Aboriginal 24:03, then Flexi Flyer 25:39,  Sagittarius 27:48, Watts Moore 28:35, Aquavit 28:44, Duet 30:08, Interlude 30:50, Rosie 31:02 and Sophie 32:16.  B Fleet was led by Avatar 28:58 then Zoop 30:37,  Makani 30:57, Big Mac 31:07, The Perfect 36 32:32, Sailing Pair A Dice 33:47, New Perspective 33:56 and Simpatico 35:29.   All times are elapsed and the course distance was 2.02 NM.

The evening started with extreme frustration over a dying breeze, but ended with exhilaration when the Easterly filled in so well.   All through the winter, we had northwesterly breezes, but now that spring and summer are coming we must remember to look East for the wind!

 

PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS

PLACE                 BOAT                                   PHRF                   CORRECTED TIME

FLEET A:

1             FLEXI FLYER                                    96                          22:45

2             ABORIGINAL                                   33                          22:56

3             WATTS MOORE                               150                       23:32

4             SAGITTARIUS                                  120                       23:45

5             DUET                                                 141                       25:23

6             ROSIE                                                162                       31:02

7             INTERLUDE                                     141                       26:05

8             AQUAVIT                                          72                          26:18

9             SOPHIE                                              141                       27:31

FLEET B:

1             BIG MAC                                            222                       23:38

2             AVATAR                                              132                       24:31

3             ZOOP                                                  144                       25:46

4             MAKANI                                            147                       26:00

5             SAILING PAIR A DICE                     180                       26:28

6             THE PERFECT 36                              144                       27:41

7             NEW PERSPECTIVE                        144                       29:05

8             SIMPATICO                                        165                       29:55

A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR A SAIL

               RACE QS:

The track for this evening can be viewed at:

https://raceqs.com/tv-beta/tv.htm#userId=1011017&divisionId=97796&updatedAt=2024-04-10T02:15:08Z&dt=2024-04-09T17:45:22-07:00..2024-04-09T19:11:18-07:00&boat=SAILING%20PAIR%20A%20DICE&time=1712711214678&focus=Interlude&rival=Flexi%20Flyer&tab=match&view=auto

Most tracks are uploading well, but it is important to record your finish time just in case Race QS drops the ball.

Lets all hope for favorable conditions next Tuesday!

 

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice