MAY 28, 2024 JUST ANOTHER DRIFTER

 

MAY 28, 2024

JUST ANOTHER DRIFTER

I was at the boat early in the afternoon and was impressed to see an Easterly developing early in the afternoon.  As crew arrived and we left the harbor there was a light Easterly  across the bay.  It was much less of an Easterly than what I had seen earlier.  We watched as it looked like the Easterly would possibly stay and set a line for an Easterly breeze.   Indeed, as the clock ticked down to the start time, someone pointed out that it was going to be a downwind start as the Westerly was trying to come back. We called for Course Echo 6 with the possibility of shortening course and blew the ten-minute horn

An axiom used in the sailing community is that you should have 5 knots of wind  to start a race.   As a developmental series, we do not follow the usual customs and let the start proceed though the wind was definitely lower than 5 knots. It was just enough wind to allow boats to slowly drift and sail toward the first mark Blacks.   The first of A fleet to round the mark was Watts Moore then Sweetheart, Perfect 36, Double Espresso and Sagittarius.  The first of B fleet to round the mark was Nidaros followed by Avatar, Toad, Simpatico, Blond Ambition, Sweet Pea, Pacific Spirit, Big Mac, Makani and Pair a Dice.

All boats progressed to round the temporary mark and finished at S/F since the course had been shortened to once around. The first A fleet boat to finish was Watts Moore 41:16, then Sweetheart 41:42, Perfect 36 50:00, Double Espresso 53:31 and Sagittarius 1:03:59.  B fleet was led by Nidaros 48:50 then Avatar 56:15, Toad 1:01:50, Simpatico 1:04:39, Blond Ambition 1:05:16, Sweet Pea 1:06:03, Pacific Spirit 1:09:07, Big Mac 1:10:04, Makani 1:11:35 and Pair A Dice 1:13:04.  All times elapsed, and the course distance was 0.87NM.

It was a frustratingly slow sailing evening but it was at least a  beautiful, sunny day on the water.  It was just another drifter.

PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS

PLACE                BOAT                                   PHRF                   CORRECTED TIME     

FLEET A:

1             WATTS MOORE                             150                       39:05

2             SWEETHEART                              -6                           41:47

3             PERFECT 36                                    144                       47:54

4             DOUBLE ESPRESSO                      99                          52:04

5             SAGITTARIUS                                 120                       1:02:14

FLEET B:

1             NIDAROS                                          118                       47:07

2             AVATAR                                             130                       54:21

3             TOAD                                                 150                       59:39

4             SIMPATICO                                       165                       1:02:15

5             BLOND AMBITION                         165                       1:02:52

6             SWEET PEA                                      165                       1:03:39

7             PACIFIC SPIRIT                               165                       1:06:43

8             BIG MAC                                          222                       1:06:50

9             MAKANI                                           147                       1:09:27

10          PAIR A DICE                                      180                       1:10:27

ANOTHER DRIFTER

 RACE QS:

The track for this evening can be found at:

https://raceqs.com/tv-beta/tv.htm#userId=1011017&divisionId=98955&updatedAt=2024-05-29T02:45:35Z&dt=2024-05-28T17:45:20-07:00..2024-05-28T19:43:16-07:00&boat=SAILING%20PAIR%20A%20DICE&time=1716943558823&focus=SAILING%20PAIR%20A%20DICE&rival=Makani&tab=fleet&view=match

PARTY SAILING OR RACING?

We all love sailing and the various aspects of the sport.   You can go out for a pleasure sail with various people taking turns steering the boat with food and drinks served. Conversations covering topics of work, family, jokes and whatever comes to mind.  It can be a great social and fun sailing event: party sailing.

I have raced on winning and losing boats and racing is a completely different aspect of sailing than a social sailing event.  On a winning race boat, the only conversations taking place are analyzing and processing conditions while tuning and adjusting things on the boat in a constant pursuit of more speed.    Check for wind conditions, backstay tension, halyard tension (jib and main), outhaul, fairleads, vang, sheet tension are just a few of the things that need constant attention as conditions change.

There is a whole spectrum of learning in sailing.  Everything from the rank novice to those with years of experience.  Racing is the perfect time to share information you may know or to learn from more experienced crew.  You don’t share or learn how to sail a boat better by engaging in constant banter about non-sailing issues.  Tuesdays are a perfect venue to practice and learn how to improve boat speed.  

LIGHT WIND AND RULES:

There is a reason races are not started in very light wind.  Slow close quarter sailing and rounding of marks that are close together gets interesting to say the least.  Sometimes rules get broken or interpreted to one’s advantage, since making progress in such light breeze can be burdensome.  I conduct these races and write the blog but reporting to me, after the fact, that someone broke a rule is not the correct procedure.  The correct procedure is to announce “PROTEST” and display a red flag.  This must be done very quickly. The boat that fouled can exonerate by doing a 360 which can be painful in light wind conditions. The other option is to continue to sail and go to a protest hearing.  The instructions for filing a protest are in the SI’s on the back of the course card.

The last thing I want is for the attitude to develop that “it’s only Tuesday Night Sailing we don’t really need to follow rules”. With this attitude, nobody learns anything about the rules.

 Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

MAY 21, 2024 UPWIND FOR MOST OF THE RACE

 

MAY 21, 2024

UPWIND FOR MOST OF THE RACE

Predictions for this evening were almost the same as last Tuesday’s predictions: 11 knots decreasing to 3 knots.  When we left the harbor, it seemed to be a carbon copy of last Tuesday with one slight difference: the wind direction last Tuesday was 240 degrees and this week, the wind was coming from 220 degrees.  Last week’s race was so awesome with the wind sticking around to the end of the race, I called for the same race as last week, Whiskey 3.  We had about 26 boats out for the race, with a brisk 12 knot breeze. We blew the “10 minute horn” at 5:50 and observed a clean A fleet start  with B Fleet following five minutes later.

All boats tacked their way to the first mark, Schuyler. As time progressed the wind started to die as we approached Schuyler.  The first A fleet to round was Aboriginal followed by Sweetheart, Hijinx, Interlude, Aquavit, Watts Moore, Duet, Double Espresso, Good Timin’, and Quixotic. Fleet B was led by Zoop, Avatar, Nidaros, Makani, Pacific Spirit, Pair A Dice, Toad, and Big Mac.

 Schuyler can be a difficult mark to round, but on this evening the slowest boats in Fleet B were dealt a difficult situation as the wind completely died. It must have taken us 10 minutes in close proximity to finally round it.  Even after rounding, the prospect of making it all the way to Blacks was a daunting challenge. As we bobbed aimlessly, I started looking around for a new wind.   The water seemed to be darker close to shore, was it a new Easterly developing?  I confirmed it was as I saw boats closer to shore sailing in an Easterly.  I turned the boat toward shore using the waves to propel us as the Easterly continued to fill in further out.  We were sailing beating our way toward the once leeward mark, now windward.

At the finish, the first A Fleet boat to cross the line was Aboriginal 1:08:15 followed by Sweetheart 1:14:13, Hijinx 1:18:18, Yellow Belly 1:19:00, Interlude 1:19:20, Watts Moore 1:19:30, Good Timin’ 1:20:51, Double Espresso 1:22:49, Quixotic 1:26:42, Aquavit 1:27:03 and Wind II 1:32:37.  Fleet B was led by Gold Rush 1:22:08 followed by Avatar 1:23:16, Zoop 1:23:48, Nidaros 1:28:03, Pacific Spirit 1:34:35, Makani 1:39:13, Pair A Dice 1:39:18, Big Mac 1:40:37 and Toad 1:45:08. All times are elapsed and the course distance was  3.61NM.

With the evening starting with a healthy 12 knot Northwesterly wind, shifting to no wind then ending with a healthy Easterly, it was upwind sailing for most of the race.

GUENTHER ON WIND II BEATING TOWARD SCHUYLER

PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS:

PLACE                 BOAT                                   PHRF                   CORRECTED TIME

A FLEET

1             ABORIGINAL                                   33                          1:06:16

2             YELLOW BELLY                             141                       1:10:31

3             WATTS MOORE                               150                       1:10:40

4             INTERLUDE                                     141                       1:10:51

5             HIJINX                                              99                         1:12:20

6             GOOD TIMIN’                                  141                       1:12:22

7             SWEETHEART                                -6                           1:14:13

8             DOUBLE ESPRESSO                      99                          1:16:51

9             WIND II                                             213                       1:19:48

10          AQUAVIT                                           72                          1:22:43

11          QUIXOTIC                                         51                          1:23:37

B FLEET:

1             GOLD RUSH                                     126                        1:14:33           

2              ZOOP                                                 144                        1:15:08

3              AVATAR                                             130                       1:15:26        

4             NIDAROS                                           118                       1:20:57

5            PACIFIC SPIRIT                                 165                       1:24:39

6             BIG MAC                                            222                       1:27:55

7             SAILING PAIR A DICE                     180                       1:28:28

8             MAKANI                                            147                       1:30:22

9             TOAD                                                  150                       1:36:06

 RACE QS:

This app is a great asset to our event.  Please try to preset your start to 5:45 (17:45) so we can witness your start on the replay. It is good also to record your finish time and how you finished with other boats in case your track does not work.  This is easy to do because all finish lines are now an extension of two points as noted on the course card. Tonight’s track can be viewed at:

https://raceqs.com/tv-beta/tv.htm#userId=1011017&divisionId=98758&updatedAt=2024-05-22T03:06:22Z&dt=2024-05-21T17:45:04-07:00..2024-05-21T19:57:42-07:00&boat=SAILING%20PAIR%20A%20DICE&time=1716338745061&focus=SAILING%20PAIR%20A%20DICE&rival=Double%20Espresso&tab=fleet&view=match

 

Next Tuesday is the last Tuesday of the month which means it is potluck barbecue night at the club after the race.  Bring  your best barbecue food to share and  enjoy.

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

MAY 14, 2024 TUESDAY WIND AT LAST

 

MAY 14, 2024

TUESDAY WIND AT LAST

After two weeks of light to non-existent wind for Tuesday’s sails, the prospects for this evening were not encouraging either.  Predictions were for 10 knot winds decreasing to 4 knots as the evening progressed.  As we left the harbor, there was a steady 10 knot breeze filling the bay, but would it last long enough for a race?  We determined the wind was coming from 240 and set a line square to this direction.  As boats were leaving the harbor I called for course Whiskey 3: start>Schuyler>Blacks>S/F.  This seemed a little ambitious to me, but I figured I could shorten course if the wind started dying.

We blew the “10 minute horn” at 5:50 and set up to sight the line for the Fleet A start.  It is amazing how Fleet A nails the starts, usually without being OCS!  B Fleet got off the line at 6:00 and all boats tacked their way to Schuyler.  The first A Fleet boat to round Schuyler was Aboriginal followed by Sagittarius, Watts Moore, Interlude, Water Dragon, Yellow Belly, Aquavit and Rosie.  B Fleet was led by Zoop, then Gold Rush, Perfect 36, Big Mac, Pair A Dice, Toad, Makani, Animal House, Kicks, Sweet Pea and Pacific Spirit.

After rounding Shuyler, all boats made their way downwind to Blacks.  Some boats went outside and some went inside but most tried to rhumb line it to the mark.  As is usual when rounding a windward mark and sailing downwind, it felt like the wind was dying,  but it still maintained a steady 10 knots.  The first of A fleet to cross the finish line was Aboriginal 48:26 then Sagittarius 56:29, Double Espresso 56:40, Interlude 58:45, Watts Moore 59:37, Yellow Belly 60:05, Water Dragon 60:30, Rosie 1:05:50, Aquavit 1:06:07 and Wind II 1:06:11.  B Fleet was led by Zoop 56:58, then Gold Rush 59:00, Perfect 36 1:03:22, Makani 1:05:19, Pair A Dice 1:05:46, Animal House 1:05:48, Big Mac 1:06:54, Pacific Spirit 1:08:49, TOAD 1:09:27, Sweet Pea 1:09:44, AND Kicks 1:13:26.  All times are elapsed and the course distance was 3.61KM.

OVERCAST CONDITIONS

PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS:

PLACE                 BOAT                                   PHRF                                   ADJUSTED TIME

FLEET A:

1             ABORIGINAL                                   33                                          46:26

2             SAGITTARIUS                                  120                                       49:15

3             INTERLUDE                                     141                                       50:16

4             WATTS MOORE                               150                                       50:35

5             DOUBLE ESPRESSO                      99                                          50:42

6             YELLOW BELLY                             141                                       51:36

7             WATER DRAGON                           141                                       52:00

8             WIND II                                            213                                       53:22

9             ROSIE                                               162                                       56:05

10          AQUAVIT                                           72                                          61:47

FLEET B:

1             ZOOP                                                 144                                       48:18

2             GOLD RUSH                                     126                                       51:25

3             BIG MAC                                           222                                       53:32

4             PERFECT 36                                     144                                       54:42

5             SAILING PAIR A DICE                    180                                       54:56

6             MAKANI                                           147                                       56:28

7             PACIFIC SPIRIT                                165                                       58:53

8             ANIMAL HOUSE                              108                                       59:18

9             SWEET PEA                                      165                                       59:48

10          TOAD                                                  150                                       60:25

11          KICKS                                                 180                                       62:36

  

RACE QS:

A tip on using this app: preset the start so you start your track before the start of your race. The track for this evening can be found at:

https://raceqs.com/tv-beta/tv.htm#userId=1011017&divisionId=98536&updatedAt=2024-05-15T02:28:46Z&dt=2024-05-14T17:45:04-07:00..2024-05-14T19:27:36-07:00&boat=SAILING%20PAIR%20A%20DICE&time=1715734509108&focus=SAILING%20PAIR%20A%20DICE&rival=P36%20(alt)&tab=fleet&view=follow&lat=36.951361&lon=-121.996329&tilt=10&range=1186&heading=235

TUESDAY NIGHT SAILING:

This is a developmental series.  Participants range from rank novice sailors to world class racers and, because of Race QS, you can analyze what you are doing right or wrong and compare your performance with the better sailors.  There are differences between regular regattas and Tuesday nights.  We have no race committee to sight the start and finish line.  We blow only one horn at 5:50 which is a 5 minute horn for fleet A and and 10 minute horn for Fleet B.  In order to be counted for our races, you MUST record and upload your track on race QS.  Race QS allows us to record your finish time. 

Our finish lines are extensions of two points as designated on the course cards. Using extensions like this allows you to confirm your finish time by noting the time you cross this extension.  As good as Race QS is as an app, there are times that it malfunctions, and we can use your noted time for your finish.

Lets hope for good wind next Tuesday. 

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

MAY 7, 2024 FOUR BOATS FINISHED

 

MAY 7, 2024

FOUR BOATS FINISHED 

Predictions were for 5-19 knots of wind for the evening.  As I was working on my boat during the day, I was encouraged by the wind blowing in the harbor. As we left the harbor around five o’clock there was an easterly developing.  Customarily when an Easterly is developing, it gets stronger the further East you go.  Knowing this, I called for course Echo 1: Start> SC3>Blacks and S/F.  We had about 20 boats out for a delightful, sunny sail.  We blew the “10 minute horn” and A fleet got off for a good start with good wind at 5:55, followed by B Fleet at 6:00 also with good wind.

All boats tacked their way toward SC3 as the wind seemed to be decreasing.  One by one, boats retired to enjoy the ambiance of the club rather than bobbing motionless in the water.  Surprisingly, there were several boats that continued and actually rounded SC3.  Aboriginal was the first around followed by Interlude, Avatar (B fleet), Watts Moore, Rosie, Tusitala, Animal House (B fleet) and Gold Rush (B fleet). On Pair A Dice, I kept trying to advance toward SC3, dreaming of a developing Easterly even though the lack of wind and good-sized waves had me sailing in circles.  Finally, I headed for the harbor also after verifying that nobody needed a tow.

Amazingly, we had four boats that completed the whole course. What a display of persistence and determ
ination exhibited by the crews of these boats!  Aboriginal was first 1:29:31 followed by Yellow Belly 1:31:26, Interlude 1:38:38 and Watts Moore 1:40:12.  All times are elapsed and the course distance was 2.98NM.

Despite the lack of wind, it was a  beautiful day to be out on the water. Kudos to the four boats that finished the course.

GOLD RUSH ON A GLASSY SEA

 PHRF CORRECTED TIMES:

PLACE                 BOAT                                    PHRF                    CORRECTED TIME

1             YELLOW BELLY                               141                        1:24:25

2             ABORIGINAL                                    33                          1:27:52

3             INTERLUDE                                      141                        1:31:37

4             WATTS MOORE                                150                        1:32:45

 

RACE QS:

Many boats did not upload their tracks if they retired or stopped their tracks.  The race QS track can be reviewed at:

https://raceqs.com/tv-beta/tv.htm#userId=1011017&divisionId=98375&updatedAt=2024-05-08T06:43:57Z&dt=2024-05-07T17:45:39-07:00..2024-05-07T21:05:47-07:00&boat=SAILING%20PAIR%20A%20DICE&time=1715141147000&focus=Aboriginal&rival=Interlude&tab=match&view=follow&lat=36.962628&lon=-122.005813&tilt=5&range=1838&heading=118

Lets hope for better conditions next Tuesday!

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

 

 

APRIL 30, 2024 CHALLENGING CONDITIONS

 

APRIL  30, 2024

CHALLENGING CONDITIONS!

With wind predictions calling for 5 knot winds with 23 knot gusts, it was anyone's guess what we would get.  Watching the flags through the afternoon and was not encouraging.  As we left the harbor around 5 o’clock, we saw a wind line further out, but lighter wind at the start area.  Being a BBQ night at the club, I was thinking of a short course and called for a Mile and back to start course but at about 5:45 the wind kicked up and I changed the course to Whiskey 3: Start> Schuyler>Blacks>Finish.  We blew the “10 minute horn” at 5:50 as the wind settled back into a lull. 

There were two possible strategies for a start.  Start at the S/F end  of the line to be closer to the wind line or start toward the orange ball to take advantage of greater wind developing further west.  The latter strategy seemed to work best as we saw very little wind at the southern end of the line as the boats sailed away on the other end of the line.  The game for this evening was searching and getting to the pockets of wind.  As I saw boats drifting in light wind, I called over the radio to shorten the course to eliminate Blacks and to round S/F to port after rounding Schuyler. 

The first  Fleet A boat to round Schuyler was Watts Moore followed by Aboriginal, Sagittarius, Double Espresso, Interlude, Aquavit, Flexi Flyer and Rosie.  Zoop led Fleet B followed by Animal House, Avatar, Gold Rush, Big Mac, Pacific Spirit, Kicks, and Pair A Dice.  While it was very frustrating sailing into a very light wind and waves impeding progress, once we rounded Schuyler, we were sailing into a developing Easterly for a delightful sail  back to the S/F finish.

At the finish, Watts Moore was first in  A Fleet 54:19 followed by Aboriginal 54:40, Sagittarius 1:01:03, Double Espresso 1:07:56, Interlude 1:11:34, Aquavit 1:11:43, Duet 1:12:27, Flexi Flyer 1:20:02 and Rosie 1:39:49.  B Fleet was led by Zoop 1:18:52 then Animal House   1:20:54, Gold Rush 1:22:08, Avatar 1:24:48, Big Mac 1:28:36, Pacific Spirit 1:31:13, Sailing Pair A Dice 1:41:04 and Kicks 1:48:25.  All times are elapsed and the course distance was 2.69NM.

On this evening, it was all about finding the pockets of wind to get ahead of other boats.  My goal is to call for courses that allow most boats to finish, and though we had a few boats drop out, most boats continued to finish this evening despite the challenging conditions.

 

DESPITE THE CHALLENGING CONDITIONS, WE WERE REWARDED WITH A GLORIOUS                                                                                 SUNSET

 PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS:

PLACE                 BOAT                                   PHRF                   CORRECTED TIME

FLEET A:

1             WATTS MOORE                             150                       47:35

2             ABORIGINAL                                 33                         53:11

3             SAGITTARIUS                                120                       55:40

4             DOUBLE ESPRESSO                      99                         1:03:29

5             INTERLUDE                                    141                       1:05:14

6             DUET                                                141                       1:06:07

7             AQUAVIT                                         72                          1:08:29

8             FLEXI FLYER                                  96                          1:15:43

9             ROSIE                                               162                        1:32:33

FLEET B:

1             ZOOP                                                 144                       1:12:24

2             ANIMAL HOUSE                             108                       1:16:03

3             GOLD RUSH                                    126                       1:16:29

4             BIG MAC                                          222                       1:18:38             

5             AVATAR                                            130                       1:18:53

6             PACIFIC SPIRIT                              165                       1:23:49

7             SAILING PAIR A DICE                   180                       1:32:59

8             KICKS                                              180                        1:40:20

_)                     _)                                            _)                                                  (_           (_

RACE QS:

The track for this evening can be reviewed at:

https://raceqs.com/tv-beta/tv.htm#userId=1011017&divisionId=98181&updatedAt=2024-05-01T03:06:11Z&dt=2024-04-30T17:45:04-07:00..2024-04-30T20:05:02-07:00&boat=SAILING%20PAIR%20A%20DICE&time=1714530880586&focus=SAILING%20PAIR%20A%20DICE&rival=Big%20Mac&tab=match&view=match

SAILING IN VERY LIGHT WIND:

While flopping around in light wind and not making any progress.  I decided to furl our jib, which was not working at all.  We tightened the main sheet, traveled down so the light wind was blowing directly into the main sail.  Without the jib flopping around, and using the mainsail we seemed to make better progress.

COMMODORES REGATTA:  

This Saturday, May 4 is the yearly Commodores regatta.  Be sure to register to participate in this fun regatta.  It will be a pursuit race meaning the slower boats start first. You can register at:  SCYC.org/regattas.  Scroll down to Commodore’s regatta and register.

I hope to see you sailing  next Tuesday.

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice