JANUARY 7, 2025
MORE OR LESS WIND
With predictions for heavy gusts, I was not surprised when I
got to the harbor around noon to see
very strong winds blowing from the North.
The forecast called for decreasing wind as the afternoon progressed and
this prediction was playing out. As crew arrived and we left the harbor around
2:30, I was surprised to see strong gusts across the bay. So much for a dissipating wind!
The wind was blowing from due North, presenting a problem
for starting on a windward leg. We set a start line directly out from GOV and
called for a course: Start>GOV>Mile>finish with GOV to port. We had five boats that braved the
conditions. I was envious of the boats
with small jibs, which was perfect for the stronger gusts, but a disadvantage
in the lulls. We blew the 5-minute horn
at 3:25 for a 3:30 start and all boats got off to a clean start. All boats sailed around GOV with Avatar and
Big Mac in the lead followed by Pair A
Dice and Pacific Spirit.
On the downwind leg to Mile, different strategies were
employed. On PAD we noticed that the wind seemed to be shifting slightly coming
from a more Easterly direction, combined with the gusts, this allowed us to sail further west setting up for the
rounding of Mile. Still it was Avatar
leading around Mile with Pair A Dice
following with Pacific Spirit and Big Mac.
We had one boat retire, leaving four boats in the “race”.
At the finish Avatar (once again) was in the lead 36:57,
followed by Sailing Pair A Dice 38:28, Pacific Spirit 39:47 and Big Mac
41:50. All times are elapsed and the
course distance was 2.53NM.
With the gusts and the lulls, it was an afternoon with more
or less wind.
PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS:
PLACE BOAT PHRF CORRECTED TIME
1 SAILING
PAIR A DICE 180 30:49
2 AVATAR 132 31:22
3 BIG MAC 220 32:25
4 PACIFIC
SPIRIT 165 32:40
Race QS:
The track for this afternoon can be reviewed at:
COMMUNICATION IS CRITICAL:
I am constantly learning and on our sail toward GOV, as we
approached the wharf area and the field of destruction from the wharf collapse,
I wanted to tack away from the wharf but had a boat on my starboard hip, just
far enough to tack and duck. I told my crew what we were doing but did not
communicate with the other boat. As I
tacked, they obviously had no clue what I was doing and steered away like they
were tacking, but were not prepared for the tack. I feel like I was in error by not
communicating my intentions to the other boat ahead of my tack. Lesson re-learned, communicate with other
boats!
Barry Keeler
SAILING PAIR A DICE
Sailing Pair A Dice
