AUGUST 26, 2025 PERFECT WIND FOR AN AWESOME SAIL

 

AUGUST 26, 2025

PERFECT WIND FOR AN AWESOME SAIL

Predictions called for light wind for the evening so I was surprised to see the flags flying briskly when I got to the harbor around 2pm.  Talking to sailors that had been out was encouraging with reports of steady winds across the bay.  When we exited the harbor at about 5pm, the winds were not strong but seemed consistent.  The wind was coming from 220 degrees and we set a line square to this direction. We called for course W5: Start, Schuyler finish at S/F.  We could have chosen a longer course but we had a barbecue to attend after the race!

Both Fleets got off to a clean start with no boats OCS.  Everyone tacked their way to the windward mark and after rounding Schuyler, set poles for the downwind run back to S/F/. With all boats finishing the race, it was perfect wind for an awesome sail.

                                    

                                               Jennifer Kinsman photo

 To review the track for Fleet A:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=26.8.2025%2017:55:00&language=en

To review the track for Fleet B:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=26.8.2025%2018:00:00&language=en

PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS:

PLACE                 BOAT                                   PHRF                   ET               CORRECTED

FLEET A: COURSE W5  DISTANCE 2.40NM

1             TRUE LOVE                                     72                          32:57                  30:04

2             ABORIGINAL                                   33                         31:48                  30:28

3             WATTS MOORE                               150                       36:56                  30:55

4             PACIFIC HIGH                                 96                          35:09                  31:18

5             INTERLUDE                                    141                        37:07                  31:28

6             MAGIC                                             141                        37:46                  32:07

7             WIND II                                            213                        42:07                  33:35

8             ROSIE                                               162                        40:05                  33:36

9             GOOD TIMIN’                                  141                       39:18                  33:39

10          DOUBLE ESPRESSO                        99                         39:58                  36:00

FLEET B:   COURSE W5 DISTANCE 2.40NM

1             ZOOP                                                 144                       36:40                  30:54

2             PERFECT 36                                     144                       40:07                  34:21

3             BIG MAC                                          222                       43:19                  34:26

4             SAILING PAIR A DICE                   180                       43:22                  36:09

5             SIMPATICO                                      165                       43:13                  36:36

6             AVATAR                                            132                       42:26                  37:09

7             MAKANI                                           147                       45:01                  39:08

8             AZORE                                               243                       49:39                  39:55

9             KICKS                                                180                       47:46                  40:21

10          PACIFIC SPIRIT                                 165                       47:59                  41:22

11          TOAD                                                  150                       47:42                  41:41

12          WIND GODDESS                              165                       52:30                  45:53



Paul Tara’s  “ZOOP SCOOP” 

A FANCY DANCER

In his 1970 hit “Hard Headed Woman” Cat Stevens sings about not wanting any “fancy dancers.”  Well, if there ever was a Santa Cruz westerly that would qualify as ‘fancy’ it was this past Tuesday’s.   One of Zoop’s crew described it as “Santa Barbara on a good day.”  It was warm, steady, pretty uniform across the course AND, much to everbody’s (especially Barry’s) relief, it didn’t die promptly at 6. It was PERFECT, but…..

 

It was not a typical westerly.  It was not cold. It didn’t have a bite. It wasn’t blowing like stink outside. It was actually comfortable. (Hint: anytime you’re sailing here in a real westerly and you’re not either soaked, freezing, or wishing you had more gear on, it’s not typical.) Two events on the race course serve as illustrations. 

In the A Fleet, Aboriginal, leading boat-for-boat, understood Schuyler, and had throw in a hitch on port to get up to the starboard tack lay line, allowing True Love to close to within seconds. Now I ask you, when was the last time you saw those guys misjudge a layline? Me either. Those two extra tacks because of a southerly shift probably cost them the lead on corrected time, with True Love winning by 24 seconds. 

In the B Fleet, aboard Zoop, we mistimed the start and ended up late, low, and buried dead astern of Patriot, a Catalina 36. Fortunately for us, she was trying to sail straight into the wind, eventually pinching off some of the boats to weather, and opening up a lane for us to leeward.  In clear air on starboard at last, we were sailing well below the layline to Mile Buoy, indicating south in the wind.  Meanwhile, the usual migration to the right was being led by Perfect 36, another Catalina 36, way inside on port.  When we tacked to port, crossing astern of Avatar, our bow was pointed straight at Lighthouse Point, or within a few degrees of Schuyler.  We knew the shift couldn’t last, but it lasted long enough; we crossed Perfect 36 by 50’ as she came off the beach on a headed starboard tack. 

Typical Santa Cruz westerlies are “hard-headed”.  They’re cold, veer to the right, are almost mean and nasty offshore, and the fog is usually lurking nearby. This week, sub-tropical storm Juliette shuffled the deck.  It  was almost balmy, we couldn’t lay Mile Buoy from the Harbor on starboard, there was no transition; not typical. Beware the fancy dancer, she likes to change the step.     

Thank you Paul!

JACK AND JILL REGATTA:

Put it on your calendar,  this regatta will be on Saturday September 27.  Always a fun event!

 

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

AUGUST 19, 2025 DRIFTING OVER THE FINISH LINE

 

AUGUST 19, 2025

DRIFTING OVER THE FINISH LINE

Another afternoon of discouraging light wind showing on the flags.  As we left the harbor at 5pm, there was a healthy Northwesterly blowing clear in to the S/F mark. We watched as the Easterly seemed to build and pushed the Northwesterly further out to sea.  We set an offset mark and called for course Echo 4.  When setting the start line, trying to anticipate all outcomes with the wind, we set it between square to the Easterly and square to the Northwesterly if it filled in.  Sticking with the Easterly course, as we did, the line was favored at the S/F end of the line and most boats, that were fortunate enough to be even in a light breeze started at that end. 

Fleet A had a couple of boats that were OCS, but did not gain much because of the light wind.  Fleet B got off to a clean start with many boats right on the line right on time.  On PAD we were sitting in the only part of the whole bay with zero wind and were not able  to cross the start line for about 30 minutes.  It was obvious the Easterly was not strengthening as the race progressed, so we used regatta hero to announce a shortened course to end at Blacks.  We also announced the shortened course over the radio.

It was a challenging evening of sailing and I got many thanks from sailors at the club for shortening the course.  I was surprised to see how many boats were  able to drift over the finish line.

The track for Fleet A can be reviewed at:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=19.8.2025%2017:55:00&language=en

The track for Fleet B can be reviewed at:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=19.8.2025%2018:00:00&language=en

JUST ANOTHER DRIFTER

  PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS: SHORTENED COURSE: S/F-BLACKS 0.582NM

PLACE                 BOAT                   PHRF                   ET                          CORRECTED TIME

FLEET A:

1             TRUE LOVE(OCS)         72                          20:48                  20:06

2             PACIFIC HIGH                96                          26:49                  25:53

3             DUET                               140                       28:05                  26:43

4             WATTS MOORE             150                       30:58                  29:30

5             ABORIGINAL                 33                          33:37                  33:17

6             ROSIE (OCS)                  162                       38:04                  36:29

7             ABSOLUTE 25                48                          37:38                  37:10

8             MAGIC                             141                       41:49                  40:26

9             WIND II                            213                       45:16                  43:11

FLEET B:

1             BIG MAC                            222                       36:24                  34:14

2             ZOOP                                  144                       39:09                  37:45

3             TOAD                                  150                       39:16                  37:48

4             GOLD RUSH                      126                       40:38                  39:24

5             SIMPATICO                        165                       44:42                  43:05

6             WIND GODDESS               165                       54:47                  52:10

ZOOP SCOOP BY PAUL TARA

A HORSE OF A DIFFERENT COLOR
Big boats are relatively faster in breeze. Little boats are relatively faster in light air. Why?  In breeze, a boat continually displaces the volume of its hull, creating a bow wave and a stern wave (the water has to go somewhere, right?)  The boat is essentially “trapped” between the crests of its two waves.  The laws of physics state that wave speed is directly proportional to wave length; the longer the distance between the crests, the faster the wave travels. (In the open ocean a tsunami travels at the speed of a commercial airliner.)  So, the longer the boat’s waterline, the faster the “trap” (with the boat in it) travels, until it reaches the theoretical maximum of the waves, or “hull speed” (1.34 x square root of the waterline = speed in knots).  But, in light air, boats don’t sail fast enough to make a wave trap.  The water has time to accommodate the boat and just slides by (like molasses, on Tuesday).  Then, skin friction, becomes the critical factor. This can be expressed as the  sail area/wetted surface ratio, a largely mystery number, due to the difficulty of calculating it without sophisticated design software.  (Homer Lighthall and I once joked that it could be done by weighing the amount of bottom paint for each boat.  Though that really wouldn’t be accurate, since wetted surface changes with angle of heel.)

Tuesday’s drifter supplied an interesting example of this in action.  In the A Fleet, True Love, a blue Express 37 (PHRF 72), pretty much had her way with Aboriginal, a Sydney 38 (PHRF 33).  Both boats got reasonable starts with clear air.  But it soon became apparent that the Express had both speed and height on the Sydney, forcing her to tack away into less breeze and adverse swells. The Sydney has a 5’ longer waterline and a higher SA/Disp ratio (25.4 vs 22.4).  What gives?

Is PHRF wrong? Nope. It just grades on a curve, and is based on average speeds on all points of sail. What’s important to remember is that the Sydney is dragging around 5 feet more boat and a deeper keel, factors which do  her absolutely  no good in light air but make her fast in a breeze. Plus, that narrow bulb keel is susceptible to stalling at low speeds.

 However, the key factor is that the Sydney is a one-design with a class legal 105 percent, minimally overlapping jib, whereas the Express is not, and was using her 150 percent light air genoa.  SA/Disp ratios are calculated using a 100 percent fore-triangle. Add in that 45 percent more overlap and, voila, True Love is a shorter but  lighter boat, with less wetted surface and more horsepower.

Thank you Paul.

NEXT TUESDAY IS THE LAST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH WHICH MEANS BARBECUE AT THE CLUB AFTER THE RACE. BRING YOUR BEST GRILLING FOOD.  EVEN IF YOU DON’T HAVE FOOD TO SHARE SHOW UP FOR THE FESTIVITY, THERE IS ALWAYS FOOD BEING SHARED.

Barry Keeler

Sailing  Pair A Dice

AUGUST 12, 2025 ANOTHER SIX O'CLOCK WIND

 

AUGUST 12, 2025

ANOTHER SIX O’CLOCK WIND

Observing the flags as the afternoon progressed was depressing. Light Northwesterly clocking to a light Easterly then to a Southerly.  As we exited the harbor at 5 o’clock there was a strong Northwesterly out by Mile with a wide transition zone (very light wind) between S/F and mile. We considered setting a long start line with the red ball outside of S/F, but just as we were preparing to set the ball, I noticed boats leaving the harbor sailing on an Easterly.  With about 20 minutes to start time we  powered back, set the line for an Easterly and set the offset mark.  We called for course E6: S/F, Blacks, Offset mark, Blacks, Offset mark, Finish line. We crossed our fingers hoping for the Easterly to build, and our prayers were answered.

It was an interesting course switching between upwind, downwind, upwind, downwind, reach.  I was thankful that the Easterly filled in so well that all boats finished. Thank God for another six o’clock wind!

REGATTA HERO:

It was a challenging night for Regatta Hero, with A Fleet boats starting and being recorded as B Fleet.  Tracks for boats disappearing in the middle of the  race and one boats track did not activate until the finish.

THE ZOOP SCOOP BY PAUL TARA

Easterlies are tricky, particularly upwind. If there’s enough wind to actually sail, on port tack the left over westerly swells cause brief lifts; as each crest passes beneath the boat from starboard, she is set slightly to port, shifting the apparent wind from ahead to more abeam. On starboard tack the opposite occurs; the swells from astern cause the boat to accelerate, shifting the apparent wind forward, causing a header. The bigger the swells, the bigger the shifts.

In these conditions it is virtually impossible to steer accurately on every wave. It helps to remember that the waves on both tacks are not head-seas, and are actually assisting the boat to go to weather.  On port tack, it can pay to pinch occasionally, counting on the lifts to bail you out or, if you’re going for speed, to sail with an inch or two of ease. One tendency to avoid is oversteering.  As the boat begins to feel the wave coming up from leeward, she will heel and almost always want to round up.  Let her. Applying excessive rudder angle to maintain a constant course ignores the lift and puts on the brakes at the same time.

On starboard tack, the situation is quite different.  The swells are usually coming more from astern and each one accelerates the boat, resulting in a header.  If you pinch on starboard, and a bigger than usual swell comes along, you might find yourself in the “no-go zone”, or worse, aback.  Starboard is the time to foot; don’t ease, stay trimmed in, and as the bow drops and the boat accelerates, bear away and go for speed. Weight forward helps; the longer you can hang onto the swell, the better.

The trick is to distinguish between the temporary shifts in apparent wind, and changes in the true wind direction. For this we use the magnetic compass and watch the fleet.  It’s best to not be too hasty. Easterlies can cause boats go in a lot of some momentarily weird directions.  What might appear to be a boat lifting out could just be one responding to a wave. Or not.

Thanks Paul

A VIEW FROM THE BEACH

    PHRF CORRECTED TIME:

PLACE                 BOAT                                   PHRF   ET          CORRECTED TIME

FLEET A: course E6 distance 1.903NM

1             ABORIGINAL                                    33          30:43                  29:40

2             TRUE LOVE                                      72          36:31                  34:14

3             DUET                                                  140       39:04                  34:37

4             WIND II                                             213       41:49                  35:03

5             INTERLUDE                                      141       41:21                  36:52

6             ROSIE                                                162       43:40                  38:31

7             DOUBLE ESPRESSO                       99          43:20                  40:12

8             ABSOLUTE 25                                  48          44:07                  42:35

FLEET B: course E6 distance 1.903NM

1             ZOOP                                                 144       37:07                  32:33

2             SAILING PAIR A DICE                    180       40:54                  35:11

3             PERFECT 36                                     144       40:04                  35:30

4             AVATAR                                             132       40:41                  36:29

5             TARA                                                 243       44:29                  36:46

6             SIMPATICO                                      165       43:21                  38:07

7             PACIFIC SPIRIT                               165       46:37                  41:23

8             KICKS                                               180       48:04                  42:11

9             WIND GODDESS                             165       47:43                  42:29

10          TOAD                                                 150       48:31                  43:45

11          ESTELLE                                            170       51:50                  46:26

 

The track for A Fleet can be viewed at:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=12.8.2025%2017:55:00&language=en

For Fleet B:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=12.8.2025%2018:00:00&language=en

 I hope to see you sailing next Tuesday.

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

 

AUGUST 5, 2025 SIX O'CLOCK WIND

 

AUGUST 5, 2025

SIX O’CLOCK WIND

After the failure of a weekend regatta due to lack of wind and a light wind Monday, prospects for wind for our Tuesday sail were sketchy.  When I got to the harbor, there was a very light South-Easterly showing on the flags.  When we exited the harbor, there was no fog bank in Aptos, another bad omen for a developing Easterly.  We set a temporary mark to windward for a short course if the wind did not develop and even announced by Regatta Hero that our course would be E7: once around the Temp mark. As the clock ticked down to about 5:45, the wind was noticeably increasing and we changed course to E4: S/F to Blacks, temp mark, finish at S/F.  As it turned out, the wind increased with an Easterly puff that came in around 6:20 compressing boats in B fleet at the finish.

The developing Easterly was coming from 80 degrees when we set the Start line.  Easterlies normally build from the beach out, so some boats tried to start closer to the beach, but as the wind seemed to clock further to the South, boats starting at the S/F end of the line were able to lay Blacks without tacking.

Despite anticipating a dismal, no-wind evening following the conditions we have experienced, it was great to catch a 6 o’clock wind.

Jennifer Kinsman photo

 PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS:

PLACE                BOAT                                   PHRF                                   ET              CORRECTED    FLEET A: COURSE E4   DISTANCE 1.128NM

1             TRUE LOVE                                      72                                          11:35                  10:13

2             INTERLUDE                                     141                                         13:14                  10:34

3             ABSOLUTE 25                                   48                                          12:45                  11:50

4             MAIN SQUEEZE                               72                                          14:23                  13:01

5             DUET                                                  141                                        15:50                  13:10

6             ROSIE                                                 162                                        16:37                  13:34

7             AQUAVIT                                           72                                          15:55                  14:33

8             SOPHIE                                              141                                        18:32                  15:52

FLEET B:  COURSE E4   DISTANCE 1.128NM

1             BIG MAC                                           222                                       20:45                  16:34

2             TARA                                                  243                                       21:29                  16:54

3             GOOD TIMIN’                                   141                                       19:56                  17:16

4             SAILING PAIR A DICE                    180                                       21:14                  17:51

5             PERFECT 36                                      144                                       20:45                  18:02

6             NIDAROS                                          144                                       21:06                  18:23

7             PACIFIC SPIRIT                                165                                       21:49                  18:42

8             ESTELLE                                           170                                       22:02                  TIE 18:50

8             SIMPATICO                                       165                                       21:56                  TIE18:50

8             TOAD                                                 150                                       21:40                  TIE18:50

11          AVATAR                                               132                                       21:30                  19:01

12          BLU FIN                                               72                                        20:49                  19:27

To review the Regatta Hero track for fleet A, go to:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=5.8.2025%2017:55:00&language=en

To review fleet B:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=5.8.2025%2018:00:00&language=en

REGATTA HERO TIPS:

Complete instructions for downloading and using Regatta Hero were posted on the May 6 blog.  In the screen where you enter your PHRF, in the upper left corner there is a space labeled “Sail Number”.  Please enter your boat’s name in this field to identify your boat in the track replay.   Remember all fields need to be completed for your boat track to be counted.  For each race, open the app  and select a regatta (Fleet A or B) and click on the “Participate in regatta”.  I am always at the club after Tuesday races and if you are having problems, bring your phone so we can figure it out.

I hope to see you sailing next Tuesday!

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice