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.
To review the track for Fleet B:
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
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