Thursday, September 18, 2025

SEPTEMBER 16, 2025 A LATE EASTERLY

 

SEPTEMBER 16,2025

A LATE EASTERLY

My first sighting of the flags at 1400 when I got to the harbor was encouraging with a healthy Westerly showing.  As we left the harbor at 5pm, there was a heavy fog  bank surround the whole bay.  With fog in Aptos, I was thinking there would be a sudden Easterly shift.  What to do? We powered down to set an offset mark for an Easterly wind course and set a start line that would work for either an East or West wind.  As the clock ticked down we settled on a Westerly course W5: S/F-SCHUYLER-S/F.     

At the start, the Westerly was dying even more and with a crowded line, boats closer to the line had an advantage catching the last gasp of wind.  Many of us were caught in the doldrums until finally the Easterly built in allowing PAD to cross the line some 20 minutes late.  We were the last boat to cross the start line.  We made the announcement (by radio and Regatta Hero) to shorten the course to finish at Schuyler.

The boats remaining in the race made their way to the finish with multiple boats converging on Schuyler in close succession.  This is how it goes with a late Easterly.  As the fog got much thicker it was challenging retrieving the start line and offset mark we has set for the potential Easterly.  Thanks to my crew for an excellent job in challenging fog!

You can review the track for Fleet A at:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=16.9.2025%2017:55:00&language=en

Fleet B at:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=16.9.2025%2018:00:00&language=en

PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS:

PLACE                BOAT                                   PHRF                   ET                          CORRECTED

FLEET A: COURSE W5 SHORTENED DISTANCE 1.2NM

1             TRUE LOVE                                   72                          28:03                  26:36

2             WATTS MOORE                             150                        30:51                  27:51

3             WIND II                                           213                       38:57                  34:41

4             PEGASUS                                        150                       37:44                  34:44

5             DUET                                               141                       42:00                  39:11

6             ABORIGINAL                                  33                          40:17                  39:37

7             AQUAVIT                                         72                          47:22                  45:55                 

FLEET B: COURSE W5 SHORTENED DISTANCE 1.2 NM

1             MAKANI                                              147                       39:36                  36:39

2             TARA                                                    243                       42:06                  37:14

3             ABSOLUTE 05                                    117                       39:39                  37:18

4             BIG MAC                                             222                       42:23                  37:56

5             HOT TUNA                                          243                       44:02                  39:04

6             TOAD                                                   150                       42:14                  39:14

7             SAILING PAIR A DICE                      180                       43:09                  39:33

8             AZOR                                                   243                       45:46                  40:54

9             NIDAROS                                            118                       43:45                  41:23

10          SIMPATICO                                          165                       44:54                  41:36

THE ZOOP SCOOP BY PAUL TARA

PROPULSION

Got a course sheet? Signed up for the series? Good. That means you signed where it says you agree to abide by the Racing Rules of Sailing.

 

RRS, Definitions, states that a yacht begins racing from her preparatory signal.

 

Rule 42 states that when racing “a yacht shall compete by only using the wind and water to increase, maintain, or decrease her speed”. 

 

Rule 42.3.i states that, “the sailing instructions may, in stated circumstances, permit propulsion using an engine or any other method, provided the boat does not gain a significant advantage in the race.”  Our Tuesday sailing instructions deem collision avoidance to be one of those circumstances.  But, the second half of that sentence still applies.   

 

Consequently, on Tuesday, it came as a surprise to see a number of boats all appear to be in imminent danger of collision, well after the preparatory signal.  Especially since this danger appeared to affect those whose bows were pointed at the starting line. Use of the engine is permitted right up to the preparatory signal, but not after. Appeal 69 clearly states that momentum built up by powering prior to the preparatory signal may be used, provided the engine is shut down before she begins racing.

 

In days of yore, powering and then coasting was a popular tactic on the Bay for one particular boat in the Corinthian YC Midwinters.  But not for the reasons you might expect.  The boat was “Carina”, Cal 30 number 2, built by Jensen Marine.  As only the second boat they had ever built with an inboard, she was powered by a lightweight air-cooled Onan gas engine. This was coupled by direct drive to a two-bladed feathering prop. Shifting to reverse involved reversing the propeller pitch via a linkage through the hollow prop shaft. Since the engine was air-cooled, all that warm air exited through a vent on the inside of the cockpit coaming (there was a separate exhaust). Strategic crew placement allowed everyone to take turns literally inflating their foulies with nice warm air.  The faster she went, the warmer it got. So, it wasn’t uncommon to see us ripping around in big circles prior to our preparatory, even when there was enough wind.  We always shut down at our prep. But we were smiling.  

 

Don’t blow it.  Remember Paul Elvtrøm, “You have not won, if you have lost the respect of your competitors.”

 

Speaking of Danes, remember Olaf and his “steer-board”? Well, it didn’t take Norse shipbuilders long to realize that going alongside in port with your steering oar next to a quay or wharf was bad seamanship. Rather than spending all their time repairing steering oars, vessels began trying to always dock with their left, or “port” sides adjacent to quays and wharves.

Thanks Paul

Mix and Match (AKA Jack & Jill)

The annual, fun and all inclusive Mix and Match Regatta is coming up  on Saturday, September 27th.  Many divisions are offered to cover all combinations of family, friends and people who may not often crew. 

 Double Handed Jib & Main  or Spinnaker

 Foursome Mix & Match Jib & Main or Spinnaker

Family & Friends (Unlimited crew) Jib & Main or Spinnaker

Moore 24 DH

 Line up your crew and register now at https://scyc.org/regatta/Bk7xbXYJKu

Need crew? Check out

https://scyc.org/crew-corner---view

 

Kindly register soon so that we may plan accordingly for delicious appetizers, trophies and prizes and end ties.

 

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

 

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