NOVEMBER 4, 2025
NO-WINDER
Predictions were for 8-12 knots
and as we left the harbor at 2:15, there was a steady 10 knot breeze across the bay. We were considering a long course, but
history influenced my decision to implement course W5:
S/F>Schuyler>S/F. There were just
a few boats out: one boat for each of Fleet A and Spinnaker and 4 boats in B
Fleet.
The wind was coming from 220 degrees,
and we set a short line square to this as the thick fog was engulfing us. All
fleets got off to a clean start in 10 knots of breeze. With the starts around 3 o’clock, the wind
should not have died, but as B Fleet arrived at Schuyler we were adrift once
again in very light breeze. All boats
rounded Schuyler but on the way back to S/F there was a transition zone as an
Easterly was trying to fill in.
Ultimately all boats retired without finishing the course.
Though the dismal wind was discouraging,
the lifting fog bank presented some awesome sights and the whales were out in
force. Homer informed me years ago that
in Santa Cruz, sailors call November
“No-Winder”. Welcome to No-winder.
Kudos to the persistent Crews for
coming out even though conditions seemed dismal. Yellow Belly in Fleet A and True Love in
Spinnaker fleet. B Fleet had Big Mac,
Zoop, Perfect 36 and Sailing Pair A Dice.
The track for B Fleet can be
reviewed at:
https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793®atta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=4.11.2025%2015:00:00&language=en
.jpeg)
REGATTA HERO TIP:
Please remember to enter the
correct data for your boat. Sail number
should have your sail number and Boat name should have your boat name.
For those that sail on multiple boats,
if you are using your phone to record the track, there is now a way to enter
multiple boats in your phone. You must
choose the boat you are sailing out of the list of boats on your phone. To enter multiple boats on your phone choose
your regatta, then click on participate as.
When this is done, your boat names appear in an orange box. Select the
boat you are sailing on for this race. You can click on “new” to enter multiple
boats on your phone. You must “edit registration” to enter the information for the
new boat.
“ZOOP SCOOP” BY
Paul Tara
FOG
“The
sudden transition was startling. The moment before we had been leaping through
the sunshine, the clear sky above us, the sea breaking and rolling wide to the
horizon….And at once, as in an instant’s leap, the sun was blotted out, there
was no sky, even our mastheads were lost to view, and our horizon was such as
tear-blinded eyes may see. The grey mist drove by us like rain. Every
woolen filament of our garments, every hair of our hands and faces was
bejeweled with a crystal globule. The shrouds were wet with moisture; it
dripped from our rigging overhead; and on the undersides of our booms drops of
water took place in long swaying lines, which were detached and flung to the
deck in mimic showers at each surge of the schooner.”
Jack
London, The Seawolf.
On
Tuesdays, the wind dies at 1800. Apparently, this year, it’s in its
contract — no overtime. So, we were feeling pretty smug about the nice westerly
blowing around 1400 as we cast off. But, by the time we had reached the
entrance we were experiencing a “Ghost” moment right out of
London’s novel. Visibility dropped to under 100 yards, and the breeze dropped
by half. And by half. And by half. Until, by the time we reached Schuyler, zip
halves were left.
In
those conditions it’s extremely important for the helmsman to pay attention to
the magnetic compass at all times. Designate crew as lookouts, turn on your
running lights and keep checking the compass. It only takes few seconds
of distraction, once the horizon has vanished, to become completely disoriented
and start wandering around like (dare I say it) a drunken sailor. Let someone
else deal with the GPS. Electronics are nice but, for helming, there’s nothing
like the visual of a nice big compass and a list of the critical local headings
available for quick reference.
One
obvious aspect of Tuesday’s white-out was that humpback whales are not
navigationally challenged by fog. At one point, about half way to
Schuyler, we were totally alone — no horizon, no other boats. But more
whales than we’d ever seen before. One or two appeared to be all of 60 feet.
And, the pod seemed to all be keeping pace with us. Port, starboard, as
close as a boat length; even under the boat. In ULDB circles, most might
consider Zoop to be somewhat of a whale herself — maybe that was it.
Thank You Paul.
I Hope to see you out sailing next Tuesday at 3pm.
Barry Keeler
Sailing Pair A Dice
No comments:
Post a Comment