FEBRUARY 24, 2026
CURRENT EVENTS
After two weeks of no sailing, it was a blessing to see
sunshine rather than rain even though predictions were for a light breeze. As we left the harbor around 2pm there was a
building breeze of about 7 knots. Just
enough to have a race. We set a
temporary mark about 1/3 mile directly into the wind which was coming from 235
degrees. We were considering an
ambitious course: S/F>temp west>Mile>S/F. As the clock ticked down closer to our start
time, the wind was getting light. We decided
to shorten the course to: S/F>temp west>S/F. We entered the new course
into RH and announced it over the radio.
For the start, it was very interesting with just enough wind to move
boats very slowly. As boats made their
way toward the temp-west mark the wind died even more and we shortened course
to finish at temp-west. Though there
were some boats that were slowly moving toward the mark, other boats drifted
aimlessly. Aboriginal was the first boat
to round the mark to finish.
At the club I chided Bret (Aboriginal) about having an
electric motor installed because his boat was moving so well. He said “we were not sailing, we found a 2
knot current that was flowing directly to the mark.” Lesson learned: Pay attention to current
events!
PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS: RACE LENGTH 0.318NM
PLACE BOAT PHRF ET CORRECTED
TIME
1 ABORIGINAL 33 25:03 24:52
2 FLEXI
FLYER 96 31:21 30:51
3 ROSIE 162 52:00 51:08
4 BIG MAC 222 53:10 51:58
After the race, we had an awesome BBQ at the club
celebrating the last Tuesday of the month. With Mike Gross’s mastery overseeing
the grill, we had multiple dishes that were excellent. Maggie’s pork loin was scrumptious
along with soup from Christina Shaw. It
was amazing the turnout we had at the BBQ with only 7 boats out for the
drift-fest.
NEW SEASON:
After the time change on March 8, we will be starting a
new season. This requires each boat to sign up and pay for
a new season of Tuesday Night Sailing. To
register your boat and crew, go to this site: https://scyc.org/regatta/Lfy9pa0mIX/#entry-list
You need to register
to get a new course card, which is crucial with many changes this year. I am looking forward to another season of
sailing on Tuesday Nights.
ZOOP SCOOP BY PAUL TARA
ON & OFF (AGAIN)
Last week’s discussion of the term “on the wind”
omitted an important point. If you aren’t “on the wind” what are you?
Remember, it’s a switch — a toggle switch. If you’re “off” the wind,
you’re “on” the compass. This might be just a visual sighting to the next mark
but, nevertheless, it’s a bearing. Think about a typical race. Up until
the weather mark, every ounce of energy aboard is focused on getting to weather
as fast as possible — the wind and jib telltales dictate the course — woe unto
the helm who misses a shift! But once around, the question that immediately
arrises (at least in the skipper’s mind) is, “Where In hell’s the next mark?
Or, “What course?” On the wind = off the compass; off the wind = on
the compass.
BOWS & BREASTS
How now brown scow? The word bow (as
in scow) is commonly used to describe the forward portion of a vessel; it’s
derived from the Norse word boeg or bog, for
shoulder. In English, vessels are often described as “shouldering through
heavy seas”. The word bowline (rhymes with oh) refers to the
knot used to secure the bowlines to the luff of a square sail,
flattening its entry and enabling the vessel to point higher. To sail “on-a-bowline” is
to sail close-hauled. Note the term is bowline, not bow line.
So, why are the lines that hold the bow (as
in scow) in position when a vessel is secured to a dock called breast lines
and not bow lines? Aside from the fact that there are already bowlines, it sort
of makes sense, anatomically. First came the head, (As in the beak-head
or figurehead, which projected forward of the stem beneath the bowsprit.) then
the shoulders, and then the breasts. The buttocks, way aft, address the shape
of the stern. The shoulders were too far forward for securing mooring lines;
too much other gear in the way, (catheads, anchors, bowsprit shrouds, etc.).
Even today, the mooring cleats on most boats are set back from the stem head to
relieve congestion. Speaking of breasts, by modern standards, old sailing
ships had lines that were, shall we say, “full-figured”. This provided
the buoyancy needed to support the weight of guns, ground tackle, and head
rigging. When encountering a head-sea (not a clogged
w.c. reference) a vessel was said to first shoulder it aside,
then breast it as she pushed through the crest.
Today, the term bow line is used more commonly than
breast line, especially if there’s just a single line (maybe it takes a pair?).
But there’s a lower limit — dinghies don't use either — they use painters —
from the French pentour “to hang” as in a painting or
pendant.
Thanks
Paul.
Barry
Keeler
Sailing
Pair A Dice
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