MAY 5, 2026
CHILLY CINCO DE MAYO
Predictions were for 17 knot
winds decreasing to 4 knots and when I got to the harbor around 1pm, there was
definitely wind showing on the flags.
The only problem with the conditions was a heavy cloud cover that was
casting a chill colder than any winter day I have seen in Santa Cruz. Optimistically there were clear skies to the
south but they never came north.
When we left the harbor at 5pm,
we determined that the wind was coming from 260 and we set a line square to this as boats were streaming
out of the harbor for the chilly sail. It was actually a perfect evening on the
water with a steady breeze but a chilly Cinco de Mayo.
PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS: COURSE W4
DISTANCE2.92NM
PLACE BOAT PHRF ET CORRECTED
SPINNY FLEET
1 RIO 141 47:00 40:08
A FLEET:
1 ZOOP 144 35:18 28:18
2 PACIFIC
HIGH 96 33:00 28:20
3 INTERLUDE 141 36:06 29:14
4 WATTS
MOORE 150 37:02 29:44
5 MAIN
SQUEEZE 72 33:46 30:16
B FLEET:
1 PERFECT
36 144 37:46 30:46
2 SAILING
PAIR A DICE 180 39:54 31:08
3 SWEET
PEA 163 39:40 31:44
4 SIMPATICO 165 39:54 31:52
5 AVATAR 132 38:27 32:02
6 PACIFIC
SPIRIT 165 41:22 33:20
7 TARA 243 45:23 33:33
8 AZOR 243 45:38 33:48
9 ANIMAL
HOUSE 96 41:54 37:14
Spinny Fleet can be viewed at:
FLEET A TRACK CAN BE VIEWED AT:
FLEET B TRACK CAN BE REVIEWED AT:
FLEETING CONFUSION
This
Tuesday, as we approached the starboard end of the line for a start in A Fleet,
our plan (tack onto port at the mark) was thrown into disarray by the presence
to leeward of a boat that usually races in B fleet. But were they? If they
weren’t, they were doing a damn good job of imitating a boat setting up to
execute our plan perfectly. With 40 seconds to go — we were
clearly in a barging position — our only option was to slow and duck their
transom. This saved us from a protest (or so we thought) but foiled our plan
and made us quite late. By the time we crossed on starboard, most of A fleet
was already away on port, headed right, leaving us no clear lane. A glance aft
showed the boat we ducked did not start in A, but tacked away for her B Fleet
start.
We
currently have three fleets racing: Spinnaker, A, and B. Choice of fleet
is open, but on any given day, it sure would be nice to know who in hell you’re
racing. And, who you’re not. While some tech wizards amongst
us may be able to look at Regatta Hero at the last minute and discover who’s
registered in their fleet I, for one, am not among them. No way will you catch
me diddling around with my phone in a crowded starting area. In junior
sailing, different fleets are designated by colored ribbons secured to the end
of the boom. Is this an idea that could work for us? Too much trouble? Let us
know in the comments. Lacking that, please stay clear of the
starting line until after your preparatory signal.
As
for our plan? It was completely obliterated (an increasingly
overused term). So, off to Plan B. “If you’re given lemons, make lemonade.”
We knew there was more breeze outside (we had changed down to our #2) so
we hit the left hard. Clear air and plenty of it. When we came back on
port, we were right back in the fray. In retrospect, it’s possible we should
have hit the left harder. Both Pacific High and we
under-stood the starboard lay-line to Schuyler, indicating the lack of a strong
right shift near the mark. (After her performance last week, I will now think
of that shift forevermore as the Sagittarius Effect.) This
week the fleet was small (5 boats) so there was plenty of space for a port tack
approach. As it was, after all that blather last week about not
over-standing, we were so determined to remain sin free, we tacked a bit too
soon, forcing us to throw in a quick hitch near the mark. On the reach back
into the finish we stayed low, saving our powder for the lighter air nearer
shore, allowing us to correct out over Pacific High by two
seconds. Whew!
In
the B Fleet, Tara made a perfect port tack start, but nothing
could save her from Perfect 36 in that much wind, as the
latter water-lined the fleet for the win. Aboard Zoop, we
have a healthy respect for P36 when it’s breezy.
Barry Keeler
Sailing Pair A Dice
