CATALINA SAILBOATS RACING MONTEREY BY ON TUESDAY NIGHTS: OCT 14, 2014 'ONE GNARLY EVENING'

ONE GNARLY EVENING

Tuesday October 14, 2014

I started this Tuesday morning like I usually do with a cursory look at Sailflow to see what kind of wind we would have.  It was a dismal forecast of 8-10 knot breeze and I was wondering if we would even be able to race in these conditions.  I was quite surprised when someone commented on how windy it was outside.  On the way to the harbor, I was wondering if we would have the time to swap out the 155 for the 135.  Sure enough as I pulled up to the boat, my crew was already in the process of changing the headsail.

As we motored out of the harbor, there was 15 knots of breeze in the harbor and it looked like victory at sea out in the ocean. There were already two boats out so we ventured on out.  The waves at the harbor entrance did not look too bad, but as we sailed further out toward the start buoy, the waves got bigger and steeper with a very short period.  It took tremendous concentration to keep the boat going straight up the faces of the waves and angling down the backs.  The slightest distraction would douse the whole crew with buckets of water.  Four boats ventured out: Free Spirit, Aeolian, Pair A Dice and Kicks.  Free Spirit was heading for the harbor as we were leaving the harbor.  As if to lend credence to the conditions we were fighting, a 32 foot sailboat lay grounded on seabright beach next to the harbor entrance.   Aeolian went over toward the pier and lowered all sails to motor into the harbor.  Kicks was just coming out when we decided to head back in to the harbor.  There was no way I wanted to negotiate the entrance in diminished light.  Suffice it to say, the boats that did not come out did not miss much, except a little learning experience.

Back at the Crow’s Nest we discussed the various techniques we all used to get into the harbor.  Someone asked me why we sailed into the harbor with both main (reefed) and the jib (partially furled).  There were several decisions that came into play.  Someone thought it would be good to decrease sail area by furling the jib and someone else pointed out the danger: the boat would be out of balance and if a wave caused us to broach, we could get rounded right up into the rocks!  We could have lowered all sails, but doing so would leave us with no control if something should happen to my small, 11 horsepower engine.  Another problem that occurs in rough seas is dirt getting stirred up in the fuel tank and clogging filters.  Engines seem to have perfect timing to go out just when you really need them, so it is usually best, in gnarly conditions, to at least have some sails up. Of course a boat without a folding prop and a strong engine could feel safer motoring in with no sails up.

A proper tack:

One of the maneuvers that sailors must complete that can lead to big gains or losses is tacking.  Done correctly, you lose little, done poorly and competitors will leave you behind.  While the helmsman plays a crucial role, the crew’s actions can improve or destroy a tack.

The following are my observations of  what constitutes a perfect tack.  The proper tack begins with a helmsman announcing their intentions, waiting for the “Ready” signal from each crew member.  The loaded sheet should be uncleated or taken out of the self tailing jaws in preparation.  As the helmsperson begins the tack, he announces either “tacking” or “helms to lee”.  The mainsheet trimmer can travel up on the main to help turn the boat. The helmsperson begins the tack by turning the wheel quickly until the boat is head to wind.  One exception is in very light wind, this turn of the wheel should be much more gradual so there is not much drag from the rudder.  As soon as the boat is head to wind, the loaded jib sheet is released.  The crew member releasing this sheet should make certain the line is free to go (not tangled or lines being stood on.)  Stalling momentarily with the boat head to wind, accomplishes two goals: coasting directly upwind and it gives the crew time to get most of the sheets in while the sails are not full. The helmsperson after the momentary stall, continues on with the tack until the boat is between  3 to 10 degrees beyond hard on the wind.  Less in more wind and up to 10 degrees in very light wind.  This allows the boat to accelerate.  As the boat accelerates and the helmperson comes up to hard on the wind again, the crew cranks in the sail until it is almost touching the spreader, while someone goes forward to skirt the jib.  What is fun is to practice tacks to see who can tack the boat with the least drop in speed in the process.  I encourage comments from readers on ways to improve this maneuver.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: WHAT A DIFFERENCE 24 HOURS MAKES!

Midwinter series:

This winter, SCYC will be putting on the midwinter series.  It is time for all of us to show off what we have learned this year on our Tuesday night sails.   These races are very fun and often run in very light conditions and a perfect way to get introduced to fleet racing.

See you out there next Tuesday,

 

Barry L. Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

 

CATALINA SAILBOATS RACING MONTEREY BAY ON TUESDAY NIGHTS: OCTOBER 7, 2014 A CARBON COPY TUESDAY

 

A CARBON COPY TUESDAY

OCTOBER 7, 2014

Repetition is normally boring!  Two perfect evenings of sailing that are carbon copies could never be boring.  We had the same wind as last week, the same sunny weather and the same number of boats (11) out for the fun.  With the light being so short, we decided on the same course as last week: Start, Blacks, Gov and finish.

On Pair A Dice, we were a little late to the line and watched as Homer forced Aeolian off for barging and we followed Homer’s Blue Ribbon.  With him just ahead and to windward, we were not in good position.  Makani was steaming up behind and to windward of Homer.  Fortunately with our bad position, it was not a long leg to Blacks.   Makani and Homer rounded blacks and immediately got tangled with each other trying to out maneuver each other.  We rounded blacks right behind them and aimed for clear air further out than they  were on the race to GOV.  It was quite a drag race as we all tried to get downwind as fast as possible.  We set our pole on port and heated up first outside then jibed and heated it up inside.  As we reached Gov we were clear ahead of Makani and Blue Ribbon and after rounding, we headed inside until we got headed and tacked out.  It seems the further we got outside, we got lifted more and more until we were not far from the finish mark when we tacked over and finished first.  Pacific Spirit was second followed by Makani, Blue Ribbon, Diver Down, Kicks, Emeritus, Aeolian, Sea Quake, Andiamo and Free Spirit.

It was a beautiful evening with the sun setting on one horizon and the full moon rising on the other.

Tactics:

When going down wind it is very important to have a good whisker pole to hold the jib out to windward. With Pair A Dice we have found the best angle of sail for maximum speed is with the windex pointing “at the box” one of the two tabs you look at on the mast head that help you determine if you are hard on the wind.  Pacific Spirit used this very concept to move rapidly through the pack on the down wind run.  As Makani and Homer were sailing straight down wind (wing on wing) we heated up and pointed directly ahead of them, as we approached the zone for the mark we straightened out to break the overlap.  This worked well for us as we rounded the mark well ahead of the other boats.

THE PACK MOVING TOWARD GOV

Kick it up a notch:

MAKANI AND BLUE RIBBON

I can say we have all improved our racing abilities this summer!  Why not engage in other races through the winter to keep your skills up?  SCYC is putting on the midwinter series.  This is a series of races through the winter and they actually have a jib and main division which is right up our alley.  Unlike our Tuesday nights, we actually have a committee boat and trophies are handed out.  I think its time to kick it up a notch and have a great showing in the midwinter series. Who know, you may even get some hardware (trophies) to hang on the wall!

Do not forget about the predicted log regatta also.  This will be a great way to test your seamanship and knowledge of boat speed and distance travelled.

SUN SETTING ON ONE HORIZON: MOON RISING ON THE OTHER

 

See you next week,

Barry L. Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

 

CATALINA SAILBOATS RACING MONTEREY BAY ON TUESDAY NIGHTS: AN INDIAN SUMMER'S EVE

AN INDIAN SUMMER’S EVE

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2014

During the regattas this last weekend the wind was all over the place.  From nuking to light it seemed to vary by the day and even the hour.  For tonight we had the fortune of a great Easterly filling in at around 8-10 knots.  We had eleven boats out for the fun.  We decided on a course that we have used before that plays heavily on a strong Easterly: Start, Blacks, Gov and back to start.  It had to be a quick course because there wasn’t much light left and we had a barbecue to get to!

On sailing Pair A Dice, I had determined that the heading hard on the wind was 60 degrees, so I set up sailing away from the line keeping 60 degrees on the compass roughly lined up with the start mark.  The problem was estimating the time to the line since sailing away from the line we were bucking waves and going the opposite way we would be surfing and going much faster.  Somehow we made the jibe at the right time and only had to stall a little at the line and ended up over the line first with some larger boats attempting to roll us to windward.  We scalloped up enough to leebow first Diver Down then Pacific Spirit.  Slowing these boats down allowed us to round blacks first and we were off on the long run to Gov.  It was interesting watching all of the boats behind us.  The ones using whisker poles were able to accelerate through the pack.  Odonata  was flying its spinnaker and showing the advantage of spinnaker use in downwind sailing and was moving quickly through the pack.  All the boats did their best to prevent getting their wind blocked by other boats.

 Finally we rounded Gov. and started our way back to the start mark.   The most critical decision was: inside or outside?  We decided to sail inside for a while 

and then tack out.  This seemed to work well, since the wind difference between inside and outside was not that much and the start mark was straight up wind.  We were able to maintain the lead to the finish  and were followed by Blue Ribbon, Pacific Spirit, Diver Down, Odonata (Santana 22), Sea Quake (C&C 29), Makani, Iris, Kicks, Aeolian and Andiamo

We had a great turnout for the BBQ with close to 50 people joining in the fun.

EXPANDING BOATING HORIZONS;          

Santa Cruz Yacht Club is hosting a brand new kind of regatta.  They are calling it a “log regatta”, and it is being held October 18.  How good are your boating skills and your knowledge of boat speed and navigation?  I think it would be fun to find out.  Sailboat and power boats will be participating.  The only instrument you can use will be your senses and a compass (no gps, watch, or speedometer).  The course will be over 11 knots long and you must judge how long it will take for each leg.  Your accuracy in these estimates will be how you are scored.  Your times for each leg will be recorded and documented  and the boat with the most accurate estimates will win.  If we get five Catalinas or similar sailboats, there will be a first and second place trophy for our division. Keep an eye on the SCYC.org website, which is your portal to the regatta network.  The notice of race and rules for this “regatta” will be posted after October 4. The fee for entry is $10 and it seems like it will be a blast!  Lets show the power boaters and other sailors what us Catalina sailors can do!

See you next Tuesday.

 

Barry L Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

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RACING CATALINA SAILBOATS RACING MONTEREY BAY ON TUESDAY NIGHTS: 9/23/14 SURPRISE: WE GOT WIND!

SURPRISE: WE GOT WIND!

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2014

I checked sailflow in the morning and they predicted 6-8 knots for the evening.  When I got to then the harbor there was no talk about the wind.  As we sailed out of the harbor it looked like the wind was building rather than dying.  By the time we sailed out to the start mark we were seeing 21 knots apparent.  With the 155 Jib, we had way too much sail up, so we swapped out for the 135.  Even with that, there was too much wind.  We called course 3: start, wharf, Blacks and finish.  As we were counting down the last five minutes, we put a reef in the main.

Right at the start, Makani and Pacific Spirit sailed out on starboard tack.  The rest of us (Pair a dice, Blue Ribbon, Aeolian and Odonata (Santana 22) and Sea Quake (C&C29) sailed inside on port tack.  Pair a Dice was pinned by Blue Ribbon and we could not sail faster to pass her so we finally tacked out as the rest of the port tackers continued inside.  We tacked up the middle of the course and had a front row seat as Pacific Spirit and Makani were fighting it out, with Pacific Spirit passing Makani to windward, Makani tacked out for clear air.  When we all met at wharf mark, Blue Ribbon was first around with Makani and Pacific Spirit and Aeolian, Odonata and Pair a dice following behind.

After rounding wharf, it was a long downwind run to blacks. Makani did a great job setting their pole in the 20+ knot winds. Most of the boats ran the rhumb line to the mark.  On Sailing Pair A Dice, we thought we saw more wind outside, so we ran high of the rhumb line.  Alas when we all rounded Blacks Makani had a great lead and, once again we had 5 boats (Blue Ribbon, Pacific Spirit, Aeolian, Odonata and Pair a Dice) rounding blacks at the same time.  Since all of the boats ahead of us were sailing in for the layline for the start finish mark and we saw more wind outside, Pair A Dice immediately tacked outside after rounding Blacks.

  Once again all of the boats converged on the finish mark.  Makani had a healthy lead at the finish. Pair a Dice finally tacked over toward the finish mark attempting to  cross the line within 5 boatlengths.   It appeared that Pacific Spirit and Pair A Dice crossed the line simultaneously. Since Pacific Spirit was closer to the mark, I would have to say they took second place. Since we were sailing down the line formed by the mark and lighthouse it appeared we crossed the line before Blue Ribbon then Odonata  and Aeolian and Sea Quake.  Congratulations to Makani for a first place finish.

Once again a beautiful windy evening on the Monterey Bay!

CROSSING PART TWO:

While we were beating our way out to wharf, I witnessed a beautiful example of an excellent duck. Makani was on port and Pacific Spirit was on starboard.  Makani headed lower to show his intentions and swept close around the stern of Pacific Spirit and then took advantage of the lift from the disturbed air and immediately headed up.  I am not saying Makani won the race because of this excellent duck, but it certainly did not hurt them as they went on to win the race!  Well done Makani.

BACK INTO THE FOLD AS “KICKS”

For over 13 years there have been three boats consistently enjoying Catalina Tuesdays: Pair A Dice, Pacific Spirit and Odyssey.  About 3 years ago Todd Johnson moved Odyssey up to the city for a place to stay when in the city.  Todd recently purchased a newer Catalina 30 (Kicks) and moved it to Santa Cruz.  It’s great to have Todd and his crew back for Catalina Tuesdays.  When you see them give a warm welcome to the crew of Kicks: Todd, Dan,Chris and Ford.

 

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PLEASE NOTE: NEXT TUESDAY IS BARBECUE NIGHT AT THE YACHT CLUB AFTER THE RACE.  BRING YOUR FAVORITE GRILLING ITEMS FOR THE FUN!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EASTERLY WINDS AND CROSSES

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

It sure looked light as we were leaving the harbor.  I thought maybe we had finally been left flat with no wind at all.  We motored out to the start mark and just as we got there we  looked toward the East and saw wind on the water.  It seemed like within five minutes our chances of having a major float-fest were diminished by the building Easterly.  It was great to have Chris on Odonata  (Santana 22)out for the fun.  We decided on a course not on the chart: start to blacks (port) Gov to starboard and finish to port with a start at 6:10.  With the light but building Easterly many of the boats had to motor to get to the start line on time.

On Pair a Dice, we were a little late to the line and a few boats that came in parallel to the line sprinted across the line ahead of us.  If we were 50 yard further toward the line we could have called “barging” and forced these boats off.  We were toward the back of the fleet as we made our way to Blacks.  Finally, we tacked over for clear air.  As we all rounded Blacks it was a long downwind run to Gov. Odonata set their spinnaker and we all picked our way through the kelp fields.  Those of us with whisker poles set them for the run.  Their seemed to be little difference in wind between outside and inside.  Odonata went further out which worked well for them as they were first to round Gov with Homer right behind and Pair a Dice hot on their sterns.  Homer left room for us at the mark and we immediately headed back outside as all of the rest of the boats took the inside tack toward the beach.  It was clear to us that Odonata was clear ahead of us as they tacked back out toward us, even though we were experiencing a huge lift the whole way back to the finish mark.  Even Homer cleared us well ahead.  After Homer cleared us, we tacked over inside as none of us wanted to sail too far from the mark. When we crossed again we were slightly ahead but leeward to Homer as we sailed to the mark. We scalloped up so we were lee-bowing Homer.  At the correct time, we over sheeted our mainsheet to slow him down even more. Pair A Dice was first over the line with Homer’s Blue Ribbon followed by Odonata, Sea Quake (C&C29) Pacific Spirit, Makana and Iris with Aeolian and Emeritus following.

It was a beautiful sunset and the usual fun gathering at the Crows Nest discussing sailing and tactics.

Crossing Situations:

It is inevitable when boats sail in close quarters and in tight races that there will be crossing situations.  There were at least two crossing situations that occurred this night.  Nobody is going to intentionally crash boats on a Tuesday night race, but it is important to develop a few techniques in crossing situations.  A proper duck really does not give up much distance to a competitor. The techniques that must be learned are:  determining if you will clear a boat or need to duck, letting a competing boat know your intentions, and finally setting up for a proper duck.

Most sailors know if a boat is ranging or moving backwards against the background, you will pass clear ahead.  It is possible for a person on your bow to observe a boat moving backwards and a crew on your stern to see the boat moving forward against the background.  This is why it is critical to judge a crossing situation from the stern of your boat.  When you judge that you will not cross you need to initiate ducking maneuvers.  Acknowledge the competitors “starboard”hail and start to turn toward their stern actually aiming for their midship.  It is important that at least the main is travelled down so you are able to dip and not get rounded up into the other boat. If played correctly, you should take the stern of the other boat very closely and enjoy a lift from the disturbed air from the other boat.

As I say, nobody is going to wreck their boats intentionally, but if a starboard tack boat must steer to prevent a collision a two turn penalty is usually expected, however most SI’s now call for a one turn penalty.  In a real race, if penalty turns are not taken on the course, expect to be protested and experience standing before the protest committee.

See you next Tuesday.

 

Barry L Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

CATALINA SAILBOATS RACING MONTEREY BAY ON TUESDAYS SEPTEMBER 9 2014: WHALES PORPOISES SEA LIONS AND BIRDS OH MY!

WHALES, PORPOISES, SEA LIONS AND BIRDS,

OH MY!

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

I went to the boat Monday evening and as I was leaving the harbor I noticed an easterly wind was blowing.  I thought “it sure would be sweet if an Easterly came in for our Tuesday night!”  As I approached the harbor on this Tuesday, I saw the flag on the Crow’s nest showing an easterly.  There was question as to how strong it would be, but as we left the harbor we saw it was strong enough to have a good race.  We called course 11: start to Blacks, Mile to finish.  Once again we gave a 5 minute horn so everyone could synchronize their watches. 

On Pair A Dice, there is always a discussion between crew and skipper before each start.  What is the plan? The skipper says what he would like to do, like “fight for a starboard start at the mark”.  Feedback from crew is considered and when everyone knows what the agreed upon strategy is, we set about executing the plan.  This night we were headed for the mark and Homer was in position to force us out on a ‘barging’ call.  I luffed up to stall for a few seconds which gave Homer time to actually start.  Once he was over the line I was clear to start, just slightly behind but to windward of him.  It’s what I call the dance at the start.  It requires quick thinking and a crew that is in tune to adjusting sails for quick actions taken on the helm.  Pacific Spirit was just to windward and behind us for the start.  Since they were being lee-bowed by us, they made the correct tactical decision to tack over for clear air.  This plan worked well for them because as we all approached Blacks, Pacific Spirit was coming in on starboard, had right of way and was first around the mark.  Right after rounding Blacks, Homer and Pacific Spirit ran a hotter line, mixing it up with each other, while we rhumb lined it to Mile.

Despite the different strategies used to get to mile, Pacific Spirit once again beat us around the mark, as Homer (Blue Ribbon) and Pair a Dice followed close behind.  After the long slog into the waves toward Mile, it was great to actually be sailing again.  We finally were able to sail into Homers wind and he tacked over for clear wind, while Pacific Spirit sailed further in toward the beach before tacking over for the Mark.  We thought we would meet with Pacific Spirit, but they tacked back over toward the beach.  As it ended, Pair A Dice was first, Blue Ribbom second, Pacific Spirit third, Diver Down, Makani, Iris, Aeolian, Dreamer (cat-27), Andiamo and Emeritus.

Tactics:

There were some great tactics employed tonight.  When we gave Homer bad wind, he immediately tacked over for clear air as Pacific Spirit also did right after the start.  One critical rule in tactics IS to ‘stay BETWEEN your competitors and the mark!’. You obviously must be ahead in order to accomplish this.  Right after the rounding of Mile, Pacific Spirit had enough of a lead to tack over to “stay between us and the finish mark”.  By delaying and allowing us to freely tack over to the layline, they gave up their advantage. It would have been very interesting and possibly a different outcome if they had defended their position.

BLUE RIBBON AND PACIFIC SPIRIT ON THEIR WAY TO MILE

BLUE RIBBON ROUNDING FINISH MARK

I witnessed one boat approaching the finish line, but just leeward of rounding the mark on the correct side.  Several boats passed this boat as they attempted to luff around the mark.  It impressed me once again on the importance of knowing your tacking angle.  How do you know when you are on the layline for a mark? Every boat is different and individual boats will have different laylines for each jib sail and each velocity of wind.  When you have sailed your boat enough to know all of these factors you can still be destroyed by a header that comes up at the most inopportune time!  So on top of learning our tacking angles, you must keep an eye on the wind: Is it consistent or shifty?  Learning tacking angles is no easy skill to acquire!  On Pair A Dice, with one jib, we will sight across the bulkhead.  With a larger jib, we will sight across the traveler.  Some people know their tacking angle and use their compass to determine what their new heading will be after a tack. Whatever method you find that works best for you, learn it and use it to your advantage!

With the beautiful, warm, clear weather and the whales all over the bay and porpoises and birds, capped by a gorgeous sunset it was a spectacular Santa Cruz evening to be sailing on the bay.

THE END OF ANOTHER PERFECT DAY!

See you out there next Tuesday!

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair a Dice

 

CATALINA SAILBOATS SAILING MONTEREY BAY ON TUESDAY NIGHTS: SUMMER IS ENDING

AS SUMMER DRAWS TO AN END

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

 Another cold, overcast night on the Monterey Bay.  At least  the wind was pumping with 15 to 20 knots out of the northwest.  There seemed to be fewer boats out tonight, but the usual crew was out with Aeolian, Free Spirit, Blue Ribbon, Iris, Sea Quake (C&C29) and Pair A Dice.  There also was an Olson 25 and maybe a few more out for the fun.  Pacific Spirit didn’t make it out in time for the start but came out later.  Just to mix it up, we decided on Course 3: Start, Wharf, Blacks and Finish with a 6:10 start time.  The new five minute horn seems to work well for everyone and Iris had a 3 minute head start this time.

For the start Sailing Pair A Dice decided to start on Starboard tack at the start mark and accomplished this pretty much on time.  Blue Ribbon, the Olson and Aeolian all started on port tack.  When we tacked over on port, we met Aeolian who was tacking out  on starboard tack and were able to tack in front of them and effectively lee-bowed them.  As we all made our way to Wharf, we were amazed that Blue Ribbon had taken their port tack all the way beyond Gov before they tacked over.  Since the wind was much less in there, we thought they were sailing into a disadvantage.  As we rounded wharf, we were amazed that Blue Ribbon was right behind us, followed by Iris and the Olson.

Right after rounding wharf, we set our pole to port and sailed the rhumb line to Blacks.  Aeolian and the Olson mixed it up a bit, but ultimately the Olson came out ahead in that squirmish.  We rounded Blacks comfortably ahead of Blue Ribbon.  At the finish, it was Pair A Dice followed by Blue Ribbon then Iris, the Olson and Sea Quake.  Aeolian bailed out of the race due to technical difficulties (darn sheets wearing out).

We had a great turnout at the Crows Nest, recapping the evenings events.

SURREAL EVENING

 INREGATTADAVID

 

We are coming to the end of our sailing season, you can feel it in the air and the shorter nights.  We have had a great summer of sailing. I can’t think of any time we did not have wind, though there were a few times we had to wait for it to come up.  It has been fun watching everyone improve their sailing and racing skills as the summer has progressed.  Whether fighting it out for the lead or trying to get ahead of another boat back in the pack, it has really been a fun summer of sailing. 

As the season winds down, what are your plans to keep your skills up during the winter?  There are many options to do this.  Some of us continue to meet out on the bay on Saturdays, weather permitting.  You can get a PHRF certificate and participate in the Yacht Clubs Midwinters regatta.  The first day of Score was on the 24^th of August and we only had one Jib and Main boat out (go Diver Down!).  If you are intimidated by the process of entering a “real Regatta” and don’t understand the flags and horns, let me know and I will help in whatever way I can.

BLUE RIBBON WITH RED SAIL

See you out there next week!

 

Barry L. Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice