OCTOBER 7, 2025 ANOTHER DYING BREEZE

 

OCTOBER 7, 2025

ANOTHER DYING BREEZE

Predictions for the evening were diverse, but we work with what we get!  When we approached the start area around 5:15 the light breeze was coming from an unusual direction: due West 270 degrees.  We called for a new course: S/F to Gov and finish at S/F.  As the clock ticked down to the A Fleet start, the wind was slowly decreasing.  By the 6pm B Fleet start  boats were drifting in very light wind.  As B Fleet started sailing slowly toward the windward mark (Gov) it was apparent that a shortened course was necessary for Fleet B as Fleet A had rounded Gov and headed toward the S/F.  As it turned out, it was just another dying breeze. 

To review A Fleet tracks:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=7.10.2025%2017:55:00&language=en

For B Fleet track:        

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=7.10.2025%2018:00:00&language=en&defaultspeed=5&loop=no

THE FINISH LINE:

There seems to be confusion about what constitutes the finish line when a course is shortened in Regatta Hero.  If you make a line from the previous mark to the Shortened course finishing mark, the finish line extends perpendicular to that line. The line is rather long (61 meters) so there is no advantage in rounding close to the mark.  Attempting to “round the mark”  rather than “crossing the finish line” causes a crowd of boats that have already finished at the mark.

WINTER TUESDAY AFTERNOON SAILING:

Watch for another blog post about Tuesday Afternoon Winter sailing. For the rest of October we will be starting at 5pm rather than 6pm.  In November we will switch to a 3pm start.

 

photo by Jennifer Kinsman

ZOOP SCOOP BY PAUL  TARA

TO B, or NOT TO B (fleet), THAT WAS THE QUESTION

Wind does not blow. Low pressure sucks. As we head into fall, and pressure differentials flatten, it sucks less. But, even now, the closer the blue sky, the stronger the breeze.  On Tuesday, except for a brief period around noon, Hwy 1 was about as close as any blue got to salt water. 

 

Lately, B fleet’s been getting skunked by the breeze shutting off right at 1800. Tuesday looked like a rerun in spite of Barry’s selection of Gov as a shorter weather mark. A tuft of fog peeking over Ben Lomond Mountain, way up by Boulder Creek, reinforced this possibility.  After some discussion, we elected to sail in the A fleet, in the hope of getting a 5 minute head start on the impending calm. Our strategy was simple. Get onto port tack ASAP and avoid sailing into the swell on starboard at all costs.

 

A previous ‘Scoop’ discussed the tendency of building breezes to veer, and dying breezes to back due to the earth’s Coriolis Effect  .  As we approached the beach, the wind continued to decrease, and started lifting us until we were sailing parallel to the swim buoys. Unfortunately I completely muffed our tack onto the starboard lay line, allowing the Express 34 to overtake us right at the mark.  Right on both our tails was the Sydney 38.

 

An earlier edition also talked about how, in handicap racing, if you’re about to be rolled by a much faster boat, don’t engage.  As we rounded, we bore well away, quickly opening a gap between ourselves and the Sydney. In very short order she was past, our wind was clear, and she was launched straight at the Express 34’s transom, as well as the clump of boats that had rounded earlier.  We sailed the rest of the leg right down the compass bearing to the finish.  The wind continued to back and die, allowing us to reach low on starboard while making it difficult for all the boats that had gone high to jibe and get back down to the course. 

 

A look at the tracks for both fleets shows the slow progressive shift to the left as boats on port are ever so slightly lifted up. It’s very subtle, but increases as B fleet approaches their finish. It also shows how costly trying to sail into the swell on starboard was. 

 

TRIVIA 

The two main components of running rigging are SHEETS and HALYARDS. Sheets are lines that control the angle of sails to the wind. They are not the sails. The term sheet stems from the shape of the sails, which become flat or sheetlike as they are trimmed or sheeted-in. Halyards hoist or raise sails. Halyard comes from the phrase “haul yard” referring to the action of hoisting the yard or spar at the top of a square sail into position for sailing.

 

PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS:

PLACE                 BOAT                                   PHRF                   ET                          CORRECTED

FLEET A: COURSE:START>GOV>S/F  COURSE DISTANCE 1.632NM

1             WATTS MOORE                             150                       31:41                  27:36

2             BLIND DATE                                  78                          31:55                  28:08

3             PACIFIC HIGH                                96                          30:50                  28:13

4             ZOOP                                                144                       37:42                  33:47

5             ABORIGINAL                                 33                          36:46                  35:52

6             DOUBLE ESPRESSO                     99                          38:39                  35:57

7             YELLOW BELLY                            141                       39:56                  36:06

8             WIND II                                            213                       41:55                  36:07

9             ROSIE                                               162                       41:42                  37:17

10          TRUE LOVE                                      72                          39:46                  37:48

11          INTERLUDE                                      141                       48:04                  44:13

12          AQUAVIT                                           72                          47:24                  45:26

FLEET B:  COURSE:S/F>GOV / COURSE DISTANCE 0.809NM

1             TARA                                                  243                       22:18                  19:01

2             AZOR                                                 243                       23:18                  20:01

3             SIMPATICO                                       165                       22:23                  20:09

4             WIND GODDESS                             165                       24:00                  21:46

5             ABSOLUTE 05                                  117                       23:42                  22:07

6             SAILING PAIR A DICE                    180                       24:52                  22:26

7             NIDAROS                                          118                       24:05                  22:29

8             TOAD                                                 150                       26:44                  24:42

9             KICKS                                                180                       28:26                  26:01

10          PACIFIC SPIRIT                                 165                       28:27                  26:13

I hope to see you sailing next Tuesday at 5pm!

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 LIGHT WIND SAILING ON BUMPY SEAS

 

SEPTEMBER 30, 2025

LIGHT WIND SAILING ON BUMPY SEAS

Predictions were for 7 knot winds decreasing to 3 knots through the evening. As usual, the flags were flying through the afternoon showing winds of 10-12 knots across the bay.  Even as we were leaving the harbor at 5pm there was enough wind from the southwest for a race.  We set a start  line and called for course W5: S/F>Schuyler>S/F.  As the clock ticked down to our start time, the wind started to dissipate even more.  Another factor was the sea state that was very choppy making it difficult to sail a southerly course to get outside.

As we all fought the challenging, low wind, choppy conditions we shortened course to finish at Schuyler.  As the sun was setting, boats were still sailing to finish.  It was a awesome display of the resilience of our Tuesday Night Sailors with 14 boats slogging their way to finish.  It was a night of light wind sailing on bumpy seas.

To review the tracks of fleet A:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=30.9.2025%2017:55:00&language=en

To review the tracks of fleet B:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=30.9.2025%2018:00:00&language=en

 

 

PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS:

PLACE                 BOAT                          PHRF                   ET                          CORRECTED

FLEET A: COURSE W5 SHORTENED TO FINISH AT SCHUYER:DIST=1.2NM

1             PACIFIC HIGH                          96                          43:43                  41:47

2             TRUE LOVE                              72                          53:47                  52:20

3             DUET                                          140                       55:47                  52:59

4             DOUBLE ESPRESSO                99                          1:02:24              1:02:25

5             AQUAVIT                                   72                          1:10:31              1:09:04

FLEET B: COURSE W5 SHORTENED TO FINISH AT SCHUYLR: DIST=1.2NM

1             BIG MAC                                    222                       1:05:08              1:00:41

2             AZOR                                           243                       1:07:27              1:02:35

3             GOLD RUSH                               126                       1:06:34              1:04:03

4             SIMPATICO                                 165                       1:08:25              1:05:07

5             TOAD                                           150                       1:08:17              1:05:17

6             SAILING PAIR A DICE               180                       1:11:20              1:07:44

7             WIND GODDESS                         165                       1:12:51              1:09:33

8             ABSOLUTE 05                             117                       1:12:54              1:10:33

9             MAKANI                                      147                       1:19:24              1:16:27

ZOOP SCOOP BY PAUL TARA

BEANS

I don’t have much to say about this Tuesday’s race except that, after we  slid into the starting mark, did our spin, and footed to the right, the wind went left. At that point the lure of the large pot of barbecue beans flavored with sausage, carrots, onions and yellow bell peppers waiting at the Club began to increase exponentially. (Not to mention the fresh-baked apple cake.) Since Tuesday was our fourth day of racing in a week, crew morale dictated the use of the ignition key. But, also, I hate slatting; it puts as much wear and tear on sails and gear as a week of hard sailing.    

 

SAILING ETYMOLOGY (WTF!) 

Cowboys have ropes. Sailors have lines.  Every line aboard has a specific name. In toto they comprise the running and standing rigging. Lines that move RUN. Lines that don’t move STAND. Standing rigging consists of STAYS, which support the rig fore-and-aft, and SHROUDS, which support the rig athwartships. The term shroud stems from the days of the black plague and poor quality hemp. So many were needed they appeared to conceal or ‘shroud’ the mast from view, just as sackcloth was used to shroud unburied victims of the disease. To really get in the spirit of the times (pun intended) shrouds were tensioned by a system of deadeyes or sheaveless wooden blocks that resembled faces of the deceased.

    

My favorite rigging term is martingale. To a cowboy, it’s a piece of tack leading from the breast strap or girth up to the bridle, limiting the ability of the horse to toss its head. There are even running and standing martingales. To a sailor, it’s a stay leading from the vessel’s stem, to the dolphin-striker, and then up to the  jib-boom, or the outer section of the bowsprit. It counteracts the upward force exerted by the fore-topmast stays’l and jibs. Modern boats don’t have them.  Today, boats with simple bowsprits just have a bobstay leading up from the stem. Which makes perfect sense if you think about a horse tossing or ‘bobbing’ its head.

Thank you Paul

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

 

SEPTEMBER 23, 2025 BEAUTIFUL SUNSET SAIL

 

SEPTEMBER 23, 2025

BEAUTIFUL SUNSET SAIL

When I got to the harbor early in the afternoon, there was a building Easterly.  By 4 o’clock, the Easterly had switched to a healthy Westerly breeze but the question still remained: which of the winds would prevail at 6 o’clock?  As we left the harbor, we noted a fog bank over Aptos, which can be a precursor for an Easterly wind. We set the offset mark towards Blacks just in case the Easterly prevailed.  At 5:45 it was apparent the Westerly coming from 230-250 degrees was dominant and we announced the course W3M.  This is a course not on the course card but entered into Regatta Hero to be used when a slightly longer course is needed than W5.     

Both fleets got off to a clean start and tacked their way to Schuyler, then Mile and back to S/F.  We all finished just as the sun was setting.   For all the predictions of light wind and  fog, it turned into a beautiful sunset sail.

 

 Photo by Sam Hardin

 To review the tracks for Fleet A:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=23.9.2025%2017:55:00&language=en

For Fleet B:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=23.9.2025%2018:00:00&language=en

PHRF CORRECTED RESULTS:

PLACE                 BOAT                                   PHRF                   ET             CORRECTED

FLEET A: COURSE W3M  DISTANCE 2.909NM

1             SAGITTARIUS                                  120                       36:27`                30:37

2             PACIFIC HIGH                                  96                          35:52                  31:12

4             MAIN SQUEEZE                              72                           35:55                  32:25

5             WIND II                                             213                          45:37                  35:17

6             ROSIE                                                162                          45:12                  37:20

FLEET B: COURSE W3M  DISTANCE 2.909NM

1             ZOOP                                                  144                           35:25                  28:26

2             GOLD RUSH                                      126                           36:34                  30:27

3             PERFECT 36                                      144                            37:34                  30:35

4             SIMPATICO                                       165                             38:44                  30:44

5             BIG MAC                                           222                             42:22                  31:36

6             SAILING PAIR A DICE                    180                              41:14                  32:30

7             TARA                                                 243                               45:26                  33:39

8             NIDAROS                                         118                                39:45                  34:01

9             PACIFIC SPIRIT                               165                                43:38                   35:38

10          AVATAR                                              132                                43:40                  37:16

11          TOAD                                                  150                               44:48                  37:31

“ZOOP SCOOP” by Paul Tara

A LATE BLOOMER?

Wind checks prior to the start indicated 250° early on, then backing to 240° with a lighter breeze on the beach. No hint of a further veer.  No fog. No foulies. Plus, cirrus over Monterey. I thought, “Hmmm….seems like another Fancy Dancer, but she’s late (then, they are always fickle).  Better keep an eye on the left, especially the C&C 35 Gold Rush, which likes the port end.”  These suspicions were borne out.  A look at the tracks for both fleets shows no advantage to the right on the beat to Schuyler, with boats on the left, outside, gradually being lifted on port. Aboard Zoop, in a virtual match race with Gold Rush, neither boat tacked onto port until we were almost to Mile Buoy. By Schuyler, we had already eaten up the 5 minute head start of the A fleet tail-enders.

 

Our match race continued, until we managed to scrape Gold Rush off on “Lark”, the tail-end SC 27, on the way to the finish.  I mention this because, after all the hints about sailing the shortest course, if you view the track, it looks like both Zoop and Gold Rush got to the bar way too early. That’s because Lark doesn’t show a track. But she’s there, first in front of us, then between us, then behind.  Here’s a hint for slower boats; when racing handicap, it’s a mistake to over engage with an overtaking faster boat. Your competitor is the clock, not the boat.  Especially when you’re not even racing in the same fleet. The best tactic is to figure out how to let them pass as painlessly as possible. Or, to quote from “16 Tons”, a Tennessee Ernie Ford hit from the 1950’s, “If ya see me comin’, better step aside, …..” 

 

“TILLER TOWRDS TROUBLE”

The term tiller is derived from the handles of horse-drawn plows, that were used to “till” the soil; they use the same method of control; push right to go left, push left to go right.

Thanks Paul

 

NOTIFICATIONS:

1)      Jack and Jill regatta is this coming Saturday.  Get your crew together for this fun event.

2)      There was a whisker pole found in the water outside the start area as boats were preparing for the race. It was retrieved by Mark Mccord on Big Mac.

3)      NEXT TUESDAY IS THE LAST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH WHICH MEANS BARBECUE POTLUCK AT THE CLUB AFTER THE RACE!  BRING YOUR BEST GRILLING FOOD FOR THIS AWESOME SOCIAL EVENT!

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

 

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

 

SEPTEMBER 9, 2025 AWESOME WIND

 

SEPTEMBER 9,  2025

AWESOME WIND

Prospects for good wind were not looking good.  The flags were showing winds coming from the West, then switching for a while to Easterly.  I got reports from sailors that there was a steady 8 knot breeze on the bay which is enough to have a race.  As we left the harbor just after 5 o’clock there was a good 15-19 knot breeze.  Since we can use Regatta Hero to shorten course if needed, we can call for longer courses. We announced an ambitious course:   W1.  Both fleets got off to a clean start as both fleets tacked their way toward the windward mark.  The conditions stayed the same throughout the evening.   It was great to be sailing in some awesome wind.

The track for Fleet A can be reviewed at:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=9.9.2025%2017:55:00&language=en

Fleet B track at:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=9.9.2025%2018:00:00&language=en            

PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS:

PLACE                 BOAT                                   PHRF                   ET                          CORRECTED

FLEET A: COURSE W1   DISTANCE  3.873NM

1             TRUE LOVE                                      72                          41:13                  36:34

2             ABORIGINAL                                    33                          38:55                  36:47

3             INTERLUDE                                      141                       48:35                  39:28

4             AQUAVIT                                           72                          48:31                  43:52

5             ABSOLUTE 25                                   48                          47:53                  44:47

FLEET B:  COURSE W1   DISTANCE 3.873NM

1             ZOOP                                                  144                       45:48                  36:30

2             PERFECT 36                                      144                       47:36                  38:18

3             BIG MAC                                           222                       53:31                  39:11

4             MAKANI                                           147                       49:48                  40:18

5             SAILING PAIR A DICE                    180                       52:09                  40:31

6             TARA                                                  243                       56:41                  40:59

7             GOLD RUSH                                     126                       50:05                  41:56

8             WIND GODDESS                              165                       54:40                  44:00

9             SIMPATICO                                       165                       55:02                  44:22

10          PACIFIC SPIRIT                                 165                       55:12                  44:32

11          ABSOLUTE 05                                    117                       52:32                  44:58

12          TOAD                                                   150                       58:02                  48:21

13          NIDAROS                                             144                       59:17                  49:59

_)                                  _)                                                      _)                               (_                            (_

Don’t forget, the Jack and Jill regatta is coming up on Saturday  September 27.

ZOOP SCOOP  by Paul Tara

The BIG Shift
On Tuesday, with the autumnal equinox just around the corner, a sea buoy off San Francisco recorded a surface temp of 65° F . Surface evaporation and an upper level low combined to produce a muggy, almost tropical day with a few light showers.  By noon, most of the overcast had started to clear and a moderate westerly was stirring, but without much enthusiasm. It even that showed signs of dissipating around 1500.

Aboard Zoop, on D dock, I thought, “Wow. Another Fancy Dancer. Wonder what she’s got in store.”  Because, if you’ll recall, Fancy Dancer’s don’t follow the usual pattern (fog offshore, strong cold westerly with transition to easterly inshore). We had no fog, and we had no strong cold westerly.  But windexes in the Harbor were showing no hint of a backing southerly shift indicating an easterly transition either.  Then, right around 1600, as Pair-A-Dice left the dock, the westerly began to increase.

The standard westerly in Santa Cruz is 240°.  When we arrived at the starting area, about 1710, it was at 242° with no visible increase outside. A long line was set, with the port (offshore) end favored. Another wind-check at 1740 showed 252°, with the westerly having increased slightly.  That 10° veer, made the port end less attractive, but not enough to discourage Aboriginal, in A Fleet, from making a perfect port tack start. (We could hear the gnashing of teeth aboard True Love and Sagittarius clear at the other end of the line.)  The important thing to note is that, even though Aboriginal started at the port end, she was headed right.  By the time the lead B Fleet boats finished, the wind was at 262° and shortly thereafter, as we approached the Harbor, it was at 272°, due west.  242° to 270°, 30° in 40 minutes; that’s a BIG shift. Not a good night to bet left.

Speaking of port tack starts, ever wonder why starboard tack has the right-of-way? It’s because most of us are right-handed.  Early sailing vessels evolved from canoes and were double-enders that were steered with paddles or, eventually, steering oars. These were almost always on the right side where they were easier for the majority to control (the right hand functions as the lower gudgeon, where most of the force is concentrated). The Norse developed these ‘steer boards’ to a high degree, they were always shipped over the right side, hence it became known as the ‘steerboard’ side.

But, in spite of being quite sophisticated, the steering oar had two drawbacks. First, a vessel on starboard tack, heeling to port, tended to lift its oar out of the water, reducing control.  Second, the helmsman, who had to remain on the starboard side near the oar, often had his view ahead and to leeward blocked by the sail (sound familiar?). Whereas, on port tack, the opposite was true; good visibility and control.  Hence starboard tack earned the right-of-way, “Olaf! Those guys can’t stnd don’t see us. Let’s duck!”

Thank you Paul.

I hope to see you sailing next Tuesday!

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice