AUGUST 12, 2025 ANOTHER SIX O'CLOCK WIND

 

AUGUST 12, 2025

ANOTHER SIX O’CLOCK WIND

Observing the flags as the afternoon progressed was depressing. Light Northwesterly clocking to a light Easterly then to a Southerly.  As we exited the harbor at 5 o’clock there was a strong Northwesterly out by Mile with a wide transition zone (very light wind) between S/F and mile. We considered setting a long start line with the red ball outside of S/F, but just as we were preparing to set the ball, I noticed boats leaving the harbor sailing on an Easterly.  With about 20 minutes to start time we  powered back, set the line for an Easterly and set the offset mark.  We called for course E6: S/F, Blacks, Offset mark, Blacks, Offset mark, Finish line. We crossed our fingers hoping for the Easterly to build, and our prayers were answered.

It was an interesting course switching between upwind, downwind, upwind, downwind, reach.  I was thankful that the Easterly filled in so well that all boats finished. Thank God for another six o’clock wind!

REGATTA HERO:

It was a challenging night for Regatta Hero, with A Fleet boats starting and being recorded as B Fleet.  Tracks for boats disappearing in the middle of the  race and one boats track did not activate until the finish.

THE ZOOP SCOOP BY PAUL TARA

Easterlies are tricky, particularly upwind. If there’s enough wind to actually sail, on port tack the left over westerly swells cause brief lifts; as each crest passes beneath the boat from starboard, she is set slightly to port, shifting the apparent wind from ahead to more abeam. On starboard tack the opposite occurs; the swells from astern cause the boat to accelerate, shifting the apparent wind forward, causing a header. The bigger the swells, the bigger the shifts.

In these conditions it is virtually impossible to steer accurately on every wave. It helps to remember that the waves on both tacks are not head-seas, and are actually assisting the boat to go to weather.  On port tack, it can pay to pinch occasionally, counting on the lifts to bail you out or, if you’re going for speed, to sail with an inch or two of ease. One tendency to avoid is oversteering.  As the boat begins to feel the wave coming up from leeward, she will heel and almost always want to round up.  Let her. Applying excessive rudder angle to maintain a constant course ignores the lift and puts on the brakes at the same time.

On starboard tack, the situation is quite different.  The swells are usually coming more from astern and each one accelerates the boat, resulting in a header.  If you pinch on starboard, and a bigger than usual swell comes along, you might find yourself in the “no-go zone”, or worse, aback.  Starboard is the time to foot; don’t ease, stay trimmed in, and as the bow drops and the boat accelerates, bear away and go for speed. Weight forward helps; the longer you can hang onto the swell, the better.

The trick is to distinguish between the temporary shifts in apparent wind, and changes in the true wind direction. For this we use the magnetic compass and watch the fleet.  It’s best to not be too hasty. Easterlies can cause boats go in a lot of some momentarily weird directions.  What might appear to be a boat lifting out could just be one responding to a wave. Or not.

Thanks Paul

A VIEW FROM THE BEACH

    PHRF CORRECTED TIME:

PLACE                 BOAT                                   PHRF   ET          CORRECTED TIME

FLEET A: course E6 distance 1.903NM

1             ABORIGINAL                                    33          30:43                  29:40

2             TRUE LOVE                                      72          36:31                  34:14

3             DUET                                                  140       39:04                  34:37

4             WIND II                                             213       41:49                  35:03

5             INTERLUDE                                      141       41:21                  36:52

6             ROSIE                                                162       43:40                  38:31

7             DOUBLE ESPRESSO                       99          43:20                  40:12

8             ABSOLUTE 25                                  48          44:07                  42:35

FLEET B: course E6 distance 1.903NM

1             ZOOP                                                 144       37:07                  32:33

2             SAILING PAIR A DICE                    180       40:54                  35:11

3             PERFECT 36                                     144       40:04                  35:30

4             AVATAR                                             132       40:41                  36:29

5             TARA                                                 243       44:29                  36:46

6             SIMPATICO                                      165       43:21                  38:07

7             PACIFIC SPIRIT                               165       46:37                  41:23

8             KICKS                                               180       48:04                  42:11

9             WIND GODDESS                             165       47:43                  42:29

10          TOAD                                                 150       48:31                  43:45

11          ESTELLE                                            170       51:50                  46:26

 

The track for A Fleet can be viewed at:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=12.8.2025%2017:55:00&language=en

For Fleet B:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=12.8.2025%2018:00:00&language=en

 I hope to see you sailing next Tuesday.

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

 

AUGUST 5, 2025 SIX O'CLOCK WIND

 

AUGUST 5, 2025

SIX O’CLOCK WIND

After the failure of a weekend regatta due to lack of wind and a light wind Monday, prospects for wind for our Tuesday sail were sketchy.  When I got to the harbor, there was a very light South-Easterly showing on the flags.  When we exited the harbor, there was no fog bank in Aptos, another bad omen for a developing Easterly.  We set a temporary mark to windward for a short course if the wind did not develop and even announced by Regatta Hero that our course would be E7: once around the Temp mark. As the clock ticked down to about 5:45, the wind was noticeably increasing and we changed course to E4: S/F to Blacks, temp mark, finish at S/F.  As it turned out, the wind increased with an Easterly puff that came in around 6:20 compressing boats in B fleet at the finish.

The developing Easterly was coming from 80 degrees when we set the Start line.  Easterlies normally build from the beach out, so some boats tried to start closer to the beach, but as the wind seemed to clock further to the South, boats starting at the S/F end of the line were able to lay Blacks without tacking.

Despite anticipating a dismal, no-wind evening following the conditions we have experienced, it was great to catch a 6 o’clock wind.

Jennifer Kinsman photo

 PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS:

PLACE                BOAT                                   PHRF                                   ET              CORRECTED    FLEET A: COURSE E4   DISTANCE 1.128NM

1             TRUE LOVE                                      72                                          11:35                  10:13

2             INTERLUDE                                     141                                         13:14                  10:34

3             ABSOLUTE 25                                   48                                          12:45                  11:50

4             MAIN SQUEEZE                               72                                          14:23                  13:01

5             DUET                                                  141                                        15:50                  13:10

6             ROSIE                                                 162                                        16:37                  13:34

7             AQUAVIT                                           72                                          15:55                  14:33

8             SOPHIE                                              141                                        18:32                  15:52

FLEET B:  COURSE E4   DISTANCE 1.128NM

1             BIG MAC                                           222                                       20:45                  16:34

2             TARA                                                  243                                       21:29                  16:54

3             GOOD TIMIN’                                   141                                       19:56                  17:16

4             SAILING PAIR A DICE                    180                                       21:14                  17:51

5             PERFECT 36                                      144                                       20:45                  18:02

6             NIDAROS                                          144                                       21:06                  18:23

7             PACIFIC SPIRIT                                165                                       21:49                  18:42

8             ESTELLE                                           170                                       22:02                  TIE 18:50

8             SIMPATICO                                       165                                       21:56                  TIE18:50

8             TOAD                                                 150                                       21:40                  TIE18:50

11          AVATAR                                               132                                       21:30                  19:01

12          BLU FIN                                               72                                        20:49                  19:27

To review the Regatta Hero track for fleet A, go to:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=5.8.2025%2017:55:00&language=en

To review fleet B:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=5.8.2025%2018:00:00&language=en

REGATTA HERO TIPS:

Complete instructions for downloading and using Regatta Hero were posted on the May 6 blog.  In the screen where you enter your PHRF, in the upper left corner there is a space labeled “Sail Number”.  Please enter your boat’s name in this field to identify your boat in the track replay.   Remember all fields need to be completed for your boat track to be counted.  For each race, open the app  and select a regatta (Fleet A or B) and click on the “Participate in regatta”.  I am always at the club after Tuesday races and if you are having problems, bring your phone so we can figure it out.

I hope to see you sailing next Tuesday!

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

JULY 29, 2025 EXCEPTIONAL GUST OF WIND

 

JULY 29, 2025

EXCEPTIONAL GUST OF WIND

It was not encouraging seeing the flags limp as I came to the harbor, then developing into a weak Easterly.  Approaching the start area,  the old adage “sail to the new wind” seemed to be in play, so as we bobbed around in a very light Easterly anticipating more wind. We set an offset mark to enable using one of two courses depending on wind speed: E7 (S/f, temp mark, S/F) for very light wind and E4 (S/F, Blacks, temp, S/F) for better wind.  We thought we had set up for all possible conditions until Brett (Aboriginal) pointed out course S5 with a developing Southerly.  We postponed the race and adjusted the start line for a southerly wind.  By this time we were depending on Regatta Hero to conduct the count-down, with Fleet B starting about 1.5 minutes behind Fleet A.  Both fleets got off to a clean start and tacked their way toward Mile in a beautiful breeze of at least 10 knots.  As the Gust diminished, the last of the B Fleet boats drifted over the finish line.

My goal is to have every boat finish the race and this goal was accomplished with an exceptional gust of wind.

 

 

                                                           PHOTOS FROM JENNIFER KINSMAN

 

 The track for Fleet A can be viewed at:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=29.7.2025%2017:59:36&language=en

The track for Fleet B can be viewed at:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=29.7.2025%2018:01:00&language=en

Paul Tara “THE ZOOP SCOOP”

In 1967, Alan Watts, a British meteorologist, wrote “Wind and Sailing Boats” where he presented data that, in the northern hemisphere, freshening breezes veer (shift to the right) and decreasing breezes back (shift to the left).  No one really disputes this now, and the last three Tuesday’s bear it out.

On July 15th, we sailed under the fog in a moderate, decreasing westerly.  There was a left shift and the outside boats were favored.  On July 22nd, the fog was slightly offshore, there was a stiff westerly all the way to the beach with a significant veer, and the inside boats were favored.

One of the disadvantages of Regatta Hero is that you cannot view the tracks of both A and B fleets simultaneously. Not really helpful anyway when they’re sailing different courses. But this past Tuesday, everyone sailed S-5. After backing off, the westerly filled back in, but without much enthusiasm. The course was basically a one-tack beat with a reaching return.  As the fleet headed out on starboard into more wind, there was a definite shift to the right. But then the westerly began to die.  In the A fleet, ALL the lead boats laid Mile Buoy without tacking.  In the B fleet, NO boats did, as the breeze shifted left. On the way back to the finish, boats started out broad-reaching on port, but as the breeze continued to diminish and back, many ended up running, or in some cases jibing onto starboard. By the time the mass of the fleet finished, the easterly was filling.

The course length was 1.929 nm. The lead A fleet boat sailed a route of 1.94 nm. That’s about as close as you can get to rhumb line and hand steer.  The lead B fleet boat sailed a route of 2.01 nm.

Thank you Paul.

PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS:

PLACE                 BOAT                                   PHRF                   ET                          CORRECTED

FLEET A:           

1             ABORIGINAL                                   33                          20:11                  19:07

2             TRUE LOVE                                      72                          22.36                  20:17

3             MAIN SQUEEZE                            72                          25:49                  23:30

4             INTERLUDE                                     141                       33:39                  29:06

5             SOPHIE                                              141                       33:50                  29:18

6             AQUAVIT                                           72                          32:07                  29:48

7             MAGIC                                                141                       34:28                  29:55

8             DOUBLE ESPRESSO                  99                          33:41                  30:30

9             WIND II                                               213                       38:35                  31:44

10          DUET                                                   141                       37:39                  33:06

11          ROSIE                                                 162                       48:18                  43:05

FLEET B:

1             ZOOP                                                  144                       32:07                  27:29

2             AVATAR                                              132                       36:01                  31:46

3             PERFECT 36                                    144                       37:25                  32:47

4             BIG MAC                                            222                       41:59                  34:50

5             TARA                                                    243                       43:02                  35:13

6             SAILING PAIR A DICE                180                       47:38                  41:50

7             SIMPATICO                                      164                       47:13                  41:56

8             PACIFIC SPIRIT                             165                       47:30                  42:11

9             TOAD                                                   150                       48:21                  43:31

10          NIDAROS                                          118                       47:44                  43:56

11          WIND GODDESS                         165                       49:46                  44:27

12          SWEET PEA                                      165                       51:00                  45:42 

I hope to see you sailing next Tuesday.

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

JULY 22, 2025 PRAYERS FOR WIND ANSWERED!

 

JULY 22, 2025

PRAYERS FOR WIND ANSWERED!

Predictions called for winds of 4 to 20 knots for the whole evening.  The wind was howling in the harbor all afternoon.  As crew arrived, we swapped out our headsail from the 155 to the 135 which worked for us with winds consistently 21-26 knots.  We determined the wind direction was 230 and set a line square to that direction.  We called for course W1 for Fleet A and W2 for Fleet B and both fleets got off to a clean start.

Some of the larger boats did not reef at all.  On PAD we put a reef in and even minimized the jib only unfurling halfway. We all tacked our way to Schuyler.  As usual the rounding of Schuyler presented its problems and we “kissed the mark” and did our 360 exoneration.

After months of cursing low to no winds and all of us wishing and praying for enough wind to race in, it seems our prayers for wind were answered!

Paul Tara (Zoop) frequently sends me his assessment about our sails.  I asked him if we could share his perspective in the blog.  Following is Paul’s comments about this sail, print in the color of Zoop.

Let’s give a big shout out to Doug Mahone of Avatar for discovering and implementing Regatta Hero.  Without it, this would be a sad season by now. There are 51 entrants in the Tuesday night series.  If you are entered, but not using the app on your phone, you are missing a BIG shift.  Because, you already paid your 40 bucks, and you’re losing out on one of the most beneficial aspects of the series: the opportunity to learn from your mistakes.

For example, let’s compare the tracks from last Tuesday and this Tuesday. (No, I’m not going to give you a screenshot; You have to do it!)  Note, the default trail length is 6 minutes. You can change this while replay is running; I set mine at 20 minutes which is about enough to see the entire weather leg.  Last week, the edge of the fog was at Soquel Ave., and the outside boats did well. This week the edge was offshore, conditions were quite “sporty,” and the inside boats did well. Last week, boats on port were lifted above the end of the Wharf.  This week, the lead port tack boats didn’t lay Gov.  Why?

In the northern hemisphere, strong breezes generally veer (shift right), while dying breezes back (shift left). Last week the course was under the fog, where the breeze was slowly dying; this week it was in the clear and the wind was strong.  Strong winds are constantly being refreshed by mixing from aloft, which, in the northern hemisphere, is almost always veered relative to surface winds, due to the Coriolis effect of the earth’s rotation. Right shift, go right. Left shift, go left.

But, don’t just watch the tracks. The accompanying table contains critical data, which updates as the race progresses.  This week, in B fleet, the first three elapsed time finishers all sailed the 3.484 nm course at 6.2 knots. But their “routes” (distances sailed) were 4.247, 4.273, and 4.425 nm respectively.  The difference between 4.247 and 4.273 is 158 feet, or as it turns out, about 27 seconds. Take a look at your route.

Thanks Paul for your insight!  

Barry

To review the track for Fleet A:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=22.7.2025%2017:55:00&language=en

To review the track for Fleet B:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=22.7.2025%2018:00:00&language=en

                               Jennifer Kinsman photo: challenging but fun conditions 

PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS:

PLACE                 BOAT                                   PHRF                   ET                          CORRECTED

FLEET A: COURSE W1 DISTANCE 3.873NM

1             ABORIGINAL                                   33                          36:28                  34:20

2             TRUE LOVE                                     72                          39:36                  34:57

3             DOUBLE ESPRESSO                       99                          49:44                  43:20

4             DUET                                                 141                       54:00                  44:53

FLEET B:  COURSE W2  DISTANCE  3.484NM

1             ZOOP                                                144                       40:51                   32:29

2             PERFECT 36                                    144                       42:44                  34:22

3             SAILING PAIR A DICE                  180                       46:49                  36:21

4             MAIN SQUEEZE                            72                          41:18                  37:07

5             AVATAR                                           132                       47:08                  39:28

6             SIMPATICO                                     165                       50:49                  41:14

7             PACIFIC SPIRIT                             165                       52:27                  42:52

8             BLOND AMBITION                      100                       50:47                  44:58

9             TOAD                                              150                       54:30                  45:47

10          WIND GODDESS                            165                       57:37                  48:02

11          NIDAROS                                         118                       1:01:22              54:30

_)                                      _)                                           _)                                     _)                                                (_

Next Tuesday is the last Tuesday of the month meaning:

BARBECUE POTLUCK AT THE CLUB AFTER THE RACE!

BRING YOUR BEST BARBECUE FOOD TO COOK AND SHARE!

I hope to see you next week at the sail and barbecue!

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

JULY 15, 2025 JUST ENOUGH WIND

 

JULY 15, 2025

JUST ENOUGH WIND

“Just show up and deal with what you have” was the advice offered by an experienced race officer when discussing the anxiety experienced by race officers with regards to weather. Good advice, but I would also add, pay attention to predictions of “wind decreasing through the evening”.  The wind through the afternoon was light but steady, maybe 10 knots on the water.  Once again the temperature in San Jose was not high so I did not anticipate a developing Easterly and called for course W5 for both fleets.  It is amazing how everything comes together, our countdown clock and the Regatta Hero announcements in prefect cinque.

Fleet A got off to a clean start as did Fleet B as we all tacked our way to the first mark.  There seemed to be a little more wind outside and many boats took advantage by sailing outside first.  As usual, once we rounded the windward mark the wind seemed to get much lighter, but if you added the apparent wind to the boat speed, we were still in a 10 knot breeze.  Just as the last B Fleet boat finished, the wind did drop considerably.  It was just enough wind to finish the race!

PHOTO BY JENNIFER KINSMAN 

 PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS: COURSE DISTANCE 2.4NM

PLACE                 BOAT                                   PHRF                   ET          CORRECTED TIME

FLEET A:

1             ABORIGINAL                                   33                          32:07                  30:47

2             SAGITTARIUS                                  120                       37:15                  32:26

3             MAIN SQUEEZE                              72                          38:15                  35:22

4             ODONATA                                         243                       46:15                  36:32

5             WIND II                                             213                       45:05                  36:34

6             ROSIE                                                162                       43:49                  37:20

7             AQUAVIT                                           72                         43:37                  40:44

FLEET B:

1             ZOOP                                                  144                       39:38                  33:52

2             SIMPATICO                                       165                       45:08                  38:31

3             BIG MAC                                           222                       47:34                  38:41

4             MAKANI                                           147                       45:11                  39:18

5             PERFECT 36                                      144                       45:22                  39:36

6             AVATAR                                             132                       44:56                  39:39

7             PACIFIC SPIRIT                                165                       46:55                  40:18

8             NIDAROS                                          118                       46:27                  41:43

9             TOAD                                                 150                       47:57                  41:56

10          WIND GODDESS                               165                       50:29                  43:52

11          SAILING PAIR A DICE                      180                       51:44                  44:31

12          KICKS                                                 180                       53:05                  45:40

13          TARA                                                   243                       56:59                  47:15

14          BLOND AMBITION                           100                       54:25                  50:24

15          SWEET PEA                                        165                       57:21                  50:44

_)                            _)                                            _)                                            (_                                            _)

The track for A Fleet can be  viewed at:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=15.7.2025%2017:55:00&language=en

The track for B Fleet can be viewed at:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=15.7.2025%2018:00:00&language=en

DAY ON THE BAY REGATTA:

The Day on the Bay Regatta will be on Sunday, August 3 this year.  This is always a fun event, so get your crew together for a fun sail.  You can register your boat at:  scyc.org/regattas.

I hope to see you sailing next Tuesday!

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice