APRIL 7, 2026 CHALLENGING EASTERLY

 

April 7, 2026

CHALLENGING EASTERLY

Predictions were for 8 to 10 knot winds with gusts of 19 from the Northwest. This was confirmed by the flags early in the afternoon, but as we approached 4pm, the flags showed a definite Easterly developing.  Sure enough, as we exited the harbor at 5pm, the wind was coming from 90 degrees.  We set the start line and called for course E3. 

After three weeks of horrific incidents on the start line in Fleet B, I opted to sail in Fleet A just for some safe sailing.  As Spinny Fleet and A fleet approached Gov, the wind was getting very light so we called to shorten course for B Fleet for them to finish at Gov.

For some reason Regatta Hero cut out on some boats and did not recognize the shortened course for B Fleet.  While RH did finish many B fleet boats at GOV, the PHRF calculations used the length of the full E3 course.  Corrected results are below.

PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS:

PLACE                BOAT                                 PHRF                  ET                         CORRECTED

SPINNY FLEET: COURSE DISTANCE 2.668 NAUTICAL MILES

1            ZOOP                                              144                      59:37                  53:12

2            INTERLUDE                                  141                      1:01:50             55:33

3            MAIN SQUEEZE                           72                        1:03:46             1:00:09

4            ROSIE                                             162                      1:09:15             1:02:02

FLEET A:  COURSE DISTANCE 2.668 NAUTICAL MILES

1            WATTS MOORE                           150                      58:10                  51:29

2            ABORIGINAL                               33                        53:23                  51:54

3            FLEXI FLYER                               96                        59:12                  54:55

4            WIND II                                        213                       1:05:10             55:41

5            SAILING PAIR A DICE               180                       1:07:25             59:24

FLEET B: COURSE DISTANCE  2.126 NAUTICAL MILES

1            MAKANI                                        147                      40:55                  35:42

2            ANIMAL HOUSE                          96                         42:02                  38:36

3            BIG MAC                                       222                      48:08                  40:16

4            PACIFIC SPIRIT                           165                      48:23                  42:32

5            SIMPATICO                                  165                      49:13                  43:22

6            WIND GODDESS                        163                      49:15                  43:28

7            PERFECT 36                                144                      48:50                  43:42

8            YES DEAR                                   243                      1:04:17             55:40  

 

Spinny fleet track:

www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Spinny%20Fleet&race=7.4.2026%2017:50:00&language=en&defaultspeed=5&loop=no

Fleet A track:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=7.4.2026%2017:55:00&language=en

Fleet B track:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=7.4.2026%2018:00:00&language=en

 

PAUL TARA’S   “ZOOP SCOOP”

 AN INTERESTING EASTERLY

Initially there was a solid easterly, but there were some suspicious lulls and, for the first time, we elected to sail in the spinnaker division.  This turned out to be a good guess.  We were able to lay BP in one tack, but only by squeezing up, and shooting the mark at the end.  Boats astern were lifted more, indicating a shift to the south.  Even with the kite, the run was painfully slow as the breeze gradually died and backed.  But then, just after we rounded Gov, a veering fill came in from the south, giving us a nice beat to the finish. Heading in afterwards we were amazed to see the westerly fill back in. Kinda’ made sense — building breezes veer — but weird nonetheless, because it was so late, and there was no fog. 

 

RISK MANAGEMENT

As we start this season it’s apparent some of us need to revisit our relationship with the Racing RULES of Sailing . A recent spate of crashes and near-misses has underscored the importance of understanding the RULES. They provide a basic framework which allows boats to maneuver safely in close proximity.  Failure to sail by the RULES not only spoils the game for everyone, but endangers your boat and your crew. Boats should never touch; when they do, somebody’s committed a foul.

 

Racing sailboats is all about anticipation and odds. Learning to recognize developing situations that might place you on the wrong side of the rules, before they unfold, is key. When I taught junior sailing, I would tell the kids, “Sailboats have no brakes; you may never win the America’s Cup, but you will be good drivers.” Maneuvering dinghies in tight quarters teaches recognition of risky situations before they become critical.  This is important, because the recognition and management of risk afloat is the essence of seamanship.

 

A way to anticipate risk is to recognize that, while it’s always present, there are areas of increased risk that are constants in every race; places where the probability of ending up in a tight spot goes way up.  These are the start, the marks, and the finish. There can be others, but these are the usual suspects, because it’s where boats are forced together, and where results are often decided.  In addition to these constants, there are other factors, or variables, that can quickly alter the odds against you. These might be the particular rules in play in any given situation, the conditions, and other boats.   Whenever you’re in one of the  high risk areas, your anticipatory antennae should be on high alert. Watch out for right-of-way boats: starboard tack and leeward are the most common threats. But also be particularly aware of variables that can alter the odds unfavorably against you. No matter how well you anticipate, the odds can shift. Just like the wind. 

 

The best way to tip the odds in your favor is to LEARN THE RULES. Get a copy and read them. Particularly new racers. Believe what you read, not what you hear, i.e., you cannot learn them at the Club bar. They're available from US Sailing in both digital and printed form.  Every boat should have a copy.  As for anticipation, you can practice it by asking, “What if?” whenever near other boats. Hey, it might just happen.   

 

Remember Paul Elvstrøm, “You have not won if, in so doing, you have lost the respect of your competitors.”

 Thank you Paul.

 See you next Tuesday.

 Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

MARCH 24, 2026 AWESOME EASTERLY

 

MARCH 24, 2026

AWESOME EASTERLY

Predictions were for 10knot winds decreasing to 5 knots.  As the afternoon progressed the wind changed from a Westerly to an Easterly. As we left the harbor at 5pm there was a healthy 10 knot Easterly showing across the bay.  The wind was coming from 100 degrees and we set a line square to this.   As many boats were exiting the harbor for the fun, we announced a healthy, long course: Echo 1.  We blew the 5:45 horn and witnessed Spinny and A Fleet start without incidents.  B Fleet narrowly avoided horrible accidents as we had a port tack boat sail right in front of multiple starboard tack boats that were trying to start.

It was an interesting long beat to SC 3.  There were patches of stronger wind on the way, but the later (B Fleet boats) had very little wind at SC3 making the rounding interesting. Fortunately there were patches of wind on the way back to Blacks.  The wind was still decreasing as we slowly made our way to the finish line.  Finally, it was a great sail with an awesome Easterly and a beautiful sunset.              

To review Spinny fleet tracks:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Spinny%20Fleet&race=24.3.2026%2017:50:00&language=en

A Fleet track can be viewed at:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=24.3.2026%2017:55:00&language=en

Fleet B track can be viewed at:

Rhttps://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=24.3.2026%2018:00:00&language=en

 

 

NEXT TUESDAY IS THE LAST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH WHICH MEANS

BARBECUE POTLUCK AT THE CLUB AFTER SAILING.

BRING YOUR BEST BARBECUE FOOD TO GRILL, ENJOY AND SHARE.

 

PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS:  COURSE LENGTH 3.204 NAUTICAL MILES

PLACE                BOAT                                 PHRF      ET                    CORRECTED

SPINNY FLEET:  

1            HEARTBEAT                                    12          55:20                  54:42

2            FLEXI FLYER                                  96          1:03:43              58:43

3            DOUBLE ESPRESSO                      99          1:05:51             60:33

FLEET A:  

1            WATTS MOORE                              150       55:14                  47:13

2            PACIFIC HIGH                                96          52:51                  47:43

3            MAIN SQUEEZE                            72          57:24                  53:33

4            WIND II                                           213       1:05:15             53:52

5            SAGITTARIUS                               120       1:06:08             59:43

FLEET B:

1          AVATAR                                            132       59:54                  52:51

2            ZOOP                                               144       1:04:35             56:53

3            MAKANI                                        147       1:05:28             57:37

4            ABOLUTE 05                                 117       1:06:02             59:47

5            BIG MAC                                       222       1:13:02             1:01:10

6            TARA                                              243       1:15:50             1:02:51

7            SAILING PAIR A DICE                180       1:14:52             1:05:15

8            PERFECT 36                                  144       1:12:59             1:05:17

9            PACIFIC SPIRIT                           165       1:24:09             1:15:20

10          FORTUNA                                     114       1:26:00             1:19:54

_)           _)                                                        _)                          (_                        (_

 

ZOOP SCOOP BY PAUL TARA

 Before the start, there was a nice easterly. I mean nice.  But then, right on cue for the B Fleet start at 1800, it retreated — leaving the starting  line almost calm — and Zoop with no streerageway. We had determined that the weather mark, SC3, could almost be laid on port tack, a fact that was verified by the two fleets ahead of us. Almost laid.  This was still true by the time we had lumbered across the line, and remained so. We managed to work into clear air and for almost the entire leg, while we sailed close-hauled on port, SC 3 was dead ahead, beckoning like the Golden Fleece.  As we approached it, the wind began to die and force us to sail at a broader and broader angle to maintain way.  But we held on. Why would we tack, when we’re still headed almost at the mark? After all, the conventional wisdom is always sail the longer, more favored, tack first.  If we tacked and sailed even a short hitch on starboard, we risked over-standing.

 

Meanwhile, for one boat, Avatar, the mark was not a distraction .  She was well to the south and nowhere near the layline.  So, uninhibited, she tacked onto starboard and crossed through the fleet, astern of us, until she was the most northerly boat, before tacking back onto port.  Another boat that tacked away, was Makani, presumably to cover Avatar. We continued to sail into less and less breeze. 

 

A  few other conventional wisdoms are: “Easterlies are usually stronger near the beach.” “Increasing breezes veer; dying breezes back.” and “In light air, the number of shifts in a given time frame is less.”  That’s what happened.  The lull at the mark, was a precursor of a shift. Sure enough, when the breeze filled back in, the fill was less and it was backed to the left, or east-northeast.  This sent Avatar and Makani around well in the lead. Meanwhile we under-stood on our starboard approach and had to throw in two extra tacks.  Tacking Zoop in light air is like tacking an Arab dhow. No, actually, dhows may tack faster.

 

But let it not be said that it’s too late for old dogs to learn new tricks (or recall old ones).   After rounding, we sailed a bit high of the rhumbline to BP (something we are extremely loath to do). This allowed us to avoid heading directly into the westerly swells and sail in the smooth water near the Soquel Point kelp bed. We also bet that the breeze would continue to back, heading us back down to the mark.  This worked, and we were able to halve Makani’s lead by the time we rounded BP.  Then it was pole out to starboard and just grit and bear it to the finish.  Makani jibed onto port at the mark, which allowed us to break away and eke out a second place. In a dying breeze, a little bit of distance can turn into a lot of time very quickly.

 

Lessons learned.  If the wind dies, change is coming — get your head out of the boat. Remember the conventional wisdom, but don’t let it distract you from what’s happening on the course; other people have good ideas too. 

 

TWIST AND SHOUT

Mains’l leach tension is a big contributor to pointing angle.  Too much twist and you can’t point, no matter how hard the jib is trimmed.  But, it’s a fine line.  Too much tension and the sail will stall, speed will drop, and leeway increase. The main trimmer should have very flexible neck muscles because, if they’re doing their job, they’ll be staring straight up at the leach telltales 98 percent of the time. On most mains, twist should be reduced until the upper telltale is just starting to get twitchy.  But the wind is never constant — so no rest for the wicked.   

Thank you Paul.

 

Interested in learning about spinnakers?  This event is for you.

I hope to see you sailing next Tuesday.

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

 

MARCH 17, 2026 VOILA, WE HAVE WIND!

 

MARCH 17, 2026

VOILA, WE HAVE WIND!

After a dismal opening for the season last Tuesday with no wind, I was discouraged when I arrive at the harbor around 2pm to see limp flags.  You can only deal with what nature delivers! As we left the harbor around 5pm, there was a good breeze of about 10 knots filling the bay.  We determined the wind direction was from 240 degrees and set a line square to this direction.   We selected Whiskey 4 as the course, allowing us the option to shorten course to finish at mile if the wind decreased.  We blew the “5:45 horn” and set up to sight the line for Spinny and Fleet B starts both of which had no OCS issues.  All boats tacked their way to Schuyler, then reached off to Mile, and finished at S/F as the wind was slowly dissipating.  It was awesome to be sailing in a 10-15 knot breeze: VOILA, WE HAVE WIND!

Jennifer Kinsman photo

The track for the Spinny fleet can be reviewed at:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Spinny%20Fleet&race=17.3.2026%2017:50:00&language=en&defaultspeed=5&loop=no

The track for A Fleet can be reviewed at:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=17.3.2026%2017:55:00&language=en

Fleet B can be viewed at:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=17.3.2026%2018:00:00&language=en

 PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS: COURSE WHISKEY 4*LENGTH 2.909 NAUTICAL MILES

SPINNY FLEET:

PLACE                BOAT                                 PHRF                  ET                         CORRECTED

1            ROSIE                                               162                      38:39                  30:47

2            FLEXI FLYER                                  96                         36:43                  32:03

FLEET A:

1            HEARTBEAT                                   12                         29:39                  29:04

2            WATTS MOORE                             150                      37:14                  29:57

3            PACIFIC HIGH                               96                         35:06                  30:26

4            MAIN SQUEEZE                            72                        35:40                  32:11

5            WIND II                                          213                      42:41                  32:21

6           TRUE LOVE                                  72                         35:55                  32:25

7           DOUBLE ESPRESSO                   199                      39:08                  34:20

 8          AQUAVIT                                      72                         38:37                  35:07

FLEET B:

1            ZOOP                                               144                      38:43                  31:44

2            BIG MAC                                         222                      43:41                  32:55

3            ABSOLUTE O5                               117                      39:06                  33:25

4            MAKANI                                         147                      41:02                  33:54

5            AVATAR                                           132                      40:36                  34:12

6            SAILING PAIR A DICE                  180                      43:15                  34:31

7            PERFECT 36                                   144                      41:41                  34:42

8            PACIFIC SPIRIT                             165                      44:20                  36:20

9          TARA                                               243                      48:09                  36:22

10          FORTUNA                                       114                      41:55                  36:23

11          AZOR                                               243                      52:56                  41:09

12          KICKS                                             180                      51:30                  42:46

13          YES DEAR                                       243                    1:00:04               48:17  

 

ZOOP SCOOP  BY  Paul Tara

PATRICK’S PERFECT PRESENT

My only conclusion is that there are enough Irish in our sailing community to insure that the ZOOP SCOOP conditions on Tuesday were as close to perfection as we’re ever likely to experience locally.  It was warm.  The Club’s newly set marks were spectacularly visiible. There was wind, but not too much. And, it lasted until most of the fleet had finished. I had sailed my El Toro over the weekend and was not optimistic.  Sunday was the best, with a westerly that made it all the way in to the beach, but it only stuck around until 1730. On Tuesday, the presence of the Aptos inversion hinted at a similar outcome.  But Tuesday’s breeze had more staying power, with a remarkably uniform distribution across the course.  However, there was a gradient, with slightly more wind outside, and a big area of calm in by the Wharf (the Boardwalk flags were limp).  Our plan was to head out for more breeze, but it was foiled by a collision at the leeward end, and we ended up inside on port after jibing around and crossing behind the fleet. Fortunately, we tacked out about half way up the beat; boats that went too far in paid a price.   

 

RISKY BUSINESS

Starting is an inherently risky business. Situational awareness is critical and should always place a premium on boats to leeward. On Zoop we live in constant fear of a leeward boats. One a few length’s to leeward, harmlessly luffing with a minute to go, can easily become your worst nightmare by the start. Don’t become so focused on the boats to windward that you forget about her.  On Tuesday, Zoop approached the port end from well to leeward and caught three boats running down the line. In the ensuing melee, there was a fairly serious collision as a boat attempting avoid being forced over early, bore off into a boat to leeward.  We bailed.

 

Here’s the thing. Only one boat will get the best start. Better to play the odds.  Even our safe conservative approach didn’t pan out this time.  If you get up on the line early, and try to reach down it, you are a sitting duck.  You can’t luff up to slow down or you’ll be over.  You can’t bear off without speeding up, risking encountering leeward boats or running out of runway.  The safest approach is to figure out where you want to start, then plot the starboard lay-line to get there. I like to use the compass and a bearing from shore. At two minutes you should be setting up slightly above the lay-line to your spot. Keep track of boats to leeward and adjust your speed if necessary to avoid potential leeward overlaps. At 4 knots a boat travels 100 feet in 15 seconds.   Last but not least, have a Plan B. 

 

THE “LEEWARD END”

On Tuesday there was a question regarding the term “leeward end”.  This almost always refers to the port end of the line. Since 98 percent of starts are made on starboard tack, the port end lies to leeward of the boat’s course. The leeward end can be the favored end, like it was Tuesday — or it can be unfavored — depends on the wind.  If there is a large RC boat there, it can also be referred to as “coffin corner”.

Thank you Paul

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

`MARCH 10, 2026 JUST ANOTHER DRIFTER

 

MARCH 10, 2026

JUST ANOTHER DRIFTER

Predictions were for 2 to 20 knot  winds from the NW.   Predictwind doesn’t seem to know about the Easterly that develops when it is warm inland.  Sure enough when I got to the harbor at 3pm the flags verified that an Easterly was developing.  Since we have no  mark for Blacks, we motored down and placed a temporary mark according to my chart plotter.  We rushed back to the start area to position the start line square to the wind.  We were anticipating a building Easterly and called for an ambitious course E3 and blew a horn at 5:45 for a rolling start for the 3 fleets. We had a total of 23 boats out for the fun.

The “Spinny” fleet got off to a good start and moved quickly toward “Blacks”, followed by A Fleet which also moved well but the wind started to dissipate.  It was frustrating calling for such a long course for the wind to die.  We called for shortening the course for Spinny and fleet A to end at the “Red Ball” end of the start line.  I did not want to deprive the Spinnys of their chance to show their colors! We shortened B Fleet to end at “Blacks”.  The wind quickly died and all of Spinny and A Fleet was drifting aimlessly necessitating boats retiring.  I took the liberty to count Blacks as the finish for all fleets and collected finish times (at Blacks) for all boats.  As it turned out it was Just another drifter!

While it was a discouraging first sail of the season, it can only get better.  Pray for wind next Tuesday.

Next Tuesday is St Patricks day and there will be a party at the club.  The meal at the club will cost $30.

 
      Photo by Jennifer Kinsman 

  

PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS:   COURSE LENGTH .483 NM

PLACE                BOAT                                 PHRF                  ET                   CORRECTED

SPINNY FLEET

1            AQUAVIT                                        72                         16:12                  15:37

2            PEGASUS                                       78                         17:42                  17:04

3            FLEXI FLYER                                96                         21:42                  20:55

FLEET A:

1            ABORIGINAL                                33                         18:45                  18:28

2            MAIN SQUEEZE                           72                         23:40                  23:05

FLEET B:

1            ABSOLUTE 05                              117                      28:55                  27:58

2            ZOOP                                             144                      35:53                  34:43

3            SIMPATICO                                   165                      42:19                  40:59

4            MAKANI                                       147                      43:50                  42:39

5            PERFECT 36                                  144                      44:34                  43:24

6            ANIMAL HOUSE                           96                       45:55                  45:08

7            BIG MAC                                       222                      49:30                  47:42

8            PACIFIC SPIRIT                            165                      49:30                  48:24

9            TARA                                              243                      51:46                  49:48

10          KICKS                                            180                      51:23                  49:56

11          SAILING PAIR A DICE                 180                      55:04                  53:37

12          AZOR                                              243                      62:53                  60:55

13          WIND LUST                                   66                         71:42                  71:10

SPINNY FLEET TRACK:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Spinny%20Fleet&race=10.3.2026%2017:50:00&language=en

FLEET A TRACK:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=10.3.2026%2017:55:00&language=en

Fleet B Track

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=10.3.2026%2018:00:00&language=en

 

Paul Tara’s ZOOP SCOOP

 

NO FREE LUNCH

Around the first of the year, D Dock became the first dock in the Harbor to install electric sea lion control on every slip. Since then I, personally, have not seen a single seal or sea-lion on the dock. Several other docks on the lower west side also have these systems. It’s great — no more excrement — and the orange buckets are an endangered species.  But, there is a collateral cost, and it’s one every person who has a boat in the Harbor should be aware of. 

 

THERE IS A LOT MORE STRAY CURRENT IN THE WATER, RESULTING IN AN INCREASE IN GALVANIC CORROSION. These systems are based on the theory that the docks themselves are non-conductive.  The unit itself is grounded to a submerged zinc and only when an animal, or barefoot human, establishes a link, or bridge, between the wire on the dock and the water is the circuit complete and a shock delivered.  That’s the theory. Only when the circuit is complete should current be entering the water.  However, a significant increase in the rate of wastage of sacrificial zincs on boats indicates this is not the case.

 

The docks themselves may not be entirely non-conductive, particularly when wet.  Some dock cleats appear to be grounded, although we’re not entirely sure why. Metal pilings can also provide a connection. Other more likely culprits are stray lines left dangling in the water. Salt is an excellent conductor, and all dock lines are impregnated with it.  If you cast off, and leave a line lying on the wire on the dock with its end in the water, you have established a direct path to ground.  The system doesn’t distinguish between the line or a sea lion.  PVC shields have been installed at some cleats to help prevent this, but the best solution is to keep all lines out of the water, all the time.

 

Another issue to be aware of is that some boats (Zoop included) have started deploying additional zincs while in the slip. The extra area slows down the wastage of shaft and strut zincs. Typically these are zinc “groupers” (a 5 lb fish shaped zinc) usually clipped to a lifeline stanchion or other conductive metal fitting that is grounded to the prop shaft via an internal circuit. If you stand on the dock wire barefoot and grab that stanchion while boarding you will definitely get a wake-up call.

 

Check your zincs. Don’t assume they’re still wasting at the same rate. The next stop on the galvanic food chain is your prop. As for free lunches, the egrets have it figured out.  They stand right on the wire, and spear fish all day apparently with nary a shock.

 

Thank you Paul!

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice