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:
A Fleet track can be viewed
at:
Fleet B track can be viewed at:
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
