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            WIND II                                          213                      42:41                  32:21

5            TRUE LOVE                                  72                         35:55                  32:25

6            DOUBLE ESPRESSO                   199                      39:08                  34:20

7            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            MAIN SQUEEZE                            72                         38:30                  35:00

9            PACIFIC SPIRIT                             165                      44:20                  36:20

10          TARA                                               243                      48:09                  36:22

11          FORTUNA                                       114                      41:55                  36:23

12          AZOR                                               243                      52:56                  41:09

13          KICKS                                             180                      51:30                  42:46

14          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

 

 

MARCH 3, 2026

SEASON’S LAST AFTERNOON SAIL: WE GOT WIND!

Predictions for the afternoon were for 5-20 knot winds.  The flags through the afternoon looked like a consistent 15-17 knots at the Crows Nest. As we left the harbor at 2pm, there were white caps clear across the bay.  What a day for the last Tuesday Afternoon sail of the season!  We determined the wind was from 240 degrees and set a line square to this. We saw the wind was slightly stronger outside and called for course W3.  We blew a 5 minute horn for a single start at 3pm and all boats got off to a clean start.

Though there were issues with Regatta Hero for some boats, the finishing times for all boats were communicated so all boats that finished were counted.

After months of very light wind and many hours of bobbing and drifting aimlessly, for the final afternoon sail of the season: we got wind!

Next Tuesday will be the first Tuesday Night Sail of the season.  I encourage each of you to review the NOR and SIs online (SCYC.ORG>regattas>upcoming regattas>Tuesday Night Sailing on calendar.  Be sure to read the TIPS on the back of the new course card (colored light green). Most important, there will be three fleets: Spinnaker (Spinny), Fleet A then Fleet B.  There will be a single horn sounded at 5:45 which will be a 5 minute horn for “Spinny”, a 10 minute horn for Fleet A and a 15 minute horn for Fleet B.   If you are planning to sail your boat and compete with us, PLEASE register soon so I can get a course card to you. It is only $50 or $65 for the whole year!

 

Jennifer Kinsman photo

 To review the track for this afternoon:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=3.3.2026%2015:00:00&language=en&defaultspeed=5&loop=no

PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS:

PLACE                BOAT                                 PHRF                  ET                         CORRECTED

1            ABORIGINAL                                33                         35:36                  33:08

2            TRUE LOVE                                   72                         38:39                  33:58

3            PACIFIC SPIRIT                            165                        44:59                  34:18

3            BIG MAC                                       222                        48:41                  34:18(TIE)

5            PERFECT 36                                  144                        44:10                  34:51

6            FLEXI FLYER                                 96                         41:35                  35:22

7            SIMPATICO                                    165                        46:13                  35:32

8            AQUAVIT                                        72                         40:28                  35:48

9            SAILING PAIR A DICE                 180                        48:21                  36:41

10          ROSIE                                             162                        47:53                  37:24  

 

I hope to see you on the water next Tuesday with a 6pm start time

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

FEBRUARY 24, 2026 CURRENT EVENTS

 

FEBRUARY 24, 2026

CURRENT EVENTS

After two weeks of no sailing, it was a blessing to see sunshine rather than rain even though predictions were for a light breeze.  As we left the harbor around 2pm there was a building breeze of about 7 knots.  Just enough to have a race.  We set a temporary mark about 1/3 mile directly into the wind which was coming from 235 degrees.  We were considering an ambitious course:  S/F>temp west>Mile>S/F.  As the clock ticked down closer to our start time, the wind was getting light.  We decided to shorten the course to: S/F>temp west>S/F. We entered the new course into RH and announced it over the radio.  For the start, it was very interesting with just enough wind to move boats very slowly.  As boats made their way toward the temp-west mark the wind died even more and we shortened course to finish at temp-west.  Though there were some boats that were slowly moving toward the mark, other boats drifted aimlessly.  Aboriginal was the first boat to round the mark to finish.

At the club I chided Bret (Aboriginal) about having an electric motor installed because his boat was moving so well.  He said “we were not sailing, we found a 2 knot current that was flowing directly to the mark.”  Lesson learned: Pay attention to current events!

 

                                              Jennifer Kinsman photo GLASSY CONDITIONS

                                                   

 To review the track for this evenings:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=24.2.2026%2015:00:00&language=en&defaultspeed=5&loop=no

PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS: RACE LENGTH 0.318NM

PLACE     BOAT                                            PHRF                  ET          CORRECTED TIME

1            ABORIGINAL                                33                         25:03                  24:52

2            FLEXI FLYER                                96                         31:21                  30:51

3            ROSIE                                             162                       52:00                  51:08

4            BIG MAC                                         222                      53:10                  51:58

After the race, we had an awesome BBQ at the club celebrating the last Tuesday of the month. With Mike Gross’s mastery overseeing the grill, we had multiple dishes that were excellent. Maggie’s pork loin was scrumptious along with soup from Christina Shaw.  It was amazing the turnout we had at the BBQ with only 7 boats out for the drift-fest.

NEW SEASON:

After the time change on March 8, we will be starting a new  season.  This requires each boat to sign up and pay for a new season of Tuesday Night Sailing.  To register your boat and crew, go to this site:     https://scyc.org/regatta/Lfy9pa0mIX/#entry-list

 You need to register to get a new course card, which is crucial with many changes this year.  I am looking forward to another season of sailing on Tuesday Nights.

ZOOP SCOOP BY PAUL TARA



ON & OFF (AGAIN)

Last week’s discussion of the term “on the wind” omitted an important point.  If you aren’t “on the wind” what are you? Remember, it’s a switch — a toggle switch.  If you’re “off” the wind, you’re “on” the compass. This might be just a visual sighting to the next mark but, nevertheless, it’s a bearing. Think about a typical race.  Up until the weather mark, every ounce of energy aboard is focused on getting to weather as fast as possible — the wind and jib telltales dictate the course — woe unto the helm who misses a shift! But once around, the question that immediately arrises (at least in the skipper’s mind) is, “Where In hell’s the next mark?  Or, “What course?”  On the wind = off the compass; off the wind = on the compass. 

 

 

BOWS & BREASTS 

How now brown scow? The word bow (as in scow) is commonly used to describe the forward portion of a vessel; it’s derived from  the Norse word boeg or bog, for shoulder.  In English, vessels are often described as “shouldering through heavy seas”. The word bowline (rhymes with oh) refers to the knot used to secure the bowlines to the luff of a square sail, flattening its entry and enabling the vessel to point higher. To sail “on-a-bowline” is to sail close-hauled.  Note the term is bowline, not bow line.

 

So, why are the lines that hold the bow (as in scow) in position when a vessel is secured to a dock called breast lines and not bow lines? Aside from the fact that there are already bowlines, it sort of makes sense, anatomically.  First came the head, (As in the beak-head or figurehead, which projected forward of the stem beneath the bowsprit.) then the shoulders, and then the breasts. The buttocks, way aft, address the shape of the stern. The shoulders were too far forward for securing mooring lines; too much other gear in the way, (catheads, anchors, bowsprit shrouds, etc.). Even today, the mooring cleats on most boats are set back from the stem head to relieve congestion.  Speaking of breasts, by modern standards, old sailing ships had lines that were, shall we say, “full-figured”.  This provided the buoyancy needed to support the weight of guns, ground tackle, and head rigging.  When encountering a head-sea (not a clogged w.c. reference) a vessel was said to first shoulder it aside, then breast it as she pushed through the crest.

 

Today, the term bow line is used more commonly than breast line, especially if there’s just a single line (maybe it takes a pair?). But there’s a lower limit — dinghies don't use either — they use painters — from the French pentour “to hang” as in a painting or pendant. 

  

Thanks Paul.

 

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

February 19, 2026 ANOTHER YEAR

 

FEBRUARY 17, 2026

ANOTHER YEAR

We are quickly approaching the time change and the beginning of a new season of Tuesday Night Sailing.  Every year, at this time, we analyze our event to see how we can improve and continue to grow.   Ideas for improvement often arise when one of our many participants approaches me with a suggestion for improvement.  We may not have the ability to solve problems beyond our control, like another windless evening, but we can attempt to accommodate problems that may arise. So what changes are in store for this year?

Spinnakers:  People have always asked for a spinnaker division for Tuesdays.  There has been interest, but some people say that Spinnakers on Tuesday would be competing with Wednesday nights.  The last thing I want to do is compete or detract from the Wednesday Beer can races, but it is time to accommodate those that want to compete flying spinnakers on Tuesday Night Sailing.  We will have three fleets this year. Spin fleet starts first with a 17:50 start.

The starting sequence.  This year, the signal horn will be blown at 17:45.  This horn is a 5 minute signal for Spin fleet (starting at 17:50).  It is a 10 minute signal for Fleet A (starting at 17:55) and a 15 minute horn for Fleet B (starting at 18:00).

Regatta Hero: This app is very accommodating and working well for us.  All courses on the course card are entered into the app, making it easy to implement courses. Regatta Hero also backs up our starting sequence announcing count-downs for each fleets start. It is important to run this app when competing on Tuesday Nights.

Shortening courses: One suggestion for improvement was to have longer races.  This is a challenging proposition.  I have always called for courses that allow every serious racer to finish.  This strategy has failed resulting in some 20 minute races.  As our conditions (and wind) get more variable, it is impossible to predict what is going to happen. We can start in great wind which can dissipate to no wind.  Then there is the very light wind which increases through the evening.  Both situations are challenging, but Regatta Hero may be our savior since we can easily shorten course.  We can call for a longer course and if conditions do not allow it, we can shorten course to allow boats to finish.

TIPS: To this point we have had sailing instructions on the back of the course card.  As the SI’s have grown, we now have “TIPS” on the back of the course card.  The SI’s for the season can be found online in clubspot under regattas. TIPS expresses pertinent information to assist sailors around the course. VHF radio channel to monitor, timing of announcements, how to finish and even tips on using Regatta Hero.

Tuesday Night Sailing is often referred to as “Barry’s Tuesday Night” event.  I wish I could claim full credit but I cannot. Around this time of year I have what I call my “Brain Trust”. A group of very respected sailors to meet and discuss problems and resolutions.  This year Fred Molnar, Chris Hofmann, Paul Tara, Doug Mahone, Mark McCord and Hilarie DeGroot gave invaluable assistance in our deliberations.

I encourage you to check out the new 2026 NOR, SI’s and TIPS in Clubspot.  Go to  https://scyc.org/regatta/Lfy9pa0mIX to view these documents.  While on the site,  go ahead and register for the new season.

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice