MARCH 25, 2025 FINALLY SAILING, BUT IN THE FOG

 

MARCH 25,2025

FINALLY SAILING, BUT IN THE FOG

I got to the harbor early in the afternoon with clear conditions and plenty of wind in the 12-15 knot range.  Predictions were for the wind to die as the evening progressed.  As we left the harbor at 5pm the fog had set in limiting our visibility to about 200 yards.  This added to the chill in the air, but of more concern was that the wind, as predicted, was decreasing and changing directions constantly.  When we first got to the start area, the direction had the wind coming from 250.  We set a start line mark square to this direction but by the time of the start the wind had changed almost 90 degrees coming from the south. The change in direction was just one of our problems as the wind strength was constantly changing ranging from 4 knots to 9 knots. How do you call  a race  in these conditions?  We called for a course from the start line at S/F to finish at Gov with the finish line being an extension of the line from Jetty Light house through Gov.  We blew the “10 minute horn” at 5:50 and 3 boats started in A Fleet at 5:55. Most of the boats started in B Fleet.

At the finish. Fleet A was  led by Sagittarius 13:09, then Tusitala 14:04, Good Timin' ~16:46 and Rosie 23:03. Fleet B was led by Zoop 11:08, then Avatar 12:21, Perfect 36 12:58, Nidaros 13:45.Sailing  Pair A Dice 15:59, Big  Mac 16:56,  Pacific Spirit 17:48, Josie 21:45 and Wind Goddess 21:51.  All times are elapsed and the course length was 0.73NM.

After not being able to sail for the last two Tuesdays, it was awesome to be able to finally sail even if in the fog. The icing on the cake was the awesome Barbecue we had after the race!

SAILING IN THE FOG

  

PHRF CORRECTED RESULTS:

PLACE                 BOAT                                   PHRF                   CORRECTED TIME

FLEET A:

1                             SAGITTARIUS                  120                       11:41

2                             TUSITALA                          92                        12:54

3                              GOOD TIMIN'                    141                      15:03    

4                             ROSIE                                 162                       21:04

FLEET B:

1                             ZOOP                                  144                        9:24

2                             AVATAR                              132                      10:44

3                             PERFECT 36                      144                       11:12

4                             NIDAROS                          108                       12:19

5                             SAILING PAIR A DICE     180                      13:46

6                             BIG MAC                            222                      14:14

7                             PACIFIC SPIRIT                 165                      15:47

8                             JOSIE                                   243                      18:47

9                             WIND GODDESS               165                       19:48

A REMINDER:

It is important for B Fleet to stay clear of the start line when A Fleet is starting.  The last thing any sailor wants in a race is an obstruction on the line for the start.

 

A lot of things fly under the radar and do not get noticed.  This last weekend was work day at the club and many people showed up to help.  I played a minor role in refurbishing the barbecue on the lower deck. Leading in the BBQ project was Mike Gross who took all of the working parts home and spent hours welding and cleaning  the parts to make the BBQ look and work like new.  He also spent time cleaning the stainless steel parts around  the grill.  Notice the stainless steel chain for lowering and raising the grill.  It has never been cleaner.   Thank you Mike for all of your hard work  and thanks to everyone that showed up to keep the club in pristine condition!

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

 

MARCH 18, 2025 SEA-ZURE

 

SEA-ZURE

We are blessed to live in a seaside town and many of us enjoy assorted ocean activities.  Indeed, many of us are obsessed with the ocean.  Surfing, Wind surfing, Kite surfing, paddling, fishing, boating and sailing play a huge part in many of our lives.    Our obsession with the  ocean requires serious consideration when deciding whether it is safe to enter the ocean.  Experience and physical stamina are critical considerations when making these decisions.

When I surfed, I had a work schedule that allowed  me to surf every day of the week.  This added to my experience and fitness.  Fitness is critical in surfing. Years later I was only able to surf  2-3 times a week.  I went to Moss Landing one day and there was an awesome 8 foot swell with waves breaking with the force of freight trains.   When I was in shape, I thought nothing of surfing much larger waves than 8 feet.  I knew I was not in shape to surf the “freight train” waves and was walking toward the jetty where waves were a milder 6 foot. As I walked the beach, the 8 foot freight trains were beckoning and, against my better judgement, I  jumped in and started paddling.  Ten minutes later I was only 20 feet off the beach, but continued to paddle and duck-dive the waves.  Finally I made it to green water and while huffing and puffing, thought I was in the clear until I  saw an 8 footer grinding  toward me being square in the impact zone. When in shape, you paddle harder,  duck-dive early and  deep and pop out the back of the wave.  When out of shape like I was, you paddle up the face of the wave, try to duck-dive at the top and get sucked over the falls backward. Not a fun experience.  Once  I made it to the surface, I grabbed my board and was swept to the beach in 3 seconds. I went to the mellow waves by the jetty and had a great time.

 

Laticla Mexico 1983 was this a SEA-ZURE? NO IT WAS FUN

  I would like to coin a new word to describe what many of us experience when dealing with the ocean.  A seizure is a medical condition that involves “abnormal electrical activity in the brain”.  I propose the term SEA-zure: When you get to the water and  feel the beckoning of the sea and cannot resist the need to partake regardless how risky the conditions are.  This “attraction for  the sea” is not just something seasoned sportsmen experience.  How many people, visiting from inland, are lost every year being swept off the beach just to drown. Did they have a SEA-zure that  drew them closer to the danger of the ocean?

SOLO SAILING IN THESE CONDITIONS SEA-ZURE OR FUN? HE SAFELY MADE THE HARBOR!

i really wanted to sail on the last two Tuesdays, but the conditions predicted were way off on both days with waves breaking across the entrance.    My primary consideration is the safety of all sailors and boats, I cannot succumb to a Sea-zure and entice boats to exit the harbor in these conditions.  It was best to cancel the race on both Tuesdays.

NEXT TUESDAY IS THE LAST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH WHICH IS BARBECUE NIGHT AT THE CLUB.  WE WILL HAVE THE BARBECUE WHETHER CONDITIONS PERMIT SAILING OR NOT.  BRING YOUR BEST FOOD AND MEAT TO GRILL AND SHARE FOR THIS AWESOME EVENT!

I HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY, ON THE WATER ABD/OR AT THE GRILL.

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

MARCH 4, 2025 GREAT SAILING BETWEEN THE STORMS

 

MARCH 4, 2025

GREAT SAILING BETWEEN THE STORMS

It has been a challenging spring with shoaling at the harbor, big waves and rain as storms pass through.  I was quite surprised that everything settled down for this Tuesday’s sail.  The prediction for wind was 7 to 10 knots which is enough to get a race off.  As we left the harbor at 3:30 there was a steady but light breeze across the bay. We approached the S/F temporary mark and determined the wind was coming from 250 degrees and set a line square to this direction.  With the course being to Mile and back, the port end of the line was too favored so we adjusted the line to be more square to mile.

As boats filed out of the harbor, we called the course as the wind seemed to be increasing.  We blew the 5-minute horn at 4:25 for a 4:30 start.  We had a clean start as all six boats beat their way toward Mile.   The first to round Mile was Aquavit followed by Pacific Spirit, Pair A Dice, Avatar, Big Mac and Kicks.  Late to the party but still sailing the course was Azor, a Santana 22.

After rounding Mile, all boats sailed downwind in a freshening breeze toward the finish. Aquavit was first to cross the line 23:14, closely followed by Pacific Spirit 23:48, Pair A Dice 23:58, Avatar 24:36, Big Mac 26:06, and Kicks 28.44.  All times are elapsed and the course distance was 2.10NM.

It was awesome to be back out on the water getting some great sailing between the storms.

 

 

PHRF CORRECTED RESULTS:

PLACE                 BOAT                                                   PHRF                   ADJUSTED TIME

1             SAILING PAIR A DICE                                180                       17:44

2             PACIFIC SPIRIT                                            165                       18:01

3             BIG MAC                                                        222                       18:20

4             AVATAR                                                          132                       20:02

5             AQUAVIT                                                        72                          20:42

6             KICKS                                                              180                       22:09

 

RACE QS:

The track for this evening can be reviewed at:

https://raceqs.com/tv-beta/tv.htm#userId=1011017&divisionId=105405&updatedAt=2025-03-05T03:08:02Z&dt=2025-03-04T16:15:27-08:00..2025-03-04T19:07:51-08:00&boat=SAILING%20PAIR%20A%20DICE&time=1741134787751&focus=SAILING%20PAIR%20A%20DICE&rival=Avatar&tab=fleet&view=match

TIME CHANGE:

 Daylight Savings time starts this Sunday, March 9.  This means next Tuesday, if conditions permit, we will start the season with a 6 o’clock start.  As usual, we will blow one horn at 10 minutes until 6 which will be a 5 minute horn for fleet A and a 10 minute horn for fleet B.  Though the marks are not out, we will come up with a course.  If you have not registered, go to:  SCYC.org/Regattas.  Find Tuesday Night races, click on register to open the registration page.  Once you register, I will see that you get the new course card.

I am excited to get another season of Tuesday Night Sailing started.

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice