MAY 27, 2025 WIND SWITCHEREW

 

MAY 27, 2025

WIND SWITCHEREW

Predictions were for 15 knot winds from the West, decreasing as the evening progressed.  The flags were showing a strong breeze as the afternoon progressed.  As we exited the harbor we noticed a fog bank forming down by Aptos which usually precedes an Easterly breeze.  We approached the S/F area and determined the wind direction was 220 degrees and set a line square to this direction.  We called for course W5, which would be a short course if the wind sustained. It is best to have a short course on barbecue night.  As the clock ticked down, boats reported a developing Easterly close to shore.  I decided to use the same line and same course which was a downwind start.  A Fleet got off to a clean start as did B Fleet.

All boats sailed down-wind to the Schuyler mark in painstakingly slow 3-4 knot winds.  Sailing into the seas had us creeping along at 1-2 knots.  It even got worse as multiple boats arrived to round Schuyler with the wind almost nonexistent.  I started my engine and backed away from the mark to prevent collisions. A couple of boats also started their engines and made their way to the bar and barbecue.  The Easterly finally arrived and we had a delightful sail in 12 knot winds back to S/F.  It is amazing the resilience of our group of sailors with so few boats retiring in challenging very light winds.

It was the evening of the wind switcherew, using the same line with winds switching nearly 180 degrees.

Regatta Hero is becoming more familiar as we learn more about it.  Unfortunately, due to an error on my part, tracks for Fleet A were not recorded so we have no A Fleet data for this evening.  Please bear with me as I learn this new app.

Fleet B results:

PLACE                 BOAT                                   PHRF         ET (SECONDS)       CORRECTED TIME

1             BIG MAC                                            222                       4291                    1:02:37

2             PACIFIC SPIRIT                                165                       4364                    1:06:08

3             NIDAROS                                          118                       4353                    1:07:48

4             SIMPATICO                                       165                       4476                    1:08:00

5             TOAD                                                 150                       4527                    1:09:27

6             KICKS                                                180                       4641                    1:09:57

7             MYSTIC                                             150                       5072                    1:18:32

NOTES ON REGATTA HERO:

I had become accustomed to Race QS, where you create the race after everyone uploaded their tracks.  Regatta Hero requires setting the race up ahead of time requiring multiple tasks to prepare for the race.  Fortunately, participating as a competitor using Regatta Hero is a very simple process and works well.  I believe it is critical that at least two people on the organizing boat know the app and how to use it.  I find it impossible to manage a boat and do all of the tasks required.  With the app, it is possible to postpone a race, change the course sailed, post an announcement and restart the series.  The app allows this but IMO, it is impossible to accomplish alone while managing a boat.

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

MAY 20, 2025 DYING SOUTHEASTERLY

 

MAY 20, 2025

DYING SOUTHEASTERLY

I was surprised when I arrived at the harbor in the early afternoon to see the flags flying showing a Southeasterly wind.  Predictions were not for a Southeasterly but I don’t  think Predictwind recognizes the Easterly wind we frequently get in the summer .  As we left the harbor at 5pm the wind was still strong across the bay and as we approached the start area we saw the wind was blowing from 110 degrees.  We called for course Echo 2, but as time progressed and the wind started dying, I called for a shorter course: Echo 3.  With the first mark being Blacks we set a line that was between square to the wind and square to the mark, so one end would not be severely favored.

We blew the “10-minute horn” and observed as A Fleet got of to a clean start at 5:55 followed by B Fleet 5 minutes later at 6:00. It was an exciting beat to Blacks, but after rounding Blacks we had a long downwind run to finish at GOV.  As the wind was decreasing the B  Fleet boats started slowing down.  It was a long excruciatingly sl
ow sail to Blacks but most boats were able to complete the course.

Despite the light wind, it was a pleasant evening on the water.  Such is life with a dying Easterly.

 

  

PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS:    COURSE DISTANCE 1.87NM

PLACE                 BOAT                                   PHRF                   ET(SECONDS)      CORRECTED         1            TRUE LOVE                                     72                          1952                                    30:17

2             ABORIGINAL                                   33                          1958                                    31:36

3             WIND II                                             213                       2352                                    32:33 

4             INTERLUDE                                     141                       2577                                    38.33

5             DOUBLE ESPRESSO                       99                          2504                                    38:36

6             AQUAVIT                                           72                          2534                                    39:59

FLEET B:

1             ZOOP                                                  144                       2508                                    37:18

2             SIMPATICO                                       165                       3076                                    46:07

3             BIG MAC                                           222                       3230                                    46:54

4             NIDAROS                                          118                       3040                                    46:59

5             SAILING PAIR A DICE                     180                       3277                                    49:00

6             TOAD                                                 150                       3326                                    50:45

7             PERFECT 36                                      144                       3326                                    50:56

8             KICKS                                                180                       3639                                    54:52 

9             OLD ENOUGH                                  243                       3855                                    56:40

10          MYSTIC                                              150                       4164                                    64:43

REGATTA HERO:

To review the tracks for this race for Fleet A, go to this site:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=20.5.2025%2017:55:00&language=en

For fleet B:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=20.5.2025%2018:00:00&language=en

 

NEXT TUESDAY IS THE LAST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH WHICH MEANS BARBECUE POTLUCK AT THE CLUB AFTER THE RACE!

BRING YOUR BEST GRILLING FOOD FOR THIS EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCE.  I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

               

MAY 13, 2025 BLUSTERY EVENING

 

MAY 13, 2025

BLUSTERY EVENING

Finally we had predictions for good wind with minimal decrease through the evening.  In anticipation of great wind, we swapped our jib to the 135.  As we left the harbor we were ready for an exhilarating evening.  Many boats were out and, despite our efforts to get people to use the Regatta Hero app, only a fraction of boats used it.  Despite these problems we were able to include boats in the results with their reported finish times.

For the first time, with the help of Regatta Hero and a lot of wind, we called for a different course for each Fleet.  Fleet A sailed course W3 with a distance of 3.75NM and Fleet B sailed course W4 with a distance of 2.7NM.   Both fleets got off for a clean start.

Most boats sailed the correct course and we all enjoyed the blustery evening!

To review the Regatta Hero replay for this evening go to:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=13.5.2025%2017:55:00&language=en

 

FLEET A  RESULTS:

Pos		Sail No	Team			Boat Class		Handicap		Club		Boat Name			Time (Sec.)		Sail Time	Calc Time
1		40	Aboriginal			PHRF		33		SCYC		Aboriginal			2153		2153	2029
2			sagittarius			catalina 3		120		scyc		sagittarius			2503		2503	2053
3		18778	team duet			sc27		141		scyc		duet			2650		2650	2120
4			SCYC			sc27		141		SCYC		yellow belly			2653		2653	2124
5			double es					99		scyc		Double Esp			4184		4184	3812

 

FLEET B  RESULTS

	Pos		Sail No		Boat Class		Handica		Club		Boat Name				EL  TIME		Sail Time	Calc Time
	1		Zoop		Islander 36		144		scyc		Zoop 361				2102		2102	1712
	2		Simpatico		catalina32		165		scyc		Simpatico				2374		2374	1927
	3		Avatar		Olson911s		132		scyc		69710 Avatar				2345		2345	1987
	4		Pacific sp		Catalina32		162		scyc		Pacific Spirit				2465		2465	2026
	5		KICKS		Catalina30		180		scyc		KICKS				2531		2531	2045
	6		Sailing pad		Catalina30		180		scyc		1883Sailing PAD.				2552		2552	2064
	7		TOAD		Beneteau		150		scyc		TOAD				2805		2805	2398

COURSE CARDS:

There was some confusion with a boat using last year’s course card.  Tuesday Night Sailing produces a new course card every year trying to improve and evolve.  The 2025 course card has been left on every boat in the fleet.  Make certain your course card is labeled “2025”.  The color of the card this year is a bright orange.

REGATTA HERO:

This app works well.  I encourage you to install the app on your phone and enlist in each Tuesday Night.  This app, in the replay shows where you made errors as other boats move ahead or behind you.  When used, it constantly shows the PHRF adjusted results for your boats in relation to the other boats that are using the app.  Very useful information.  For instructions on how to install the app, refer to last week’s  blog post.

RULES:

Though we are a developmental series, it is critical for all boats to know and follow the racing rules of sailing.  It is Tuesday Night Sailing, supposedly a fun event. When rules are broken it destroys the fun.  If you don’t know and follow the rules, you should not be sailing on Tuesday nights!  The more accidents that happen seriously impact participation.  With forces that are at play, broken boats can be a minor issue if serious injury or even death of crew occur.

Last week I was setting up for a starboard tack start and approaching the S/F mark.  There was a boat well beyond the mark that was obviously not going to make the mark so I was not concerned.  Then the boat tried to make the mark sailing straight into the wind and stalling, falling off to a port tack right in front of me.  I (following Rule 14) steered to starboard to avoid collision.  Unfortunately, I steered right in front of a larger boat resulting in serious damage to my bow pulpit. Thank God there was only $1200 (cost of new bow pulpit) of damage.  If my forestay was taken out there could have been multiple deaths with the mast coming down in crowded waters.

Despite your most fervent racing enthusiasm, YOU MUST FOLLOW THE RACING RULES OF SAILING!

Barryt Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice