JUNE 24, 2025 A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS

 

JUNE 24, 2025

A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS

I am learning not to trust Predictwind for forecasts of conditions in our area.  When I got to the harbor around one o’clock, the flags were showing a stiff Westerly breeze  confirmed by reports from sailors coming back to the harbor.  When we left the harbor at 5pm, there was a strong wind line showing a 15-18 knot breeze from the normal direction with no hint of weakening.  Closer to S/F mark we had a weak southeast wind.  There was no fog bank in  Aptos but there were clouds above Aptos.  With such strong wind I ambitiously called for course W2 but it didn’t take long to see that the wind was getting lighter, so I shortened course to W5.  As the clock ticked closer to our start time, the wind had completely died with the Westerly wind line way out toward Mile buoy.  There was no way to have a race in such conditions!  I was ready to cancel the race and just go for a sail until people reported an Easterly building in toward the shore.  We raised the AP flag in Regatta Hero to allow time to set a new course which is not on the course card but is in our Regatta Hero list of courses:  Start>Blacks>Finish.  As we lowered the AP flag, the 6 minute countdown started with a start time of 6:01:13. In the commotion on PAD, I did not succeed in changing the course for Fleet A to the new course E8.  All of the tracks for Fleet A were uploaded and though labeled DNF, I was able to get finish times from the tracks in Regatta Hero.

With both fleets starting at the same time, it was a very exciting crowded start.   All boats honored the RRS and there were no issues other than trying to find clear air.  All boats tacked their way to Blacks.  This year’s increased distance between S/F and Blacks worked out well and, with everyone once again following the RRS, there were no issues.

It started as a very frustrating evening to be racing but it was salvaged as my friends on the water informed me of the developing Easterly.  Sometimes I get by with a little help from my friends!

You can review the tracks from tonight at:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=24.6.2025%2018:01:12&language=en&defaultspeed=5&loop=no

PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS (course length 1.16nm)

PLACE                 BOAT                                   PHRF   ET                          CORRECTED  TIME

FLEET A:

1             ABORIGINAL                                   33          19:00                  18.22

2             TRUE LOVE                                      72          21:14                  19:50

3             SUMO                                                 141       23:51                  21:08

4             INTERLUDE                                     141       23:56                  21:13

5             SOPHIE                                              141       24:14                  21:31

6             DOUBLE ESPRESSO                       99          26:15                  24:20

7             AQUAVIT                                          72          26:02                  24:38

8             BLUE FIN                                          72          29:02                  27:38

FLEET B:

1             AVATAR                                              132       22:47                  20:13

2             SAILING PAIR A DICE                     180       24:53                  21:24

3             PERFECT 36                                       144       24:21                  21:33

4             BIG MAC                                            222       26:41                  22:23 TIE

4             SIMPATICO                                        165       25:35                  22:23  TIE

6             TOAD                                                  150       25:40                  22:45

7             PACIFIC SPIRIT                                 165       26:13                  23:01

8             WIND GODDESS                               165       28:20                  25:08

9             KICKS                                                 180       31:02                  27:27

10          ESTELLE                                             170       32:32                  29:14

_)                                            _)                            (_                                            (_                            _)

REGATTA HERO:

This app is working well for us, even in challenging situations like this night.  One thing that would help.  In the registration window there is a field that is labeled “sail number”.  It helps if you put your boat name in this field which will specify your boat in the playback.  I know boat names but have no idea what your sail number is.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE:

People often thank “me” for my efforts on Tuesday nights.  A reality check reveals that it is a team effort with many people helping to navigate this event.  A big thanks should be given to Doug Mahone for his continuing efforts on Regatta Hero. It also could not be done without the assistance of Chris Hofmann, Fred Molnar, Mark Mccord and Jon Robison.  Even the simple notification that “hey we have an Easterly building in here” was a huge help on this evening.  It takes a village!

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

 

JUNE 17, 2025 QUESTIONABLE WIND

 

JUNE 17, 2025

QUESTIONABLE WIND

Predictions were for 7 knot winds with gusts to 26 knots, but when I arrived at the harbor early in the afternoon the flags were limp, showing very little wind.  From the beach, you could see a wind line on the water further out.  As we left the harbor at 5pm, there seemed to be a little more wind from a south-easterly direction.  I took this as an indication that an Easterly was developing and set up for a race to Blacks including an off-set mark.  It would have been encouraging to see a fog bank in Aptos to confirm an Easterly wind, but there was no fog.  As we returned to the start area, there was a definite wind line showing on the water about 100 yards from the S/F mark so we changed the course from E4 to S5 and moved the start line mark to be more square to a Southerly direction.  Conditions at the start were very tricky resulting in several of the A Fleet boats starting with B Fleet boats 5 minutes later.   I was  one of the boats stuck in no wind and didn’t cross the start line until `10 minutes after the B Fleet start.   It was amazing to be stuck in no wind and watch some of the boats get just enough wind to get out into the real but still light wind outside.

We were about a third of the way to Mile when the Easterly filled in with a relatively strong 8 knot wind and we were sailing once again beam reaching straight toward Mile.  Then as luck would have it, the transition zone was centered right around mile and we were adrift with several other boats.  After using my engine to avoid a collision, I was haunted by the prospect of retrieving the offset mark I had set for the E4 course and retired from the race to take care of business. As we motored back inside, there was a healthy Easterly blowing.  Who could have predicted this?   This is what happens with questionable winds.

PHRF CORRECTED RESULTS

PLACE                 BOAT                                   PHRF                   ET                          CORRECTED

FLEET A:

1             ABORIGINAL                                   33             59:05                               58:01

2             TRUE LOVE                                      72          1:04:02                              1:01:43

3             INTERLUDE                                     141         1:23:08                              1:18:37

FLEET B:

1             SIMPATICO                                      165          1:17:35                              1:12:18

2             SWEET PEA                                     165         1:20:48                              1:15:31

3             AVATAR                                            132         1:20:40                              1:16:26

4             PERFECT 36                                    144          1:24:17                              1:19:40

5             PACIFIC SPIRIT                               165         1:31:33                              1:26:16 TIE

5             BIG MAC                                          222         1:33:23                              1:26:16 TIE

7             TOAD                                                 150        1:33:38                              1:28:50

8             NIDAROS                                          118       1:35:06                              1:31:19

9             MYSTIC                                             150       1:51:01                              1:46:13

 

You can review the tracks for this evening at this web site.  Choose which fleet and which date you want to review:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=3.6.2025%2017:55:00&language=en&defaultspeed=5&loop=no

REGATTA HERO:

We are all learning this new system.  In the registration section there is a field labeled “sail number”.  Enter your boat name in this field.  This allows everyone to identify boats when watching the replay. 

It is also a mystery why some boat tracks freeze in the middle of the race.  It turns out that when conditions are very mild with little or no boat movement, the track will freeze.  If you wear the phone on your body, your body motion may keep the track going.

_)                                       _)                   _)                                                  _)    (_                            (_

NEXT TUESDAY IS THE LAST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH!  BARBECUE POTLUCK AT THE CLUB AFTER THE RACE.  BRING YOUR BEST GRILLING FOOD TO GRILL, ENJOY AND SHARE!

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

JUNE 10, 2025 CHALLENGING CONDITIONS

 

JUNE 10, 2025

CHALLENGING CONDITIONS

Predictions  were for healthy wind with gusts up to 20 knots and decreasing to 10 knots through the evening.  Indeed when we left the harbor at 5 o'clock there was healthy 18 knot winds across the bay.  The  wind was from 240  degrees and we set the start line square to this direction.  With great wind and no predictions for a noticeable decrease, we were thinking of longer courses but as the clock ticked  down closer to start time, the wind was quickly dying especially closer to shore so we changed to a shorter course: Whiskey 5.

The start was very “interesting” with adequate wind at the S/F mark and little  or no wind toward shore.  As one would expect boats there  were a lot of boats crowded together at the windier end. After the crowded B Fleet start we sailed out into the  stronger wind.  The strength of the wind was only one part of the equation with the wind constantly clocking often changing by 90 degrees.  After rounding Schuyler, all boats had to negotiate the no wind area in by the S/F mark.   As all boats moved slowly toward the finish, we could see a weak Easterly building toward shore which was just enough to allow boats to crawl over the finish line.

With a wide diversity in wind speed and direction, it was the epitome of challenging conditions. 

To get a sample of the conditions  for this evening check out the video at this site:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Kfh2HdKJUuuXpVfT6

Thanks to Jennifer Kinsman for the video!

 

 

PHRF CORRECTED TIME:

PLACE                 BOAT                       PHRF                   ET                          CORRECTED TIME

FLEET A:

1             ABORIGINAL                   33                            40:18                                  38:58

2            TRUE LOVE                       72                           55:18                                52:24

3             DOUBLE ESPRESSO         99                          56:41                                  52:41

4             AQUAVIT                           72                          59:26                                  56:32

5             DUET                                  141                       63:48                                  58:08

6             INTERLUDE                     141                        67:03                                  61:22

7             MAGIC                              141                        70:02                                  64:21

FLEET B:

1             PERFECT 36                    144                       60:47                                  54:59

2             SIMPATICO                      165                       61:47                                  55:09

3             BIG MAC                          222                       66:06                                  57:10

4             MAKANI                           147                       63:45                                  57:48

5             SAILING PAIR A DICE    180                      66:48                                  60:33

6             TOAD                                150                       71:44                                  65:41

7             KICKS                               180                       78:24                                  70:57

8             SWEET PEA                      165                       78:05                                  71:27

9             AVATAR                             132                       87:00                                  81:42

_)                                     _)                                _)                         (_                            (_  O

RULES ON PROPULSION:

In last weeks post, I erroneously said there was not rule on using your engine in a race. I was corrected when someone educated me about Rule 42.3i

“Sailing  instructions may, in stated circumstances, permit propulsion using an engine or any other method, provided the boat does not gain a significant advantage in the race”

Next year we will include this in our SI’s, but for this year keep in mind.  If a collision is even possible, start your engine to prevent a collision.  After the danger has passed, you can continue to sail in the race.

I hope to see you all sailing next Tuesday.

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice

   

JUNE 3, 2025 EVERLASTING WIND

 

JUNE 3, 2025

EVERLASTING WIND

Predictions were as normal, 10 knot winds decreasing through the evening.  I was quite surprised when I got to the boat around 2pm and the flags were showing a stiff breeze.   Though the winds on land were in excess of 20 knots, the sea state showed maybe 15 to 17 knots.  As we left the harbor at 5pm, we saw a good steady 10 to 15 knot breeze across the bay.  The big question, as always was “would it last”.  We set the start line square to the wind and called for course Whiskey 4 for Fleet A and Whiskey 5 for Fleet B.

With Regatta Hero set up for the two courses and the correct starting times, the app was counting down to the start right on time.  We “redundantly” announced the courses on the radio and blew the “10 minute horn”.  It was an awesome evening on the water and the predicted fog never materialized.  Best of all the wind did not die as we were blessed with everlasting  wind.

The track can be reviewed for each fleet at:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793

  

 

 PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS

PLACE                 BOAT                                   PHRF                   ELAPSED        CORRECTED

FLEET A:

1             ABORIGINAL                                   33                          28:57                  27:23

2             TRUE LOVE                                      72                          31:16                  27:51

3             HEARTBEAT                                     12                          29:37                  29:02

4             INTERLUDE                                     141                        36:23                  29:42

5             SAGITTARIUS                                  120                        36:04                  30:23

6             AQUAVIT                                           72                          35:39                  32:14

7             WIND II                                               213                       42:47                  32:42

FLEET B

1             ZOOP                                                  144                       33:23                  27:33

2             BIG MAC                                           222                       37:51                  28:55

3             PERFECT 36                                     144                       35:19                  29:31

4             SAILING PAIR A DICE                    180                       37:23                  30:08

5             PACIFIC SPIRIT                               165                       37:11                  30:32

6             SWEET PEA                                      165                       37:27                  30:49

7             KICKS                                                180                       38:49                  31:22

8             SIMPATICO                                       164                       40:08                  33:32

9             TOAD                                                 150                       41:07                  35:04

10          ETHOS                                                102                       42:37                  38:30

 

REGATTA HERO:

This app is very promising as a replacement for Race QS.  It is very easy to use for race participants.  Once registered, you just open the app and press the “participate in regatta” button and you will get all notices and countdowns for the start.   It will also announce your finish time  as you cross the finish line.  It is a little more complicated for the race administrators but we are getting up to speed.  Be sure to register in the app. 

TUESDAY NIGHT SAILING:

We have a unique event with our Tuesday sailing.   We try to race every Tuesday and sometimes we must deal with very light wind. Standard regattas are frequently canceled when there is less than 5 knots of wind but we continue, hoping for the wind to build again as it frequently does.   When in very light wind and with currents at play there is a hazard of collision between boats that have no control.   Though not in the rule book we encourage boats to use their engines to avoid an imminent collision.  The other alternative that I would rather not use is to cancel the race in these conditions.      

I hope to see you sailing next Tuesday!

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A  Dice