AUGUST 12, 2025
ANOTHER SIX O’CLOCK WIND
Observing the flags as the afternoon progressed was
depressing. Light Northwesterly clocking to a light Easterly then to a
Southerly. As we exited the harbor at 5
o’clock there was a strong Northwesterly out by Mile with a wide transition
zone (very light wind) between S/F and mile. We considered setting a long start
line with the red ball outside of S/F, but just as we were preparing to set the
ball, I noticed boats leaving the harbor sailing on an Easterly. With about 20 minutes to start time we powered back, set the line for an Easterly
and set the offset mark. We called for
course E6: S/F, Blacks, Offset mark, Blacks, Offset mark, Finish line. We
crossed our fingers hoping for the Easterly to build, and our prayers were
answered.
It was an interesting course switching between upwind,
downwind, upwind, downwind, reach. I was
thankful that the Easterly filled in so well that all boats finished. Thank God
for another six o’clock wind!
REGATTA HERO:
It was a challenging night for Regatta Hero, with A Fleet
boats starting and being recorded as B Fleet.
Tracks for boats disappearing in the middle of the race and one boats track did not activate
until the finish.
THE ZOOP SCOOP BY PAUL TARA
Easterlies are
tricky, particularly upwind. If there’s enough wind to actually sail, on port
tack the left over westerly swells cause brief lifts; as each crest passes
beneath the boat from starboard, she is set slightly to port, shifting the
apparent wind from ahead to more abeam. On starboard tack the opposite occurs;
the swells from astern cause the boat to accelerate, shifting the apparent wind
forward, causing a header. The bigger the swells, the bigger the shifts.
In these conditions it is virtually impossible to
steer accurately on every wave. It helps to remember that the waves on both
tacks are not head-seas, and are actually assisting the boat to go to
weather. On port tack, it can pay to pinch occasionally, counting on the
lifts to bail you out or, if you’re going for speed, to sail with an inch or
two of ease. One tendency to avoid is oversteering. As the boat begins to
feel the wave coming up from leeward, she will heel and almost always want to
round up. Let her. Applying excessive rudder angle to maintain a constant
course ignores the lift and puts on the brakes at the same time.
On starboard tack, the situation is quite
different. The swells are usually coming more from astern and each one
accelerates the boat, resulting in a header. If you pinch on starboard,
and a bigger than usual swell comes along, you might find yourself in the
“no-go zone”, or worse, aback. Starboard is the time to foot; don’t ease,
stay trimmed in, and as the bow drops and the boat accelerates, bear away and
go for speed. Weight forward helps; the longer you can hang onto the swell, the
better.
The trick is to distinguish between the temporary
shifts in apparent wind, and changes in the true wind direction. For this we
use the magnetic compass and watch the fleet. It’s best to not be too
hasty. Easterlies can cause boats go in a lot of some momentarily weird
directions. What might appear to be a boat lifting out could just be one
responding to a wave. Or not.
Thanks
Paul
 |
| A VIEW FROM THE BEACH |
PLACE BOAT PHRF ET CORRECTED
TIME
FLEET A: course E6 distance 1.903NM
1 ABORIGINAL 33 30:43 29:40
2 TRUE LOVE 72 36:31 34:14
3 DUET 140 39:04 34:37
4 WIND II 213 41:49 35:03
5 INTERLUDE 141 41:21 36:52
6 ROSIE 162 43:40 38:31
7 DOUBLE
ESPRESSO 99 43:20 40:12
8 ABSOLUTE
25 48 44:07 42:35
FLEET B: course E6 distance 1.903NM
1 ZOOP 144 37:07 32:33
2 SAILING
PAIR A DICE 180 40:54 35:11
3 PERFECT
36 144 40:04 35:30
4 AVATAR 132 40:41 36:29
5 TARA 243 44:29 36:46
6 SIMPATICO 165 43:21 38:07
7 PACIFIC
SPIRIT 165 46:37 41:23
8 KICKS 180 48:04 42:11
9 WIND
GODDESS 165 47:43 42:29
10 TOAD 150 48:31 43:45
11 ESTELLE 170 51:50 46:26
The track for A Fleet can be viewed at:
For Fleet B:
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