MAY 19, 2026
DÉJÀ VU
Predictions were calling for the wind to build until 6pm but
the flags were showing much more wind through the afternoon. Looking at the ocean showed a sea state of at
least 20 knots. As crew arrived around
4:30 we were getting ready to swap the 155 jib for the 135, but one more look
at the flags showed the wind decreasing. As warm as it was inland, I fully expected an
Easterly to develop, but at about 5pm there was a good Westerly. We waited a few minutes and felt the Easterly
start to build as the Westerly died. We
set a line square to the wind and called for course Echo3, the same as last
Tuesday. It was an awesome evening for a
sail, just like last week, leaving a strong feeling of Déjà vu.
To review Spinnaker Fleet track:
Fleet A Track:
Fleet B track:
Jennifer Kinsman photo of Aboriginal
PLACE BOAT PHRF ET CORRECTED
SPINNAKER FLEET:
1 ZOOP 144 37:02 30:35
2 INTERLUDE 141 37:40 31:21
A FLEET:
1
ABORIGINAL 33 31:37 30:08
2 WATTS
MOORE 150 39:52 33:09
3 PACIFIC
HIGH 96 37:47 33:29
4 MAIN
SQUEEZE 72 38:45 35:32
5 WIND II 213 46:12 36:40
6 AQUAVIT 72 40:53 37:40
7 KEMOSABE 81 44:53 41:15
8 ROSIE 162 50:36 43:21
9 WINDLUST 66 50:19 47:22
B FLEET
1 SAILING
PAIR A DICE 180 41:01 32:57
2 BIG MAC 222 44:13 34:16
3 PERFECT 36 144 41:49 35:22
4 NIDAROS 114 40:30 35:39
5 KICKS 180 44:00 35:56
6 ANIMAL
HOUSE 96 40:34 36:16
7 PACIFIC
SPIRIT 165 44:48 37:25
8 TARA 243 49:29 38:36
9 AZOR 243 59:00 48:07
NEXT TUESDAY
IS THE LAST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH WHICH MEANS:
BARBECUE NIGHT AT THE CLUB AFTER THE RACE!
BRING
YOUR FAVORITE GRILLING FOOD TO ENJOY AND SHARE
_) _) _)
_)
Next Sunday, May 24 is the second SCORE race of the
season. We only have two boats in Jib
and Main. Why not register and use the knowledge you have gained by sailing on
Tuesdays. You need to have a current
PHRF certificate to enter. To register go to scyc.org/regattas and click May 24
on the calendar.
********
OCS:
We have a unique format on Tuesdays. No stationary committee boat, no flags and
horns other than Regatta Hero and our “15 minute horn”. In normal racing, when a boat is OCS, the
committee boat blasts a horn and displays the “x flag” indicating an OCS
situation. This is fair warning that if you don’t restart, you will not be
counted. There are several devices and
apps that help you determine your distance to the start line and count down to
the start. Many sailors use these
devices and when OCS, they return to start correctly. I am inspired when I see these Corinthian, self-policing
actions by our sailors.
So, it’s another beautiful day for a sail, you see that you
are OCS and you do not want to restart.
At this point, you are no longer racing, you are out for a sail. To retire from the race, just open your RH
app and click “leave the regatta”. This will
stop your track and remove you from the race. If you continue to sail the
course (with no track), please honor the racing rules of sailing while you are
out for your sail. If your track shows you are OCS and you do not restart or leave
the regatta, we will not count your place in the standings in the blog.
ZOOP
SCOOP BY PAUL TARA
“GET BACK, GET BACK, GET BACK TO WHERE YOU ONCE BELONGED”
Sooner
or later, everyone ends up OCS (Over Course Side). The Beatles knew what to do:
“GET BACK.” Tuesdays are a great opportunity to practice for this
eventuality because, even though there are no formal series standings (except
at the bar), the importance of returning to restart remains the same.
Sailboat racing is self-policing. If you’re going to sail by the rules,
you must return and restart. To not do so, unfairly disadvantages your
competitors, and (heads up!) the designation OCS does not require
a hearing. I mean, come on guys, 17 seconds! Is this really
necessary?
If
the inevitable happens, two phrases to remember are “He who hesitates is lost”
and “Make haste slowly.” First, make the decision, don’t
wait. Alert the crew, SLOW DOWN and LOOK AROUND. Don’t compound your
troubles by making a sudden maneuver and fouling another boat. Never
tack without first looking over your shoulder. If you’re near an end
of the line, you might be able to sheet in, accelerate and go around it.
Otherwise, the best tactic is to slow by easing sheets while remaining on
starboard tack — you still have rights — and the herd will go by quickly. Once
traffic thins, look for a gap. You might be able to just dip back across the
line. Be careful — once you begin heading back, Rule 21.2 kicks in
— and you absolutely must keep clear of other boats. If you can’t dip, then a
tack or jibe may be required to get back. Bearing away on starboard is usually
safer, but you need to watch out for leeward boats coming up from astern. If
you decide to tack, holding the jib aback can help to spin the boat into a
tighter turn.
Whether
to tack or bear away depends on traffic, and which way you want to go after
you’re clear. If the left is favored, say because there’s more wind outside, a
tack onto port with a quick bear-away, followed by a jibe back onto starboard
works well. If you initially planned on tacking away onto port, a starboard
bear-away with a jibe onto port is very effective. Note that in both
scenarios, the boat jibes onto the new starting tack. Boats accelerate more
quickly coming out of jibes. You can often pop out on port, headed for the
right side while, with any luck, the bulk of the fleet is craning its
collective neck, trying to see if they’re clear to tack. (In which case you can
bet they’re not looking at their jib telltales.) Just be sure to let the crew know
what’s coming so they can keep up. Once you start the return, things tend to
happen pretty fast. This is important, because as soon as the boat recrosses
the line, priorities shift from “Get Back” to Get Going.
Thank you Paul! Awesome
points.
I hope to see you next Tuesday for the sail and BBQ.
Barry Keeler
Sailing Pair A Dice
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