AUGUST 4, 2026 JUST ENOUGH TO FINISH

 

August 4, 2026

JUST ENOUGH TO FINISH

Predictions for the evening were dismal!  I was surprised when I arrived at the harbor and saw the flags flying, but would it last?  Reports were that there was 15 knot breeze further out from shore. As we left the harbor and arrived at the S/F area there was a good breeze coming from 240 with no sign of weakening and no hint of an Easterly developing.  We set the line and called for course W4 which seemed a little ambitious but we could always shorten course if needed.  All fleets got off to a clean start and the wind stayed with us, though it seemed to be lightening as we sailed downwind to the finish with wind that was just enough to finish.

REGATTA HERO:

I love this app, but sometimes it has glitches which can happen from user error.  I noticed for this evening that we had the countdown announced on the app and then I noticed that my mark roundings were not being announced, so we got our finish time just for backup. As it turns out my battery had gone dead and I did not even have a track.  It is good to get finish times especially if something seems to be amiss.

Spinny Fleet tracks can be reviewed at:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Spinny%20Fleet&race=4.8.2026%2017:50:00&language=en

Fleet A tracks:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=4.8.2026%2017:55:00&language=en

Fleet B:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=4.8.2026%2018:00:00&language=en

 

PHRF corrected results:  course W4  distance 2.92nm

PLACE                BOAT                                 PHRF                  ET                         CORRECTED

SPINNY FLEET

1            PEGASUS                                       150                      41:03                  33:45

2            GONZO                                           150                      43:38                  36:20

3            KEMOSABE                                   81                         52:10                  48:13

FLEET A:

1            WATTS MOORE                           150                      46:05                  38:47

2            MAIN SQUEEZE                           72                         43:36                  40:06

3            HEARTBEAT                                  12                         40:57                  40:22

4            PERFECT 36                                  144                      47:45                  40:45

5            ZOOP                                               144                      48:03                  41:03

6            INTERLUDE                                   141                      49:05                  42:13

7            WIND II                                            213                      52:38                  42:16

8            SAGITTARIUS                                120                      48:53                  43:03

FLEET B:

1            SIMPATICO                                     165                      48:05                  40:03

2            BIG MAC                                         222                      52:11                  41:23  

3            AVATAR                                           132                      49:05                  42:40

4            SAILING PAIR A DICE                  180                      52:35                  43:39  

5            ABSOLUTE 05                               117                      50:46                  45:04

6            TARA                                               243                      57:44                  45:54

7            AZOR                                               243                      57:46                  45:56

8            NIDAROS II                                    118                      52:18                  46:33

9            MAKANI                                         147                      56:01                  48:52

10          KICKS                                             180                      58:19                  49:33

11          PACIFIC SPIRIT                             165                      58:00                  49:58

12          YES DEAR                                      243                      1:10:15             58:08  

 

ZOOP SCOOP BY Paul Tara

QUIZ

Last Week:

 Isobars are like contour lines on a topographic map; air molecules seek to equalize pressure by:

a) staying put

b) flowing downhill to lower pressure

c) flowing uphill to higher pressure

Trick Question!! Both a) and b) are correct!  If the surrounding pressure is equal, i.e., there is no gradient, air molecules may remain stationary. But not for long. As soon as there is a gradient, air molecules will flow “downhill” towards lower pressure.

 

This Week:

What kind of boat is this (see photo):

a) a custom Merritt 25

b) a Moore 24 Quarter-Tonner

c) a home-built MORC racer 

 

 THE RACE

Tuesday, as we left the Harbor at 1700, the edge of the fog was as straight as a ruler, extending from Wilder Ranch to Aptos. The wind was SSW around 10 knots. Under the fog it was significantly further left than our “standard” westerly. Forecasts had mentioned a “southerly surge” of stratus. Also, the port end of the starting line was heavily favored.  These factors encouraged us to conduct an experiment — we knew we were going against the conventional wisdom — to sail out into the shift before tacking onto port. For the first ten minutes of the beat we looked golden, laying Schuyler on port, well above the fleet.  But then, that leverage turned into a double-edged sword.  As we emerged from under the fog, the “normal westerly” header kicked in and turned our lead into their lead.  Conventional wisdom 1, Zoop 0. What’s interesting about this week’s racing was how consistent that pattern was over all three fleets. Boats that went out initially looked very good, but then faded as they approached the mark. I’m still curious. Was it the fog, an oscillation, or that same old persistent geographic shift?   

 

In A fleet, Watts Moore made another perfect port tack start at the port end and never looked back. Further back in the fleet, the leg to the finish proved challenging for some boats who sailed extra distance.  But not for Watts Moore which, did a good job of jibing into the shifts.   In B fleet, Big Mac, started at the port end, looked really good to start, but Simpatico, starting at the opposite end, was first onto port tack and stuck with the conventional wisdom to round Schuyler in the lead.  Off the wind, she sailed the most direct course, resisting engaging in a luffing match with Nidarous after rounding MB, which paid big dividends. But, the big B Fleet mystery remains, was PAD in stealth mode? 

 

Thanks Paul!

 

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair A Dice