OCTOBER 13, 2026 WIND CONFUSION

 

OCTOBER 13, 2026

WIND CONFUSION

There was a healthy westerly filling the bay through the afternoon, but as we left the harbor at 5pm there was a weak Easterly trying to fill in.  As we approached the start area, the wind was a dissipating Westerly.  I thought the Easterly would fill in and motored down to set the offset mark for an Easterly wind course. Then a Southerly started to edge its way in as the clock was ticking down to start time.  By the time we returned to the start area there was a Northerly wind exerting its energy.  We changed the course to N6:  S/F>GOV>S/F.  It was a perfect course as the Northerly stayed with us long enough for all boats to finish in our limited time of daylight.   It was certainly a night of wind confusion.

I have had multiple requests about when we will change to Tuesday Afternoon Sailing.  Though the time for our evening sails is short, I do not want to exclude those that are still working.  As usual, we will change to afternoon sailing when Daylight Saving Time starts the first of November.  We will start the race at 3pm on November 3.

SPINNY FLEET TRACK:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Spinny%20Fleet&race=13.10.2026%2017:50:00&language=en

A Fleet track:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20A&race=13.10.2026%2017:55:00&language=en

B Fleet track:

https://www.regattahero.com/mapviewer/?organisation=scyc&passcode=233793&regatta=Tues%20Fleet%20B&race=13.10.2026%2018:00:00&language=en

 

THOUGH TIME SAILING IS SHORT THE SUNSETS ARE BEAUTIFUL

 PHRF ADJUSTED RESULTS:  COURSE N6  DISTANCE 1.609NM

PLACE                   BOAT                                   PHRF                     ET                          CORRECTED

SPINNY FLEET:

1             PAC HIGH                                          96                          18:51                    16:17

2             BLIND DATE                                     78                          19:46                    17:40

3             INTERLUDE                                      141                       21:30                    17:43

4             FRISKY                                               81                          20:22                    18:12

5             GONZO                                               150                       23:56                    19:55

6             KEMOSABE                                        81                          32:52                    30:42

FLEET A:

1             ABORIGINAL                                     33                        18:35                    17:42

2             ZOOP                                                   144                       21:43                    17:51

3             MAIN SQUEEZE                                72                          19:50                    18:10

4             AQUAVIT                                            72                          22:17                    20:21

5             PERFECT 36                                       144                       26:43                    22:51

FLEET B:

1             SAILING PAIR A DICE                     180                       25:38                    20:48

2             NIDAROS II                                       120                       27:27                    24:14

3             AVATAR                                              132                       28:00                    24:28

4             TOAD                                                  150                       28:34                    24:33

5             AZOR                                                  243                       31:26                    24:55

6             SIMPATICO                                        165                       30:19                    25:53

7             TARA                                                  243                       32:35                    26:04

8             PACIFIC SPIRIT                                165                       38:15                    33:49

 

ZOOP SCOOP BY PAUL TARA

QUIZ

Last Week:

On a free leg of the course, a port tack boat is being overtaken by a starboard tack boat: 

a) the overtaking boat must keep clear

b) there’s no entry fee for this leg

c) the port tack boat must keep clear

 

Answer: c) the port tack boat must keep clear. But . . .

 

This week:

Two boats on opposite tacks are approaching a leeward mark, with the port tack boat clear ahead. Once the port tack boat enters “the zone”

a) she scores a touchdown

b) she must keep clear of the starboard tack boat 

c) the starboard tack boat must keep clear.

 

THE RACE — A Northerly!

Fall is the time of transition. It’s when the equation that favors onshore flow, flips to offshore. Here are two Tuesday morning shots that tell the tale. Last week, heavy stratus with an eddy starting to curl back towards Santa Cruz; this week, perfectly clear. Counterclockwise flow around a low in the desert southwest is responsible. More northerlies are forecast this week as clockwise flow around a ridge of high pressure moves in from the west. Offshore flow is warm due to molecular compression (like a bicycle pump) and orographical (sensitive to terrain). Characteristics that do not endear them to firefighters.  When sailing in our local northerlies, warm air can often mean a lift on starboard, cool a header.

 Spinnaker Fleet — 6 boats.  Tight racing, especially between Pacific High and Blind Date, although the latter lived up to her name by heading for the wrong finishing mark. The one-leg beat made it tough on the boats that didn’t get a jump at the start, (no easy access to clear air). So far, Gonzo appears to be the only Moore 24 to have recovered from last month’s Nationals. 

 

A Fleet — 6 boats. More tight racing. Oops! One boat started 5 minutes early, and Main Squeeze’s track vanished about 3/4 of the way to Gov (hopefully Barry will be able to sort the results). Zoop got the best start but couldn’t hold off Squeeze on the beat (20 year old # 2, vs carbon # 1) but fortunately Aboriginal recovered from a mediocre start in time to make life miserable for the rest of the fleet closer to the mark. This allowed Zoop to round inside and pass Aquavit which was negotiating a stalled J105 from A Fleet. From then on it was follow the leader to the finish, although after last week, a great deal more attention was paid to the angle of the finish line! 

 

B Fleet —  8 boats. Azor followed by PAD got the best starts. As the fleet approached Gov, several shifts came through. One allowed PAD to cross the fleet on port and then break away after rounding Gov.  Meanwhile, astern of her, boats struggled to make the mark, with one possibly hitting it and having to circle. I sincerely hope that wasn’t the case (that mark is steel and covered with poop).  By the finish, PAD was so far ahead Barry had forgotten he was racing, and was just fantasizing about his upcoming vacation.

 

Thank you Paul!

Barry Keeler

Sailing Pair a Dice