The good, the bad and the ugly. Great breeze all day allowing the RC to get in another 3 races. We actually got 3 pretty good front row starts. Conditions (wind @ 280 deg, slight counter current) favored the right side of the course all day. The only problem is finding an upwind lane to get there.
In the first race, we did a pretty good job of finding our way right. We rounded the top mark in the top 15 and were able to pass a few boats on the run. About ditto on the second lap and we finished 10th (out of 31, we think that's good).
In the second race, we were not quite as good establishing ourselves upwind and ended up 17th (thata's bad) in a tight cluster. Interesting -- the average race time for the 4 legs was right about one hour. The maximum finish spread for the 31 boat fleet was under 3 minutes. It was really close out there.
Race 3 - Before the start, we saw significant pressure on the left side of the course. We went left on the first beat with about a third of the fleet, including some really good people. Unfortunately, the course was still right side favored and we rounded the top mark DFL. We did pick of 7 boats on the next 4 legs, but we never recovered from the first beat and finished 26th (that's ugly).
The sail back to the SDYC, which is about 4 miles upwind or on a close reach was pretty hairy with gusts to 27kt. A sailmakers delight. To top off the day, I took one step beyond as were were rafting the boat and ended up in the bay. After a hot shower and a couple of Mt Gay tonics, things did look a little brighter.
Two races on the docket for Sunday and then we pack up the boat for the trip north.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Midwinters Friday Races
The SDYC's RC got in 3 good races yesterday in a 14-16 kt breeze that clocked right most of the day. We ended up with 30 boats on the line. We got a pretty good start for race 1 in the middle of the line and sailed most of the race in the middle of the fleet. Lots of traffic at the marks which were set with a windward and offset and a leeward gate. We ended up finishing in 17th.
Our start in race 2 was not too bad, but things unwound after that. We had a tough first weather leg, hit the offset mark and had to do a turn which cost us a couple of spots. The upwind driving was interesting -- there was a 4ft west swell running that was on our beam on port tack making it a tough driving tack. On starboard, the swell was more on the nose and an easier drive.
The race 3 start was terrible, so we just pressed ahead with our go right strategy. Good things happened and we rounded the first weather mark in 2nd. We held 2nd through the next 3 marks, but felt like the breakaway riders in the tour with the peloton chasing them. The Camet boat overtook us at the finish line and we finished 3rd with Chris Busch a couple of boat lengths behind.
Craig did his normal great job up front and Steve's sail trim and tactics were strong.
Three more today. The forecast is for WSW at 10-15 with the same 4ft westerly swell.
Our start in race 2 was not too bad, but things unwound after that. We had a tough first weather leg, hit the offset mark and had to do a turn which cost us a couple of spots. The upwind driving was interesting -- there was a 4ft west swell running that was on our beam on port tack making it a tough driving tack. On starboard, the swell was more on the nose and an easier drive.
The race 3 start was terrible, so we just pressed ahead with our go right strategy. Good things happened and we rounded the first weather mark in 2nd. We held 2nd through the next 3 marks, but felt like the breakaway riders in the tour with the peloton chasing them. The Camet boat overtook us at the finish line and we finished 3rd with Chris Busch a couple of boat lengths behind.
Craig did his normal great job up front and Steve's sail trim and tactics were strong.
Three more today. The forecast is for WSW at 10-15 with the same 4ft westerly swell.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Etchells Midwinters West San Diego - Day 1
Made it here on Wednesday to deal with some trailer issues which involved making my annual donation to the Aros Trailer Supply gods to ensure that we get at least another 1337 miles when we head north on Monday.
Bill McGown who was scheduled to do our middle came down with whatever yuck is currently infecting Bellingham and had to cancel. I spent most of yesterday scrambling to find a replacement. Fortunately, someone else had to bail out and Steve Pickel from North Sails is joining us for the regatta. Steve, Craig and I are about 70 pounds under the limit, so we are hoping for light wind. I'd rather be 70 light than 8 pounds over like another crew here who will spend their evening in the sauna. We went out for Italian.....
It looks like we'll have 32 boats on the line today. As always it's a pretty tough fleet -- Bruce Nelson, Chris Busch (fresh from his 4th at the worlds in Melbourne), Vince Brun et al.
We have to hoist the boat for a quick wipedown this morning and get ready for the tow at 9:15.
Bill McGown who was scheduled to do our middle came down with whatever yuck is currently infecting Bellingham and had to cancel. I spent most of yesterday scrambling to find a replacement. Fortunately, someone else had to bail out and Steve Pickel from North Sails is joining us for the regatta. Steve, Craig and I are about 70 pounds under the limit, so we are hoping for light wind. I'd rather be 70 light than 8 pounds over like another crew here who will spend their evening in the sauna. We went out for Italian.....
It looks like we'll have 32 boats on the line today. As always it's a pretty tough fleet -- Bruce Nelson, Chris Busch (fresh from his 4th at the worlds in Melbourne), Vince Brun et al.
We have to hoist the boat for a quick wipedown this morning and get ready for the tow at 9:15.
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