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First raceof the year

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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/19/2007 : 06:52:49

We had our first Wednesday Night race of the year yesterday, and it was pretty fantastic. Weather Underground forecasted wind speed to be 6 knots, but I think it was more like 8 starting out, ending at around 12.

Only about 8 or 9 boats were racing, since it's so early and only a few boats are in the docks so far. We started out in the middle of the pack, and due to confusion on the committee boat, the first leg was a beat to windward.

At the first mark I was able to scoot in front of two of my fleet competitors, a third competitor was back far enough that I didn't really have to worry about him. In front of me now was the usual race winner, a Lancer 28 skippered by a very experienced racer; a very well skippered C22, and two other C22's skippered by mere mortals like the rest of us.

On that second leg, a broad reach, I was leeward of a C22, so caught him pretty well, but I could'nt pass him because of his wind shadow. This allowed my main competitor for this race, and older Mac 25 (I know, I know) to catch me and overtake me windward of the C22 that was blanketing me. As soon as the Mac blanketed the C22 tho, the C22 slowed down and I was able to get out of his wind shadow.

The Mac and the another C22 in front of our boat rounded the next mark for the downwind run just in front of us. In spite of not sailing for months, we executed a fantastic rounding ending up positioned behind, but between the C22 and the Mac 25. With the sails all the way out, we threaded the needle, so to speak, and went right by them. We were heading toward the starting line now, so had to decide which end of the line to go around since we couldn't go back through it during the race, and we chose the leeward side of the line. The C22 we just passed chose the windward side (bad choice) and he ceased to be a factor in the race. The Mac, however, followed us, and was leeward of us and behind us. About a third of the way down the leg, I saw him position his boat to windward of us, but still behind us. I figured he was attempting to take our wind as his positioning of his boat in such a manner would have done exactly that if he would have been able to get closer, then he could have passed us. I steered my boat up a bit, preventing him from doing this, and he gave up.

We rounded the final mark really well, and were close-hauled heading toward the start/finish line. We decided the follow the Lancer 28's lead, since he always wins. Following him, we tacked twice and finished 3rd overall behind the Lanser and the C22, but I think first in our class if the fleets shake out like I think they will.

A very enjoyable first sail/race of the season.

Ben
Beneteau 361
Viking Kitty
Columbus, Ohio

Edited by - on

SailCO26
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2007 : 10:09:29

Nice job, congrats!

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Ben</i>
...and due to confusion on the committee boat, the first leg was a beat to windward.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">You say that like it's a bad thing!

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wmeinert@kconline.com
Past Commodore

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USA
353 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2007 : 10:15:04

That must have been one hell of a skipper to beat you in a C-22? What kind of sails was he using?

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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2007 : 11:04:44

Hehe, what kind of sails was the C22 using? Umm...big, white sails? I don't know really, they didn't seem to be laminated, clear sails like some of the racers have. This guy consistantly finishes first in his class though, so I'm not too upset losing to him. Remember, my sails are likely original, and I'm confident they're blown out. I was planning on getting a new jib over Christmas, but other committments took over.

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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2007 : 16:39:51

Bill, I sometimes have to race against C22's - they are dry sailed (kept on trailers) with glass like bottoms, good sails and the cabin is stripped of everything not essential (permitted under our PHRF protocol). I have to give them 48 seconds a mile...usually I win, but one mistake and it's ball game over! 2 of the skippers are past national champions.

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Andy_334
Navigator

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USA
206 Posts

Response Posted - 04/29/2007 : 20:23:41

I’m sure “they” call it a tune-up race for a reason. I’m hoping we left all of the demons behind us today.

Race postponement because of a 70 degree shift. No radio so we can’t hear what is going on. Then we're way late to the start because the wind died as we’re thinking about making our long run towards the boat.

Eventually get off the line and picked the left side as the wind fills in. Made a reasonable fist of the rest of the race, and finish mid fleet (depending how broad your definition of “mid” is!)

At least someone remembered to bring the Heinekens!

Edited by - on

SailCO26
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 05/01/2007 : 13:23:44

CSYC Race 1, W/L twice around with an offset start/finish line (to the L of the W/L course). Very light air, as in 1G1.5. Good thing, the temps were in the low 40's.

The RC end is VERY favored due to the offset start line as it's the shortest distance, BUT the "wind" has started to go L and it's becoming possible to lay the W mark from the pin. 10 boats in our start, we're the only one anywhere NEAR the pin.

We (I) misjudged our time to the line, and hit the pin about 12s late, on P. On S about 1/2 way down the line (they misjudged, but early!) were a Santana 20 and a CP22, followed by the rest of the fleet. The "wind" is still backing, so we're hoping for either a) enough shift that we can P-tack the fleet(!); or b) the rest of the fleet figures out just how badly they're headed and tacks with us to P.

b it is, and when it all settles down it's us to W, the S20 1/2BL to L, and the CP22 another 1BL L of them. A light wind drag race to the mark! We battle back and forth with the S20, the CP22 foots off for air. We finally roll the S20 and spit her out the back, making the W mark about 15 BL ahead.

Around the mark, the crew does the usual prep to set. Slow, since it's the first "real" set of the season (we had 1 practice set pre-race). As the boat comes to course dead on for the L mark, the wind is still ahead of the beam so we elect to stick with the headsail. Boats behind us set, but can't carry the kites. Good one for us!

By the time we dodge the rest of our fleet coming up (as well as the boats in later starts/fleets) and bypass the S/F line, the wind is still backing and now sufficient to carry spins. But we're close enough to the mark that we hold off. Unfortunately, the boats behind still trying to carry made some ground, we're now about 6-8 BL ahead.

Maintain the distance back upwind, with a bit of gain. On the downhill run debate again about the kite, decide to carry just the headsail again. Made the mark and the F line in 1st, but the S20 has a MUCH higher rating than we do and he corrects over us.

http://www.cosyc.org/Spring_Series_2007.htm

We'll take 2nd place for R1, and there's talk about how to handle the S20's since it's such an odd duck when it comes to rating/winds. Rumor mill says they may get scored on their own (there's 2 now, with a possible 3rd joining up).

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