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Outfitting for a Distance Race...

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/18/2010 : 07:47:05

Maybe Daydreaming here, maybe not. I can't decide.

I have some crew willing to do a race this summer that I'm kinda maybe interested in. Ok I'll admit it, I'm interested, but nervous about it. Of course I'm nervous about almost everything new that I try. I call it self-preservation.

This summer I could put together an entry in the Lake Ontario 300 (LO300) but I would need to meet the safety rules. Looking through th erules, thre are only a couple items missing - a liferaft, and secure hatchboards being the most obvious.

Here is the course:
http://tinyurl.com/LO300-SB

Here is the safety list: http://tinyurl.com/LO300-SafetyList

For the hatchboard issue, would it not be possible to secure the bottom board (3M-4200 or screws), Leave the 2nd board as-is, and have barrel bolts on the top board, or is there a better system? Jim, what do you do about this? We usually leave the bottom board in while underway anyhow, it makes a good mounting surface for the Fishfinder/GPS.

For the Pop-top, it seems to me that adding the extra dogs is about all you can do.

Do the distance racers remove the salon table for races? It seems to me that it is extranneous and not needed for what we would be doing. We Rarely take it out of the up position, unless at anchor while cruising.

For sleeping, I envision the Quarterberth and Vee berth being used while underway. I don't see the salon as a good spot at all, and even the Vee berth is questionable to me.

In last year's results, the slowest boat completed the course in 4 days. I hope we could do better than that, but no boat that completed the race had a PHRF near ours (PHRF-LO rates us at 243). These are the results of what would be our class, from last year's race:

LO300 Blackberry 2009 - SBIC - DH WS 2 Fleet - July 18, 2009 at 10:30:00 EDT
Start: Start 1, Finishes: Finish time, Time: 2009-07-18@10:30:00, Distance: 190, Course: Scotch Bonnet Island Course
1 Name: Anne Bonny Boat:Cal 30 PHRF:210 Time: 2:9:00:30 Corrected: 2:5:55:53
2 Name: Intuition Boat:Ontario 32 PHRF:216 Time: 2:9:46:21 Corrected: 2:6:07:24
3 Name: Grey Haven Boat: Niagara 35 PHRF: 176 Time: 2:9:37:56 Corrected: 2:8:27:39
4 Name: Alleynian Boat: Beneteau 361 PHRF: 171 Time: DNC
4 Name: Gannet Cay Boat: Mirage 33 PHRF: 183 Time: DNF
4 Name: Contessa Boat: Contessa 26 PHRF: 261 Time: DNF

I'm still up in the air as to whether or not I want to try this. Any input is appreciated.

"Iris"
1984 FK/SR #4040
http://frosthaus.blogspot.com/

Take a minute to register your boat with the association!!
http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/owner_questionnaire.htm

Edited by - Prospector on 02/18/2010 07:52:36

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2010 : 09:19:44

For my distance racing I've done the following:

The companionway hatchboards have barrel bolts that slide into holes I've drilled in the teak trim. Like you would use on a fence gate. Inspectors have passed this.

I have

a man overboard pole with strobe
a lifesling
fixed and handheld VHF
floating heaving line
4 bolts to dog the poptop
electric bilge pump in addition to the manual
my "liferaft" is a manual inflating dinghy I store in the quarterberth, with pump and oars.
radar reflector
jacklines
storm jib
double reefed main
batteries are firmly strapped down and would survive a knockdown.

Sleeping is in the quarterberth and in the bed I have in the salon.

I have a way to clamp down pots on my non-gimbaled stove.

I have those led lights you wear on your head for all crew.

All crew has life jacket with harness, whistle, and strobe.

My table is in but it is a pedestal table layout and it is always down and part of the salon bed.

I carry red, green and white glow in the dark sticks to use as emergency nav lights. Cost about $2 each. Red ones make useful salon lights at night.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2010 : 09:48:01

Thanks Jim, I was hoping you would reply. From your list:

<ul><li>a man overboard pole Got it with strobe need it
<li>a lifesling need it</li>
<li>fixed and handheld VHF got both</li>
<li>floating heaving line got it</li>
<li>4 bolts to dog the poptop need it</li>
<li>electric bilge pump in addition to the manual got it, need to install properly</li>
<li>my "liferaft" is a manual inflating dinghy I store in the quarterberth, with pump and oars. need it (borrow??)</li>
<li>radar reflector need to install</li>
<li>jacklines need to replace</li>
<li>storm jib got it</li>
<li>double reefed main got it</li>
[*]batteries are firmly strapped down and would survive a knockdown. got it </li></ul>

So it looks like I am nearly there, but would have some work to do - Bilge pump install ($50), replace jacklines ($25), Lifesling ($200), Liferaft ($0 - borrow)

The other cost which is kindof strange but do-able is that they strongly recommend a self-steering device. I guess this is the Autopilot, which I have, but hate. I guess that would be the big money item, but what I have could work. A spare tiller is simply a wheelbarrow handle. A spare Rudder would be tricky, but do-able.

I keep rolling this around in my head, and its very tempting.

Edited by - Prospector on 02/18/2010 09:48:41

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2010 : 10:54:31

OK, now here are some other considerations.

Planning food and drink is critical. You need to serve at least one hot meal a day. You need to be able to make coffee or tea and hot chocolate. Homemade chili is a staple on Indiscipline, as are muffins, large sub sandwitches I buy at the store, and chocolate. I bring jello, applesauce, and fruit cups. Trail mix and beef jerky is good especially if it is too rough to make anything.

Go light on beer and the like. You are trying to stay hydrated and stay up all night. That said, we usually have "happy hour" at 5 PM with all hands on deck.

Getting some sleep yourself and some crew sleep is essential for this to be fun.

I think doublehanding a C25 is the way to go, with a 2nd experienced crew. Possibly with 3 total on board. But I like to shoot for the Doublehanded trophy. I think I have a better chance in this class.

Autopilot is 100% required. But you can get a tillerpilot set up for about $400. GPS and backup GPS.

Before the race I start looking real hard at Sailflow long range wind speed and direction maps. I also have the Ugrib software which downloads GRIB files on your computer before the race. This lets you plan where to go to find the wind at various times and distances down the course. The top boats have all this on board, with Expedition software which plots their optimal course. You can do this yourself with the UGRIB (free) software.

Never leave wind to find wind. If it is a reach, run the rhumb.

These races are won at night. Keep working every puff. When you lose attention, rotate tasks.

One thing that tires me out is that usually I am working with a crew that's never been on board before. So I am the only one that knows how to make a cup of coffee, make lunch, gybe the spinnaker, reef, or change jibs. Try to get out for practice first and if you can't, go over all that kind stuff early so that you can get a little rest later.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2010 : 11:40:01

My plan for cooking was to fit a butane stove into the stock housing for the alcohol stove. I'm pretty sure I find a way to make it work, but then there is the "heavier than air" issue, which would mean bilge fans and whatnot. Usually we stop and cook in the cockpit when cruising. Gotta figure that one out.

I hear you on the food budget. I tend to over-pack all the wrong stuff. Have you ever tried going with the IMP's from the military (Not sure what the US guys call them) - basically foil pouches you heat and eat. Some taste better than others, but they are all simple to cook, provide adequate calories and nutrition, and little fuss.

I'm not much of a drinker, so I'm not super worried about happy hour. My crew usually isn't too worried about drinks either. A drink per day is about right. I think we could find room aboard for 8 beer.

Sleep is a concern. Our longest race on the regular slate is about 8 hours, the second longest is the "overnight" race that goes from 5:00 PM - 3 AM (=/-) most years, but we finish around 1:00 AM. On both of those I try to take enough crew for someone to go below. I have never slept on my own boat while racing. That would be hard. I was thinking a crew of 4 with 2 on watch, 2 off.

I shoul dreally learn how to work my tiller pilot. Right now it drives the boat in circles, which is entertaining for about 6 minutes. On our cruise last summer we got most of the way across our lake with it before it went bezerk on me. Maybe time to spend cash.

We often use sailflow, and I do use the long range for our weekend regattas. Its a good tool for predicting mid-race windshifts. Not always reliable, but at least you pay more attention.

Are you sayin gin your last sentence that you are running distance races double-handed with rookies, or just that you have experienced crew who don't know your boat? Since I would only be in whitesail (no spinnaker) I don;t think knowing th eboat is as critical as running spin, but I would definately want my crew to have at least a couple outings on board before the event.

Like I said, I'm still not sure whether I'm ready for this or not, but it is very tempting.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2010 : 12:11:06

IMP = MRE (Meal, Ready to Eat) It's also true that some are better than others but, I undertstand that they now come with a small bottle of Tabasco sauce in each one. I always carried a bottle in my BDU pocket when deployed for those that weren't the best.

One problem I'd see with MRE's during the race is the calorie content. They are each very high in calories to help with the high activity level of a soldier in a stressful environment. Maybe too many calories for a meal on board.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2010 : 12:42:05

Yes, I have always run the distance races with novice crew. Experienced sailors, but with very little time on my boat. I do run in spinnaker classes. I am just saying this is hard and try to get out for some practice.

An asym would be a great addition to your boat! Easy to rig.

The C25 can keep up off the wind with a spin.

Never sailed with the military MRE (Meal ready to eat). The real long distance guys use all freeze dried stuff from REI or the like (backpacker stuff).

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2010 : 13:47:20

I've done freeze-dried on Canoe trips. I find they make everyone gassy.

Thanks for the tips!

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2010 : 13:49:38

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John Russell
 IMP = MRE (Meal, Ready to Eat) It's also true that some are better than others but, I undertstand that they now come with a small bottle of Tabasco sauce in each one. I always carried a bottle in my BDU pocket when deployed for those that weren't the best.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

(IMP = Individual Meal Pack) I knew that it was MRE, dunno why I blanked on that. Ours were always packed such that one IMP was enough calories for a day of light duty. At least, thats what they told us. You still felt hungry at dinner time if you didn't ration carefully.

Edited by - on

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