Sunday, May 31, 2015
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Lowered Expectations
I switched out my set of expectations. Last year I approached each race with expectations of triumph. This year, due more to age and medical circumstances than to the craft I'm sailing, my expectations are more limited: Finishing.
Tonight, starting in the middle of line worked out well for us. Was a tad late, but not by much.
Could be a teeny little more aggressive on timing. Had plenty of time and water to choose from in tacking on to port, into the beach. Once there, against the swim bouys' obstruction, discovered lots of competition. We did well in quick-tacking up the narrow corridor between the kelp and the swimming area. The large forty-footer ahead of us couldn't take the pressure and inadvertently sailed into the swimming area and a DSQ.
Out of dozen boats we were 4th at the weather mark and 4th on elapsed time at the finish. But still managed to lose out to the pesky yellow boat!
Tonight, starting in the middle of line worked out well for us. Was a tad late, but not by much.
Could be a teeny little more aggressive on timing. Had plenty of time and water to choose from in tacking on to port, into the beach. Once there, against the swim bouys' obstruction, discovered lots of competition. We did well in quick-tacking up the narrow corridor between the kelp and the swimming area. The large forty-footer ahead of us couldn't take the pressure and inadvertently sailed into the swimming area and a DSQ.Out of dozen boats we were 4th at the weather mark and 4th on elapsed time at the finish. But still managed to lose out to the pesky yellow boat!
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Memorial Day Race
A great Sunday afternoon sail. It was warm enough for Trophy Wife to come along and take her turn on the helm. That's what made the biggest difference for me!
Steady winds from 10-13 knots. Because of the pursuit race format and its punitive rating for us, Dazz did not get to see many boats throughout. Dr L's Perfect passed us at the weather mark. And the yellow Santa Cruz played cat and mouse with us all day, passing us only on spinnaker runs, losing to us in the end. On elapsed time, we were 8th out 18.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
First Thoughts
Worse than performing under expectancies in a race is not knowing exactly what I did wrong. What were my mistakes?
First thoughts:
I am not as agile and aware as I once was as a skipper. I am aware of that and don't have to command and confidence as I have had as late as a year ago. Therefore, it is not a good idea to start bang-against the starboard pin or even close to it. Too crowded for me to compete for clear air, I think. Next week, down the line where I can get clear air, be on the line at minus 1 second, and have a more strategic angle tacking off to the beach early. I have got to win the first leg better than I did last night. 4th to weather mark is not good enough. I was in a crowd of boats the entire race, rounding the leeward mark inside, but with four other boats abreast.
First thoughts:
I am not as agile and aware as I once was as a skipper. I am aware of that and don't have to command and confidence as I have had as late as a year ago. Therefore, it is not a good idea to start bang-against the starboard pin or even close to it. Too crowded for me to compete for clear air, I think. Next week, down the line where I can get clear air, be on the line at minus 1 second, and have a more strategic angle tacking off to the beach early. I have got to win the first leg better than I did last night. 4th to weather mark is not good enough. I was in a crowd of boats the entire race, rounding the leeward mark inside, but with four other boats abreast.
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Good to Get Back on the Horse What Threw Me
After having suffered the embarrassment of a withdrawal from last week's twilight minutes after starting, it was tremendous to be back on the water again. Last week the 22 knots was too much for this old man and he acknowledged, early on, that he wasn't "having fun".
Tonight was different. We started in 14 knots, maybe seconds late. Tight squeeze with the yellow boat to leeward. When he tacked in toward the beach, we followed to get clear air from other boats. Worked out well for us and we rounded the weather mark and the reaching mark in 2nd place; that Ranger-33 was miles ahead.
The multi-hull and the C&C 40 caught us at the leeward mark, but oh well! Sail trim was better going to weather, but we could have improved on a easing the mainsail a little more promptly upon rounding the weather mark.
Just a question of shifting gears without shredding fingers!
Tonight was different. We started in 14 knots, maybe seconds late. Tight squeeze with the yellow boat to leeward. When he tacked in toward the beach, we followed to get clear air from other boats. Worked out well for us and we rounded the weather mark and the reaching mark in 2nd place; that Ranger-33 was miles ahead.
The multi-hull and the C&C 40 caught us at the leeward mark, but oh well! Sail trim was better going to weather, but we could have improved on a easing the mainsail a little more promptly upon rounding the weather mark. Just a question of shifting gears without shredding fingers!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)