tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30182054279732659512024-03-13T22:19:12.570-07:00Time on the WaterDoc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.comBlogger569125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-76558859223761088922015-08-05T20:36:00.000-07:002015-08-09T21:23:35.732-07:00A-Team Does BetterI missed A-Team's start tonight because I stationed myself on Shoreline Park's cliffs where I could look down on the most likely windward marks. After Dazz rounded D-Mark in steady wind, I packed in my camera and went home to work. There was a lot of empty water in front and behind her, so I reckoned there would be an uneventful parade and undramatic finish ahead.
Turns out that the wind died Doc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-25265853670419087282015-07-29T22:45:00.000-07:002015-07-30T10:57:58.692-07:00A-Team Sailed Without Me
Took a bad fall recently and so I sent the crew out to race with mixed results. They were far too conservative -- embarrassingly so -- on the start. However they were able to catch four boats.
Doc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-85006848779027639332015-07-15T21:57:00.000-07:002015-07-16T10:08:28.604-07:00Wyliecats Are Easy to Sail, but Difficult to Sail Well?Lots of close, close racing this Wednesday, especially with the newest boat in our fleet! 15 knots, steady!
I'm frustrated by my learning curve. Is it that this dog is too old to learn or that he has no patience? Doesn't matter in the longer run, I guess, as long as the crew is having fun.Doc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-8636886545137954652015-07-12T21:21:00.000-07:002015-07-12T21:21:34.834-07:00Chamber-Of-Commerce DayThat's what one sailor called it: clear, warm and with a steady 10-knot breeze. I guess I would have called it a chamber-of-commerce day if it had rained heavily the night before. I haven't seen today's actual results, but I think we finished 10 in this 18-boat pursuit race. Not that anyone much cares: it was that much of a perfect day to be on the water.Doc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-60257491251193468462015-07-08T22:43:00.000-07:002015-07-12T10:35:32.809-07:00Over Early!
I killed our chances tonight by crossing the start line seconds early. It was serious because we were confined in a sandwich of boats on either side of us who started on time; it took painfully long to gain water to return and restart. I could blame certain crew members who were absent and are our flawless time keepers, but the responsibility is all mine.
After the start, I more or less Doc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-4811748803681499672015-07-01T22:07:00.000-07:002015-07-03T10:19:05.045-07:00Putting in the A-Team
Optimal crew produces optimal results: 4th place out of 11 starters. But the pesky yellow Morgan-27 beat us out again!
SP helmed almost the entire race. Gotta keep the remainder of the crew happy! Think I need to spend almost full time as navigator/tactician. For one thing, I can see more of the race.
Doc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-87402228563278929342015-06-28T20:28:00.000-07:002015-07-11T10:14:38.414-07:00Not the Man I WasThe McEachen Trophy Race turned up a beautiful day of steady wind and sun, as well as its novel downwind start and unusual bearings. It's always a chance to mix in a little confusion and it transforms our waters to a new and unfamiliar sailing venue.
Dazzler enjoyed the mix. We had our places in the race shuffled several times in this 6nm course and ended up in the tail end of the first half of Doc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-37214058227366442482015-06-10T21:47:00.000-07:002015-06-13T17:02:49.431-07:00Still No AnswersTonight I surrendered the helm to SP. He had his way with footing instead of pointing. I called the tactical moves in sublimely light winds,(3-7 knots). I don't think he has the answer. But I let him have 'is way. Because what does it matter? Just want to get the boat sold and to get out of racing. I've forgot 90% of what I once thought I knew about racing a boat.
The boat is in good hands withDoc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-52661425776646543082015-06-07T23:00:00.000-07:002015-07-11T09:57:49.059-07:00We're Still Learning
Summer #1 was a pursuit Race of 21 boats in a 14-knot breeze. Unfortunately, there was a huge gap between start times and we did not see a lot of boats. We were fortified with a major addition in crew and technique. Good quick tacking up the Kelp Straits. After rounding the weather mark we were confronted with our usual duel with the Pesky Yellow boat.
This time we threw a hex on her spinnakerDoc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-28450661066641962192015-06-03T23:32:00.000-07:002015-06-04T12:09:07.626-07:00Self Humiliation!Lousy start and I went down hill from there. It's as if my mind went blank with 90 seconds to go and I reverted to past habits of trying to start on the pin end. I have less flexibility in terms of trimming control than on Das Boot.
So, my game plan is to start in the middle of the line where there's clear air & water. But tonight, that went out the window. Write it down to lack of Doc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-20100501684914569192015-05-31T09:25:00.000-07:002015-07-12T09:26:15.348-07:00ROFL No-Clones Rotisserie 2014-2015R W Rawleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06602434711520754614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-34555259846071233152015-05-27T20:47:00.000-07:002015-05-28T11:10:38.788-07:00Lowered ExpectationsI 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 timeDoc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-6752785248386411242015-05-24T21:03:00.000-07:002015-05-25T09:08:40.688-07:00Memorial Day RaceA 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 Doc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-31330108601320405812015-05-20T20:21:00.000-07:002015-05-21T08:36:55.864-07:00First ThoughtsWorse 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 Doc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-13341096213580809652015-05-13T21:32:00.000-07:002015-05-14T08:04:18.493-07:00Good to Get Back on the Horse What Threw MeAfter 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 Doc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-77996069101042375562015-04-29T20:13:00.000-07:002015-05-14T07:39:28.608-07:00I Should Just Get out of the Boat's Way and Let Her Sail
Not much can be said for tonight's race. I am a lot weaker this year than last. At the helm, I was fighting for control going to weather. (The night's breeze was almost twice the forcasted strength.) Was almost early at the start. Indecisive after that. Basically, Dazz was left to sail her self around the course. I cluelessly covered the wrong boat on the final reaching leg, which cost us two Doc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-30179605396542319912015-04-22T22:10:00.000-07:002015-04-25T10:16:54.274-07:00Qualified for Twilight Racing!It was a good race: Dazzler finally qualified for H-Fleet.
The chilly breeze was above my expectations. The presence of the Princess (if that is her name) Cruiser encouraged the Race Committee to assign us a windward-leeward course instead of the boring triangle. That was a big plus because there are more passing lanes. Dazzler did creditably well (finishing 3rd out of a dozen) except that Doc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-13520218257385609042015-04-15T23:49:00.000-07:002015-04-30T11:24:31.628-07:00Memorable Tax Day
What was most special about today?
The Los Angeles Dodgers, in honor of Jackie Robinson, were not blacked out on local TV? [Check]
Dazz got out on the water again and recorded her 2nd qualifying finish for 2015 Wet Wednesdays? [Check][Check]
100 miles to the south and east of us, my son raced his Harbor-20 for the first time in YEARS, placing 1st among 10 starters (elapsed & corrected Doc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-17896140813477877672015-03-29T22:32:00.000-07:002015-03-30T14:18:25.196-07:00Light Air Pursuit Race
Just under 4nm. Congestion at the start. Two boats were over early, spoiling Dazz' perfectly timed start. But in 4 knots of wind, both of them effectively took themselves out of the race. Passed a number of boats on the way to the weather mark. On the reaching leg we caught the rest of them except for Dazz's sister Wyliecat with her brand new square top mainsail.
At the turning mark, WyliecatsDoc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-42667188781844632212015-03-25T21:51:00.000-07:002015-03-26T08:13:00.065-07:00One More Time, Maybe....It was a royal blast to get out on Dazz for the first Wet Wednesday of the year that counts in a series. Except, for us, it didn't count! We have to race two more times before we qualify for a handicap.
Nevertheless, my youngest son came up from Marina Del Ray to sail Dazz for the first time. He, in fact, hogged the helm from start to finish. There was little room for argument: in his hands DazzDoc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-52443153449626508842015-02-12T13:06:00.000-08:002015-02-22T19:58:36.909-08:00Is There Life After Sailing?
I have to take a moment to record and acknowledge an unpleasant development. This moment is about as good as any other.
On the 4th of January, a day after the first race of the new year, I had to be hospitalized. Last week I was again hospitalized and underwent a couple of surgeries. In the middle of this depressing experience, I realized that my time-on-the-water had been terminated by Doc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-89087104999265067522015-01-17T18:58:00.000-08:002015-01-17T18:59:48.641-08:00Hot Rum #2We were really sad to miss out on this year's second race.
But I was able to stop by after the start long enough to record that all competitors were obeying posted traffic signs.Doc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-10369781038843782822015-01-14T23:28:00.000-08:002015-01-16T15:31:32.012-08:00Celebrating the Past Year of Sailing Together
But it will also be the last year. I barely made it to the party!Doc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-56234395361153198592015-01-03T21:00:00.000-08:002015-01-06T09:12:36.147-08:00On Getting CaughtThis was a pursuit race and we were having fun being pursued until we were caught by every boat that finished!
In class, ninth out of nine. In five knots of wind, what are you going to do?
Doc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3018205427973265951.post-62319903340227288852014-12-14T23:37:00.000-08:002014-12-15T18:23:04.207-08:00Closing the Year 2014 with Its Opening Race Today
I didn't venture out for this year's Opening Day. I cancelled crew a day ahead because I didn't want to risk my engine in the Harbor's Sargasso Sea. The next day, the Club cancelled it anyways. But it had to be re-sailed because it figures into our Fleet's championship tally.
Today was the day. 5 knots of wind. 14 boats sailed a 4.7nm course. Biggest challenge in the light winds was keeping Doc Häagen-Dazshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00577427442824705257noreply@blogger.com4