Two weekends ago I sailed a couple E-Scow races in heavy air, then one of the two MC races in heavy air. All three finishes were firsts. But all three were tough on my body. It is painfully obvious I am not in shape to sail middle man on an E in a blow. In the MC race I came from 4th at the last mark to win the race with 4 boats finishing within 10 seconds. But my arms gave out. The wind was still peaking over 20 so I dropped out of the second race.
Yesterday the Lightnings were finishing up their regatta in the morning. We sailed MCs in the afternoon but I'm not sure they were official races. Regardless we had three good 2-lap races with lots of passing and real challenging wind shifts. For example we rounded the top mark of a race with 4 boats overlapped. Downwind Bob Cole and I stayed on starbaord and headed toward the east side of the course chasing strong wind on the water. Three other boats went west into flatter water. They picked up a huge west shift and inverted the racing order completely. Then upwind the way to go was real East. Very strange.
I had finishes yesterday of 3, 2, 1 which if they count I think puts me back in the lead for the pre-season standings. Sean Tracey had a great day with two easy wins and a come from behind to almost beat me in the last race. It was a fun sailing day.
We may have also convinced a local sailor to buy Brent Gilette's MC-Scow keeping it in the fleet. That would be good.
Next week I think starts the season. But with July 4 on a Wednesday, I'm not sure. It may be the week after. So far we have had a pretty good sailing season. Let's hope it continues.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
Struggling to Have Fun
We won both E-scow races, and I won the first MC-Scow race and didn't sail the second. And I'm struggling to find the enjoyment. But then again sitting on shore was worse. What's going on?
Friday I turned 48. I'm feeling quite old. I have aches and pains I never used to.
Sunday morning (Father's Day) I awoke alone in the cottage to a forecast of 10-20 South, building to 30 as the day progresses. Today would be the first day sailing the new spinnaker setup with a retrieval line. We were a bit late to the start still setting up the E-Scow from winter storage and retrofit. We had enough time to set the asym once to check it. but we didn't know what "correct" looked like. It turned out later we found it was wrong.
The wind was 15-18 South. We already had one E-Scow capsized and in need of rescue. By the time the day was over two others would have capsized at least once, and one would break a rudder. It was blowing.
We picked up a fourth person and had about 850 pounds on board. We were HEAVY which made the upwinds quite tolerable. We rounded the top mark in the lead and popped the chute, not really a simple task. It was twisted badly with the retrieval line affecting it. We gybed to clear. It did, and it filled in a pop. We took off like a shot, quite fun. but then came the immediate arm and shoulder pain. It was clear from the start I could not sail this the same way. After racing we decided the incorrect setup may have a lot to do with my perceived lack of strength. In reality it may be that it is difficult for anyone with the mess we had. Regardless, I was spent by the bottom mark.
We led the rest of the day, all marks. But we struggled with every maneuver. By lunch I was ready to go home and sleep for a couple hours.
Instead we went out sailing MC-Scows in the afternoon, still blowing 10-20.
Race 1 I had an okay start. I tried to just lock in fully depowered and cleat the main. The puffs, shifts, and traffic had other plans for me. By the top mark I was third behind Brent and Steve who were sailing fast. Downwind I stuffed the bow a couple times and lost Bob Cole. On the long upwind I was covered hard by Brent ending up going the wrong way to clear my air. I picked up Cole but lost Sean Tracey.
On the last run we got a building shot behind us that compressed the top 5 to be almost nose to tail at the mark. Bob Cole capsized behind me so it was a 4-boat race. I had a clean tight rounding and was able to get on the inside hip of Brent. Steve and Sean were lower and faster ahead. I continued to stay high and work to a line above Brent eventually clearing my air. I may be able to lay the boat without tacking.
I made enough progress that all three ahead of me were going to be a problem when they came back across. They forced the issue. I had to tack below Brent as I could not duck in the heavy blow. I stayed on starboard for 20 seconds max, tacked back to duck Brent as he tacked, ducked both other boats and used the speed and clear air to gain the 1 boat length on all three boats and won by that much.
The entire leg was in 15-18 with shots in the 20's. My arms cramped up long before the finish. The wind was still up and not looking like it would ease. I simply wasn't having fun. So I packed it in.
In race 2, Bob Meyer with crew just smoked everyone for a horizon job win.
I went home to sit in a hammock. Today I can't raise my left arm above shoulder height and my right is incredibly sore. I'm old and out of shape which is detracting from my fun. Time to get in shape.
Friday I turned 48. I'm feeling quite old. I have aches and pains I never used to.
Sunday morning (Father's Day) I awoke alone in the cottage to a forecast of 10-20 South, building to 30 as the day progresses. Today would be the first day sailing the new spinnaker setup with a retrieval line. We were a bit late to the start still setting up the E-Scow from winter storage and retrofit. We had enough time to set the asym once to check it. but we didn't know what "correct" looked like. It turned out later we found it was wrong.
The wind was 15-18 South. We already had one E-Scow capsized and in need of rescue. By the time the day was over two others would have capsized at least once, and one would break a rudder. It was blowing.
We picked up a fourth person and had about 850 pounds on board. We were HEAVY which made the upwinds quite tolerable. We rounded the top mark in the lead and popped the chute, not really a simple task. It was twisted badly with the retrieval line affecting it. We gybed to clear. It did, and it filled in a pop. We took off like a shot, quite fun. but then came the immediate arm and shoulder pain. It was clear from the start I could not sail this the same way. After racing we decided the incorrect setup may have a lot to do with my perceived lack of strength. In reality it may be that it is difficult for anyone with the mess we had. Regardless, I was spent by the bottom mark.
We led the rest of the day, all marks. But we struggled with every maneuver. By lunch I was ready to go home and sleep for a couple hours.
Instead we went out sailing MC-Scows in the afternoon, still blowing 10-20.
Race 1 I had an okay start. I tried to just lock in fully depowered and cleat the main. The puffs, shifts, and traffic had other plans for me. By the top mark I was third behind Brent and Steve who were sailing fast. Downwind I stuffed the bow a couple times and lost Bob Cole. On the long upwind I was covered hard by Brent ending up going the wrong way to clear my air. I picked up Cole but lost Sean Tracey.
On the last run we got a building shot behind us that compressed the top 5 to be almost nose to tail at the mark. Bob Cole capsized behind me so it was a 4-boat race. I had a clean tight rounding and was able to get on the inside hip of Brent. Steve and Sean were lower and faster ahead. I continued to stay high and work to a line above Brent eventually clearing my air. I may be able to lay the boat without tacking.
I made enough progress that all three ahead of me were going to be a problem when they came back across. They forced the issue. I had to tack below Brent as I could not duck in the heavy blow. I stayed on starboard for 20 seconds max, tacked back to duck Brent as he tacked, ducked both other boats and used the speed and clear air to gain the 1 boat length on all three boats and won by that much.
The entire leg was in 15-18 with shots in the 20's. My arms cramped up long before the finish. The wind was still up and not looking like it would ease. I simply wasn't having fun. So I packed it in.
In race 2, Bob Meyer with crew just smoked everyone for a horizon job win.
I went home to sit in a hammock. Today I can't raise my left arm above shoulder height and my right is incredibly sore. I'm old and out of shape which is detracting from my fun. Time to get in shape.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Club Sailing - I Didn't Win
Sunday was the first club sailing of the year. Memorial Day weekend there was no wind. Last weekend we were away.
The forecast was for diddly squat, something like WNW at 5. Anytime there is a W in the direction at Keuka, drop 5 from the forecast.
The morning South held until Noon when the squat filled in from the WNS. One to 11 knott winds punctuated by 40-70 degree shifts. Somehow 8 boats decided to show up to sail at 2:00. I was sailing my oldest POS sail.
The short one-lap laser-sized course was going to benefit those with good starts and first legs. I nailed the first start in a crowded boat end extending 2-3 lengths right away. The next two 40-degree shifts meant everyone was laying the mark at some point. Being in the right place was critical. I picked them poorly and dropped Bob Cole. We had a cushion on the fleet and played against each other the remainder of the race. On the last leg I dragged him off the wrong way to see if I could escape from below. This let Spencer jenkins in for a well-deserved second place between Cole and me.
With 2 minutes to go in race 2 I was near the boat unable to lay the pin on starboard. I started racing at that point trying to get to the pin. I succeeded in getting almost there, flopped to port with 10 seconds to go and looked to be in great shape. Then the 40-degree shift 10 seconds later knocked me all the way back to reality. I still picked a few shifts cirrectly and approached the top mark ahead. But William Hudson was coming on from the right. I knew I could clear him, right up until another shift and I knew I couldn't clear him. I hate that. I tried to lee bow him but he had tried to duck me. He ran up my transom. I did circles putting me last. I recovered to fourth. William won the race with Cole second.
In race 3 I nailed a boat start, extended, and rounded with a nice lead. The wind went away and the next line of wind brought the fleet down on me. I struggled to stay ahead of the pack winning by only a couple lengths over Bob Cole who recovered from 5th at the last mark.
Finishes of 3, 4, 1 put me a few points behind Cole for the day. I did enjoy the competition. Maybe I sail with this sail all year to be sure to make it interesting!
The forecast was for diddly squat, something like WNW at 5. Anytime there is a W in the direction at Keuka, drop 5 from the forecast.
The morning South held until Noon when the squat filled in from the WNS. One to 11 knott winds punctuated by 40-70 degree shifts. Somehow 8 boats decided to show up to sail at 2:00. I was sailing my oldest POS sail.
The short one-lap laser-sized course was going to benefit those with good starts and first legs. I nailed the first start in a crowded boat end extending 2-3 lengths right away. The next two 40-degree shifts meant everyone was laying the mark at some point. Being in the right place was critical. I picked them poorly and dropped Bob Cole. We had a cushion on the fleet and played against each other the remainder of the race. On the last leg I dragged him off the wrong way to see if I could escape from below. This let Spencer jenkins in for a well-deserved second place between Cole and me.
With 2 minutes to go in race 2 I was near the boat unable to lay the pin on starboard. I started racing at that point trying to get to the pin. I succeeded in getting almost there, flopped to port with 10 seconds to go and looked to be in great shape. Then the 40-degree shift 10 seconds later knocked me all the way back to reality. I still picked a few shifts cirrectly and approached the top mark ahead. But William Hudson was coming on from the right. I knew I could clear him, right up until another shift and I knew I couldn't clear him. I hate that. I tried to lee bow him but he had tried to duck me. He ran up my transom. I did circles putting me last. I recovered to fourth. William won the race with Cole second.
In race 3 I nailed a boat start, extended, and rounded with a nice lead. The wind went away and the next line of wind brought the fleet down on me. I struggled to stay ahead of the pack winning by only a couple lengths over Bob Cole who recovered from 5th at the last mark.
Finishes of 3, 4, 1 put me a few points behind Cole for the day. I did enjoy the competition. Maybe I sail with this sail all year to be sure to make it interesting!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Uncleat the Main Traveller - Really?
Over the past couple years I have been asked a number of times about my heavy air sailing technique in the MC-Scow. To say the least it is unconventional. This blog entry and the associated video show how I do it.
Let's start with a little background.
I'm lazy. I'm very, very lazy.
I grew up on E-Scows, on KU-3. When I skippered from about 1980 through 2000ish, I was just as lazy then. In a blow I really hated to uncleat the mainsheet. It was so hard to bring it back in again. So I would have the third position person run the cars up and down all the time spilling the main and recovering. On one boat I even had the rear traveller controls run back to me too. That person also did vang in kind of a two arm motion: drop car leaning in, grab vang and hike and trim. This completely depowered the E-Scow main in about 2 seconds.
Today I still sail E-Scows as crew on KU-1. I am the one that works the traveller and vang now. So when I picked up the MC-Scow in 2010, I sailed it like an E-Scow. The first time it blew I tried to be the middle man working the vang and traveller. Well the first issue I had was that I nearly broke the mast and boom trimming the vang like an E-Scow vang. Small boat, small motions. Got it.
When I worked the vang the mast bent dramatically. I was not used to this. And the sail started doing some weird things when I trimmed hard. I had nobody to really test against and I hadn't bothered reading any instructions. So I decided to try something different since I didn't know any better. I cranked the mainsheet block to block. This still bent the boom and reshaped the sail, but it didn't bend the the mast as much. I liked the shape a bit better.
Along comes Rob Seidelman for the local Keuka regatta in 2010. In race 1 it blew. Rob vang/sheeted and I worked the traveller, vang off, mainsheet over trimmed. Speeds were comparable. Rob and I extended on the fleet that race. I loved it. In fact it has the added benefit of letting the boom rise during the tack so my fat butt can get under it.
Because my habits are E-Scow based, I continued to over trim the main and run the traveller whenever I get over powered. Over the past two years I have had good success with this technique. In fact I am convinced it is faster, if not much faster than vang sheeting. I even believe I can out point anyone vang/sheeting.
Q: So how does this work?
Mast Bend
Vanging hard bends the boom, tensions the leech and bends the tip of the mast aft and a bit to leeward. It flattens the sail. The vang also pushes the boom hard into the mast thrusting the lower section forward and increasing the depth of the curve of the mast taking draft out of the sail.
Over trimming the main accomplishes much the same except less vang removes that boom thrust into the mast and produces a straighter mast which increases the draft of the sail while maintaining the leech tension and mast tip bend. The smoother mast bend reduces the "speed wrinkles" as laser sailors refer to them.
So just from a speed setup I think hard vang is slower than less vang, to the point where I often use no vang at all in a blow. In a steady blow where speed setup is primary, I go block to block on the main, traveller off (it stays up from the end of the track by itself by a couple inches), vang off, outhaul to the black, and just snug the downhaul.
What about the in-between point, the transition from full power to depowered?
Vang/sheeting starts with the vang. From full power, the first adjustment to depower is to vang on (speed adjustments, not saving your butt from capsizing). As vang is applied the sail shape flattens and the leech tension increases. When vang is on, then you shift to the mainsheet and start easing. It has to be in this order because if you spill the mainsheet before vang is on the top twists off and you have put on the brakes.
Using the traveller mainsheet technique I use traveller first before over trimming. Just BEFORE a puff hits I will drop the track. The boat flattens a bit and the puff hits. The sail is still fully powered but eased. The capsizing pressures are lessened and the boat stays flatter. The acceleration is instant when the puff hits. This is the point where this technique really shines. If you vang before a puff, the sail is not fully powered, and the main being trimmed means it contains just as much capsizing pressure as with no vang.
In both techniques, there is a middle ground. You don't over vang completely before easing the sheet. You also don't completely drop the traveller before cranking on the main. The feel of when to transition from the two methods is something that you acquire with practice.
Handling
Q: In a blow nothing is stable. How does this work when it is in constant motion?
When vanged hard, easing the mainsheet in a blow allows the main to ease without spilling the tip of the sail. Leech pressure is maintained. Using traveller the same thing happens. The difference is in the speed of movement using a 2:1 traveller to ease versus a 4:1 mainsheet. If you have the arm strength, the traveller can provide you very rapid reaction times. The faster you ease, the less you heal up, and the faster you will utilize the puff and accelerate.
When the end of the traveller is reached, or with vang sheeting as the boom nears the water, and you are still out of control there is a final spill that happens. With vang sheeting, it requires that you cleat the main (or let it drag in the water) and reach for the vang to release it and spill the tip of the sail, then return to get the mainsheet. You have either flogged the main if you released it, or if you cleated it you are now fully powered up and have to depower again.
With the traveller technique the final spill requires that you let go of the uncleated traveller, grab and uncleat the mainsheet and ease to spill off the tip of the sail. You maintain control of the mainsheet while twisting off the tip of the sail. Which of these maneuvers is faster, safer, or easier? For me it is a no brainer. How many times have people capsized with the main cleated while reaching for the vang? Think about it.
Finally there is an iceboat effect here too. Iceboats accelerate out of a puff by flexing the mast laterally quite radically and redirecting that force back into the boat rather than into a capsizing moment. In punching puffs like Fenton last weekend, I saw the lower section of my mast flexing like a DN mast. I do not believe this happens as much when the boom is driving the mast forward hard. It's probably subtle but the effect is there.
Pointing
Q: Don't you lose pointing ability when you drop the traveller?
In light air, yes, you would have to bear off when you drop the traveller. But in a puff you do not change course. In fact I am convinced I can outpoint anyone using vang sheeting above 15.
Think of it this way. Imagine the air is perfect blowing 12. You sail along hard on the wind and turn 15 degrees upwind. You will develop a luff in the sail and slow. Now rather than turn upwind, ease your sail 15 degrees. The luff will not develop as much, and even if it does, the sail is out a bit creating a drag vector not as much in line with your course. The more your sail is out when luffing the less it slows you down. A sail 90 degrees sideways and flopping like a flag produces forward motion in a sailboat. Pointing head to win and flapping like a flag produces backward motion. That small luff in the sail during the puff is bleeding off energy without bleeding off speed. Taking the next step and over trimming puts the energy back into the boat. It's probably a bad explanation but it works. Really.
Also this technique addresses your foils in the water, an often underestimated priority. Done right, this method keeps your boat more upright, and does not require dramatic steering. The board foil provides better lift and the rudder turned less doesn't act as much of a brake. Keeping these foils working for you rather than against you is very important.
In reality what I see is that as I drop my traveller, I either point the same or better than boats above and below me. I out accelerate them in puffs, and recover faster after the puff. And most importantly I don't have to work as hard. Remember I'm lazy.
Video
Onboard video last weekend really drove this analysis home. Track down off the bottom mark I repeatedly out pointed and passed boats ahead of me on the same tack. A person on the RC boat was adamant that I was significantly outpointing every other boat on the lake.
Here are two cases where I came off the bottom mark at least 4 boat lengths behind in a blow and closed the distance or passed simply on point and speed. I believe it is the technique difference that closed that gap, not different air. You be the judge. In the first case I was working the track, in the second I was already full track down and spilling.
Try It!
Obviously the sail you use and the comfort level you have with different techniques will have some influence on what you do here. I use a Z-Max. This seems to work well with it. Others with Shure or Moorehouse sails have said it doesn't do as well. I think it has to do with the foot shape more than anything else. The Z-Max shelf may make the difference.
I can describe this all day, but until you go out and sail this way, you won't really get it. Try it. You may like it. And just ignore the fact it contradicts the Melges/North tuning guide. That's the fun part. Feel free to comment here or send me questions. Have fun and sail fast!
Let's start with a little background.
I'm lazy. I'm very, very lazy.
I grew up on E-Scows, on KU-3. When I skippered from about 1980 through 2000ish, I was just as lazy then. In a blow I really hated to uncleat the mainsheet. It was so hard to bring it back in again. So I would have the third position person run the cars up and down all the time spilling the main and recovering. On one boat I even had the rear traveller controls run back to me too. That person also did vang in kind of a two arm motion: drop car leaning in, grab vang and hike and trim. This completely depowered the E-Scow main in about 2 seconds.
Today I still sail E-Scows as crew on KU-1. I am the one that works the traveller and vang now. So when I picked up the MC-Scow in 2010, I sailed it like an E-Scow. The first time it blew I tried to be the middle man working the vang and traveller. Well the first issue I had was that I nearly broke the mast and boom trimming the vang like an E-Scow vang. Small boat, small motions. Got it.
When I worked the vang the mast bent dramatically. I was not used to this. And the sail started doing some weird things when I trimmed hard. I had nobody to really test against and I hadn't bothered reading any instructions. So I decided to try something different since I didn't know any better. I cranked the mainsheet block to block. This still bent the boom and reshaped the sail, but it didn't bend the the mast as much. I liked the shape a bit better.
Along comes Rob Seidelman for the local Keuka regatta in 2010. In race 1 it blew. Rob vang/sheeted and I worked the traveller, vang off, mainsheet over trimmed. Speeds were comparable. Rob and I extended on the fleet that race. I loved it. In fact it has the added benefit of letting the boom rise during the tack so my fat butt can get under it.
Because my habits are E-Scow based, I continued to over trim the main and run the traveller whenever I get over powered. Over the past two years I have had good success with this technique. In fact I am convinced it is faster, if not much faster than vang sheeting. I even believe I can out point anyone vang/sheeting.
Q: So how does this work?
Mast Bend
Vanging hard bends the boom, tensions the leech and bends the tip of the mast aft and a bit to leeward. It flattens the sail. The vang also pushes the boom hard into the mast thrusting the lower section forward and increasing the depth of the curve of the mast taking draft out of the sail.
Over trimming the main accomplishes much the same except less vang removes that boom thrust into the mast and produces a straighter mast which increases the draft of the sail while maintaining the leech tension and mast tip bend. The smoother mast bend reduces the "speed wrinkles" as laser sailors refer to them.
So just from a speed setup I think hard vang is slower than less vang, to the point where I often use no vang at all in a blow. In a steady blow where speed setup is primary, I go block to block on the main, traveller off (it stays up from the end of the track by itself by a couple inches), vang off, outhaul to the black, and just snug the downhaul.
What about the in-between point, the transition from full power to depowered?
Vang/sheeting starts with the vang. From full power, the first adjustment to depower is to vang on (speed adjustments, not saving your butt from capsizing). As vang is applied the sail shape flattens and the leech tension increases. When vang is on, then you shift to the mainsheet and start easing. It has to be in this order because if you spill the mainsheet before vang is on the top twists off and you have put on the brakes.
Using the traveller mainsheet technique I use traveller first before over trimming. Just BEFORE a puff hits I will drop the track. The boat flattens a bit and the puff hits. The sail is still fully powered but eased. The capsizing pressures are lessened and the boat stays flatter. The acceleration is instant when the puff hits. This is the point where this technique really shines. If you vang before a puff, the sail is not fully powered, and the main being trimmed means it contains just as much capsizing pressure as with no vang.
In both techniques, there is a middle ground. You don't over vang completely before easing the sheet. You also don't completely drop the traveller before cranking on the main. The feel of when to transition from the two methods is something that you acquire with practice.
Handling
Q: In a blow nothing is stable. How does this work when it is in constant motion?
When vanged hard, easing the mainsheet in a blow allows the main to ease without spilling the tip of the sail. Leech pressure is maintained. Using traveller the same thing happens. The difference is in the speed of movement using a 2:1 traveller to ease versus a 4:1 mainsheet. If you have the arm strength, the traveller can provide you very rapid reaction times. The faster you ease, the less you heal up, and the faster you will utilize the puff and accelerate.
When the end of the traveller is reached, or with vang sheeting as the boom nears the water, and you are still out of control there is a final spill that happens. With vang sheeting, it requires that you cleat the main (or let it drag in the water) and reach for the vang to release it and spill the tip of the sail, then return to get the mainsheet. You have either flogged the main if you released it, or if you cleated it you are now fully powered up and have to depower again.
With the traveller technique the final spill requires that you let go of the uncleated traveller, grab and uncleat the mainsheet and ease to spill off the tip of the sail. You maintain control of the mainsheet while twisting off the tip of the sail. Which of these maneuvers is faster, safer, or easier? For me it is a no brainer. How many times have people capsized with the main cleated while reaching for the vang? Think about it.
Finally there is an iceboat effect here too. Iceboats accelerate out of a puff by flexing the mast laterally quite radically and redirecting that force back into the boat rather than into a capsizing moment. In punching puffs like Fenton last weekend, I saw the lower section of my mast flexing like a DN mast. I do not believe this happens as much when the boom is driving the mast forward hard. It's probably subtle but the effect is there.
Pointing
Q: Don't you lose pointing ability when you drop the traveller?
In light air, yes, you would have to bear off when you drop the traveller. But in a puff you do not change course. In fact I am convinced I can outpoint anyone using vang sheeting above 15.
Think of it this way. Imagine the air is perfect blowing 12. You sail along hard on the wind and turn 15 degrees upwind. You will develop a luff in the sail and slow. Now rather than turn upwind, ease your sail 15 degrees. The luff will not develop as much, and even if it does, the sail is out a bit creating a drag vector not as much in line with your course. The more your sail is out when luffing the less it slows you down. A sail 90 degrees sideways and flopping like a flag produces forward motion in a sailboat. Pointing head to win and flapping like a flag produces backward motion. That small luff in the sail during the puff is bleeding off energy without bleeding off speed. Taking the next step and over trimming puts the energy back into the boat. It's probably a bad explanation but it works. Really.
Also this technique addresses your foils in the water, an often underestimated priority. Done right, this method keeps your boat more upright, and does not require dramatic steering. The board foil provides better lift and the rudder turned less doesn't act as much of a brake. Keeping these foils working for you rather than against you is very important.
In reality what I see is that as I drop my traveller, I either point the same or better than boats above and below me. I out accelerate them in puffs, and recover faster after the puff. And most importantly I don't have to work as hard. Remember I'm lazy.
Video
Onboard video last weekend really drove this analysis home. Track down off the bottom mark I repeatedly out pointed and passed boats ahead of me on the same tack. A person on the RC boat was adamant that I was significantly outpointing every other boat on the lake.
Here are two cases where I came off the bottom mark at least 4 boat lengths behind in a blow and closed the distance or passed simply on point and speed. I believe it is the technique difference that closed that gap, not different air. You be the judge. In the first case I was working the track, in the second I was already full track down and spilling.
Try It!
Obviously the sail you use and the comfort level you have with different techniques will have some influence on what you do here. I use a Z-Max. This seems to work well with it. Others with Shure or Moorehouse sails have said it doesn't do as well. I think it has to do with the foot shape more than anything else. The Z-Max shelf may make the difference.
I can describe this all day, but until you go out and sail this way, you won't really get it. Try it. You may like it. And just ignore the fact it contradicts the Melges/North tuning guide. That's the fun part. Feel free to comment here or send me questions. Have fun and sail fast!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Fenton Follies
Two regattas within driving distance this weekend made it a tough decision on what to do. Early this week I looked at the weather forecasts, my wallet, and my to-do list and decided it didn't make sense to go to any regatta this weekend. That lasted about 4 hours. Choosing to do chores versus sail was just plain silly. So I went to get the boat one weeknight and then off to Lake Fenton, Michigan, just south of Flint. I was making good on a promise I made to Chris Craig 2 years ago that I would come.
I drove 7+ hours through driving wind and rain. The furious forecast for the weekend was for LOTS of wind and not much sun or heat. Most forecasts had the wind over 15 and into the 20's at times during the weekend. I packed heavy. I took everything I owned except shorts.
Friday night I arrived about 10:15. I was met by Chris Craig and Richard Blake who immediately put a drink in my hand and kept me up late. The wind howled all night.
Saturday we awoke to 10-18 West. Five skippers didn't show. Let's just say Cam McNeil and Ted Keller tied for 18th place. Boats were rigged and nerves were checked. The skippers meeting was dominated with a giant chalk board showing the Fenton "figure eight" race course. After a few explanations I think I understood it. Yes it is a total of three windward legs and two reaches. I raised my hand and asked how to reach. Welcome to Fenton. Chris offered to lead the way if I liked.
So let me describe this lake. It is short course racing on a lake that has some sticky outy bits that get in the way of the race course. So there may be a leg where there is land between the mark you are going from and the mark you are going to. And there is no downwind. Local knowledge pays big.
I premedicated knowing pain killers were going to be the old man "vitamin" for the weekend. We launched boats and set off to the first race, my first race with any wind this year.
Race 1 - course 14521 (Ovid, NY zip code)
The RC measured a puff of 25 before the start. But it settled down and we sailed. The line was a bit pin favored but the lake was mostly right side favored. With 20 seconds to go I still hadn't decided where to start. The pin was blocked. I screamed across on port below people, found a hole, tacked with like 5 seconds to go and started about 5 boats up from the pin, second row but with clear air. Company around me included the people I wanted to keep an eye on. I dropped the traveller and settled in for a heavy air race. That lasted a minute or so, which I later found was one of the longer puffs.
People started tacking off the the right. I had no clear lane that way so I stayed left. Lucky me got a great left shift and led at the top mark by 30 seconds or so. Where do I go now? How do I reach? I know the basics but how much vang, where should the boards be, boat balance, rudder handling, and pretty much every setting on the boat was all a learning experience.
I wasted most of the lead on leg 2 trying to figure out how to sail. Leg 2 included my first eye opening blasting reach planed off pretty good for 10 seconds or so. Sail number 2524 started passing people and gaining on me. Leg 3 upwind put us up along and under an island and the windward shore. Puffs appear 10 seconds before they hit you. I had no idea what I was doing still, so I followed from in front and somehow held on. Then at mark #5 I had to again figure out how to sail. The leg starts with a deep dive low in a puff, out away from the high trees, then up high through the tree lull, down low again, then hot sailing across the face of the clubhouse point, then down low again to the mark that you can't see until you pass the club. Mysterious 2524 dude had cleared the fleet and was gaining again. He sails like Ted Keller.
At the last mark I rounded and pulled the windward board to see the outer cover of the board release line had broken. It was now only hanging on the inner core, and only part of that. I picked enough shifts right on the last leg to hold on for a win. Really? First? Nowhere to go but down from there. Stuart Strother finished third and Madman Mike Keenan fourth.
I was not the fastest boat. 2524 was (Who IS that man?).
Race 2 - Ovid course again but twice around
I nailed a pin start, caught some good shifts and led at mark 1. I carried that for 3 legs and let Clark slip inside me at the bottom mark at the end of leg 4. Upwind I had to clear my wind left and took it too far. I lost Chris and Pete on that leg to round fourth. Then I lost another on leg 6. I rounded the island mark with Clark and Richard.
I messed with Clark and Richard that leg eventually getting by Clark. I closed some of the distance to Richard just to see him sail this mysterious secret local knowledge path past some tree at the club and scoot below and through me. I was 4 lengths behind him at the last mark. Upwind I split with him and stayed split. At our first cross I ducked, then crossing 2 he ducked, then I ducked. Very close sailing. Then I got out to the right of him and a nice right shift came from nowhere. I ended up fifth. Pete Comfort on 2524 won the race followed closely by Chris Craig, Clark Wade, and Stuart Strother.
The wind had started building again. At lunch I met Pete Comfort (2524), we laughed at Chris with his head bump and watched some real big puffs roll through. After the RC started to leave the dock and had second thoughts we were under postponement. Then a nice rain cell formed north of the lake. I along with others pulled our boats out of the lake just to protect them. I was 10 minutes from sailing if need be. At this point I turned on the weather radio to hear the forecast of 20-30 with gusts to 40.
After the rain cell passed the wind settled down. We scrutinized weather forecasts and models and hatched various plans. One quickly dismissed called for 5:00 dinner with a 7:00 start that night. We came to our senses and the decision was made about 3:00 to cancel for the day. The next start was 9:00 Sunday.
So at the end of day 1, Pete Comfort led with 3 points, I was second with 6, and Chris Craig and Stuart Strother tied with 7.
That afternoon we measured lulls in the 17-18 range with consistent 22-23 wind. During a great steak dinner put on by the Fenton folks, a particularly impressive line of wind came through. It blew over a boat on a lift. It blew over my 1/2 full rum and coke. The RC measured 35 on the upper deck of the clubhouse protected by trees. It was windy.
Day 2
The early night led to an early morning. I showed up at the club just after 7 to find Chris Craig and Richard Blake already ready to launch. Motivations were high. I didn't have any line to repair my board release. So I prayed and sailed with it.
The wind blew all night. We woke up to 15-17 still from the West. The forecasts were for another building wind day.
Race 3 - Ovid course again, once around
Most of us put on good sails. Right on time we started race 3. The pin end was wide open so I took it. Unfortunately the left did not pay. I was fifth at the top mark. I started my recovery at that point. With just a one-lap race it had to be quick. I was thinking if I could just pick up one or two boats I'm still in this regatta. I was fourth at the next two marks.
I rounded the last mark third but in touch with Pete and Chris. I nailed two tacks and got to the right of the leaders. I picked up a right shift and held it all the way up the lake slipping into the lead. Chris Craig ducked below me and went farther right. It was a very close top three but split with Pete following me on my hip out to the left of the line and Chris to the right. It came down to the last puff and its direction to determine if it was going to be me or Chris winning the race. I got my header and tacked to the line. Chris looked like he had me. Then he lost his mainsheet. I won. Chris crossed just behind me on Starboard to pick off Pete for second. And Pete dropped into third. Richard Blake made it back to fourth after a bad start, and Stuart Strother was fifth.
So now I'm one behind Pete overall, and two ahead of Chris. With two races to go it is anyone's game. The board release is holding, mostly because I'm releasing the board from below deck whenever I can.
Race 4 - Same course
In the prestart I kept tight tabs on Pete and Chris. I ended up lee bowing Chris at the start mid line. He local knowledged it and immediately tacked to go way right. I couldn't follow due to traffic. When I could, it took me awhile to get right. Chris was well ahead of me. I stayed right of the lead pack and slowly picked up distance. At the mark I had to short tack it but ended up still able to just round in the lead. I extended a bit on the next leg as the guys behind jostled a bit.
Then came the island leg. I swore nobody was going to get to my left. And they didn't. Four boats passed me on the right. I dropped one more to sit in sixth for a crossing or two. I picked up two before the mark and ended up rounding with Richard battling for fourth. He won that battle and sailed away taking Clark Wade with him. now I'm in fifth. It takes me most of the leg but I catch Clark. After that there was no getting around Richard. He sat on me until the finish.
Stuart wins the race, Pete second, Richard Blake third, then me, then Clark Wade.
Now with one race to go Pete has a 3 point lead. I also have a 2 point buffer on Stuart who is suddenly a threat, and Chris actually dropped to fourth behind Stuart.
Race 5 - TWICE around Ovid course.
At the start I plow down the starting pin. Richard Blake is also over and follows me around the pin - last place or close to it. We duck 8-10 boats with him still on my tail. I find a tiny gap and shoot through the middle of the line crossing a handful of boats. Richard doesn't make it and has to tack in traffic. I'm all a mess from the fire drill. By the time I'm cleaned up I'm on the right shore. I tack, get lifted, and lay the mark. I round first just ahead of Chris Craig, who tells me he also had to restart! We have a good laugh and we drag race leg 2. I hold him off to round first. On leg 3 I dust off Chris but Clark catches up to me. We round together. I catch a shot that somehow misses him and off I go. I put quite some distance on the pack right behind me. I hold them off for what seems like forever. On leg 8 of 9, I cramp up - no arms left. Constant sheeting has taken its toll. I have 30 seconds or so over Pete in second place. That goes away pretty fast after the last mark as I struggle to trim in the freshening 15-20. I manage to hold him off and win by a very small margin.
I won 3 of 5 races, but lost on points. Pete sailed consistently. Chris dropped to fourth letting Stuart in for third overall.
As we are packing up, the wind pipes up even more. Timing was great.
Fenton sailing in a West wind is a mess. There is no rest, no way to catch a breather, no way to take off a sweat shirt. My neck is sore from constantly looking at the sail, the wind, the other boats, back to the wind, the sail, etc. Constant trimming and easing ate up my biceps. For a bunch of old men it was a tough 5 races.
I can check off another place I have seen. The club is great, the people wonderful, and the event should improve with time. I'll be back.
I drove 7+ hours through driving wind and rain. The furious forecast for the weekend was for LOTS of wind and not much sun or heat. Most forecasts had the wind over 15 and into the 20's at times during the weekend. I packed heavy. I took everything I owned except shorts.
Friday night I arrived about 10:15. I was met by Chris Craig and Richard Blake who immediately put a drink in my hand and kept me up late. The wind howled all night.
Saturday we awoke to 10-18 West. Five skippers didn't show. Let's just say Cam McNeil and Ted Keller tied for 18th place. Boats were rigged and nerves were checked. The skippers meeting was dominated with a giant chalk board showing the Fenton "figure eight" race course. After a few explanations I think I understood it. Yes it is a total of three windward legs and two reaches. I raised my hand and asked how to reach. Welcome to Fenton. Chris offered to lead the way if I liked.
So let me describe this lake. It is short course racing on a lake that has some sticky outy bits that get in the way of the race course. So there may be a leg where there is land between the mark you are going from and the mark you are going to. And there is no downwind. Local knowledge pays big.
I premedicated knowing pain killers were going to be the old man "vitamin" for the weekend. We launched boats and set off to the first race, my first race with any wind this year.
Race 1 - course 14521 (Ovid, NY zip code)
The RC measured a puff of 25 before the start. But it settled down and we sailed. The line was a bit pin favored but the lake was mostly right side favored. With 20 seconds to go I still hadn't decided where to start. The pin was blocked. I screamed across on port below people, found a hole, tacked with like 5 seconds to go and started about 5 boats up from the pin, second row but with clear air. Company around me included the people I wanted to keep an eye on. I dropped the traveller and settled in for a heavy air race. That lasted a minute or so, which I later found was one of the longer puffs.
People started tacking off the the right. I had no clear lane that way so I stayed left. Lucky me got a great left shift and led at the top mark by 30 seconds or so. Where do I go now? How do I reach? I know the basics but how much vang, where should the boards be, boat balance, rudder handling, and pretty much every setting on the boat was all a learning experience.
I wasted most of the lead on leg 2 trying to figure out how to sail. Leg 2 included my first eye opening blasting reach planed off pretty good for 10 seconds or so. Sail number 2524 started passing people and gaining on me. Leg 3 upwind put us up along and under an island and the windward shore. Puffs appear 10 seconds before they hit you. I had no idea what I was doing still, so I followed from in front and somehow held on. Then at mark #5 I had to again figure out how to sail. The leg starts with a deep dive low in a puff, out away from the high trees, then up high through the tree lull, down low again, then hot sailing across the face of the clubhouse point, then down low again to the mark that you can't see until you pass the club. Mysterious 2524 dude had cleared the fleet and was gaining again. He sails like Ted Keller.
At the last mark I rounded and pulled the windward board to see the outer cover of the board release line had broken. It was now only hanging on the inner core, and only part of that. I picked enough shifts right on the last leg to hold on for a win. Really? First? Nowhere to go but down from there. Stuart Strother finished third and Madman Mike Keenan fourth.
I was not the fastest boat. 2524 was (Who IS that man?).
Race 2 - Ovid course again but twice around
I nailed a pin start, caught some good shifts and led at mark 1. I carried that for 3 legs and let Clark slip inside me at the bottom mark at the end of leg 4. Upwind I had to clear my wind left and took it too far. I lost Chris and Pete on that leg to round fourth. Then I lost another on leg 6. I rounded the island mark with Clark and Richard.
I messed with Clark and Richard that leg eventually getting by Clark. I closed some of the distance to Richard just to see him sail this mysterious secret local knowledge path past some tree at the club and scoot below and through me. I was 4 lengths behind him at the last mark. Upwind I split with him and stayed split. At our first cross I ducked, then crossing 2 he ducked, then I ducked. Very close sailing. Then I got out to the right of him and a nice right shift came from nowhere. I ended up fifth. Pete Comfort on 2524 won the race followed closely by Chris Craig, Clark Wade, and Stuart Strother.
The wind had started building again. At lunch I met Pete Comfort (2524), we laughed at Chris with his head bump and watched some real big puffs roll through. After the RC started to leave the dock and had second thoughts we were under postponement. Then a nice rain cell formed north of the lake. I along with others pulled our boats out of the lake just to protect them. I was 10 minutes from sailing if need be. At this point I turned on the weather radio to hear the forecast of 20-30 with gusts to 40.
After the rain cell passed the wind settled down. We scrutinized weather forecasts and models and hatched various plans. One quickly dismissed called for 5:00 dinner with a 7:00 start that night. We came to our senses and the decision was made about 3:00 to cancel for the day. The next start was 9:00 Sunday.
So at the end of day 1, Pete Comfort led with 3 points, I was second with 6, and Chris Craig and Stuart Strother tied with 7.
That afternoon we measured lulls in the 17-18 range with consistent 22-23 wind. During a great steak dinner put on by the Fenton folks, a particularly impressive line of wind came through. It blew over a boat on a lift. It blew over my 1/2 full rum and coke. The RC measured 35 on the upper deck of the clubhouse protected by trees. It was windy.
Day 2
The early night led to an early morning. I showed up at the club just after 7 to find Chris Craig and Richard Blake already ready to launch. Motivations were high. I didn't have any line to repair my board release. So I prayed and sailed with it.
The wind blew all night. We woke up to 15-17 still from the West. The forecasts were for another building wind day.
Race 3 - Ovid course again, once around
Most of us put on good sails. Right on time we started race 3. The pin end was wide open so I took it. Unfortunately the left did not pay. I was fifth at the top mark. I started my recovery at that point. With just a one-lap race it had to be quick. I was thinking if I could just pick up one or two boats I'm still in this regatta. I was fourth at the next two marks.
I rounded the last mark third but in touch with Pete and Chris. I nailed two tacks and got to the right of the leaders. I picked up a right shift and held it all the way up the lake slipping into the lead. Chris Craig ducked below me and went farther right. It was a very close top three but split with Pete following me on my hip out to the left of the line and Chris to the right. It came down to the last puff and its direction to determine if it was going to be me or Chris winning the race. I got my header and tacked to the line. Chris looked like he had me. Then he lost his mainsheet. I won. Chris crossed just behind me on Starboard to pick off Pete for second. And Pete dropped into third. Richard Blake made it back to fourth after a bad start, and Stuart Strother was fifth.
So now I'm one behind Pete overall, and two ahead of Chris. With two races to go it is anyone's game. The board release is holding, mostly because I'm releasing the board from below deck whenever I can.
Race 4 - Same course
In the prestart I kept tight tabs on Pete and Chris. I ended up lee bowing Chris at the start mid line. He local knowledged it and immediately tacked to go way right. I couldn't follow due to traffic. When I could, it took me awhile to get right. Chris was well ahead of me. I stayed right of the lead pack and slowly picked up distance. At the mark I had to short tack it but ended up still able to just round in the lead. I extended a bit on the next leg as the guys behind jostled a bit.
Then came the island leg. I swore nobody was going to get to my left. And they didn't. Four boats passed me on the right. I dropped one more to sit in sixth for a crossing or two. I picked up two before the mark and ended up rounding with Richard battling for fourth. He won that battle and sailed away taking Clark Wade with him. now I'm in fifth. It takes me most of the leg but I catch Clark. After that there was no getting around Richard. He sat on me until the finish.
Stuart wins the race, Pete second, Richard Blake third, then me, then Clark Wade.
Now with one race to go Pete has a 3 point lead. I also have a 2 point buffer on Stuart who is suddenly a threat, and Chris actually dropped to fourth behind Stuart.
Race 5 - TWICE around Ovid course.
At the start I plow down the starting pin. Richard Blake is also over and follows me around the pin - last place or close to it. We duck 8-10 boats with him still on my tail. I find a tiny gap and shoot through the middle of the line crossing a handful of boats. Richard doesn't make it and has to tack in traffic. I'm all a mess from the fire drill. By the time I'm cleaned up I'm on the right shore. I tack, get lifted, and lay the mark. I round first just ahead of Chris Craig, who tells me he also had to restart! We have a good laugh and we drag race leg 2. I hold him off to round first. On leg 3 I dust off Chris but Clark catches up to me. We round together. I catch a shot that somehow misses him and off I go. I put quite some distance on the pack right behind me. I hold them off for what seems like forever. On leg 8 of 9, I cramp up - no arms left. Constant sheeting has taken its toll. I have 30 seconds or so over Pete in second place. That goes away pretty fast after the last mark as I struggle to trim in the freshening 15-20. I manage to hold him off and win by a very small margin.
I won 3 of 5 races, but lost on points. Pete sailed consistently. Chris dropped to fourth letting Stuart in for third overall.
1st Pete Comfort 2 1 3 2 2 10.0
2nd Chris Hawk 1 5 1 4 1 12.0
3rd Stuart Strother 3 4 5 1 4 17.0
4th Chris Craig 5 2 2 6 6 21.0
5th Clark Wade 6 3 6 5 3 23.0
6th Richard Blake 7 6 4 3 5 25.0
7th Mike Keenan 4 8 8 7 7 34.0
8th James Bingham 8 7 7 13 9 44.0
9th Urs Geiger 11 9 9 8 8 45.0
10th Rick Cyrul 10 11 11 9 11 52.0
11th Doug Wyrwicki 9 13 10 10 12 56.0
12th Mike Casler 13 12 12 11 10 58.0
13th Jack Coleman 15 14 14 10 13 66.0
14th Mike Farney 14 15 13 14dns 74.0
15th Julie Craig 12 10dnsdnsdns 76.0
16th Bill McInnes D nsDNS 15 15DNF84.0
17th Gerry Fischer DNSDNS 16 16DNS 86.0
As we are packing up, the wind pipes up even more. Timing was great.
Fenton sailing in a West wind is a mess. There is no rest, no way to catch a breather, no way to take off a sweat shirt. My neck is sore from constantly looking at the sail, the wind, the other boats, back to the wind, the sail, etc. Constant trimming and easing ate up my biceps. For a bunch of old men it was a tough 5 races.
I can check off another place I have seen. The club is great, the people wonderful, and the event should improve with time. I'll be back.
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