2012 Keuka MC Nor'Easterns

For the twelfth year running Keuka Yacht Club in the beautiful Finger Lakes of New York host the Nor’Easterns MC Regatta. 20 Boats competed in moderate, no strike that, let’s call it “interesting” winds.

Friday night rains prevented much of anything other than drinking and playing cards and such. Everyone found their hosts and was tucked into bed pretty early. Saturday morning sailors arrived at the club to see SSW winds at a nice 8-10. Race 1 was scheduled for 10:15. It didn’t quite make that time.

Race 1 – After a delay while the RC chased the clocking breeze to the west, The race got off with Scott Norris and Chris Hawk quickly jumping out to a good lead. The 5-12 mph winds were shifty with 30 degree shifts. It didn’t much matter what kind of boat you sailed as long as you picked the right shifts and sailed toward the next puff. Doing so would make you more gains than subtle boat speed differences. At mark 1, Norris and Hawk had a 15 length lead on the pack chasing them down. Both extended on the leeward making it a 2-boat race. On the windward leg large holes appeared and shift got even wilder. Norris broke cover on Hawk to go another 100 feet or so before tacking which let him extend dramatically and left Hawk in a hole. Stuart Strother  hit the right corner and closed the distance on Hawk eventually narrowly missing third lace at the finish. Norris however had checked out and won by a couple hundred yards. Will Hendershot from Montreal and Matt Newman from Hoovers rounded out the top 5.

Race 2 – The wind continued its clocking to the NW and North but picked up to a good moderate breeze. Race 2 started out eerily similar to race one with Norris and Hawk rounding the top mark in 1, 2. But the fleet was right their heels. On the second windward the wind did a Crazy Ivan splitting the fleet a bit. Norris and Hawk split with Norris right. The right came in and Norris, led the parade of Sean Treacy, Stuart Strother, Chris Craig, Devon Howe and other past all those on the left. Hawk rounded 14th. Norris went on to win again followed by Treacy, Strother, Andre Marcotte, and Hendershot.

But the real story of race 2 was the seamanship of Chris Craig, DNF for the race. We experimented a bit with the course this weekend doing a 2 lap center line course with the line set close to the leeward mark. This limited the need to move the RC boat and pull the 250 feet of anchor line. But this also allowed for almost two full windward legs and a windward finish. It worked out okay. Chris rounded the bottom mark in fifth place with a very very short windward leg to the finish. He had struggled with his borrowed boat getting it tuned right with the bent mast (not possible) and a 5th place would be very good. He trimmed in around the mark, heard a bang, and the boom hit the deck. The forestay shackle broke. But the mast was still standing! The heavily trimmed main forced the boom onto the deck holding up the mast! He was sailing still…sort of. He may still pull out a good finish. But he was below the layline. He lay in the bottom of the boat as much as he could and tried to tack. But the handling was so poor he couldn’t quite pull it. So with the mainsheet cleated he tried to find a replacement shackle and reattach the forestay while “sailing.” The effort was valiant but too late. While holding up the mast with one hand he lowered the sail, repaired the forestay, raised the sail and sailed in for lunch.

At lunch everyone had the same question. Who the heck in Scott “Chuck” Norris?

Race 3 – During the day the wind clocked 180 degrees to the right, then back 60 degrees, all the while oscillating 30 degrees left and right as it clocked. The poor RC continued to struggle. At the start pin end boats could lay the mark on port while boat end boats were 20 degrees lower than that. Norris, Wynkoop, and Bob Cole started at the pin end with Craig and Hawk at the unfavored boat end. Craig banged the right corner, Hawk played the middle and the pin boats layed the mark. Strother and Craig followed. At the top mark Norris rounded first followed by the gang of Hawk, Strother, Craig, Newman, in some unremembered order. These boats battled the whole race with Norris extending a bit, Hawk and Strother picking up on the long windward, and eventually catching Norris. Matt Newman also made large gains. Going into the last mark rounding Norris, Hawk, and Strother were nose to tail. Strother made a great move toward a skewed line to almost win the race but didn’t quite catch Norris. Hawk dropped to 3rd followed by Chris Craig and Matt Newman.

Race 4 – By 4:15 the RC had set and moved more marks than practically the whole season. The course had to yet again be completely moved. The race had a familiar feel. At the top mark Norris rounded first with Wynkoop, Cole and Hawk overlapped behind him.  Treacy, and Craig were close behind. Cole quickly jumped up to second and started chasing Norris. Two legs later he was able to roll over Norris and held on for the win closely followed by Hawk. Bob Wynkoop held off Sean Treacy to round out the top 5.

At the end of day 1 Norris had a seemingly insurmountable lead. The battle was for second with Strother 16 points, Hawk 17, and Treacy 20. Cole was 5th with 31.

Saturday night’s turkey dinner with all the trimmings was spectacular. Sunday with only 2 scheduled races the start was set at 10:00.

Race 5 - At 9:00 there was a beautiful 10-12 South wind. At 10:00 after one recall the entire course had to be moved yet again as the wind shifted. Race 5 was started after the RC decided close enough was fine. The pin end was favored to where boats could lay the mark on port. At the boat you had different wind headed perfectly down the course. The fleet and anyone with any sense started at the pin. Locals Cole, Penwarden, Hawk, and Jenkins among others started at the boat. Hawk took the most extreme angle nearly reaching away from the line of boats streaming off the pin. Local knowledge paid off a bit. The wind did another Crazy Ivan dying out and shifting way right. Cole led at the mark with Hawk, Penwarden, and Strother close behind.  The wind dropped to almost nothing and got weird, or technically weirder. Cole rode a puff and checked out. The fleet scattered all over the lake looking for zephyrs. Chris Craig went and got a miracle puff to pass a dozen or so boats, almost catch Cole and roll into second. Hawk, who rounded mark 1 in 2nd, rounded mark 2 in 16th. Leg 3 had the fleet reaching in East wind. Cole held off Craig to round mark 3 first followed by Strother, and I’m not sure who else because I (Hawk) was now 19th and quite a ways away. A following puff closed up a lot of the fleet into a giant jumble at mark. With 15 boats 4 and 5 wide beating to the short offset many rules were bent and words were had, all in slow motion.

Leg 4 had Cole and Craig battling for the lead. The tight reach had other boats strung out all looking for that puff or clean air. The advantage went to the boats in back who climbed high off the mark, found a building breeze and rolled over those below. The biggest recipient was a trio of Penwarden, Jenkins, and Hawk who went from 16, 17, and 19th place at mark 3 to 3rd, 4th, and 5th at mark 4. On the tiny final leg, Cole parked up at the line, and Craig creeped closer. The miracle trio closed the gap quickly with Hawk catching Jenkins and Penwarden just as Cole found a puff to win with Craig second.

Hawk went from 2nd, to 19th to 3rd to ensure a win over Cole. But the overall places were still up for grabs. Norris and Treacy were deep, drifting along in the pack. But Norris was able to pull out an 11th place to clinch the regatta with Hawk second, 4 points back. Treacy’s 13th put Cole in 4th place overall.

At the awards ceremony I asked for a show of hands. Who was in 5th place or better at some point in race 5? 15 hands went up. Who was in the last 5 places at some point? 12 hands. Who was in BOTH top five and bottom five during the race? 8 Hands went up. As crazy as that is, it was exciting!

So who is Scott Norris? I asked him on the way in from the last race. He was in the area for personal reasons and thought it was time to try an MC-Scow. He borrowed boat 1856, had 4 hours sailing Friday and some phone advice as his preparations. He led every mark for 3 ¾ races and dominated the regatta. He said he has done some Melges 32 sailing, Melges 24, has a J24 and a Laser.

Well I googled Scott. “Some” Melges 32 sailing includes crewing with Harry to take the 2010 Worlds, and crewing for Jason Carroll in his 2012 Nationals win. He got 2nd in the 2008 Melges 24 regatta in Newport, and sailed the worlds in 2008 as crew. In the J24, he crewed to a worlds win in 2005 and is active today. There’s probably a whole lot more out there. These were just the first few hits on Google.  We had fun sailing against him and certainly hope to see him back here again.

July 4, 2012

Winds SW 5-10. Forecast 10-20 SW. GoPro camera onboard for E-Scows.


George started mid line aiming to go left. Bob Cole started toward the boat. William Hudson toward the pin. Others sailed but were not a factor in either race. Bob out to the right got a little better wind. On the first cross he was ahead. On the second cross we picked him up. Coming back to the layline bob tacked short of us and accelerated better to lead at the top mark followed by us then William.


Our set was less than stellar. We lost distance on Bob. On the rest of the leg we struggled for speed while Bob sailed lower and faster. The rest of the race stayed like that with us making some gains then losing more. In the end we lost by about 30 seconds.


Race 2 was more of the same. But this time we led at the top mark and extended. At the bottom mark the wind went crazy Ivan. We escaped with only a small lead. Half way upwind Crazy Ivan reappeared and Bob  scooted through and below us. But the silliness continued. We were 8-10 boat lengths to the West and behind. And just like that we got a shot, rode over the top of Bob and the race was over. The wind clocked right for awhile. We led the next two marks and held on through the some more crazy stuff to win.


After just 2 days of sailing Steve Brown is showing real promise. We are talking details with him rather than big things. The boat is moving well enough for the old boat that it is.


MC-Scow sailing was more of the same but a little more West. 11 boats including John Anderson's first time out.


Start 1 was a quick 1-lap short course. I wanted mid line on starboard, which I timed well, I think. I suspect I was over the line and the RC was very lenient. But my number was never called and I was scored a finish. I rounded the top mark just a length or two in front of William Hudson. He proceeded to spank my butt all the way down to the leeward mark. Lucky for me he missed the board drop, rounded wide and slow and I was actually able to pass outside and go on to win.


Race 2 (2 laps) I was more conservative but still on the line. I was sort of holding the fleet on starboard. I was somehow just able to flop to port first and scoot ahead of the fleet and round in the lead. Brent rounded just behind me, I think. Tough to remember. I held the lead to the bottom mark. On the windward leg I was the first to tack on the header splitting a bit. From there I stayed exactly in phase on every tack and watched the fleet tack on lifts and drive wrong ways all the way up. I rounded minutes ahead of second. From there I coasted to a long lead win.


Race 3 was another 2 lap. The line was port favored. So I started on Starboard mid line. I was bow out and going well but held out left much farther than I wanted to go. Brent went way right and led at the top mark with me second. He held that to the bottom mark. On the long windward I worked out to the right of him crossing ahead with only 1/4 of the leg remaining. I rounded 3-4 lengths in front of him. I promptly lost that distance on the run and we rounded close at the bottom. I was ahead and on top of him when I got a nice big header. I was expecting it and tacked for the finish line. Brent did not. I quickly got headed. We split to opposite sides. I expected my SW shift and Brent expected his NW. He got his wish and reached into the finish 5 lengths clear ahead of me.


So on the day it was 2, 1, 1, 1, 2 for finishes. Very nice. Very tiring. Time for a double rum and some fireworks.

Keuka in July

Sunday's racing had a few pretty good rides, including one afternoon downwind blast in the MC-Scow that rivaled any speed the E-Scow attained that morning.


We had to wait for the South morning thermal to get replaced by the West prevailing wind. So the E-Scow racing started closer to 11 than 10. Steve Brown joined the boat as the new jib man.


At the start the last remaining South was battling the building NW wind right at the starting line. Mid line had no wind, boat end had NW at 5, and pin end had SW at 5-8. So everyone won the start regardless of their position.


But even the blind birds could see the wind on each side of the course. The skill was deciding which side to go for. George opted left. After a dozen tacks and twice as many wind puffs and shifts, we rounded second sandwiched between Bob Cole and Brent Penwarden. We quickly gybed and cleared our air and got a puff the others didn't to extend to a 10 length lead.


We gybed back to consolidate just to find we took ourselves out of the streak. Coming back on port we threaded the itsy bitsy teeny tiny space between the two other boats on starboard. It was just enough clearance to let us get to the left and inside Bob. At the mark we had a good lead which we promptly disposed of by dumping the sea anchor overboard. It took all Steve had to get the spinnaker up out of the lake. We dropped to third.


George did a nice job that leg in a building breeze to pass Brent and close back up the distance with Bob. We rounded close enough to mess with Bob's wind. A few lead changes later Bob made what we thought was an unforced error gybing for the mark too soon. We got inside him, successfully doused the sea anchor without getting it wet, and sailed the last leg a couple lengths in front of Bob to take the win.


The West wind had piped up to about 12-18 with real gut punching shots. Noon had arrived so E-Scow sailing was officially over. (Coincidentally the bar opens at Noon.)


The afternoon was set aside for the first annual Solstice Regatta, originally conceived by Brent Gillette who passed away before seeing it happen. We cancelled MC-Scow sailing in lieu of a single lap of the triangular course set up for this Portsmouth Handicap race. The course was about 6 or 7 miles long.


We launched boats and had the start right off the club main dock, tucked up nicely in the lee of the West hills in the West wind. Needless to say it was a little hairy. I had a great start alone about 2/3 the way out in the lake along the line. I promptly capsized.


Upside down is slow. On your side is a little faster but still not competetive. So I quickly rectified the situation, gathered up my floating debris field, drained my boots, and set off again.


Leg 1 was 1.5 miles from the club to a mark along the bluff about 1/4 mile up the West branch. It was anywhere from a broad reach to a tight beat depending on the shot you were in. I had a fleet of lead-bottom boats ahead of me to plow through. I decided on the next shot I'd simply run deep and go way low of the fleet. What a shot it was. I ended up the third MC, fourth boat at the first mark.


At the mark the wind lulled to 12-15 just in time to let me gybe without having to "chicken gybe." After the rounding I climbed up on Steve bender just ahead of me. When the next shot came I dove low and flew over top of him.


Now "flew" is the right term. This shot was all of 22 mph, probably 25. I was sitting as far back as I could right next to the tiller with only one foot under the strap because the other could not reach. The main was way out sideways. The vang was on about half what I normally would. The bow wave spray was as far back as the middle of the board. I was going way faster than the MC is designed for. But I was gaining like mad on Brent to.


At this point I hear a noise that isn't right. I was probably dropping off a wave. But I look at the rig. The boom is driving the mast sideways something fierce. The mast side bend is unnatural. The tip of the mast is bent so far forward I have mainsail wrinkles going up and away from the spreader. The bend in the tiller from the helm was about 1/2 an inch. The tiller extension (which I should have replaced or repaired weeks ago) is 1/4 from the tiller and coming off. The forces on the side stays were intense.


As we round the end of the bluff and head East to mark 2, the waves and wind build. The tops of the white caps were blowing off. All I needed to do was stuff the bow into a wave and I would be swimming...again. And the forces if that happened could be more than the mast or rig could handle. I don't have insurance nor the funds to deal with any replacements. At this point I was in pure survival mode protecting the boat. I decide the race isn't worth it. If I bail out now I can still make it upwind to the club without tacking.


So I quit.


Now getting from a blasting dead downwind plane to upwind was the next challenge. First I worked my way forward to reach the vang and popped that off. Then I went really deep down wind and kicked the board release. The board worked its way down about 3/4 of the way while I struggled keep upright. I started my slow turn upwind and the boom hit the water. I immediately aborted, tried again at a full hike and was able to round up enough to start trimming in.


The ride back to the club was intense. Of the 23 boats that started, 15 finished including 5 of the 10 MC-Scows. the wind never did really calm down for another 2 hours. According to the nearest WUNDERGROUND.COM weather station, the average gust speed between 2 and 3 PM was 26. That means gusts over and under that. Hmmm.


I don't need to do that again.


I have to keep perspective. The Volvo Open 70's racing through the North Atlantic spent 2 days never going slower than 20 knots. I never was going faster than 15 knotts or so. Those guys have balls.

Really Big Wow

Yesterday was a perfect wind blowing stink from the South. The graph here shows the story with gusts into the low 20's. Reaching hard for a speed run, the outhaul let go.

Unfortunately that is not my story, it is that of my lovely wife sailing her Sunfish. I took the day to build a 12X20 section of dock to extend our pier out into the lake. Julie thoroughly enjoyed her day lounging in the sun and yes, sailing the Sunfish. It's good, because if she went the full year without sailing it, I was going to sell it.

Today is scheduled sailing. We have light winds from the South, rain, and a scheduled family gully climb. So who knows if I will even sail.

Friday evening I went to the yacht club to attend a memorial service for Brent Penwarden II, father of one of my best friends. It was my kind of ceremony, 3 hours of drinking with a 5 minute ceremony. While I was there I checked out the season standings. Through16 races I have 18 points after three throw-out races. Second place has 42 points. There are only three weeks left in the season with a regatta in the middle.

Between pre-season's racing with about a dozen races, and the 16 I have sailed season to date, I have sailed more races this year than any year previously. Very cool.

I also got a confirmation from another person that he will be purchasing an MC Scow. A couple more and hopefully we hit the critical mass where it becomes the fleet to join. I'd love to see a dozen on the line each Sunday.

STEP 1: Admit you have a problem

I've threatened to do it for years, and now I have. I started a BLOG. Yikes.

I figured it was about time. And I just decided to get back into competitive sailing. So maybe this will be interesting for more people than my family. We'll see.

About 10 years ago I stopped skippering my own E-Scow and started crewing with others. My talent exceeded my funds making it very frustrating. I think the best I did was about 26th in Nationals, never getting invited to the year-end regatta for the hot-shots. So I joined on with others who had deeper pockets finally joining with the best sailor (after me) on Keuka to place pretty high on the national stage. But even winning the Eastern Championships still wasn't as satisfying as I hoped. I kept "retiring" and sailing much less. I still have my E-Scow but it is idle most of the time.

So I put on weight (30 pounds), lost any semblance of fitness and grew into a middle-aged blob. I have a problem.

The solution: start sailing a boat I can afford but also a boat that won't tip over every time I stand on the thing. The boat I selected is the MC-Scow.

Two days ago I agreed to purchase MC-Scow # 2470. So the first weekend in February I buy my boat in Lake Eustis, FL, and drag it home. I will post during the trip, and throughout my attempt to regain the glory of my youth.

That's the plot of this blog. The subplot is a little more fun. Both my kids are involved in the local indoor percussion ensemble. They will be competing at the world level this year. I get to live vicariously through them! Plus whatever stories crop up. I may even post some older fun stories.

The journey begins now.