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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Indiscipline - 3rd place finish!

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/18/2008 : 12:24:52

I placed 3rd in the San Diego All Catalina Association race yesterday, placing over several Catalina 30, 34 and 36s.

Click here for more photos:

http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/galleonrace.html

Here is my story:

Friday night I left Mission Bay about 6 PM and sailed the whole way down to San Deigo. I had to motor once in the bay and was anchored and set in La Playa cove by 9:30 PM.

Saturday I woke up at 06:30 and made coffee and ate breakfast while watching some intense fog come into the bay (see photos). For a while I was afraid there would be no race! But by about 10:30 it was pretty much gone.

I was sailing back and forth in very light wind by 11 watching the boats arrive. I had been expecting a light turnout, but there were about 15 boats in two fleets: the combined Silver Gate Yacht Club Family Fleet + Catalina Association and the PHRF Fleet. There were 2 starts and I was in the first start. The port tack was favored but I was coming into the start line on starboard, the only boat to do so. They all had to duck me and then I went to port. The Committee had a problem and sounded the starting gun a minute late, this caused pandemonium, plus the fact that the wind died right at the start.

My usual crew dropped out so I was single handing this race.

I went back to starboard on a shift while the most boats stayed port and ran in to the beach. At the first mark I ended up on port and had to yield to a bunch of starboard boats but I got around the first two marks in the top 4 or 5.

Then began a long downwind run through the Bay of about 4 miles. I considered going up spin even single handed, but instead gybed down the bay eventually running wing and wing when most of the boats ahead of me did so. The Catalina 34s and 36s here were about 1/4 mile ahead.

We had to make a sharp right turn and run another mile down the bay towards the bridge. At the final downwind mark I rounded just behind a Cape Dory 26 T that rates almost the same as me.

The long beat back saw moments of wind and big holes, lots of drifting and at times heeled over and throwing spray. I got real frustrated as the big group of boats I was with really pulled away as I sat in a big hole. I avoided boat traffic and rounded the marks in the east bay and then almost in desperation I took a huge port tack right into America's Cup harbor. This gave me a real good line on the finish.

While that Cape Dory was tacking and pinching, I was optimized for light air up wind - everything eased, on a reach, mainsail twisted off, jib cars forward, backstay loose.

An aircraft carrier also came through and we had to stay far away, since I reached right into the harbor I was well clear of the warship.

I ended up really closing on the Cape Dory and finishing just a few seconds behind. I was far behind the fastest boats (the 2nd to last boat to finish on elapsed time - I beat a C30 scratch). But I corrected over allmost everyone for a nice 3rd place (out of 6 Catalinas).

My first ever sailing prize was a bottle of spiced rum.

Indiscipline 1978 FK SR #398

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2008 : 13:42:06

Nice work, Jim! I like how you set yourself up for a long reach in that light air... and that carrier probably made a lot of people go places they didn't want to go--you're not allowed to be within what--500 yards?

EDIT: It's 100 yards for you--500 for me if I'm above no-wake speed.

BTW, what's a Cape Dory 26T? I know the CD-26 well--a slightly stretched 25D to make room for an outboard in the lazarette--I almost bought one. When I moved to Mystic, I wished I had. Nice little ocean cruiser with standing headroom and the classic Carl Alberg lines.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 05/18/2008 14:23:56

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2008 : 14:22:58

jim, it would be very cool if you could give us a gps map with your course and wind info. (I'm a visual type)

Sounds like you had a great day on the water.

Paul

Edited by - on

PZell
Admiral

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USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 05/18/2008 : 15:44:10

Was in SD for a few days last week for a wedding and some tourist stuff. Got a view of the bay from the bridge over to Coronado, so kinda can picture your course. If you work it right our little boats can rate out over the big boys sometimes. Good work.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2008 : 00:32:59

By the way I never used the autopilot. I steered, trimmed, called tactics, and navigated a Bay I really don't know all that well (had to look on the chart to find all the marks). It was quite a handfull. After rounding the downwind mark I wanted to tension the mainsail halyard. I did so while stretched out all the way across the cockpit to my cabintop winch while keeping my right foot on the tiller.

I really like my new friends at the All Catalina club and Silver Gate Yacht club. They make me feel really welcome and the club facilities are great. Free food and draft beer for $2 after the race is a welcome treat. Plus, although I am not a member, Silver Gate club has offered me (and other Fleet 7 C25s if I could ever get them to show up) the use of their guest dock.

Here is a little San Diego Bay map

The race started and ended at the south west end of Shelter Island, started upwind towards Point Loma, ran downwind to Coronado, then returned. Around Harbor Island is where I was becalmed and America's cup Harbor is that cove at the north east end of Shelter Island.

Coming up next month is the San Diego to Mission Bay race, an overnight anchorage and beach party, then race back the next day. No one knows the sea between Mission Bay and San Diego better than me and I'll be practicing for a month for this one. There is going to be actual trophies for the Catalina's this time. Plus it should be a fun party.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2008 : 08:32:18

Great job Jim! You've gotta love it when the little guy beats the big guys. Now that they know you're a contender, they'll watch for you on the race course and start trying to get in your way and slow you down. Keep them at a distance - preferably behind!

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 05/19/2008 : 09:02:12

Goodonya Jim...

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Happy D
Admiral

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921 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2008 : 12:17:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">While that Cape Dory was tacking and pinching, I was optimized for light air up wind - everything eased, on a reach, mainsail twisted off, jib cars forward, backstay loose.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Jim, I don't understand. Why did you have the mainsail twisted off? With the jib cars forward, the jib was not twisted off but you had the main twisted off. I didn't think one would want to twist off the sails in light air, but I don't know. I have no doubt it was the right thing to do, I just don't understand it all yet.
I don't have any real sailing experience as yet, only learning for you guys.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2008 : 13:03:32

Being on a beam reach compared to the other boat that was pinching for the finish was an advantage for me in light air < 5 knots.

Having the main halyard eased, medium draft in the main, and the top twisted off is the best close reaching formula in light air. Remember this is a reach not close hauled. The twist allows the sail to act like the top of the main is let out a little more while the foot is pulled in a little more.

This gets the telltails flying better along the entire leech of the main and generates more power as no part of the sail is stalling the airflow.

Another thing I could have done was take up on the topping lift slightly, although that is better for wind aft the beam. That makes even more twist.

These things are subtle and hard to see. I've just observed that the boat sails better in light air with draft in the main, moderate mainsail twist, genoa halyard eased, jib cars forward, and jib let out a little more than normal. Let the mid and upper jib telltails fly and don't worry so much about the lower. Avoid pointing and avoid pinching at all costs.

Flatten the main and eliminate twist when the wind pipes up. When it is really up, mainsail twist can depower the main - although I prefer a flat sail and a reef.

When there are waves and the boat is slamming to a halt every few seconds is another reason to go to these high-draft and high-twist settings.

Edited by - on

Happy D
Admiral

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921 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2008 : 16:25:39

Makes perfectly good sense. Thanks Jim.
A few years ago I spent 4 weeks in San Diego with nothing to do on weekends. I have since learned I missed a golden opportunity to learn from the Master.
I'm possibly changing jobs once again and will probably have more time travelling to San DIego and will definetly look you up.
Thanks Again Jim,
Dan

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 05/22/2008 : 17:09:22

Any member who comes to San Diego on business or pleasure is free to contact me and go sailing! I go almost every weekday around 5 PM plus usually on Sundays (although I can switch to Saturday to meet your schedule).

4 years ago I was a novice asking how to flake a mainsail.

Since then I've sailed about 6000 miles and done lots of races.

Edited by - on

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