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race around the Coronados

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/19/2009 : 17:02:16

Yesterday, Indiscipline raced 30.5 miles offshore around the Coronado Islands with 33 other boats. Winds were light at the start and just aft the beam. Winds were very strong at the rounding and we were hard on the wind coming back. We placed 10th out of 13 in the Catalina fleet. Most importantly, we lost line honors to my close friend in his S2 8.5, but his rating is 186 and mine 222 so we corrected over him by over 3 minutes. (in this fleet I am penalized 6 seconds per mile for my mylar headsails). We were in the middle of the combined fleet Silver Gate Yacht Club Family Fleet / San Diego All Catalina Association.

Story

My crew for the day was Craig from Phoenix, it was his first time on the boat and first time sailing in 20 years. He has a Catalina 25 ready to go, known on this forum as scumbucket. His son in law Ed joined us, a strong young man, it was his first time on a boat.

We were exploring the winds beyound Point Loma when I heard the first warning. We had to come hard on the wind and race back just to get over the line for the start. It was a downwind start on a stron ebb (about 1 knot). The RC was 2 and 1/2 minutes late firing the starting gun and dropping the class flags. I was behind the line waiting for the official start but most the fleet was 1/2 way to the Coronados when the race actually started. Over early was supossed to be a 30 minute penalty but it was not enforced. I know in my heart all the boats ahead of us owed us 30 minutes but it doesn't matter because this race was for fun and a tune up for the Border Run coming next week.

We waited about 10 minutes until we were clear of Pt. Loma and most traffic to go up spinnaker. It was a very good hoist for a first time crew. Craig kept heading up but soon got the hang of it. We were the first boat to go up. We were way back with some boats 1/2 mile ahead due to the start and traffic and light fluky air. Soon we were falling well below course as the wind went forward of the beam. But our speed came up, and up. Within 30 minutes we were pulling towards the front and soon everyone that had one was up spinnaker. Our strategy was to stay up high and thus be able to fall off in expected strong winds around the islands and go wide around them.

Many boats went up spin then headed really deep, hoping to come up for the islands later. This strategy really worked and the boats around our handicap that did that beat us to the rounding 14 miles out. We had speeds in the low to mid 7s most of the last few miles. We had a good mile lead on my friend in his S2.

On the backside it was really windy and windy even in close. I decided not to gybe with my novice crew, head DDW, get the spin down early, and be prepared. Many boats ahead were having serious problems with their douse so we dropped right into the salon, worked really nice. We went up jib, gybed, and as I was getting everything tight we we rounded the island and were strongly rounded. up. My crew quickly learned what it means when I yell "Dump the main, dump the #@!^& main!". The S2, with their asym and experienced crew, caught up pretty close in this area.

I outhauled, tightened backstay, travelled down, put the cunningham on hard, sheeted in, then took the helm. We got Ed up on the highside hiking, craig with one hand on the mainsheet, and started ducking spray. Soon we were out of the "blast zone" as it was called at the party, and I could ease things somewhat for speed. Everyone had a turn at the helm and we were seeing speeds around 5 +- 0.5 knots (as we are sailing up current on this leg).

Most boats were ahead but we remained in contact with the fleet and gained the mile back on the S2. It began to look like we would not be able to lay the bay. I took a tack in strong air right off Point Loma, there was real fluky, strong, weak, air mixed coming from every direction. I was within 0.5 miles of the finish and just could not get there. The S2 got an amazing lift and zoomed by, beating us by about 10 minutes. We were trading tacks with a racing MOR 44 and finally beat them to the line by 3 seconds.

Great day, nothing broke, we completed the 30.5 miles in 5.5 hours. Slvergate Yacht club gave us free guest slips Friday and Saturday, and I motored back to Mission Bay at 7:30 AM Sunday.

Indiscipline 1978 FK SR #398

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2009 : 19:26:41

Great story! Thanks! Where do you think you'd have finished without that half-hour? I gather the S2 started legally with you?

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 04/19/2009 19:27:43

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2009 : 19:56:58

Yes, the S2 started legally. I was 43 minutes off the lead (corrected time) and I would have moved up about 5 places. This is a race where we have lots of fun, win the downwind leg, and try to hang on against Cat 34s, Cat 36s and larger on the way back.

The S2 is a 28 footer made by Tiara and its a really nice boat with teak floor, etc. But its base PHRF is 174. Compared to a Cat 30 at 198 with a much higher mast, the S2 8.5 will never sail to its rating. This boat is cruise equipped with brand new sails, but not race equipped. There is a totally ineffective traveller, basically no outhaul, no cunningham, no reefing lines. In almost all situations I can beat them scratch. He also only races once or twice per year so spinnaker work is a little shoddy (unless I'm on the bow). For example he hoisted with a juge twist because he doesn't know how to run the tapes and pre-feed before hoisting.

The yacht club gives him a + 6 adjustment for non-folding prop, +6 roller furling so he was rated 186. I was rated 222 (-6 for my new mylar jibs off a Merit 25 even though they are mostly blown out and only are actually a 145% and a 125% and are not deck sweepers). I don't know if I'd be faster with my good quality dacron 155 and the 6 seconds. My rating goes to 247 without spinnaker.

Fun day, good crew. Photos will be up when scumbucket gets them to me.

Leaving Thursday for Border Run wish us well.

PS. my new 8mm VPC spin sheets from West Marine at $0.80/foot worked great! My twingers worked and the lines had no stretch and much cheaper than spectra lines at 4x the cost.

Edited by - on

Scumbucket
1st Mate

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USA
53 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2009 : 21:03:28

I would like to say I had a great time on the water and Jim is a excellent ambassador to the sport of sailing!

He took the time to cover all the safety features onboard and what to do should there be a need, then off we went into the San Diego Bay.

He then explained the correct starting procedure and to wait for the flag to drop as the true sign of a start.

We had a great sail toward the Islands as he explained "how stuff worked" as Ed and I each took turns trimming and being the helmsman. Jim taught us how to feel the pressure and when Indiscpline is in the groove. Though we would head up a time or two he would point it out to us. He also took the helm and showed ushow to use the puffs to gain some ground to windward.

Jim reminded us to take care of all your business before we round the inland and head back, wow was he sure right and we very quickly learned how important it was to dump the main when needed. He had his hands full instructing us and dosing the Spin. Later Ed and I talked that we felt bad not being to do more

The rest of the sail back into the bay was a great opportunity to talk and to learn more from Jim.

We had a great time and I look forward to crewing for Jim in the Border Run in just a few days!

I am posting two pictures of Jim!

Edited by - Scumbucket on 04/19/2009 21:09:33

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2009 : 07:40:35

Craig, I would have been much more of a teacher/coach if we were day sailing and practicing. It was a race, and I wanted to win. So we pushed pretty hard.

It was fun and you were both good companions.

By the way, the first photo is on the backside of the island heading DDW and looking pretty relaxed. The second photo almost back to SD when I am tacking in order to finish and my friend on the S2 is getting his lift.

We averaged 4.7 knots for the day, not too bad.

Edited by - on

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