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Just wanted to share... First place for fleet.

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shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/07/2013 : 16:51:32

We've consistently placed middle for our starting group racing.

Today we placed first, and clearly first by finishing first across the line, ahead of several boats (including J/24s and a J/22) that owe US time. We may correct first overall (not sure yet).

This was a flukey race though, and I think was LESS about how well we raced, than dumb luck, clear air, and not screwing up as much. But I'll take it, as we still competed with some really good sailors, and soundly finished ahead of them.

This is a very new experience for me. We were down a few real good boats for this race though, 3 out for our fleet (of 9)... but even with that we still beat back several boats that consistently sail better than us.

C&C 32 Smith Mountain Lake Virginia

Edited by - on

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2013 : 08:34:13

Just got the results, we corrected WELL ahead of the 2nd place boat, a J/22 (by more than 4 minutes). But our finish across the line was literal too despite them owing us time... so that's a good feeling as well.

I hope this isn't a fluke and we can repeat our performance.

Edited by - on

Ape-X
Admiral

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USA
662 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2013 : 09:19:39

CONGRATS!!! Always good to turn in a satisfactory result.

How long was the course? Tell us about the start, and what happened (wind shifts?) to keep you ahead of the fleet?

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2013 : 10:09:56

Well done! It's always nice to not only come in across the line first, but also stay at first after the correction.

Our skipper on the J-92 I used to race on would buy us a nice dinner after a win. It was quite the sight to see 5-7 guys walk into one of the nicest restaurants in Olympia, WA still wearing their foulies and boots and being welcomed open arms by the owner (who was good friends with our skipper).

Edited by - on

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2013 : 12:13:59

I started with this long detailed basically "log entry" that you'd be in tears to read I am sure.

Keeping it simple is likely best... We stagger start 3 fleets. Our fleet consists of (1) J/22, usually (5) S2 7.9s, (2) J/24s, my lowly Capri 25, and a friend who just got a B25. 3 of our S2 sailors were out this race (one reason why we could make it in the money I am sure), and the gentleman who sails the B25 screwed his back up JUST before our race, so he had to rest it off...

We had NO wind... not LITTLE wind to start (start line in a shadow as always). So our staggered start wound up with every boat sitting right at the start line, nobody moving or moving so slow my knot meter could not detect it.

I won't go into all the boring details, but suffice to say, a masthead kite gives LOTS of power when the winds are light. We basically got lucky with some clean air, and managed to keep us ahead long enough to deploy that kite to catch the J/22 who had already managed to run their kite in clear air and get a lot of water on everyone.

Course was set at about 1 mile down... and was supposed to be 1 lap, but they turned it into 2 when the winds went from 0 at start to 8-12 by the finish. I am hoping a friend posts pictures of us coming up on our 2nd lap towards the finish... he was snapping pictures from his cellular of us, when we had JUST rounded inside the J22. I slyly put up "number 1" when we had just barely passed the J! I just knew they'd overtake us. But we managed clearer, perhaps slightly stronger air coming up, than them JUST enough to keep 1-2 boatlengths the whole way back up to the finish with them taking the higher side toward the finish (with visually clearer air, but giving us the lower side to crack off a bit and gain speed). The finish was fun as we hit 6 knots boat speed JUST as we crossed the line, with 15-20 degrees of heel (for show) for the horn, overpowered and pretty! We sparred some more after the finish with the J/22 just for fun (as those guys are great competitors)... we even buzzed the sailing school boat (also a fellow club member teaching)... in the process.

For the record, I try to take things VERY lightly. The sailors of the J/22 were poking fun a couple weeks back, as my race number is 57, my boat is "anticipation" and I've stuck large "Heinz 57" stickers on the bow for sail club numbers - seeing as the boat is red-thinking of it as a large Heinz ketchup bottle isn't much of a stretch. They've been asking why I can't "Ketch up" to them... putting themselves into hysterics with their own pun.

AND so DRUM ROLL PLEASE... we've been asking why they didn't "ketch up." Worst pun of the year, but it still had to be said.

We know when the winds pipe up we are slow, and we're working on that (I think we are too slow to depower correctly). If the winds are up we'll struggle to keep up with the pack, but for this one race, we actually worked for it, and pushed to keep ahead of the pack.

My hats off to my only crew for this race... he's sailed with me in the 30 knots true, and he's sailed with me in the dead calm... he's been pulling foredeck for me (and I offer to swap positions each time we sail), he's done a bang up job, for launches and retrieves, and his genoa trim work is SPOT on, best part is, he's only been sailing about 3 years, but started with ASA classes right on our lake.

I think I may have another joining for crew for the rest of the season (he sailed the last race with us before this one). He's also a new sailor and has joined our club. Our local Pocono School of sailing churns out some stellar sailors, and I just know he'll be a great asset for me for the season. With 3 up, it makes it possible to do things with less chaos, and it also allows us to do things right with enough hands for safety.

As for taking the crew out for dinner... well our sail club hosts a great picnic after each race, so that's kind of out, but I'll have to see what all I can do for them for helping me this season.

Edited by - shnool on 07/08/2013 12:14:59

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3323 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2013 : 15:59:08

"We know when the winds pipe up we are slow, and we're working on that (I think we are too slow to depower correctly). If the winds are up we'll struggle to keep up with the pack, but for this one race, we actually worked for it, and pushed to keep ahead of the pack."
We had the same problem with "This Side Up" In less than 6knots we could win everything, but when the white caps appeared we had to work hard to win. We found that reefing the main and still running the 155% made us competitive even against the J22's. We never ran a shute, but with a poled out 155% downwind we were almost uncatchable.

Congratulations on your win - it's always a high!

Edited by - Derek Crawford on 07/08/2013 16:00:39

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2013 : 16:30:15

Derek I've asked a dozen or so sailors that EXACT question... because my number 2 is a 30year old 130, with a blown leech. So I want to keep my 155 all the way up in speeds as it's my only nicely cut (new) headsail, because I lose terribly otherwise. I've also noticed I can depower all the way to 18ish alone with full mainsail.. with the 155 up... sailing with the traveler all the way down (basically shutting off the main, but then it closes the slot bad)...

I run 14-18 sailing solo with the 155 up... but it gets interesting if the water turns to all whitecaps solo with that much headsail up.

Racing is weird though... generally you carry headsail until you just can't anymore, so you always have enough power between puffs, then it's a game to depower in the puffs... very odd.

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3323 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2013 : 10:25:40

"Racing is weird though"
Ain't that the truth...! But that's what makes it interesting.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5906 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2013 : 13:09:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by shnool
 As for taking the crew out for dinner... well our sail club hosts a great picnic after each race, so that's kind of out, but I'll have to see what all I can do for them for helping me this season.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Around here, skippers often give each member who crewed regularly all summer a t-shirt with the name of the boat on it. It encourages them to return next year. If they do, then they'll look like a proper racing "team." If not, they'll have a nice reminder of the fun they had. I have seen some online sources that seemed reasonable.

IMO, Schnool, if you won, it's no fluke! Winning a sailboat race is all about sailing well and avoiding errors. It takes skill to do those things.

Edited by - on

TCurran
Admiral

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USA
588 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2013 : 14:52:23

Great job! Thanks for sharing. I'm sure it wasn't a fluke and those J22 folks will have fun playing "ketch-up" the rest of the season.

You've giving me hope this weekend, maybe I can pull off a Watkins miracle

Edited by - on

TCurran
Admiral

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USA
588 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2013 : 14:55:58

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by shnool
 As for taking the crew out for dinner... well our sail club hosts a great picnic after each race, so that's kind of out, but I'll have to see what all I can do for them for helping me this season.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Around here, skippers often give each member who crewed regularly all summer a t-shirt with the name of the boat on it. It encourages them to return next year. If they do, then they'll look like a proper racing "team." If not, they'll have a nice reminder of the fun they had. I have seen some online sources that seemed reasonable.

IMO, Schnool, if you won, it's no fluke! Winning a sailboat race is all about sailing well and avoiding errors. It takes skill to do those things.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Damn...I get off easy, my crew (DaveR) brings the beer and buys the first round in the club afterwards.

Edited by - on

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2013 : 03:43:37

I have the T-shirt design all ready... getting ready to send to the printers this week. I'll post a picture when I get them in.

My 10 yo daughter has a good set of eyes for me and I assigned her "tactician's position." Another club member took offense when I introduced her (in good fun) as that, little did I know, he considered himself the tactician for their boat (ooops). This was LAST year when I was racing solo for all but 2 races.

But yeah, she's only racing with me for 2 races this year. But I've taught her to watch for puffs, and shadows, and also I have her looking for marks, and watching for spinnakers going up (to see if we missed a wind change). I am hoping to get her more involved this year as she's taking more of an interest.

Final note... I spent about 3 hours setting up my rigging following the EPsails tuning guide for my boat last week. I suspect my tune was REALLY far out before that. I've noted that my lowers still need more tightening up (the part you are supposed to do under sail)... and I'll get to them. So hopefully that helped as well.

Edited by - shnool on 07/10/2013 04:42:30

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