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I guess I am the only one racing this season?

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shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 09/04/2013 : 04:10:09

Jack, sometimes you have to just do it though. Racing is the quickest way to better your sailing skills. Every good sail club will allow ANYONE to join with the hopes you'll continue to race, improve their numbers on the start line, and also you'll work your way up the standings as you learn to get better. They only don't like you once you start placing on the podium ;)

Edited by - on

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2013 : 17:50:01

Well, we had race 7 today... I was impressed at how well this boat performed. 3 boats crossed the finish line ahead of us.. a J/24, and 2 S2 7.9s. This was an all out drag race (nearly 1 tack down, and 1 back, they threw in a middle mark, so some people had a couple more tacks as making the middle mark was tough depending on the shifty gusts right by it)... winds were 12-18 gusts to 25. Stupid crazy gusts.. averaging +7 and oscillating while they rolled in.

We spent MOST of the race above 6 knots... surfing above 7 on a regular basis, and we never had the proper angle of wind to throw the spinnaker (not sure I would have in the wild winds and direction changes).

I have NO idea how we did, but in Portsmouth the J/24 and S2s owe us time (we won't get results until a day or so). The heavier boats handled it better than us. (It was only 3 of us today onboard, I could have used 2 more to hold the boat down). We saw some pretty impressive wipe outs and round ups today (not us mind you, other people). Most people were severely overcanvased (as were we). We ran a full main and our 155. We used every trick in the book to depower in the gusts to keep it flat, and opened up the throttle in between oscillations. I had 2 uncontrollable round ups today, water just came over the rail (not into the cockpit, so it wasn't bad)... These were in puffs that surprised us when we were close to shore and didn't have enough time to react. My hands are sore from playing the traveler and mainsheet. Vang was on going close reach to close haul, and off a bit reach to broad reach. This seemed logical so that I could dump the mainsheet without allowing the boom to rise.

My crew threw down some awesome tacks for me, and worked hard to play the genoa to keep it powering us up... I spent a lot of time adding and removing the main's influence to the rig to keep us going fastest forward. I finally practiced what I preach, and slid our genoa cars back a notch, to twist off the genoa, that seemed to make a huge difference.

Flat out, jib and main, the S2 and the j/24 are just faster than us, it's hard to admit that (as we've used tactics to get out in front of them many times before, but when it's just down to trim, and drag race, they walk away from us, with little for us to do but watch). We can match speed if we adjust faster to pulsating puffs, but if they do it as fast as we do.... they'll beat us every time, boat on boat. On top of that the S2 will do it while drier, and generally more upright.... the J/24, not so much... they'll just more quickly surf!

Those are just some observations I have, after enough boat for boat races to know what I can and cannot accomplish...

I'll post back once I get results.
Wish I took video today... the rolling surf off the stern of the boat was probably the most impressive I've seen on that lake.

Edited by - shnool on 09/08/2013 18:38:53

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 09/09/2013 : 08:53:44

Results were good! We corrected to 1st! This puts us (right now) in 2nd place overall for the season's series. We are 3/4 of a point behind the leader in the series (and 5 points ahead of the next in the series)..

I have to say I've had a blast racing this year, and I doubt we'd have done this well if it weren't for the various sailors that have crewed with me all season...

For those who might enjoy some playful banter... The sail club assigned me the number 57 for my boat (last year when it was blue and white hull)... I painted the boat red over the winter... an realized (when I went to purchase replacement numbers for my hull) that I have a big red boat with a 57 on it... can you say Heinz ketchup 57?

After one of our first races, a fellow club member racing on a J boat, said "what's the matter can't you Ketch UP?"
We've since capitalized on it with these shirts:

The front?

Huge thanks to my daughter who took these pictures.

Edited by - shnool on 09/09/2013 09:12:20

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 09/12/2013 : 03:56:51

I just got pictures from our race committee from Race 7. I love these RC guys, taking pictures too, is above and beyond the call of duty... but I love that some of them have time to do it!

Also one of the whole fleet just as we rounded the island (far mark). We're physically in 3rd physical place for this... again a rare moment when we weren't heeling to 25+. Yes we corrected over the two here in front.

Edited by - shnool on 09/12/2013 03:58:33

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2013 : 03:43:45

At the RISK of having my posts ignored summarily because of the mud-slinging going on over about the Nationals... I'll post my rather insignificant experience in our last race today.

Today's last race (number 8), they predicted winds of 16mph... from the NW which turns our lake into a REACH fest. Others have termed our races "drag races," when they are like this.

Well, as some of you might know, I don't have a suitable number 2 sail. So I have a great number 1 (155)... and a great mainsail (both loadpath). So when we got out there winds were about 10-12mph. I felt confident that full up sail was going to be fine (even though it was really just me and another for crew, and then my 10yo daughter taking pictures). Well winds piped up from there... we saw gusts to 24, and we were overpowered, but off the wind, and in the lulls (mostly), the 155 was just what we needed.

We hit 7 knots frequently... and 8 occasionally... At one point we saw with only 10 degrees of heel, a wind shift to broad reach, and a wild +10mph gust, a fleeting 10knot reading on the knotmeter (5 seconds or so). This is with just main and 155. With 2 people as witnesses for the above event, I can honestly say I really needed more crew though.

EVEN with all of that, we physically finished 5th, but I expect to correct over the 3nd, and 4th... However we were 5 minutes behind the boat in second, and he's the one we need to beat in this race to MATCH him for the series.

Best I can tell though a person that came in 6th (7 minutes behind us), likely will correct over all above, and make all this even MORE interesting.

I was happy with how we sailed... This is the most fun I've had sailing yet. My one crewmember has been with me in crappy no wind, and honking winds to 35mph... I've had days with 5 crew, and days with just us 2... but I've always had SOME crew. We've won a few, and we've placed in the top 3 a few times as well. We've also wound up as far down as 6th. All in all a great year, and I'm happy to see my upgrades have worked well.

In 4 weeks we have our awards banquet. I have to admit I'll miss most of these folks, but look forward to 2014. The coolest part of all of this, I have NO IDEA how we finished out the year! That's pretty interesting because I can usually guess.

Edited by - shnool on 09/23/2013 03:45:48

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2013 : 05:37:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by shnool
 At the RISK of having my posts ignored
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

For One, I'm not a racer (might be if we were located where we could participate) but I totally enjoy your reports, pics and stories! Totally!

There again, I read the forum multiple times each day (Ok, more often than that!) Always on the lookout for good articles which are of so much value on this site. And for Spammers (they happen) and to get an early heads up for any site issues.

We (Peggy & I) have been following your reports since you started refinishing the hull (great pics and hosted here earn lots of browny points), so to see all of that work producing results.. Awesome!

So keep them coming!

Paul

Edited by - on

cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2013 : 06:19:18

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by shnool
 
In 4 weeks we have our awards banquet. I have to admit I'll miss most of these folks, but look forward to 2014. The coolest part of all of this, I have NO IDEA how we finished out the year! That's pretty interesting because I can usually guess.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Love the pics of your boat! The color and the loadpath sails are sharp looking!!
My primary crewmember back in California in the late 70's picked up one of the first Capri25's. The only thing inside her was a compression post under the mast, so we built an interior in her while she was sitting on her trailer in my driveway. It was a FUN boat to sail, as I am sure yours is too!!!

Gotta also love annual results! In the early 80's in Houston, TX, we sailed with the Galveston Bay Cruising Association (GBCA) which, had NOTHING to do with cruising, but back then had a couple of hundred members rabid about racing, and about 25-30 of them were in our class and most all were on the starting line every race (with well over a hundred boats in the overall fleet for the major Spring, Summer and Fall regattas!) We won the PHRF Spinnaker Class C Season Championship 5 times in a row, with the last one requiring all the tie-breakers except the final one (a flip of the coin) to decide the winner. The next to the last tie-breaker was for the races we both entered: what was the sum total of our corrected times for the entire year? and then, who had the smallest sum.....? We won by 30 SECONDS after a YEAR of hard racing!!! The club had a fun time with the presentation since the Commodore and Racing Fleet Captain strung it out to get the best effect!! It was fun times!!

Congrats and hope you do well in the standings for the season!!

Chuck

Edited by - on

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2013 : 09:14:40

So we got 3rd for this past race... 1st in this last race was the gentleman that won last season's overall series... 2nd was my direct competition so far this year.

So that keeps the standings for 1st and 2nd static for the year... That means that an S2 7.9 won for the year (a consistent winner), myself as 2nd overall for the year a Capri 25... and the rankings switch up a bit from there ... looks like last years winner, is this years third place overall, a Hunter 25.5.

Edited by - shnool on 09/23/2013 10:20:06

Ape-X
Admiral

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USA
662 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2013 : 09:20:21

still WELL DONE SChnool. We may not reply, but be assured we are reading and enjoying your reports.

Edited by - on

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2013 : 10:25:46

Oh I am quite pleased... as last year I was 13th overall.
This year EVERYTHING was better... perfect bottom, nicer sails, better rig tune, and HONESTLY, I finally had crew! I single handed all last season, having crew allowed me to think outside the boat more, that was HUGE!

Edited by - on

cshaw
Captain

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USA
460 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2013 : 18:01:28

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by shnool
 That means that an S2 7.9 won for the year (a consistent winner), myself as 2nd overall for the year a Capri 25... and the rankings switch up a bit from there ...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Congrats!!! 1st full year with a crew, and right at the top is fine. Next year they will certainly be sweating bullets about you guys!!!

Chuck

Edited by - on

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2013 : 11:43:16

Thanks all, and thanks for listening to my racing drivel. By the way, the Crews/Teams/boats I am trying to beat, are some of the nicest people you'll ever have chance to meet. While I hate them with all my breath while racing, I consider them great friends and good people... I'd do anything I could for them, and I know they me.

Some of these folks have been racing their boats for 20+ years. They have the "home court" advantage in boat and water... as I've only been sailing this water for 3 years, and racing on it 2.

I've also taken on "newbies" for crew, and have had great fun learning with them... We've made a LOT of mistakes. If we ever get to minimizing those mistakes we might JUST be unstoppable.

I won't change my mind on taking on new sailors for crew though. A fresh perspective is helpful, and it's also helpful for ME, to relearn the basics, on top of that they'll come back and sail against me in the coming years! Nothing wrong with that!

Edited by - on

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2013 : 12:51:26

Last year (2012):
http://www.shnool.com/PSC2012Race8Overall.htm
http://www.shnool.com/PSC2012Race8FleetsOverall.htm
This year (2013):
http://www.shnool.com/PSC2013Race8Overall.htm
http://www.shnool.com/PSC2013Race8FleetsOverall.htm

Edited by - on

Ape-X
Admiral

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USA
662 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2013 : 13:30:38

#clapping well done John!

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shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2013 : 20:15:10

hehe read that as golf clap... or 1 hand clapping. but it was good fun!

Edited by - on

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