Sailboat racing is tons of fun... unless you don't have any wind. It's incredible how the anticipation of sailing, competition and comradery changes when everything shows up but the wind... The America's Cup has suffered from this problem and some have found creative ways to deal with the lack of wind and hence no racing...
We didn't have this problem Thursday night. However, we didn't quite have enough wind... especially for Ol' No. 3. It just doesn't get the boat up to hull speed in light air. So that puts us at a disadvantage which can be good. It gives us the opportunity to mix it up more with the fleet. We have to be more precise and mistake free in our maneuvers. We also need to make smarter decisions tactically because it's possible that other boats (with better speed) will also execute their jibes, mark roundings, etc. cleanly.
Two mistakes cost us... probably a couple positions in this race. With a single triangle course, we approached the jibe mark in a virtual tie for second. We had to give the other boat room as they had an overlap with two boats of the mark. Our trimmer thought (rightly) that this was the jibe mark... However, we had already jibed because several boats when high on the previous leg. With his focus up in the air on trimming the kite, he lost track of things and prepared to jibe. That cost us a little advantage on the other boat. They took the low road to separate from all the boats running high. They came into the jibe mark on starboard and we gave them room. They had to execute a pretty sharp jibe (button hook) around the mark. We should have been able to extend on them.
Similarly, at the leeward mark... same boat again... They were short handed and doused the shoot early. We had the opportunity and speed to go above them or below them. Knowing they would be more maneuverable, we chose the latter. However, this meant we couldn't pass them before rounding the mark. We tacked underneath them and gained separation but ending up tacking more on the final leg and crossed the line after them. In hindsight, our skipper thought the better move would have been to go above them. He thought even if the luff up, we'd have more speed and would be able to pass them coming into the final mark.
We never break out the new hardware (aka sails) for Thursday nights. In fact, we don't always "upgrade" for every regatta. But typically, we're sailing older stuff than most. Here's our humble number 3 genny. There is a number 4... but we won't go there.
This one has more sail repair tape than it should (weight aloft you know...). It's also quite a limp rag which is nice in light air (or is it "airs"?) as it just molds into shape. But this year, it's grown some additional character. When we came across the line winning the first race of the season, someone on race committee said, "Wow, how old is *that* sail?"
Okay, so Gordon might have put Ol' No. 3 away a little wet last year. All I can say is mold is fast...
Well okay, no one has ever claimed that mold is fast but this moldy oldie is 2-0 in the Spring series. Tonights course was a triangle (once around) with a tower finish (i.e. in front of the yacht club). With the wind out of the north, the final leg is pretty much a drag race on a reach. However, the wind can shift and die as you get closer to the shore and the finish line.
In fact, the entire race was pretty much a drag race. We did pretty well with the start and rounded the windward mark first followed by Loose Nuts and Q... That was the order for every mark after that through the finish. For us it was just a clean race with a loose cover on the boats behind us on the long upwind (fourth) leg. Some went west looking for an advantage that never materialized... I'm not sure why people chose a certain course hoping for something when it pays off once in a blue moon...
Anyway, the lake came up another 6 inches or so. We need more rain!
Well, not exactly 15 mph... The fairly steady 10mph wind during the day dropped to around 5mph for the race... Bummer... we like big air. Still racing is better than not racing. The RC chose a short 7b course (triangle, once around). We had a decent start (top three) but not lights out in a small fleet of six. The first leg was a little fluky. The advantage we achieved off the line vanished an we saw ourselves rounding the first mark in third. However, with a late wind shift it became apparent the two boats in front of us could not fetch the mark on starboard. The first boat to the mark attempted to shoot it... and ultimately the shift cost both boats a couple extra tacks within two boat lengths of the mark... Hmm, things are looking up.
The second boat to the mark made it around. As we approached, the first boat was parked and forced to give us room. After a little contact, we rounded the windward mark and hoisted to get out of Dodge. The contact was inconsequential but they spun and make a nice comeback. We concentrated on the one boat in front of us. Coming from behind and playing a shift, we were able to slide over the top and reach the jibe mark in first.
The next leg was like match racing... just the two of us. They went high early and managed to pass us but not pull away. They jibed to starboard and we followed, gained some separation and the advantage. They tried to jibe back as we neared the leeward mark but realized they were toast as we remained on starboard. We carried this advantage all the way to the mark, dropped the pole as we jibed and flew the kite (sans pole) to the mark as we prepared for the douse.
After we rounded the mark and cleaned up, we had a three boat advantage and simply needed to cover for the last leg. Realizing they couldn't just follow us, they tacked away from the better course to separate. Somewhat reluctantly... we followed. It wasn't long before they started looking at the third place boat and realized they had to protect second place. Back on the better tack, we finished first with a sizable advantage.
These two natural "elements" come together on the bike as well as the boat. This time of year it's difficult to avoid either one in Oregon. As I've started bike commuting again, it occurred to me (...again) that wind is a problem for most sporting activities (as I rode into the wind). Not so with sailing! In fact, no wind is a big problem. As I pedaled into that head wind I thought this would be great... if I was sailing.
When it comes to rain..., well I can usually do without the rain on bike and boat. The current situation, however, is a bit different. We sail on a flood control reservoir which is currently a bit low (compared to the ideal water control curve). I'm thankful to have to lake at all as it received a major repair over the summer of 2005. At the same time, I'm hoping for a wet spring even if it means riding (and sailing) in the rain.
So, even though Brandon doesn't like the wind... I say let it blow... We're looking at about 15 mph out of the SW for tonight's first race of the season... SW wind brings rain!
The season for sailing and bicycling has returned. And that got me thinking in addition to getting ready. It occurred to me that one of the commonalities between sailing and bicycling that appeals to me is their mechanical nature. There are very little (if any) electronics involved. There are (generally) no motors involved. Virtually everything is mechanical. You have mechanical advantages all over the place: gears, levers, blocks (pulleys), etc. You have the use of friction in winches and brakes. You have to pick the ideal sail shape or gear to go where you want. And the other thing about all this is that you can see all of it.
