Had a great meeting last night with a ol' friend who gave me all the paper charts one could ask for getting around "our island"!
We race tomorrow night, take off all the bits and pieces stored away for home cruising......then off to Steveston for a quick trim....and add everyone's gear and provision the boat.
We leave for Nanaimo Friday morning, oh man it's close.
I would say 5 more sleeps but that would mean I can sleep....
Monday, May 30, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
14 more sleeps
So were are really close to this big epic event and the boat is fully pimped and ready to go. Last crew meeting to be had and one more Tuesday night race then its off to Nanaimo.
Last minute details and such like safety gear and meal prep but otherwise we are set........and the sun has finally made an appearance!
CdM
Last minute details and such like safety gear and meal prep but otherwise we are set........and the sun has finally made an appearance!
CdM
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Can everyday be a Tuesday
So Race #3 went off and it was finally warm out this year......actually that's not completely true, I think we had a few nice days in January:(
Being short handed on the night ( just 4 of us in total ) we were able to get away from the dock early and dropped #2 mark for the RC. We motored back to the start line and shut off the iron lung ASAP and drifted in the calm waters waiting for the course instructions.
As we thought, it was 1-2-A x 2, quite ambitious with the light flukey winds but none the less we were determined to have a good race and do our best anyways.
Div 2 got off first and Toucan nailed the start.......there was a good 1 knot current going directly against the fleet so being early was key. We ran the line once and thought we could just clear the line on starboard but that the pin end was definately favoured.
A minute to go and we were mid line, with Avalanche below us, the three smaller J boats behind and a non factor but Jabiru was doing a port pin end start.
Avalanche had to tack and then duck the remainder of the fleet. We pinched up but just couldn't quite make the pin and Jabiru squeezed in, advantage them.
We flopped over and quickly sailed fat and fast and got through there lee, and were out in front. About half way down the leg, the boat felt really sluggish, Jabiru was killing us to windward, Avalanche was gaining fast and D9 was just flying up behind us.....quick, what's dragging in the water??????
We went all the way into the beach till the shore said "you have to tack". We were just going to make the mark but the once we got back out into the current we started to doubt ourselves. Were we gonna make it, were we not........last minute we tried to shoot the mark but to no avail, we hit it and the boats behind us let us know they all saw us do so:( No worries, only Jabiru was ahead so we gained some speed - maybe 1.5 knots and did our turn cleanly......
Well the wind completely shut off, mostly because we were floating in the current as fast as the actual wind was blowing, which wasn't very fast let me tell you! So after a quick refreshment, we decided to try and jibe, and low and behold, we found some pressure.......off to reel in Jabiru! Well we didn't, actually they got away on us and Avalanche was charging hard........what are we doing wrong out here!
The breeze was now at a whopping 3 knots as we rounded the mark. The guys did really well in doing a windward drop and we tacked right away. Jabiru was a good minute and a half ahead of us and Avalanche right behind. We trimmed like crazy and for the one and only time in the race, felt fast....we were actually reeling Jabiru in and left Avalanche for dead.
We finished 48 seconds behind the J 35 guys and corrected out 44 seconds ahead to take another bulleet, our 3rd of the series! We turned around and were sailing back to get the mark we dropped when I noticed something strange......the prop wasn't feathered! Ah now that makes sense, that's what were dragging out there! We quickly picked up .2 of a knot:)
Oh well, great night out! Thanks Andy - Keith and Don!
Being short handed on the night ( just 4 of us in total ) we were able to get away from the dock early and dropped #2 mark for the RC. We motored back to the start line and shut off the iron lung ASAP and drifted in the calm waters waiting for the course instructions.
As we thought, it was 1-2-A x 2, quite ambitious with the light flukey winds but none the less we were determined to have a good race and do our best anyways.
Div 2 got off first and Toucan nailed the start.......there was a good 1 knot current going directly against the fleet so being early was key. We ran the line once and thought we could just clear the line on starboard but that the pin end was definately favoured.
A minute to go and we were mid line, with Avalanche below us, the three smaller J boats behind and a non factor but Jabiru was doing a port pin end start.
Avalanche had to tack and then duck the remainder of the fleet. We pinched up but just couldn't quite make the pin and Jabiru squeezed in, advantage them.
We flopped over and quickly sailed fat and fast and got through there lee, and were out in front. About half way down the leg, the boat felt really sluggish, Jabiru was killing us to windward, Avalanche was gaining fast and D9 was just flying up behind us.....quick, what's dragging in the water??????
We went all the way into the beach till the shore said "you have to tack". We were just going to make the mark but the once we got back out into the current we started to doubt ourselves. Were we gonna make it, were we not........last minute we tried to shoot the mark but to no avail, we hit it and the boats behind us let us know they all saw us do so:( No worries, only Jabiru was ahead so we gained some speed - maybe 1.5 knots and did our turn cleanly......
Well the wind completely shut off, mostly because we were floating in the current as fast as the actual wind was blowing, which wasn't very fast let me tell you! So after a quick refreshment, we decided to try and jibe, and low and behold, we found some pressure.......off to reel in Jabiru! Well we didn't, actually they got away on us and Avalanche was charging hard........what are we doing wrong out here!
The breeze was now at a whopping 3 knots as we rounded the mark. The guys did really well in doing a windward drop and we tacked right away. Jabiru was a good minute and a half ahead of us and Avalanche right behind. We trimmed like crazy and for the one and only time in the race, felt fast....we were actually reeling Jabiru in and left Avalanche for dead.
We finished 48 seconds behind the J 35 guys and corrected out 44 seconds ahead to take another bulleet, our 3rd of the series! We turned around and were sailing back to get the mark we dropped when I noticed something strange......the prop wasn't feathered! Ah now that makes sense, that's what were dragging out there! We quickly picked up .2 of a knot:)
Oh well, great night out! Thanks Andy - Keith and Don!
Monday, May 16, 2011
Here Spot...........
So some great news came in today..........with the recent success using the SPOT trackers in both Patos Island and Southern Straits Races this year, the VAN ISLE 360 will have have them on all boats participating this year. So no hiding now!!!!!
Friday, May 13, 2011
Tuesday delight!
So this past Tuesday was Race #2 of the PRYC Walter Graf Spring Series. The fleet was out early and the RC was equally up to the task of having a nice 3-1-A x 2 course all set for us to go right on time.
As per the SI's, Div 2's warning sound and subsequent starting sequence was first and we set our wathches and deliberated our best course of actions. We wanted the pin end and to continue going left to get some current relief.
The breeze was light, but fairly consistent at 4-5 knots, so this was going to be tough night for us being heaviest by far in our division of some well sailed J 29's and of course the J 35 and E 37.
So at 2 minutes prior to our start and on port still going away from the line we notice the prep flag come down. We argue on the boat how much time is left and before we know it, we are starting a minute late! The RC had messed up Div 2 start and we failed to notice. Oh well, we just have to make up the time.....lots of passing lanes out there tonight!
Being late meant we had a pretty clean lane off the start, so we got to go left as planned. We went further than any other boat, stopping only when it looked like the breeze was lightening up. When we flopped over it quickly showed gains against others......
We ground out a few more tacks, reeled in a few more boats and before we knew it, were right on Jabiru's transom heading to the first mark with Avalanche just a few hundred yards ahead, we felt very good, the boat was going very well in the light stuff tonight!
We jibed set at the mark and made short work of Jabiru who had done a bear awaway set, now just Avalanche remained ahead of us. We slowly picked away at there lead, sailing to pressure all the time. Finally, after sailing into another soft spot we decided to jibe first and it was perfect as we found a little more pressure right and made up our last bit on Kelly and Jason.........now was it enough.
We did a nice Mexican take down around #1 and had a one tack beat home. We trimmed and tweaked right to the end.
We finised second over the line but took first for the night again. That's three bullets in the last 5 races, not bad leading up to the Van Isle 360 just three short weeks away!
Thanks Don - Nick - Val - Pierre - and Andy!
CdM
As per the SI's, Div 2's warning sound and subsequent starting sequence was first and we set our wathches and deliberated our best course of actions. We wanted the pin end and to continue going left to get some current relief.
The breeze was light, but fairly consistent at 4-5 knots, so this was going to be tough night for us being heaviest by far in our division of some well sailed J 29's and of course the J 35 and E 37.
So at 2 minutes prior to our start and on port still going away from the line we notice the prep flag come down. We argue on the boat how much time is left and before we know it, we are starting a minute late! The RC had messed up Div 2 start and we failed to notice. Oh well, we just have to make up the time.....lots of passing lanes out there tonight!
Being late meant we had a pretty clean lane off the start, so we got to go left as planned. We went further than any other boat, stopping only when it looked like the breeze was lightening up. When we flopped over it quickly showed gains against others......
We ground out a few more tacks, reeled in a few more boats and before we knew it, were right on Jabiru's transom heading to the first mark with Avalanche just a few hundred yards ahead, we felt very good, the boat was going very well in the light stuff tonight!
We jibed set at the mark and made short work of Jabiru who had done a bear awaway set, now just Avalanche remained ahead of us. We slowly picked away at there lead, sailing to pressure all the time. Finally, after sailing into another soft spot we decided to jibe first and it was perfect as we found a little more pressure right and made up our last bit on Kelly and Jason.........now was it enough.
We did a nice Mexican take down around #1 and had a one tack beat home. We trimmed and tweaked right to the end.
We finised second over the line but took first for the night again. That's three bullets in the last 5 races, not bad leading up to the Van Isle 360 just three short weeks away!
Thanks Don - Nick - Val - Pierre - and Andy!
CdM
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Tuesday night race #1
We had our first Tuesday night buoy race last night. The RC did there very best being out early to set up the course and leave itself plenty of options but as with any best laid plans, you can't control mother nature!
After meeting at the boat and getting her all rigged up we headed out early to practice as this crew was completely different from last weekends team.
The breeze was great, a steady 10 knots gusting to 13......so the very end of the range for the #1.
We got the course from the RC and just as the AP flag came down the breeze clocked west, resulting in a 50 degree TWA beat to the first mark. With it being an evening race there wasn't sufficient time to reset the course, we had to live with what he had.
Div 2 left first and then we entered the starting box and we knew it was all about starting on time and with speed as this was going to be drag race, and whomever got out first was going to control things. We timed things perfectly hitting the pin end just as the horn went and fully powered up. We had the Express less than a boat length to weather of us but we were bow out, which meant we had them just where we wanted them.
We rounded first, and jibed and unfortunately it was too hot an angle to get the kite up. EX - J 29 tried but it definately was the wrong thing to do.
On the second leg there was now traffic to deal with as we were catching the boats that started earlier......We managed to get 3 of the 5 on this leg but it was close as when we rounded and headed back to #3 we were having to weave between the oncoming boats. We managed to put Avalanche a little further back and Jabiru - J 35 was also slipping back!
We picked off another boat on the 3rd leg and now just need a clean mark rounding and we should be good......then we saw the D9 boys and thought, uh oh, they are awfully close to us, they may get us on time. So we pushed and trimmed hard all the way to the finish, passing the last of Div 2. Avalanche tried one last ditch effort to catch us by getting there kite up but that just slowed them down.
We finished and got the watches out and low and behold, we got 1st by just 10 seconds of the MH J 29 District 9!
After meeting at the boat and getting her all rigged up we headed out early to practice as this crew was completely different from last weekends team.
The breeze was great, a steady 10 knots gusting to 13......so the very end of the range for the #1.
We got the course from the RC and just as the AP flag came down the breeze clocked west, resulting in a 50 degree TWA beat to the first mark. With it being an evening race there wasn't sufficient time to reset the course, we had to live with what he had.
Div 2 left first and then we entered the starting box and we knew it was all about starting on time and with speed as this was going to be drag race, and whomever got out first was going to control things. We timed things perfectly hitting the pin end just as the horn went and fully powered up. We had the Express less than a boat length to weather of us but we were bow out, which meant we had them just where we wanted them.
We rounded first, and jibed and unfortunately it was too hot an angle to get the kite up. EX - J 29 tried but it definately was the wrong thing to do.
On the second leg there was now traffic to deal with as we were catching the boats that started earlier......We managed to get 3 of the 5 on this leg but it was close as when we rounded and headed back to #3 we were having to weave between the oncoming boats. We managed to put Avalanche a little further back and Jabiru - J 35 was also slipping back!
We picked off another boat on the 3rd leg and now just need a clean mark rounding and we should be good......then we saw the D9 boys and thought, uh oh, they are awfully close to us, they may get us on time. So we pushed and trimmed hard all the way to the finish, passing the last of Div 2. Avalanche tried one last ditch effort to catch us by getting there kite up but that just slowed them down.
We finished and got the watches out and low and behold, we got 1st by just 10 seconds of the MH J 29 District 9!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Semiahmoo Part 2
So Sunday dawned and we lost 2 regular crew members for the day so we knew we needed to get away early and do a quick review before the start of two short w/l races for the day.
The RC started the races right on time and had a fairly square course set. However the breeze was coming directly from the East, and your trusted skipper new that it was going to go south at some point, but when was the question.........
We started well, mid line on time with 2 boats to leeward of us. The breeze was light though. After about 10 minutes of racing that new breeze could be seen coming in fast to the right of us.......and all those that started behind us, including the latter divisions starting got it first....axe murder job in full effect!
Needless to say the race became a fetch back and forth with no passing lanes and those that got the 1st mark first won, and we weren't won of them.......finished 6th:(
Race 2 saw the RC move the marks around we got underway in nice 6-8 knot breeze. We had a choice to make again in this race, go left or go right after the start. Well we couldn't quite get our bow out in front of the leeward J 36 so we tacked away and went right......well that turned out to be wrong as those that continued left won big time, getting to the first mark ahead of us by 1-2 minutes.
After rounding mid pack we ran our polars downwind and made up some good time on the leaders. We did an early windward takedown to be safe and tacked rigth at the mark. We left Karina and SilverWing behind and now we were hunting down Joy.
We managed to keep up with Joy upwind to the mark and then had one last chance to get them on the last downwind run. We jibeset at the mark and were linging up our angles to the finish. We were making up ground on Joy but was it going to be enough to correct out.......Well as it turns out it was and got a well earned 3rd place finish.
Because of our terrible morning race we lost out on the podium but came away happy with our boat speed for the weekend.
Thanks to Tony - Val - Nick - Andy - Dave - Darcy for a great weekend.
The RC started the races right on time and had a fairly square course set. However the breeze was coming directly from the East, and your trusted skipper new that it was going to go south at some point, but when was the question.........
We started well, mid line on time with 2 boats to leeward of us. The breeze was light though. After about 10 minutes of racing that new breeze could be seen coming in fast to the right of us.......and all those that started behind us, including the latter divisions starting got it first....axe murder job in full effect!
Needless to say the race became a fetch back and forth with no passing lanes and those that got the 1st mark first won, and we weren't won of them.......finished 6th:(
Race 2 saw the RC move the marks around we got underway in nice 6-8 knot breeze. We had a choice to make again in this race, go left or go right after the start. Well we couldn't quite get our bow out in front of the leeward J 36 so we tacked away and went right......well that turned out to be wrong as those that continued left won big time, getting to the first mark ahead of us by 1-2 minutes.
After rounding mid pack we ran our polars downwind and made up some good time on the leaders. We did an early windward takedown to be safe and tacked rigth at the mark. We left Karina and SilverWing behind and now we were hunting down Joy.
We managed to keep up with Joy upwind to the mark and then had one last chance to get them on the last downwind run. We jibeset at the mark and were linging up our angles to the finish. We were making up ground on Joy but was it going to be enough to correct out.......Well as it turns out it was and got a well earned 3rd place finish.
Because of our terrible morning race we lost out on the podium but came away happy with our boat speed for the weekend.
Thanks to Tony - Val - Nick - Andy - Dave - Darcy for a great weekend.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Semiahmoo Regatta Weekend
This past weekend we participated in the Semiahmoo Regatta, a 2 day event featuring a 20+ mile distance race and 2 short W/L races.
Day 1 was the distance race and 5 of our crew for Van Isle were out on the boat plus 2 fill ins so we were pretty pumped for a good race. The course is pre determined, it is a square so you are guaranteed a wide variety of sailing conditions.
The start line was placed and we were in the second sequence. We tried to run the line on Starboard but just couldn't so opted for a port start.....hoping no one would dip start on Starboard and ruin our plans. Well as it turns out we nailed the start and led the parade of boats to the first turning mark just off White Rock Pier......close behind us SilverWing - C&C 115, Avalanche - Express 37, Joy - J 36, and Karina - Arcona 37 and fellow competitor for the Van Isle 360 this year and others.
Once around we started the long 7 mile beat. The question was do we go into shore for tide relief and the hope for a shore "lift" or go out and search for the forcasted freshening breeze.
Well we went out and after about 10 minutes, though we had 2 others following us, thought we better compress with the others soon. So when we did we quickly found out that the beach was the place to be as both SilverWing and Avalanche were ahead of us. We were holding our own against the Joy and Karina though so we new it was tactics not boat speed that cost us.
Well after about 45 minutes and few more bad decisions, we were about 1 mile off the next turning mark.....when the bottom fell out on us. After watching boats make continuous gains going in, we decided to try it ourselves, albeit in a dying breeze. Just then those behind us were heading out.....did they know something we didnt'.....appparently yes as within 20 minutes the breeze went southerly and those on the left - further out, were able to fetch the mark in a nice 8-10 knot breeze while we struggled up wind in 4-5 knots to get into it.......net result, we rounded 8th of 9 boats:(
So with the now building breeze we hardened up for the one tack beat to the Pt Bob bell buoy and managed to pick off Whirling Dirvish - our sistership, and Joy, that pesky J36.
We turned the corner and launched the circus tent and hunted Karina down.
This 6 mile run was great practice for our new polars to sail downwind and they didn't dissapoint. We were slightly faster than Karina managing to get along side of her and at one point pass her but then the breeze oscillated to the west and she got her lead back. We did a quick jibe and held those charging from behind off and set ourselves up for good starboard tack to the mark, with those in front approaching on port.
We managed to get inside of Karina and Kaos at the mark but needed to jibe and we didn't execute as well as we wanted and both squirted by us. Now we had a 120 TWD run to the red nun and this is where we really shine. We were sailing lower but faster than our competitors just a few boat lenghts ahead and they were worried we would try to roll them to weather....as it turned out we just sailed faster and slid by to leeward and never saw them again on the 4 mile run to the finish. We now were just a few minutes behind the Express and the 115.......
We nailed our angles on the remainder of the run and made up all the distance we had given away on the beat, and finished knowing we had a 2nd at worst, not knowing where the 1d35 had finished.
Well as it turns out, we won the race by 4 minutes on corrected time over Karina.......with SilverWing getting 3rd!
Now on to Day 2........more to follow!
Day 1 was the distance race and 5 of our crew for Van Isle were out on the boat plus 2 fill ins so we were pretty pumped for a good race. The course is pre determined, it is a square so you are guaranteed a wide variety of sailing conditions.
The start line was placed and we were in the second sequence. We tried to run the line on Starboard but just couldn't so opted for a port start.....hoping no one would dip start on Starboard and ruin our plans. Well as it turns out we nailed the start and led the parade of boats to the first turning mark just off White Rock Pier......close behind us SilverWing - C&C 115, Avalanche - Express 37, Joy - J 36, and Karina - Arcona 37 and fellow competitor for the Van Isle 360 this year and others.
Once around we started the long 7 mile beat. The question was do we go into shore for tide relief and the hope for a shore "lift" or go out and search for the forcasted freshening breeze.
Well we went out and after about 10 minutes, though we had 2 others following us, thought we better compress with the others soon. So when we did we quickly found out that the beach was the place to be as both SilverWing and Avalanche were ahead of us. We were holding our own against the Joy and Karina though so we new it was tactics not boat speed that cost us.
Well after about 45 minutes and few more bad decisions, we were about 1 mile off the next turning mark.....when the bottom fell out on us. After watching boats make continuous gains going in, we decided to try it ourselves, albeit in a dying breeze. Just then those behind us were heading out.....did they know something we didnt'.....appparently yes as within 20 minutes the breeze went southerly and those on the left - further out, were able to fetch the mark in a nice 8-10 knot breeze while we struggled up wind in 4-5 knots to get into it.......net result, we rounded 8th of 9 boats:(
So with the now building breeze we hardened up for the one tack beat to the Pt Bob bell buoy and managed to pick off Whirling Dirvish - our sistership, and Joy, that pesky J36.
We turned the corner and launched the circus tent and hunted Karina down.
This 6 mile run was great practice for our new polars to sail downwind and they didn't dissapoint. We were slightly faster than Karina managing to get along side of her and at one point pass her but then the breeze oscillated to the west and she got her lead back. We did a quick jibe and held those charging from behind off and set ourselves up for good starboard tack to the mark, with those in front approaching on port.
We managed to get inside of Karina and Kaos at the mark but needed to jibe and we didn't execute as well as we wanted and both squirted by us. Now we had a 120 TWD run to the red nun and this is where we really shine. We were sailing lower but faster than our competitors just a few boat lenghts ahead and they were worried we would try to roll them to weather....as it turned out we just sailed faster and slid by to leeward and never saw them again on the 4 mile run to the finish. We now were just a few minutes behind the Express and the 115.......
We nailed our angles on the remainder of the run and made up all the distance we had given away on the beat, and finished knowing we had a 2nd at worst, not knowing where the 1d35 had finished.
Well as it turns out, we won the race by 4 minutes on corrected time over Karina.......with SilverWing getting 3rd!
Now on to Day 2........more to follow!
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