2014 Fall Series - Regatta 1 - 9/20/14

Race Summary Sep 20, 2014

Race #1    K-B-K    NE 0-3.

Just like the first race of the spring, the fall series got off to a    s….l….o….w….   start.  The forecast called for slight wind out of the south, so the course was set up to have the starting line on the north side of the lake.  When a slight breeze did appear it was from the north, so the committee boat moved to the south side of the lake and set up the line at mark K. 

Everyone stayed close to the starting line.  Due to the extremely light air Lil Girl tried her Asymmetric spinnaker as her up wind sail.  It will be interesting to see how well that works.  In the drifting start No Lizard rolled over Pipistrelle across the line and headed west… alone.  Rama got off to what looked like a slow start but then cruised past the rest of the fleet as she headed north.   After a while (long time, short distance) Communion tacked and drifted toward the slight amount of breeze that appeared to be developing on the western side of the course.  Rama grounded herself on Nash’s Island – the almost island hump along the north shore near the location of Mark D.  After much manual effort she resorted to her engine to free herself.  No Lizard continued her steady advance toward the mark.  Eventually Rama, Pipistrelle and Lil Girl reached the north side of the course and tacked toward the mark.

No Lizard rounded the mark first.  Communion followed quite a bit later.  The wind filled in some near the committee boat - around 2 knots.  However the area close to the mark was flat.

No Lizard finished first.  She managed to change direction the least number of times, reducing the need to “accelerate” back up to speed in very light air.  She was followed by Rama who first threw in a 360 degree penalty turn for using her engine. 

The Race Officer determined that although the rules state “The only allowable source of energy for propelling a yacht through the water shall be the wind”, Rama’s grounding and subsequent use of the engine satisfied two important criteria.  First, the engine was not used to propel her toward the mark, or toward more favorable wind.  Second Rama did not advantage herself from the sequence of events.  In light of these circumstances Rama’s penalty turn is accepted and her finish time will stand.   Lil Girl dropped out of the race, unable to make enough windward progress in the severe calm to fetch the mark.  So much for that experiment. 

Though Pipistrelle flew her colorful orange and white spinnaker (…what was that blue thing hanging from the pole?), it was not enough to keep her from finishing last.

After corrections the Race #1 finish order was: No Lizard, Rama, Communion, Pipistrelle, Lil Girl

Race #2,  K-I-K,   W 0-2

A very short course was set due to the lack of wind.  Rama again displayed excellent upwind speed in light air as she rolled over No Lizard to win the start.  No Lizard barely touched the mark and had to do a 360.  In performing the 360 in the very light air she touched the market again.  After lightening her displacement by expelling an appropriate amount of sailor’s language, she sailed on and chose to take the second penalty turn later in the race.  Lil Girl looked like she was going to roll over Communion to windward, but somehow Communion accelerated and pulled ahead, maintaining a slight lead over Lil Girl.  Pipistrelle had difficulty crossing the starting line in the disturbed, light air.

Rama stretched out a good lead and rounded the first mark well ahead of anyone else.  When Rama had made it about halfway back up the last leg toward the finish line the wind filled in on the east side of the course and shifted 180 degrees from west to east and jumped from 1 knot up to 8 knots briefly.  This left all but Rama becalmed.

Rama was in the right place at the right time and charged across the finish with a comfortable lead and plenty of breeze.

The rest of the fleet was less fortunate.

When the wind filled in for the rest of the fleet they quickly split.

Communion actually heeled a bit as she pointed to the finish.

Rama did some post-finish frolicking in the best breeze of the day - too bad it was between races.

No Lizard and Lil Girl were close as they approached the last tack for the finish line.  No Lizard was slightly behind and as she tacked she threw in her 360 turn penalty for touch the starting mark.  Lil Girl finished third.

Pipistrelle was approaching the finish on port tack from the west.  No Lizard on starboard coming up from the south was converging with Pipistrelle but had to tack once more to finish.  No Lizard timed the crossing perfectly and executed an excellent tack on top of Pipistrelle, giving her  trash air and bringing her virtually to a stop, as No Lizard cruised across the finish line.  Great tactical move Ron!

Pipistrelle regained her momentum, crossed the finish line last, but just barely, and still corrected over No Lizard.

After corrections the Race #2 finish order was:  Rama, Communion, Pipistrelle, Lil Girl, No Lizard

Race #3,  K-I-K,  E 4-5

The fleet got off to another good downwind start, except that once again No Lizard had difficulties with the pin end of  the starting line.  She got off to the side near the pin and with her spinnaker already hoisted for the downwind start but was unable to point high enough to fetch the pin.  She dropped off and spun around to start.  Once she got back around and started heading down wind she set her chute and tried to catch the fleet.

In keeping with the trend of the day the wind virtually died around the mark.  The fleet appeared to be stuck to the surface of the water.  Little girl rounded the mark first, followed by Rama and Pipistrelle.  No Lizard continued struggling with her spinnaker and rounded fourth followed fairly closely by Communion.

Rama’s steady approach and amazing light air speed propelled her to finish first.  Bob and Julie had Rama in the groove today.  Despite No Lizard’s troubles you can never count her out.  On the final leg No Lizard was making up ground on Lil Girl.  As she tried to pass to windward Lil Girl luffed hard but No Lizard was far enough away that she was able to squeak around.  Her lighter displacement allowed her to accelerate faster and she led Lil Girl to the finish.  Communion and Pipistrelle followed a few minutes later.

After corrections the Race #3 finish order was: Rama, Pipistrelle, No Lizard, Lil Girl, Communion

RACE RESULTS FOR THE DAY:

The first race day of the fall series turned out to be a challenging one.  The wind (or lack thereof) was insane - forecasted for south, actually north, then gone, then west, then changing to east mid-race, then finally dying off.  Spinnakers were a handful, and the bottom snuck up on Rama.  Despite all of this the day was a success.

Communion basks in the afternoon sun after a hard day of racing.