IMYC 2015 Spring Series Race Day 1

Race 1    Course: IAIAI- Windward/leeward twice   Wind: 2-5 ENE



Pre-season maneuvering with just seconds to go.

It looked like we would start 2015 the same way we started 2014 – slick as glass.  But after a half hour delay waiting the wind began to fill in, providing a good start for the first race of our 2015 season.   This year we are continuing with the synchronized clock approach to starting.  The race officer simply announces the start time and course.  The rest is up to the racers. 

Pax ran the line on starboard tack (he must have been listening during the starting discussions at the rules seminar) and turned up just after the “gun” at the starboard end.   No Lizard and Bogy did the same but gave themselves a bit more room.  Communion timed her run very well at the port end.  Rama timed her run equally well in the middle.  Lil Girl almost had too good of a start when she got to the line just a little early and had to bear off, losing momentum at the gun.  But soon she was back in the hunt. 

Clean, well-timed start

The starting line and courses for the day were a little less than perfect.  The wind did fill in, but much more easterly than predicted.  As a result the first legs heavily favored a starboard tack start.  Still there were ample opportunities play the shifts and choose the right (or wrong) time to tack, and most first legs were multiple tack affairs.

Upwind Rama caught the best breeze and rode it out to the port layline first, followed by Communion.  No Lizard had to contend with dirty air and tacked away, staying in the middle.

How often have we seen the fleet trying to catch Rama downwind?

Rama led the pack on the first downwind leg, and rounded first.  Pax was close behind with No Lizard nipping at her transom.  No Lizard flew her new red and blue, oversized spinnaker and gained on Pax. BTW…No Lizard was rated for a racing spinnaker at twice the handicap of an asymmetric to account for the size. 


Too close to avoid the trash air from Pax.  I think I cab see Bob smiling.

When No Lizard tried to pass to leeward she was a little too close to Pax's tall rig and the wind shadow collapsed her chute.  Not too much of a problem though since they were about to round. 

After rounding No Lizard rode the wind well to the right side of the course before she tacked toward the mark.  Communion and Bogy made up some valuable ground on that leg.  Lil Girl chose not to fly her chute on the first downwind leg, and rounded shortly after.

Chasing Pax on the last leg of Race 1

Communion , Rama and No Lizard were hanging close to Pax on the last downwind leg.  Pax managed to hold on and finish first. 



No Lizard finally runs down Rama

No Lizard learned from her mistake earlier and setup to pass Rama far enough to leeward to avoid collapsing her chute, and finishing second just 8 seconds ahead of Rama .  Communion finished 32 seconds later. 





 Though Lil Girl never recovered from her delayed start she finished in majestic style flying her white and blue chute.  ZCat (Zeiler and his Catalina 22) arrived late and started then promptly retired to preserve her status as having raced.

When the dust had settled, uhmm or the waves had subsided, Communion corrected over the three that finished ahead of her to earn first place.  Congrats Darrell.

Race 2    Course: IABI - Triangle   Wind: 4-7 ENE

The starts just keep getting better.  Rama is hiding back there somewhere.

We had another tight start for Race 2.  Rama and Lil Girl timed their runs to the line very well.  ZCat tacked from under the committee boat and jetted off with the pack.  For their first time to ever sail that boat team Zeiler had her moving well.  Pax was late, but really made up some time on the windward leg pointing higher.  At the first mark it was Rama, Pax, No Lizard, Communion, Bogy, Lil Girl, ZCat. 

 

The fleet parades downwind on the second leg of the triangle toward the second mark.

Pax and No Lizard were trying to match the down wind speed of Rama.  No Lizard popped her chute.  It helped.  She closed the gap but neither could catch Rama by the rounding.  Lil Girl chose to keep her chute bagged on the long downwind leg, likely because Bill had just a little too much “fun” with it in Race 1.  We all understand... but it sure makes a beautiful sight.

 The last leg was a close haul to the finish line.  The course layout had the fleet heading straight for the Committee Boat end of the line.

Rama was closing first and at least one of us wondered if the timing of our swings at anchor would line up with Rama’s approach.  She just squeaked by and finished first.  Note the luff in her jib. 

I think Bob just wanted a good close up photo.  Pax plotted the same course, but didn’t have to luff as much to get around Rendezvous to finish second. 

No Lizard tacked around the committee boat, staying well clear.  Thank you Ron.  

Communion and Bogy both tried to squeak by like Rama, but neither had enough displacement to coast far enough while luffing.  They both threw in two quick tacks and gave us a good boat-handling show.  Bogy was quicker and made up some time, but Communion still finished 12 seconds ahead. 

Though ZCat finished last, after corrections she was only last by 4 seconds.  And that was her first race ever in that boat.  Everyone had better look out.  

Congrats to Rama for first across the line and first place on corrections.  The competition between the other six boats was fierce.   Corrected times for the last three boats were within 46 seconds of each other.  And the next three boats were all within 14 seconds.  That’s really tight racing when just a few seconds on any boat will gain or lose a position.

Race 3   Course: IDBAI    Wind: 7 and dying ENE

Start of Race 3

The first leg actually was more of a close reach than a beat.  ZCat and Rama nailed the start, with the rest of the fleet close behind… except No Lizard.  No Lizard chose to fly her red and blue beast for more horsepower reaching to the first mark.  Just getting it set turned out to be a challenge and No Lizard spotted the fleet at least a minute on the start.  This is usually not a problem for the well-sailed No Lizard.  With all that sail area she would surely make up the ground, right?

No Lizard staring by herself and behind the fleet after getting the beast hoisted.

Most of the fleet was able to close haul on starboard tack and fetch the mark.  Communion footed a bit to the left and tacked.  No Lizard tried...

Ron could really use a lift about now...

No Lizard’s gamble was not paying off.  The wind stayed a bit too forward, and Ron experienced a few pucker moments as he tried to keep her under control and on course upwind.  Then to add insult to injury when he tried to drop the chute the spinnaker halyard knotted and jammed into the rope clutch.  By the time he finally got the acres of nylon down and regained control, he found himself about a third of the way to mark #2.  After sailing back upwind he rounded properly and was on the chase.

Rama rounds mark 2 with Pax on her heels

Meanwhile Rama, Pax, ZCat, Bogy, Lil Girl, and then Communion had already rounded. Heading back upwind to the last mark Rama and Pax separated.  Pax pointed as high as possible.  Rama footed for speed.  Rama went out to the edge of the course and tacked first.  When they crossed Pax had worked out a two boat length lead.

Pax and Rama dueling upwind.  Notice ZCat sneaking up in the background.

Lil Girl and ZCat followed Rama and Pax to the south side of the course.  Communion and Bogy stayed to the north. 

ZCat and Lil Girl looking for better breeze near the north end of the chute

Pax rounded the last mark just ahead of Rama.  She was barely able to hold her lead to the finish. 

Pax finishes the last race just ahead of Rama

The Zeilers turned in a very respectable race for only their second attempt in this boat finishing third.  Lil Girl worked hard down the last leg, managing to hold off No Lizard’s spinnaker powered charge. 

Lil Girl leads No Lizard to the finish in the dying wind

 Not far behind, Bogy and Communion duked it out for next-to-last with Bogy getting the edge by 45 seconds.  After corrections Rama grabbed first place over Pax by 40 seconds, and ZCat got third.

Rama was the winner for the day.  Good work Julie and Bob!  And No Lizard, Bogy and Communion ended up within 1.5 points of each other.  We had a great day of sailing for our first races of the 2015 season.  The weather was not so good, but the boat handling was stellar.  The racing is always fun when there are this many close finishes.

 The Numbers: