2016 Spring Race Day #5 - May 7

What a beautiful day.  We had plenty of sun with light southerly breezes between 2 and 6 knots.  Eddie Zeiler once again did a great job of setting courses with good upwind legs where neither side was obviously favored.  That makes us have to actually think about what to do in a wind shift.

Contestants were:
Rendezvous with Keith, Joe Klingbeil and Kate McKenna
ZCat with Eddie and Frank
Bogy with George and Matt
Sirocco from GFLYC with George Yerger and our own Ron Nash
Reckless, a new boat and member at IMYC, with Mark Wiley and John Bomar


Sorry for no narrative - we were all too busy chasing the wrong wind shift.  But I did get a couple of pics.

Looks like Eddie is about to push Rendezvous out of his way in race #1.

Love the look of those two chutes in race #2!   Both C22s really did well on the down wind legs.

Congratulations Sirocco for winning the day as they prepare for the C22 nationals later this year.  Good work George and Ron. 

And kudos to Mark Wiley and crew aboard Reckless.  Despite his claims otherwise, he managed to look like he knew what he was doing by beating both Bogy and Rendezvous in the first race.


The numbers:

2016 Spring Race Day #3 - April 9

2016 Spring Race Day #3  - April 9

No commentary for today, just the numbers.

2016 Spring Race Day #4 - April 23

4^th Regatta of the Spring Series

Saturday April 23, 2016

from notes by Ron Nash and John Bomar

It was a great day for an outdoor BBQ, a super day for a canoe trip down the river, perfect for a walk in the flowering woods of springtime.   But it was a really crappy day for a sailboat race.  With a large high pressure dome just to our south and nothing to move it along, the lake surface looked more like a mirror than a ruffled playground.  There were but few zephyrs in patches here and there and on average 2-3 mph of light patchy breeze. 

The skippers meeting began with a review of the rules relating to mark roundings, and restating IMYC’s policy that exonerating one’s self for a rule infraction requires a single 360 degree completed as soon as it can be done while keeping clear. 

Five boats made it to the start: Rama with Bob and Julie Rhodey; Lil’ Girl with Roxanne and Bill Tull; Z Cat II with Frank and Eddie Zeiler; Bogey with George Boger, Matt, and John Bomar aboard; and George Yerger brought Sirocco down from Greers Ferry with Ron Nash crewing.

Once again Eddie had set up a good windward leg into the forecast prevailing southeast wind forecast, with the start line set up just south of B Island and the windward mark set at I.  Most boats hung very close to the start line, not wanting to get caught out in the faint breath or whisper of wind.   Z-Cat II at the pin end and Sirocco further down the line led the charge (at about one knot) off the line with Bogey, Rama and Lil Girl not far behind.  It was all concentration on the tell-tales and wind angles as most boats headed left up the course.  Rama led the southern group tacking off to south, while Sirocco kept looking to the middle of the lake for what wind there was.   At that point it looked as if Z-Cat II had a few boat lengths on Sirocco.  Sirocco managed to catch the slight breezes and tacked on the lay line, heading south to the pin. Rama was ahead of the other group, now headed east to the pin from the area closer to Iron Mountain.

Rama had a short boat length on Sirocco coming to the pin, but had to give way to Sirocco on starboard. The Zone rule does not apply to boats coming to a mark on opposite tacks. Rama rounded the pin outside of Sirocco. Close behind came Bogey, Z-Cat II and Lil Girl.

The downwind leg was now a beat to wind. Sirocco kept her lead headed to the finish. The winds started shifting again. Rama headed off North; Sirocco kept bearing west and ended up heading off more westerly chasing the fickle breezes.  The wind finally shifted back around from the southeast.

Sirocco made a few more tacks and jibs and finished way ahead of the rest of the fleet. Rama ended up finishing next, but had trouble toward the north side with dying whispers of wind. Z-Cat II and Bogy drifted across in that order just behind Rama. Lil Girl made a great effort to catch up by hoisting the beasty spinnaker but with so little wind it was not much help, especially with the light pressure moving all over the compass in the final run. 

The course was a simple windward-leeward back to the start route.  And the short ¾ mile course took about an hour to complete. 

Race Committee Chair Eddie Z. queried the fleet if everyone had had enough of no wind racing, and all but Sirocco conceded. The buoys were pulled and all headed to the docks for beer.

It was still fun, in spite of the fickle and lack luster wind.

Congratulation go out to George and Ron though, they worked hard to coax the most speed out of the little Catalina.   In such conditions, all sailors know they deserve respect for their effort and the win.    

2016 Spring Race day 2 March 19

Spring series 2016  - Second Regatta

Boy, what a day for racing sailboats.  The second race series of the 2016 spring season was truly one to remember, a complete reversal of the light-to-no wind first regatta.  There was a large high pressure dome to our north in Illinois bumping into a low pressure trough to the east and the resulting compression and clockwise rotation of the high gave us a forecast of north winds at 10 mph in the bright, sunny afternoon with a high temperature in the mid 50’s.  As it played out the temperature forecast was on the button, but the wind forecast missed the reality on the water by about half: row upon row of white caped waves interlaced with dark, mean looking patches of knock-down-wind greeted the fleet of five sail powered boats as they motored out around noon. 

Eddie Zeiler and wife Wendy had gone out in their small (wet) fishing boat to set the course and it was a good one, with the starting line running east and west off the 7 South peninsula and the first mark to a windward buoy near the north shore.  The leeward mark was set all the way back near the island/shallow out from the marina.  It was going to be racing that included legs through “the slot” going out to the main channel, further adding to the challenge of the afternoon’s competition. 

Rendezvous, the 40’ sleek and quick Catalina was the largest in the pack with Barbara driving and husband Keith Sugg running the lines.  Rama, the veteran Newport 33 was second in water-line-length with John Bomar driving and sailmaker Dave Sample crewing.  The always quick and well sailed No Lizard, a Hunter 26’ was next in potential hull speed with “Captain Ron” Nash bravely single handing.  Bogey, a Hunter 22 and ZCat a Catalina 22 rounded out the fleet with commodore George Boger single handing and Eddie Zeiler, race committee chairman, having the help of his dad Frank on board.

The first race was a windward-leeward- windward back to the start line course.  Rendezvous and Rama fought for the pin end as the clock ticked down with ZCat and No Lizard down the line from them and Bogey starting slightly back.  There was a call from Rama for leeward rights and Rendezvous did acknowledge a bit of a barge to make it inside the pin, with an obligation for a penalty 360 turn.  The slog to the first mark was a balancing act as everyone tried to avoid getting knocked on their ear in the puffs, working to windward.  Rama rounded the mark first with Rendezvous close on her heels.  Then it was No Lizard and ZCat rounding, with Bogey further behind.  Downwind everyone was broad reaching on a real sleigh ride, probably going as fast as they ever had in a very long while.  Through the slot only sped up the wind and it was like getting shot through the neck of a bottle.  Rama again rounded first at the leeward mark, Rendezvous not far behind rounded second and took her penalty turn, then No Lizard, ZCat and Bogey rounded.   The last windward beat to the finish line saw Rama get some favorable shifts and she pulled away from Rendezvous to finish first for line honors.  The fleet finished in order of the last rounding:  Rama – Rendezvous – No Lizard – ZCat – Bogey.  And most important, everyone had finished without mishap or mayhem on board. 

The second race included two windward-back to the start line leeward legs which offered a leeward gate for port or starboard roundings, then downwind again to the island mark, then again through the slot upwind to the finish line.  Everyone was bunched at the line at the start, on starboard, with Rama getting the upwind position and slightly ahead at the start.  Then it happened --  ZCat’s rudder snapped in half under the load, rounding up violently and throwing Eddie and Frank around in the cockpit.  Their day of racing was over.   As they struggled to get the sails down and back in control the fleet once again marched off to windward; same conditions – average winds 15-17 mph with some gusts above 20.  After dukeing it out with Rendezvous in the upwind leg, Rama managed to again round first, then it was Rendezvous, No Lizard, and Bogey.  This order stayed the same rounding the start-line gates and back to the windward mark, as the wind and waves continued unabated.  The downwind run again saw some boats at or near hull speed and the line order stayed the same.  Rama hung on to the lead to round first at the leeward mark.  In the last windward beat she shortened sail on the roller furling and did not struggle as much through the slot, grabbing line honors for the second time.  Then it was Rendezvous, No Lizard, and Bogey. 

In between the second and third race the heavens heard a somewhat uncommon prayer from a few lake sailors on the water, “maybe a little less wind, Lord?” 

The last race saw Rama jump out to a huge lead as the other three boats got caught back downwind, especially Rendezvous who started more than two minutes behind the leader.  This course was a classic windward-off wind - windward triangle course with two reaching legs, the small island toward the state park lodge being the off wind mark.  Rama, getting such a lead at the start, again rounded the windward mark first but No Lizard and Rendezvous had eaten up some of her lead rounding second and third in that order, Bogey followed.  The reaching leg proved advantageous for Rendezvous and with great sailing skill and speed Barbara and Keith overtook No Lizard in the second leg and were nipping at the heels of Rama as they rounded the island.  About a quarter of the way toward the leeward  mark on a beam/broad reach Rendezvous passed to windward of Rama, overtaking, and leaving her in their dirty wind dust.  The leeward mark saw that order maintained:  Rendezvous, Rama, No Lizard and Bogey, with the big boat stretching out a bit and No Lizard making ground on Rama.  This time in the last windward beat it was Rendezvous who got the favorable shifts and cashed in on them and she enjoyed  the very well deserved line honors, especially considering her very disadvantaged start.  Sure enough,  No Lizard came on to challenge Rama in the heavy-air windward last beat, with one “too close” crossing lead for No Lizard who had starboard rights.  Rama dipped her stern at the last second and came back to take the lead again and finish across second with No Lizard very close behind.  Bogey followed. 

Everyone felt relieved and a bit beat up and tired after this day’s racing.  Surely also, it was a race day to remember.

As a side note:   The “too-close” crossing was due to lack of visibility (and proper look out) that can happen on sailboats with large fore-triangle  sails, and illustrates the need to regularly keep a good eye to leeward when close-hauled or reaching.  It also demonstrated the wisdom of hailing your position and claim to right-of-way when approaching another vessel.  “When in doubt, shout it out!” is a good axiom to keep in mind and avoid collision while on the water.


The clear winner of today's regatta was Rama.  They had her dialed in for eth conditions and worked hard for every boat length.  Good work John and Dave! 

2016 Spring Race Day 1

First Spring Race Day

March 4, 2016

The day began with Rama, Bogey and Little Girl getting their bottoms brushed clean with Bill’s handy home-made shop broom contraption and because of no wind the racing was delayed about two hours. 

It was a beautiful early spring day – with very little wind on a largely becalmed Degray lake.  Five boats in all were on the line: Little Girl with skipper Bill and wife Roxanne driving, Rama with Bob Rhody skipper and John Bomar driving, Bogey with George Boger driving and Matt as crew, No Lizard with Ron Nash single handing, and ZCat with father Frank and son Eddie Zeiler driving.  The wind was from a general south/southwest direction and our new race committee chairman Eddie set a good course with a starting line near the middle of the main channel of the lake, one mark to windward toward Iron Mountain and one mark to leeward of the starting line toward the state park visitor center. 

On a running timed start with everyone (but Eddie with a bad watch) relying on their atomic clocks for the exact start time, Rama and No Lizard led the pack off the line, both on starboard, headed west.  Little Girl and Bogey followed about 15 boat lengths back, getting caught too far from the line in the very light wind, and ZCat, unsure of the exact starting time due to her faulty clock, trailed the pack.  It was a steady but very light wind at @ 4 mph to the first mark and ZCat, always amazingly slick and fast in such conditions caught up to Rama on the first leg and rounded just ahead at the first mark.  No Lizard rounded third and a bit behind.  Going back there was hardly enough wind to keep a foresail shape and Rama resorted to flying a wing on wing using a whisker pole to at least take advantage of the sail area.   By the end of the two leg race Rama had regained the lead and was first to cross the finish line with ZCat close behind followed by No Lizard, Bogey and Little Girl. 

On the second race, same course because of the very light wind, George and Matt on Bogey got a great jump on the field leaving the left side of the line with good angle and speed.  Near the windward mark everyone bunched up and stalled and the wind got really squirrelly.  Still on the left however, Bogey got a break and rounded the mark first.  On the downwind Bogey and No Lizard in second split and George got another break with fresh wind and went on to be first across the finish line.  Before the race Bogey’s crewman Matt had made a joke about always filming the racing from behind but on this day he spent much of the second race in the cabin filming George as “leader of the pack.”  The rest of the group finished pretty bunched up.    

Later, as Ron on No Lizard was leaving the dock he was heard to comment “guess that dirty bottom got me today.”  It was a painful admission for someone used to being up front  in the fleet.  The recent class on racing given by Dave Sample had emphasized the importance of a low drag, clean bottom if you want to be competitive and win on the water.  The moral of the story?  “A clean bottom washes away many sins in sailboat racing and gets you ahead in working toward the mark.”

The numbers:

What a light air duel between Zcat and Bogey!  They split the two races finishing 1, 2 and 2, 1 – which made them tied for first place, each with 3.5 points.  With point ties being settled by lowest corrected time, the winner of Race Day #1 is Zcat with 3,145 seconds vs Bogey’s 3,250.  Congrats Eddie.

 

2015 Fall Series Finale - Nov 14th

Fall Regatta Fifth Race Day, Nov. 14, 2015

A  Z-Cat Day

For the last Regatta of the Fall Regatta Series, 3 boats came to the starting line. Matsya with George Boger crewing, Z-Cat and the usual crew, and No Lizard with Tyler Nales (a student at Henderson) crewing.

The winds were light out of the SE. The start/finish line was set up at B near the Island, running SW to NE. Marks were set up at K and I in anticipation that the wind would shift toward the south.

The first race was B to K to B, port rounding. No Lizard and Z-Cat got off a good start. Matsya was a bit behind, and it got worse for her as the wind started dying at that end of the lake. Z-Cat got to the mark first with No Lizard close. No Lizard got the spinnaker up, and made it back first, then Z-Cat, and Matsya having a hard time making up for no wind on her first leg.

Matsya "looking" for wind

The course for the second race was moved to I as the wind indeed started shifting toward the south. The course was B to I to B, Port rounding. All boats got off to a good start. Z-Cat again made the mark first. All fought the wind, sometimes blowing at 4 to 6 (maybe!) or, barely 1 with the lake glassing over. Again, with the help of the spinnaker, No Lizard got home first, then Z-Cat 1 minute behind, followed by Matsya.

Eddie relives a scene from "Titanic"

Between races, the Assistant Committee moved I more NE in order to line up better to the wind, AND to shorten the course due to the unpredictable wind.

The third race was again B to I to B, port rounding. No Lizard started on the NE pin on port. Z-Cat started from down the line from the SW on starboard. Just after the start, No Lizard had to tack out of Z-Cats starboard line. Matsya started in better position. Z-Cat made it to the pin first, with No Lizard right there.

Teamwork

This was the theme of the day; Z-Cat, with her Baby Butt Bottom and light weight, making good time upwind, No lizard making up time downwind with her spinnaker.

Matsya was having a better race staying much closer to the others.

Now, it gets interesting. Coming to the finish line, Z-Cat decided to have some fun, and force No Lizard away from the finish line and possibly into third place behind Matsya. No Lizard was on a port run coming to the SW end of the finish line. Z-Cat, closer to No Lizard at the finish than previously, also on a port run and leeward of No Lizard, claimed her leeward rights and started forcing No Lizard into the SW pin (allowed under the pre-2013 rules. More later). The boats were drifting in close quarters to each other and the buoy. With the buoy just feet away, and Z-Cat just inches away, No lizard’s captain, being just a bit irritated, ordered the crew to grab Z-Cat’s shroud (yes, she was that close) and pull Z-Cat into the buoy causing her to foul the buoy!!! (yes, the buoy was that close).  Fortunately for No Lizard her crew mutinied and did not follow through.  Because of Z-Cat’s mischief No Lizard had no choice but to bear off to the west, drop her spinnaker, and circle around to get back to the finish line.  In the slight winds and close quarters, Z-Cat tapped No Lizard.  No Lizard protested the contact and Z-Cat took a 360 penalty turn.

Now, it is possible that Matsya will correct on No Lizard for second place. No Lizard will be P’O’ed if his “friends” on Z-Cat were successful!!!  We shall see when the Race Committee calculates the results.

Thanks to Ron for providing that colorful narrative and the race photos.  I have felt his pain many times.

Before I get to the results though, this is an excellent example to help understand the rules.  IMYC is definitely not a Blood-and –Guts racing club.  But thinking through various scenarios is a great way for us all to get more comfortable with the rules and less intimidated by them.  So how did Ron come to his conclusion... and is he right?

First let’s look at some of the definitions:

Mark - An object the sailing instructions require a boat to leave on a specified side, and a race committee boat surrounded by navigable water from which the starting or finishing line extends. An anchor line or an object attached accidentally to a mark is not part of it.

Zone - The area around a mark within a distance of three hull lengths of the boat nearer to it. A boat is in the zone when any part of her hull is in the zone.

Regarding being forced beyond the end of the finish line:

There are four basic right-of way rules, and several limitations.  I usually approach a rules question on the water or after the fact by first applying these four in their order of priority (Not tacking, Starboard, Leeward, Ahead (NtSLA)), then looking for limitations.   

(1)   Nt – Not Tacking does not apply because neither is tacking.

(2)   S – Starboard does not apply because both are on the same tack.

(3)   L – Leeward DOES apply because one is leeward.  The fourth basic rule (ahead vs astern) is not material since the higher priority “Leeward” rule applies, and if they are overlapped then one cannot be ahead.

What does the basic “Leeward” rule say?

a.     Rule 11    ON THE SAME TACK, OVERLAPPED

When boats are on the same tack and overlapped, a windward boat shall keep clear of a leeward boat.

Based on this rule it appears Z-Cat can luff No Lizard up and away from the finish.

But are there any other limitations?  Two come to mind.

One common limitation that applies when one boat is passing another is found in Rule 17   ON THE SAME TACK; PROPER COURSE

If a boat clear astern becomes overlapped within two of her hull lengths to leeward of a boat on the same tack, she shall not sail above her proper course while they remain on the same tack and overlapped within that distance, unless in doing so she promptly sails astern of the other boat. This rule does not apply if the overlap begins while the windward boat is required by rule 13 to keep clear.

In essence this rule says that if you are a leeward boat that is passing then you cannot sail above your proper course while overlapped.  But if you are being passed it does not prohibit you from exercising your leeward rights. 

 

 

Maybe that could apply here, but there is another limitation that definitely does.  It is found in Rule 18 Mark Room (pertinent parts below)

18.2    Giving Mark-Room

 (b) If boats are overlapped when the first of them reaches the zone, the outside boat at that moment shall thereafter give the inside boat mark-room. If a boat is clear ahead when she reaches the zone, the boat clear astern at that moment shall thereafter give her mark-room.

 

Either end of the finish line certainly qualifies as a mark since the sailing instructions require a boat to leave it on a specified side. So it is clear that IF No Lizard and Z-Cat were overlapped when the first one reached the Zone (3 of her boat lengths from the mark), THEN the outside boat (Z-Cat) must give the inside boat (No Lizard) room at the mark.

From the race narrative it appears likely that there was such an overlap at the zone, and that technically Z-Cat fouled No Lizard by forcing her to the wrong side of the mark. 

There is no rule that explicitly prohibits a crew member from grabbing another boat to alter her course.  If this had actually happened, two rules immediately come to mind. 

Rule 4   AVOIDING CONTACT

A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible. However, a right-of-way boat or one entitled to room or mark-room

(a) need not act to avoid contact until it is clear that the other boat is not keeping clear or giving room or mark-room, and

(b) shall be exonerated if she breaks this rule and the contact does not cause damage or injury.

So even if No Lizard had violated Rule 4 and initiated contact, she “shall be exonerated if she breaks this rule and the contact does not cause damage or injury”.

The more important rule is

Rule 2    FAIR SAILING

A boat and her owner shall compete in compliance with recognized principles of sportsmanship and fair play. A boat may be penalized under this rule only if it is clearly established that these principles have been violated. A disqualification under this rule shall not be excluded from the boat’s series score.

Grabbing a competitor’s shroud and pulling her into the mark would clearly violate the principles of sportsmanship and fair play, and may result in being scored as a DSQ for that race.

I hope this rules discussion has helped clarify a few issues.  Now on to the results…

Last Fall Regatta, Nov. 14, 2015

Z-Cat does it again with three bullets!  Congrats Eddie.  Its starting to sound like a broken record.  Good work guys.  In case you are wondering, her near three minute margin in the last race was enough that even if she had thrown in another penalty turn she’d still have won.  See the numbers right below.

 

 

Now that we have the last races behind us we can proceed to the 2015 Fall Series standings.  Team Zeiler Wins again!  Eddie and Frank pulled off another series win.  But this time the scores are much closer than in the spring.  Only 2.5 points separate Z-Cat from No Lizard.  Just a total of 58 seconds strategically placed would have changed the series winner.  If on Nov 7 in the first race No Lizard had been only 2 seconds faster and Matsya 35 seconds faster,  and on Oct 3 in race 2 No Lizard had been 21 seconds faster, the positions would have changed enough that No Lizard would have won the series.

 

I continue to be impressed with how competitive our racing has become.  I don't mean competitive in the cut throat sense.  I mean competitive in that on any given day you don't know who will come out on top, and probably by a small margin.

I want to close by thanking all of the people who have helped me this year.  Without Ron Nash agreeing to fill in for me during my absences I could not have agreed be the "Race Guy".  Over the year many of you saved me literally hours by picking up the marks after the races.  And I especially appreciate the lack of complaints when I goofed up running the races.  I'm looking forward to racing in 2016.

 

Keith Sugg

 

 

 

2015 Fall Series Fourth Race Day - Nov 7th

2015 Fall Series Fourth Race Day - Nov 7th

The wind gods made up for the slick-as-glass conditions on Oct 24th that resulted in cancelled races.  We had steady 8 - 12 knot ENE winds the entire day, with a few gusts up around 15.  Plus, the rain dissipated just in time, making for delightful racing conditions.

Ron Nash was single-handing No Lizard (again).  Bob and Julie Rhodey aboard Matsya got a little help from George Boger who decided to crew with them rather than take his own boat out.  The Zeiler boys were on Zcat.  And I had our sailmaker Dave Sample with me aboard Rendezvous.

The windward/leeward course was set as I-A-I-A-I, up and back twice.  The legs were short, but with what the wind gave us that was about the only way to get a good course orientation that required us to make decisions about when and where to tack and gybe.  The wind direction was steady enough that we used the same course for all three races.

Unfortunately I do not have a race narrative.  With the fresh breeze and the intensity of the racing I did not have time to make notes.  And I know better that to rely upon my memory.  The boats were closely packed on the starting line, and maneuvering at close quarters and at full speed.  One of eth challenges was to be able to shift gears to maintain control in the gusts while still having enough power in the lulls.  Suffice it to say that the racing was exhilarating.

With Dave Sample's considerable help, Rendezvous captured three first place finishes.  That man certainly knows how to make a boat move.  The hard part for the skipper is that sometimes the correct thing to do goes against what your gut tells you is right.

Looking at the results, I am certain that in race #1  Ron Nash can identify at least a dozen instances in the first race where he gave up more than one second.  One measly second is all that separated his third place finish from the Rhodey's well-sailed second place finish.  Congrats Bob, Julie and George for a heck of a race.  Team Zeiler should thank the Rhodeys.  That second place that Matsya earned pushed No Lizard to third place overall, and Zcat second overall.  Not too bad for using the "beater" sails.

The racing was close.  Notice that only one point separates second from third, and third from fourth.  Most of all it was a lot of fun and a great opportunity to improve boat handling skills.