Racing my 26S (continued)

[Stickinthemud57]

JimmyT,

I play drums in a band called 80's Gadgets (80sgadgets.com). We play hits from the 80's (surprise!) with some obligatory country/western thrown in because Texas.

Our bandleader/guitarist is a marketing genius, and consistently snags us some VERY well-paying gigs. So, with the slump in the housing market, my work as a home inspector is significantly impacted and my proceeds from gigging become somewhat more important. This is a hobby that more than pays for itself. Now, if I could just figure out how to make that happen with sailing...

[Jimmyt]

JimmyT,

I play drums in a band called 80's Gadgets (80sgadgets.com). We play hits from the 80's (surprise!) with some obligatory country/western thrown in because Texas.

Our bandleader/guitarist is a marketing genius, and consistently snags us some VERY well-paying gigs. So, with the slump in the housing market, my work as a home inspector is significantly impacted and my proceeds from gigging become somewhat more important. This is a hobby that more than pays for itself.

Excellent! Sorry about the slump in your day job, though.

[Stickinthemud57]

Thanks for the empathy. I'll be fine, maybe just easing into retirement mode a year or two earlier than planned. This stuff is cyclical, and I'll be ready when things pick back up.

[Stickinthemud57]

Well, the Grapevine Sailing Club's Summer Series started up yesterday and boy, what a day!

Short version:
I brought on a new crew member, and I and my other crewmember were rusty from not racing since the Spring Series. Somehow we still managed to take 2nd place in the first race, but were disqualified in the second race. High drama with 2 other boats needing assistance, but no casualties.

Details:
We were sailing in a moderate to fresh breeze, so I reefed the main at the first (lowest) reefing point. Very good for the conditions. I was running run BWY's Big Jib, which was perfect most of the time, but did leave me a little overpowered when the wind gusted above 20 mph.

In the first race, we got a lousy start - in the last 1/3rd of our fleet. The pack took a long port tack (so they could pass the windward mark on a starboard tack, I suppose). We were getting knocked a lot, and I decided to go to a starboard tack knowing I would need to tack twice to make the windward mark. That tactic paid off as I was able to pass in front of most of the pack on a port tack without running afoul of anyone and get on a starboard tack to make the mark.

I wish reefing were easier to do under sail, but most of the other boats were reefed as well, so we held our own on the downwind legs.

It was a four-lap race, and I managed to get ahead of the rest of my fleet on the first windward leg, but we had trouble getting the jib sheet eased when rounding the windward mark. All the yanking in the world would not get that sheet out of the cleat, so we had to turn to windward to ease the tension enough to pull it free. I'm convinced had we not had to do that we would have taken 1st, since we finished only 24 seconds behind the 1st place boat. We were not using the winches, but I have resolved that we will from now on.

In the second race, we got an excellent start out at the front of the fleet, but my regular crew member failed to get the jib sheet released when we were tacking, sending us out of control. We narrowly avoided hitting another boat who was on a starboard tack, and they had to alter course. Not having done such a thing before it did not occur to me to do a 360. With a green crew member and increasingly sporty wind conditions, we were getting knocked around quite a bit experienced problems with the whisker pole, and had several unforced errors. At least we were prepared for the non-releasing jib sheet issue as we rounded the windward mark, but we were no longer at the front of the fleet. When we crossed the finish line without getting a toot on the horn, it dawned on my that we were, justly and not surprisingly, disqualified.

Back at the marina, I went to patch things up with the skipper of the offended boat, and he was amazingly gracious, even complimentary. I'm so glad to be part of a club with members who keep things in perspective. No one tried to brow-beat me in any way. All things considered, a very gratifying experience.

It was a day of drama for the other boats as well. To boats had to call for assistance from the runabout that sets the marks (what is that called?), one to unfoul their jib, and another because the engine caught fire . Another boat had a crewmember get ill and retired from the second race.

Next step is to get fix the whisker pole and get out and practice our buts off so we sail cleaner next time.

[dlandersson]

Ditto

JimmyT,

This is a hobby that more than pays for itself. Now, if I could just figure out how to make that happen with sailing...

[Stickinthemud57]

Another race yesterday. Condensed version: We won both outright and hands down. PHRF did not enter the picture.

The first race we got an excellent start at the head of the pack and just sailed a good race without any unforced errors. I made some refinements on the whisker pole and attendant technique that resulted in much smoother execution. Funny thing - some of the skippers got confused and apparently thought the 2WM course was a 4WM. That surprised me. Most of the other skippers are far more experienced than I and simply should not have made that mistake.

The second race was more interesting. Our start was not as good, so I was in the midst of the pack coming across the start line, with all the dirty air that comes along with that. I went to a port tack just as soon as I could and made it out to clean air. Much better. Approaching the windward mark on a port tack, I found myself squeezed. Two boats were headed to the mark on a starboard tack, and I wasn't 100% sure I could make it past them. There was another boat off my port stern, and I did not want to turn into his path even though I would have been the stand-on boat since I would then be on a starboard tack and he a port. Knowing that he was going to have to turn to the mark in a few seconds, I proceeded on my port tack, made it in front of the boats on a starboard tack, tacked toward the mark, and managed to keep my speed up, beating them to the windward mark. The downwind leg was uneventful, but when we rounded the mark and started tacking toward the finish line, Delrin ball bearings started falling out of my traveler car. I caught a few, but realizing there were more to come, I stuffed a glove in the cockpit drain hole and reattached the mainsheet tackle to the original attachment loop. We couldn't point quite as well, of course, but we only had about 100 yards between us and the finish line, so it wasn't too bad. Now to fix the traveller...

Happy skipper and happy crew. Life is good.

[Be Free]

First, congratulations. Sounds like you are getting the hang of it.
Second, what's a 2WM course?

[Stickinthemud57]

2 legs
First mark is to Windward
Starting line is in the Middle of the course.

So in this case, the start line is perpendicular to the wind. You start on the downwind side of the starting line and beat to the windward mark. After rounding the windward mark you sail to the downwind mark. After rounding the downwind mark you beat to the starting line.

[Be Free]

Too much to worry about. I'll stick to "I think I'll go north for a couple of days".

[Stickinthemud57]

Too much to worry about. I'll stick to "I think I'll go north for a couple of days".

To be honest, sometimes the way I feel about it too.

It's funny. I don't think of myself as a particularly competitive person, but something happens to me when I am out sailing and see another sailboat. I decided that it would be better to engage in the sanctioned races than to make a nuisance of myself chasing other sailors around who are just trying to enjoy a leisurely sail.

The rules can get really arcane, but fortunately our club is not very hard core, so there is little if any animosity when someone slips up.

[Stickinthemud57]

This is getting ridiculous, and I expect it will only get worse...

We took both first places in yesterday's race, expected. What floors me is the difference in times, especially on the second race.

In the first race, we finished a full 1 minute and 13 seconds before the 2nd place boat. This was after starting at the rear of the pack after having to ditch at the start to avoid a foul.

In the second race, we finished 8 minutes and 32 seconds before the 2nd place boat. We started at the front of the pack, but that doesn't account for such lopsided results.

I will take credit for having a boat properly equipped, tuned, and well-suited for the wind conditions, and hand credit to my crew for their increasingly able and competent performance, but the ridiculous difference between times in the second race can only be credited to the difference in courses I chose versus that of most others.

The bulk of Fleet 3 (my fleet, "Racer/Cruisers") went on a port tack after crossing the start line and maintained that course until switching to a starboard tack to make the windward mark. The only logic behind this I can see is a desire to be on a starboard tack when approaching the mark so that they have right-of-way. This strategy failed them in a BIG way.

So, unless the other Fleet 3 skippers learn how to plan a more efficient windward course, we will probably continue to enjoy our lonely position at first place.

How is it going to get worse? When we start using the drifter I am ordering from thesailwarehouse.com, we will sail faster on downwind legs (Hope so!). Mike Lipari (the owner) predicts there will be some grumbling from other skippers since this sail will essentially function as a spinnaker, but without nearly as big a hit to our PHRF rating. Other sailors may have to be educated on this difference.

Additionally, the race captain may again suggest that EB sail in Fleet 1 (J-boats, Melges, and the like), which I adamantly oppose. Sailing in Fleet 1 would mean that we would be sailing well behind the other boats, with our PHRF rating being the only thing that would give us a hope of placing in the top three. If I were a Fleet 1 sailor, I would very much dislike being pushed out of position based on that.

It will be interesting to see if the other Fleet 3 skippers start to grumble. If so, I will be ready to answer them. My boat, fast as it is, is simply NOT 8 minutes and 32 seconds faster than the other boats on a 2.4 nautical mile course. If the other skippers want to beat us, they will simply have to up their game.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I'm good no matter what, and am chuckling inwardly at the notion that I have upset the applecart for some.

So if anyone tells you "MacGregors are not real sailboats", feel free to ask them why a "not real" boat is kicking a** on the other "real" sailboats. If you are thinking about racing your S or D, I definitely encourage it.

[OverEasy]

Hi StickInTheMud57!


…Your Not Competitive by Nature??? ….
If anyone buys into that I have a bridge in Brooklyn that’s for sale….

There’s nothing wrong with being competitive and competent at what you do.
I’m really glad for your efforts and your crew!!!
Transitioning from ‘nada’ to ‘something’ is what it’s all about with competitive sport, especially when working as a team. Knowledge put to practice with coordination of efforts is what your team has actualized. Relish in it. You team has earned it!

We’re pulling fer ya!
Enjoy the ride!

Best Regards
Over Easy

[Stickinthemud57]

OverEasy,

Considering the "take no prisoners" beast that competitive sailing seems to have turned me into, your skepticism is understandable.

Thank you for your words of encouragement!

[Stickinthemud57]

WARNING! THIS POST CONTAINS GLOATING, BOASTING, AND UNSOLICITED ADVICE.

The short story: Excitable Boy finished 3rd in a field of 13 in the Grapevine Sailing Club Summer Series, despite not sailing in two out of the ten races in the series and being disqualified in a third race. If you think you would enjoy racing, I would encourage you to do so (with the Admiral's blessing, of course).

The long version:

Why the gloatin and boasting? Because I was not really gunning for a trophy, but took one home anyway.

I started competing in our club's series races this time last year and raised a few eyebrows, taking 2nd place in Fleet 7 (the beginner fleet) even though I had to drop out due to complications with a medical procedure. I sailed in last year's Fall Series (9th of 15, missing 4 of 10 races) and this year's Spring Series (5th of 11, missing 3 of 10 races).

Finishing 3rd was something of a surprise to me, especially after being told by our resident Know-It-All that there was no way I was in the running given the aforementioned missed races. I suspect our beating the entire fleet by well over 8 minutes on a short course in a previous race may have had something to do with this. Covered in excruciating detail in a previous post.

In yesterday's races, we took 4th and 1st, with six boats racing. Lackluster starts in both races had us dealing with dirty air until we managed to break free, but in the first race I miscalculated badly (did not leave enough margin for wind shifts) and had to abort our attempt at rounding the windward mark, resulting in the majority of the fleet passing us. We only managed to take 4th due to a boost from our PHRF handicap. The second race went much better. I was mid-fleet after the start, but managed to make it to the windward mark ahead of the rest of the fleet by staying on a starboard tack after everyone else had gone to port. We sailed a clean race and finished at the head of the fleet, ahead of the 2nd place boat by 1 minute 38 seconds (no handicap applied to this number).

This series has been a revelation to me. The 26S is not renowned for it's pointing ability, but I find I am able to out-point most of the boats in my fleet (Racer/Cruiser). These are boats with fin keels, and I would expect they could out-point a boat with a skinny little centerboard, but that is not what I am seeing. Going to the Big Jib rig offered by Blue Water Yachts has a lot to do with this, so credit where credit is due. Another thing I have realized and embraced is that a skipper has to ready to "sail his own race". A novice skipper will generally follow the boats ahead of him for lack of knowledge and experience. This is a good strategy for the beginner, but at some point, he has to be ready to take a few strategic risks in order to advance in the fleet. Finally, in series racing, simply competently sailing all of the races in the series competently gives you a distinct advantage.

My advice to anyone considering getting into racing is simple. Do it. Don't be intimidated by more experienced racers or anyone who says your boat is not worthy. Races are won by good boat husbandry, a solid crew, a little luck, and most of all good skippering.

Thanks for indulging my egotistical journalling. Of course, comments are welcome.

[March]

Congratulations! That's the way to do it