RC Blog & Photos

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Wind Conditions: 5 - 7kts E going SE.

East wind is a hard course to set.  There isn't much distance in the bay east-west, so we need to start closer to the "highway", where there is some chop from the powerboat wake.  Fortunately, there was enough wind to move and boats made it around the course in a reasonable time.  Most boats were a little late to the starting line on all three races, likely due to the current still pushing south.  The boats that did best were the ones that didn't overstand on the right side.

Top 3 for the mini-regatta:

14' Fleet: 1st - Tony Davis, 2nd - Dave Quincy, 3rd - David Harris

15' Fleet: 1st - Peter Carroll, 2nd - Rick Cain, 3rd - Will Collins

Overall season results are now posted: https://namequoitsailing.org/racing-results.  Prizes for top 3 finishers will be awarded at the NSA annual meeting on September 3rd.

Thanks all for a great season.  There were many changes this year, and to be honest we weren't sure how it would play out.  With the help of some spectacular weather and patience of the racing fleets, we ran 14 out of 15 planned races.  Special thanks to John Laurino for his many words of encouragement and keeping us on the right track.

Your friendly neighborhood race committee, Maura & Bill

Wind Conditions: 0 - 7kts ESE going SE.

Interesting is the probably best way to describe the first race in extremely light ESE air.  Some would say zero wind depending on where you were at the time, making it a challenge to even get to the windward mark.  Tony Roth and his crew did an excellent job on the Baybird to keep things moving and scooted around the first mark way ahead...before most other big boats could even get half way uphill.  The 14' fleet started before many of the larger boats could fetch the first mark and caught up to them on the way to the reach mark.  The wind *finally* did fill a little from the right side which greatly benefited Phil and other fortunate boats, who by-planning or by-luck happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Wind filled and shifted right just before the second race, so there wasn't time to reset course without our mark boat available.  We could probably just call this one a drag race.  Most racers quickly realized that they needed to start by the RC boat and were able to fetch the first mark without even tacking.  The unfortunate boat (let you guess who) which started at the pin end had to tack to reach the first mark and just barely managed to catch up to Bob & Chip on the sprint to the finish.  Close racing between Scott and Tony Davis in the two tan-bark 14's was fun to watch.

Big thank you to Kat, Montana, and Kat's mom for running RC on this one.  We will miss them.  Results are posted on the "Racing Results" page.

Conditions: South 5-8 kts, easing as races progressed.

Started 5 boats in 15' fleet and 4 boats in 14' fleet for all three races.  Sadly, one boat had to retire before first race due to a mast issue.  RC noted that most were far below the line at the gun in the first race, but improved in races 2 & 3 (perhaps due to being the first week and our cancelled starting practice clinic).   

The east side of the course had better and more consistent breeze throughout.  Only one boat in the 15' fleet seemed to recognize this on the first race and made out handsomely at the WW mark, then finishing far ahead of the others.  Even in Race 2, some boats initially went left but pealed off early, only to be headed as they went towards the right side.  The winning boats generally stayed left and took the port tack layline.   The WW mark roundings will also likely improve as the season goes.  Many boats coming in on port-tack overstood the mark a bit, allowing the starboard tackers to close the distance, but didn't matter much in the finishing.  Current was not much of a factor at the WW mark.  

The reach mark didn't end up to be a gybe for most as it was intended.  We moved the reach mark farther east in Race 3 to try to force a gybe.  A fun battle to watch between the two Baybirds.  Good turnout, good weather, and we hope to see even more boats on the line during the next session on July 10th.   

Lessons for RC: shorten the start line, make a slightly longer upwind leg.