WNR - Series III - Race 1 & 2

Competitors: 247, 244, 550, 79, 484
Crew: Glen, Nick, David, Tim

Last week, Race 1, I was stuck in Alabama for work and while Glen went to the dock to go out, he didn't have enough crew show up to make the race. No worries. These things happen.

The Basics
Course: A1. (Shortest.)
Wind: 5-10 kts out of the South
Seas: A little lumpy due to power boats.
Setup: Full

Highlights

• We had a poor start. We tried to have speed coming in on starboard at the boat, but the wall of boats trying to barge just killed our speed. A last minute 10+ degree header didn't help our prospects either. (This header was seen across the line and persisted for about 5-10 minutes after the start--it was funny to see everyone trying to come up at the gun, only to find themselves pinching heavily.)
  
• We followed Towney on starboard up the north side of the course about 1/3 of the way up. 550 and 247 were ahead of us and we were not pointing as well as 550, but we liked the north better than the south.
• Towney tacked and headed south, we stayed until we were in shallow water and then tacked out.
• 247 was coming on starboard and had us. We tacked back to starboard and didn't let them cross us.
• We were bumping the layline, but it paid off big time. We rounded the windward mark well ahead of everyone.
• We had a good chute set, gybe and take down, holding it all the way until the green can at the entrance of the harbor.
• Stayed close to the Chart House coming into the harbor and was able to stay high of all the other boats coming in at the same time.
• Took the gun--I mean wimpy, lame, ridiculous, bird-saving horn.

Lessons Learned

• On the start: The A30 has momentum to its advantage, but it still needs some wind! We should have run the line on starboard, had clean air and speed. (This is what Towney did.)
• Coming into the harbor: Grandpa and Towney saw eye-to-eye on the harbor: in all cases go as far in toward Ego Alley as you can and tack out. I think the idea is that the wind is better due to all the buildings (like the Chart House) on the eastern shore. This week and the last WNR we won, we came around the can at the entrance of the harbor and were able to stay in an arguably different wind by staying very high and close to the eastern shore. I think this may only pay off in certain wind conditions, such as light to medium air, but not in totally dead (then the buildings blanket that part of the course and you're dead). In the light to medium stuff, perhaps the wind bends around the buildings such that there's a lift that sucks you close to the buildings all the way in? Any thoughts?
  

The weather was beautiful, and we had a great time. David even did some singing for us as we came into the harbor.

Good times.

--Tim