What a week! Rain, rain, and more rain. Thank goodness racing gets us out at lesst once a week. Today it was misty and foggy. The winds were very light and I was expecting the race to be cancelled but they went on.
Before the start we kept looking for Jim's boat, the Mary B., but he was nowhere to be found. Very unlike Jim to miss a race when the competition is tight. Somehow I was expecting him to pop out at the last minute before the start.
Starts are really hard with light winds when you're trying to predict where to be so you can get to the line in time. We had an OK start considering the conditions and heading up to M5 was all about finding wind and staying out of the currents. Coming around Spring Point light we got into some heavy current and I tried to tack out of it but headed right into a wind hole so I tacked back out. Despite that move and overstating the mark we were still in good shape. A clean bottom and moving weight to leeward helped us stay in good position.
Going to YB we did well passing S'Cape and after rounding we started to catch up to Cordelia. When we got there they told us the race was cancelled because no one finished before the 2030 deadline. Then, who pops up out of Corelia's cabin but Jim! I guess he knew that the race would be within minutes of being cancelled??!! We decided to continue to the finish line anyway. Too bad it wasn't scored because I think we would have done well.
6/17/09 - Race 4 - What a Difference a Week Makes!
Good thing the race has not started yet! Photo Credit: Jay H.
That's the quote from Jon. This week was 15k winds, gusting to 20. Challenging conditions for a 22ft sailboat. Getting the 155% genny in with these winds is tough. We were definitely over canvased and at one point I mentioned heading in because it would not be fun if we couldn't keep from rounding up. Then Jon saw Jim reef so we did the same and if Jim was staying out then we would too.
We had a pretty good start, staying on the unfavored side but in clean air. Tacking was tough and Jon and Christian were getting pretty wet but there were no complaints. Jon risked life and limb to tighten the leech line on the genny a couple of times (need to figure a better way to cleat that!). We did well going to windward and even beat the tanker coming into port. Some of the fleet had to wait for the tanker to pass before they could round the mark. We lost track of Jim at that point. Rounding M5, going to M4 and then downwind to YB was a rocket ride then back to close hauled going to N. That was where the fun began because the tanker was being pushed into its berth by two big tug and the wash was pushing boats right up against the buoy. Cordelia had to turn back and attempt the rounding again. We headed right for the stern of the tug and even though we were pushed we had plenty of room at the mark.
After getting out of the shadow of the tankers we had Athais right on our stern and we managed to hold them off until after we rounded X. They rolled us pretty bad as we headed for the finish but it wasn't enough to keep us from taking first! We are now in a three way tie for the series. Can't wait till next week!
Maybe someday I'll be in racing class!
6/13/09 - Right Out Straight
Today was THE day to be on the water. Nice sun, nice breeze, no responsibilities (my daughter has her license!). I went straight out from Portland Head on a nice SW breeze, lashed the tiller and cruised up to West Cod Ledge. Great ride and when I got there I kept seeing things poke out of the water. Finally I saw a pilot whale surface. Wicked cool! First time I see a whale on my sailboat.
Turned around for another great ride back and hit upon the Centerboard Yacht Club Regatta. I hove-to and watched the racing fleet round the windward mark at Portland Head and pop their chutes. It was challenging sailing down the channel, taking pictures and avoiding the traffic. I crashed the party at Centerboard afterwards and had a great time. Maybe next year I'll race.
Christian at the helm. Go with the flow (tidal that is). Photo Credit Jon R.
6/10/09 - Race 3 - Slow is sometimes good
Well, it wasn't raining. That's the good news. Not much wind. That was OK but then we found out the bad news, the course (X Ds Hs Ds X) was wicked long given the light winds.
Again, the start thru us off. We were all set to go with 1 min. left and there was no 1 min. sound. With 30 seconds left a flag was raised and we checked our cheat sheet - postponement. OK, flag down and a sound but I thought it was started at 1 min., not the whole sequence. Anywho, by the time we figured it out and were ready to start for real we were in the wrong place so I decide to do a port start. Not good! Of course we had to duck the fleet then we couldn't make the committee boat so we had to tack losing a lot of time.
The biggest factor was the tide. Everyone went high or low (big hint!) but we stayed in the middle thinking the wind was better. Also, according to the tide tables we were close to slack current at high tide so it should not be a factor. Well, it was because we lost distance to the whole fleet. Later, at dinner, Jim told me about the "slosh factor" and the tidal currents in that area lag about an hour behind the tide tables. Lesson learned!
Now, the MOST important job as a skipper is to make sure crew morale is kept high so in a situation like this it calls for adult beverages to be broken out. We finished at 2051, getting 4th place, but we learned a valuable lesson - don't leave the fleet! (I actually know that one but sometimes the lesson needs reinforcement).
Best seats in the harbor!
5/30/09 - Marina Fun
Sometimes the best part of sailing is just hanging around the marina and socializing. Sunset Marina has some really nice residents and I am fortunate that they are very friendly and inviting. So after a nice little sail and being able to sleep on the boat I can have a few cocktails and some fun with my dock mates. I wish summer could last forever!
Got the stickah for the boat today. Doug from the Power Squadron inspected my boat and gave me a vessel safety check sticker. Safe boating is very important and I believe in the Power Squadron's mission.
We're on a mission!
5/27/09 - Race 1 - Wet and Cold!
First race of the season (Centerboard Yacht Club Wed. night series) was pretty miserable weather-wise but exciting! Jon was onboard for his first time crewing on Surefire and he did a great job. The start was wicked funny because Jon hit the 5min timer right on and we were in great shape heading for the start with 30 sec. left. Then Jim turn around, everyone turned around, WTF? Did we miss a sound? We didn't want to be over early so we turned around and looked for 1 more min. Everone started so off we go, no sound. Jim, thinking he was over early, did an end around the mark. Well, next thing we know Jim is right with us at the windward mark! (Course was A YAs Xp M4p A). We were able to stay ahead of him and on the last leg he was right behind us and, following the little voice in my head from my former sailing instructor, we stayed between him and the finish. First place with 7 seconds between us and Jim. Wicked exciting despite the fact we were wet and freezing!
Before the race I told Jon our goal for the summer was to get at least one first place finish against Jim. Now what do we do?
Nice view! The lighthouse is nice too.
5/21/09 - First Sunset Cruise
Well, the weather is warming up and time for a sunset cruise with my favorite Parrothead and her friend (who did great on the helm!). I am so looking forward to more of these this summer.
Surefire about to get her keel wet again after a year off.
5/18/09 - Surefire Back in Her Element!
You can now call me Commodore Moby! While my Catalina 30 is on the hard in the back yard being restored I will be sailing my Tanzer 22. I have made a few improvements to her since the last time she was in the water (new outhaul, new motor mount) so she is back in top shape. I will also be racing again because that is what Surefire is meant to do. It is nice being back on her and having the great feel of a tiller again!
Welcome to Moby's sailing adventures!
Why not! Everyone else chronicles their daily life on the web,
why not my sailing adventures? I can sail whenever possible and
do website stuff when I can't, the best of both worlds. Being new
to sailing, I would like to share my experiences to maybe help
others who are breaking into the sport. I am also documenting the
"restoration" of my first sailboat, a Tanzer 22. Sometimes
a picture is worth a thousand words so I will be posting
pictorial, step-by-step descriptions of each project. The links
below will take you to the the different sections of my website.
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