Nice night! Good job to everyone who braved the wind to come out sailing last night. Soak it up now because next week is forecast to be 85ยบ at race time.
Congratulations to our usual first-place finishers for coming in first - Manipulator, UnPhased, and Ful Dek.
You can see all the results >HERE<
No videos this week.
You can see the video >HERE<
Have a good weekend!
Congratulations to our usual fast boats in the PHRF classes. Flying around the course for first place was Unphased in A and Ful Dek in B. The Star class had so many lead changes that we lost track. There were plenty of highs and lows on the course and even some audible outbursts of consternation! Congrats to John and Rowan on Betty Ford for their first-place finish! Just goes to show you can never take your eye off the sailmakers.
You can see all the results >HERE<
If you see a pic you would like to keep, just let me know.
You can see all the results >HERE<
Changing vs. Shortening - is there a difference? Yes!
A quick primer: Changing the course means moving the existing marks. You still use all the same marks, they are just moved to a different place. Shortening course is when the competitors can't finish in time and you finish at an existing mark. No marks are moved, but you finish at a new finish line "short" of the existing finish line.
If the race committee changes the course, they display a "C" flag with some indication of how to find the changed location of the next mark, and they make several repetitive sounds to get your attention. The race committee tells you that the course changed and how to find the next mark. The rule is written like this:
33 (a) If the direction of the leg will be changed, the signal shall be the display of flag C with repetitive sounds and one or both of (1) the new compass bearing, (2) a green triangle for a change to starboard or a red rectangle for a change to port.
Shortening Course can happen when the weather turns bad, the wind turns bad, or for any other reason affecting safety or fairness. By its nature, shortening course happens with little or no warning. To shorten course, the race committee will display an "S" flag at the next available turning mark, sound two horns, and finish boats as they cross a line between the "S" flag and the mark. The rule is written like this:
32.2 If the race committee signals a shortened course (displays flag S with two sounds), the finishing line shall be, (a) at a rounding mark, between the mark and a staff displaying flag S; (b) a line the course requires boats to cross; or (c) at a gate, between the gate marks.
32.2 The shortened course shall be signalled before the first boat crosses the finishing line.
The primary difference is that a change of course is done at the mark starting the leg that is changed. A change of the location of the next mark means the whole leg is changed. A shortened course happens immediately as soon as the "S" flag is displayed. There is no warning. The recommendation from US Sailing is that the signal to shorten course should be made as soon as the boat is on station and the competitors are close enough to hear and see the new line.
Always fun! Hope this helps.
I was not expecting such a dramatic change in light over the start and couldn't adjust fast enough, I think I can adjust the settings and do a better job. I like the pictures, though!
If you see a photo you like, I can clean it up and send it to you.
Well, nothing like starting the year with an error.
Click >HERE< to see the corrected results. Or just flip Cordelia and Honey Honey.
At least the B class and the Stars were able to finish. Strange as it was, we were able to finish them. Hey, and you were out on the water racing!
Congratulations to Will and Carl on Wish winning the Stars. Also having a great night coming in first was the crew on Ful Dek.
You can see all the results >HERE<
Will we race? Call the Hotline:
How does the hotline work? Like this - somewhere about 2-4 pm, I start looking at the weather. Sometimes I can tell right away how the weather will affect us, so I leave a message on the hotline telling you the status.
Looks good? I'll say that.
Looks bad? I'll say that.
Looks questionable? I'll say that.
It takes time for everyone to get to the course, so we will stop making updates to the hotline about 1 hour before the planned start.
Will we cancel ahead of time if there is no wind predicted? No, we will go out to the course and abandon there if necessary. Quite often, we will get some wind in the evenings after a day of no wind. Come out to the course. Bring a cooler and enjoy the evening. Wind or not - you're on the water and not at work.
Will we cancel if there is rain? No, rain doesn't hurt you. Put your foulies on.
Will we cancel for too hot? It's happened in the past. Always bring water in your cooler.
Will we cancel for too much wind? Sustained over 20 knots or gusting over 25 knots, there is a good chance. You can make your own sail/don't sail decision. You know what's safe for your boat. We will call it only if it's not safe for any boat.
Will we cancel for storms? More than likely. If we see anything that looks like thunderstorm cells and we think one will hit us, we will let you know on the hotline.
Remember this is fun. Your decision to race is just that - do what is safe for you and your crew. We would prefer to join you for a cold beverage afterward than to see you take a risk.