Unforgiving Laws of Yachting

Last weekend races in the San Francisco Bay as reported by Mitch Wells...

The boys came in overall 3rd on Saturday's 3 races The fleet rated close in PHRF 99 wers . It came down to one rounding, they had a halyard
problem and late douse. Cost them first in the race, and first in the series.

Sunday we had the usual difference of opinion regarding selection of the course direction. It was Cyril and I running the show. We eventually agreed to round counter clockwise (my original plan and assessment) 85 % of the fleet followed the same plan. In reading others opinions on the internet regarding the race even the professionals on some of these crews differ in opinion. :-)

There was good wind at the start, but practically shut off about 5 minutes off the starting line putting us in the deep water channel NE of Angel Island against the ebb. The rest of the fleet stalled badlyThanksfully, Flexi,cue to Cyrils excellent driving, was able to move in light wind, and against the ebb (still 2 hours from max ebb) . We were near the front of the counter clockwise rounders, but the clockwise rounders definitely enjoyed better, air and were clearly ahead.

The theory was of course to sail to Racoon Strait, crossing the deep water channel and the ebb off Richmond at the start . Hopefully, avoid the "no air parking lot" of the year before in Racoon Strait, and instead, ride the 1.0-1.7 ebb expected quickly thru the strait, then reach with clear air across the slot, and the ebb very fast with max power. We executed our tacks extremely well, and were able to lay the bouy at PT BLUNT perfectly without tacking.


There was not as much current set from the ebb as I expected going across the slot to Alcatraz and our perfect tack allowed us to lay Alactraz Buoy and set
the kite in good breeze ,still near the front of the counter clockwise rounders.

After some confused, swirling air behind Alcatraz we were reacning for Richmond and the finsih. The race is going much faster than scheduled due to the good air 9-14 kts, so
I believed we were still not in the teeth of the max ebb condition. The differential between GPS and boat speed concurred we were taking half the number. The boat was fast, we stayed away from the back of Angel and the constant doldrums there and headed out of the deep channel for the Berkeley Circle shallows and the Southampton Shoal.

The wind seemed better where we were sailing and we were ahead , although some boats were working closer in shore by a hudred yards or more, presumably for current relief.
THEN the wind really shut off where we were 1.5 miles from the finish. 75 boats passed us from clockwise and counter clockwise. I now know there is a permanent dead spot off Richmond. We were only 2 miles or less from the actual finish. Not knowing that little bit of local knowledge suckered us in. There was no signs of reduced pressure to indicate this was a fatal move.

So, the wind shutting off initially put us out of contention overall ,and one mistake by virtue of missing local knowledge sabotaged an otherwise well sailed race. The #1 recut
was a success, the boat is fast again and points well.