As usual we will post the race video when it becomes available.
July 8, 2020 Write-Up by Dave Burrows and Jeff Brantley
The forecast looked promising, but once again the start was delayed waiting for the wind to establish itself. The RC set W mark in a likely spot then followed the wind front as it advanced toward Rat Island. After about ¾ nm, the promised Gate mark (aka. S/F line) was set square to the 285°M wind, which in a short time had grown to 9 – 11 kts. at the start of the first race. The course set was SWGaWF.
Race 1: The course was set square to the wind and there wasn’t much bias to either end of the start line…. That is until a late left shift came in with less than 2 minutes remaining before the starting gun. A lot of boats got caught out by this shift and could barely lay the line on starboard tack. CORVO shifted starting strategy, won the pin, and lead the fleet off to the left side of the course. One by one, the boats peeled off to port tack either for clear air or searching for favorable pressure or a shift. CORVO held a comfortable lead after the first rounding and headed downwind to the leeward gate. There were several close crossings at the top mark the next four/five boats rounded in close quarters (OWL, DORADO, KUMA SANS, POSSUM, FALCON). Most if not all the boats chose the right hand gate (start line pin) and headed back up wind. Though this new course feature didn’t play a big role in the 1st race, that would change significantly in the 2d race! In the end, CORVO legged out the win followed by OWL who had managed to separate from the chasing pack. Full results are posted.
Race 2: Both CORVO and OWL helped drag the pin to leeward to help square the start line. The wind was holding steady at 7-9 knts at 285 M, and the RC posted the same course as Race 1. This time, the wind direction remained fairly constant throughout the start sequence and the square start line offered several differing starting strategies. At the gun, the CB end was slightly favored and KOLUS and CORVO got controlling starts at the CB end. Once again, the fleet headed left as most of the boats worked hard to maintain their lanes off the start line. Possum was one of the first to tack off to the right and made some gains vs the lead boats. This was a sign of things to come! At the top mark, CORVO managed to hold her lead followed closely by the chasing group including OWL, POSSUM, DORADO, and KUMA SAN. On the leeward run, picking the correct gate mark was tough (as it should be!)…go left or go right???. CORVO, OWL, and DORADO went to the right gate while KUMA SAN split to the left gate. This proved to be the winning move for John and Jim on Kuma San as they rounded the CB cleanly and headed to the right side of the course. They must have seen that right shift coming and they worked hard to get to it first. The other lead pack boats worked the left and center of the course to varying degrees of success. The right paid nicely and Kuma San crossed the fleet to round the windward mark with a comfortable lead that they rode all the way to the finish. Then, DORADO, OWL, and CORVO rounded in close succession and battled all the way to the finish with OWL taking second place. This race was exciting and hopefully validated the new course design utilizing a long windward leg coupled with a leeward gate to open up passing lanes. Kuma San was the first boat in the fleet to take advantage of this new tactical opportunity….well done John and Jim!
Speed or Tactical Tip of the Week: Bite the bullet: When other boats are gaining on you because of a persistent shift, it usually pays to “bite the bullet” and sail behind them toward the shift. This is usually a hard move to make emotionally because no one wants to give up an advantage and cross behind other boats. But, the best way to stay in contact or gain on these competing boats is to follow the strategic maxim of sailing toward the next shift. Race 2 provide an excellent example of this lesson. CORVO found herself on the outside of the persistent right hand shift and gave up several positions on the race course!
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