Another Beer Can Race Spent in the Bar Drinking Beer!

Running out of excuses, we are!

This morning, we turned the boat around in the slip to ease an exit against the wind. Nevertheless, this afternoon with cross winds gusting between 20-30, we thought better of it. Trophy Wife gave voice to the contradiction in my own mind about turning the boat in the slip into launch mode:

If we've already exceeded the allotted throw-outs in this series, why bother venturing out in marginally destructive conditions?

All the crew showed up for duty, but nevertheless respected my decision. It took everyman jack of them just to tighten and reinforce docklines.In the Spring Series we have already dropped more DNS's than we have drop outs. In a 20+ fleet, that's an insurmountable deficit for winning the series. We will race for daily glasses (and enjoyment) for the remainder of the Spring Series, keeping our powder and rig dry for the next series.

In the meantime, I have to publish a shot of the winner of the Monty Race last Sunday. (Click to expand.)

Monty Race

Enjoyed another long-ish race on Sunday. This was a 16.5 mile windward leeward race in 2-6 knots of wind and flat seas. Five and half hours on the water! This was an inaugural race for a cup Trophy Wife and I dedicated to our fleet. Two years ago, when the race was first sailed (sans trophy) we failed to finish the first leg. Last year we finished last. It promises our heavy-air boat only no-wind, no-win experiences. Nevertheless, this year we finished 16th out of 24 starters.

It was a very good experience. I learned I could trust two people at helm: one guy kept the boat moving to weather in 3 knots; and another lady proved her spurs by sailing the entire leeward leg and finishing. I also learned how much fun I can have racing when I'm not on the helm! Unexpected discoveries of hidden talent is one of the few benefits of sailing without your regular crew. Fun.

I also built my case for spending $500 to get a VMG readout visible from the helm. Another day or two and I'm going to pull the trigger on that puppy!

It's Hellish Watching from Shore

While a fourth of your fleet gobbles up big points just for finishing....

Today, it was blowing so hard, I couldn't back out of my slip. (26 knots) If I had been able to, and if it hadn't been so frigging cold, I might have flown my minuscule jib long enough to record a start so I could come back to the bar with a DNF score. With 75% of the fleet not even suiting up, that would have been significant accomplishment. But I am an old man now, and I sail more now for enjoyment than for accomplishment. One year has changed a lot.

How old am I, (Baydog asks)? It all depends on the boat. Right? And the man, too! How does one know when one has reached a degree of age and infirmity that he begins to worry about the safety of others who might have to rescue him? It's laughable. My boat - I can't go sailing unless my crew takes me. I would and could downsize easily but Trophy Wife loves boat marginally less than me. That has to be a major concern.

I Don't Reef Any More....

I don't reef any less, either!

I'm too old for that. It blows too hard. I drop my main. It blows harder, I go in!

I have a monster main which I can de-power well, up to a point, anyways. The blade is indestructible and I discovered in 30 knots I can point 65deg with it up alone. That's enough to start & retire. Tried reefing my main (incorrectly) on a cruise and tore a grommet. I always said I'll never reef. My tombstone will read,

HE REEFED

PCYC Race

We did reasonably well for this year's Platform Grace Race, especially well considering we were short-handed. We finished 4th in elapsed time as well as corrected time out of 11 finishers. (We won it one year!)

It was the heaviest finish I can remember. Pretty wooly with large seas and twenty knots: the ugliest spinnaker dousing I've ever had a part in! Stuff happens when you're short a pair of hands.

It was also the warmest sail back. We actually could have sailed all the way. The downer for five other boats were engine failures and spinnakers threaded through props after the race.

Next week's race, The Full Monty, is another longer race up to Goleta Beach and back. But there's a big difference. Platform Grace was 17 nautical miles down and a 17-mile return trip. The Full Monty is 15.31 up and back. Once we're finished, we're done! Home! Much mo' better!

This week we'll be short crew again; more line-up changes with new role players, maybe.

Bucket Boat No. 2: The J/100

This is a sleek 33-footer, has all the ingredients for a winning Sailing World Magazine’s Overall Boat of the Year award for 2004. It's a stunning looker, with a dark blue hull and narrow beam.Very clean on deck: Everything is led aft, making it easy for shorthanded sailing. I'll take the J/100 with the optional, self-tacking Hoyt Boom for the headsail. A standard marine head. There's no built-in fridge, just a large cooler.

This boat only displaces 6000 pounds would be quite sensitive to weight placement while sailing. If the mainsail trimmer goes to leeward to release the traveler, it would be noticeable. When all four or five crew can be sitting to weather, legs in, there can be gentleman rules for this class!

A tiller makes all the difference in the world when it comes to sailing. On my current boat with the wheel I wear my arm out sitting to leeward trying to keep my eye on the jib. Maybe I would add a power winch for the main halyard for single-handing!