2004-2005 InterClub Results, Day 4, December 12

Annapolis ICers,

Eight boats turned out for sailing this weekend, and more people are threatening to show up soon. Alex actually brought his boat to the club, and rigged it. I told Wayne on Saturday during a bike ride that it was going to be mano-o-mano for the frostbite victory, and that was certainly the case.

It was a nice frostbite day; warm, but not too warm, sunny but not too sunny, and there was wind enought to hike hard at times. The wind was generally from the creek with puffs and shifts on either side of the course. I felt Erika and I had great speed today, but Wayne and Kim almost spoiled our day when they drove us over the line early in race 5. We were still last around the leeward mark, but managed to nip two boats at the finish. Phew! Every boat counts. So, despite winning 5 of 8 races, Wayne/Kim kept it close by never finishing worse than third, and a tie-breaker was necessary to decide the winner.

Keys for the day were to sail the lifted tack and not get yourself into a hole where the wind died, or into a corner where you run out of options. On two ocassions, I took transoms on the start to head right on the lifted tack and into the pressure, while others dragged out to the left. Otherwise, the left was generally favored upwind. On boat set-up, in flat water, use flat sails. This means a bit less forestay tension (to let the mast bend with sheet tension), and max outhaul (to the band that you should have marked on your boom). Vang should be loose most of the time except when you are hiked - then just snug when sheeted hard. Make sure you easethe vang immediately when the wind goes light. Downwind, think of your sail like a spinnaker - watch the leech, and ease the vang to let it curl, but tighten before any big puff hits. Same with board - up when it's light for less drag, and down before a big puff hits, or when you need steerage.

Afterwords, Wayne gave a few of us a nice tactics lesson complete with visual aids. Wayne would be happy to let you in on his moves next time he's around.

Jesse