WEDNESDAY NIGHT RACE (4th Race sailed)
We had a meduim SE wind. Nice start, unfortunately the fleet tend to sail above the mark which costs all valuable distance nevertheless we still rounded where we should have. The next leg being a reach we needed to protect our breeze with a boat threatening to sail aove us which would have cost us. The last leg of the race was a beat with freshening breeze which was sailed well starting with a good leeward rounding. We came second overall. There is one more race in the series. Aboard were: Ian, Dale, Walter, Michael V, Sarel and Dudley from California...
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
MYKONOS RACE:
RACE 1: Cape Town to Mykonos
8:30am start. Almost no wind. We got a good start on the weather side of the line. The wind freed off so we hoisted our code Zro. Our game plan was to pass Robben Island on the Western Side as Westerlies were predicted and light ones to start so we felt we needed to get the wind first. Going on the outside of the island is risky and something we would normally not risk.
The winds were light with us doing many sail changes and a few gybes. About halfway to Dassen Island the wind statrted to settle with us sailing with the .5oz kite doing about 7 knots, flat water and really pleasant sailing making it all worth it. It was at this point that we could get visual of the boats that went on the inside of the island, we realized straight away that they had better winds and that we had lost out. But that is how yacht racing works. We managed to make the heads at sunset with a nice sail accross the bay. We came 3rd in our class.
RACE 2: Bay Race
This is a pursuit start. We were bang on time for the start. We sailed a good beat working the current and lift in our favour. Closing in at the mark with the wind strenthening we wanted to cancel our 05oz kite. With the mark approaching we deiced we did not have time to change it so we will chance it(Risk blowing it) We had a good hoist and a very fast sail down tot the next mark. We sat on our main opponents quarter for the full leg. We rounded just behind then. At the next mark there were a few L34's between us which would have given us dirty airs if we had sailed for the shore so we tacked on the mark. The next leg was quite good with us keeping the boat going nicely. We managed to pass Freedon on this leg. We sailed around the and sailed a conservative leg. On the next mark we had to tack away quickly to avoid dirties again. On this beat Freedon overtook us, but we cunningly took our lead back and opened it up a bit. Round the Island and Kite up. At the nexxt mark we gybed but did not bother with the kite as it was a short leg and the wind was already over 30 knots. HArdening up on the leeward mark for a long beat we realized we were overpowered. Freedom had already put a reef in for thisd leg. Newvertheless we sailed on and managed to pass SWJ on this leg, leaving only two boats ahead of us. We hoisted the kite on the downwind giving us a great sail tot he finish. We came 1st in our class and 3rd in the bay race.
Overall: This was a great race. We came 1st overall in our class for the whole event.
Aboard were: Ian, Dale, Sarel, Michael V, Matej,Walter, Mark.
RACE 1: Cape Town to Mykonos
8:30am start. Almost no wind. We got a good start on the weather side of the line. The wind freed off so we hoisted our code Zro. Our game plan was to pass Robben Island on the Western Side as Westerlies were predicted and light ones to start so we felt we needed to get the wind first. Going on the outside of the island is risky and something we would normally not risk.
The winds were light with us doing many sail changes and a few gybes. About halfway to Dassen Island the wind statrted to settle with us sailing with the .5oz kite doing about 7 knots, flat water and really pleasant sailing making it all worth it. It was at this point that we could get visual of the boats that went on the inside of the island, we realized straight away that they had better winds and that we had lost out. But that is how yacht racing works. We managed to make the heads at sunset with a nice sail accross the bay. We came 3rd in our class.
RACE 2: Bay Race
This is a pursuit start. We were bang on time for the start. We sailed a good beat working the current and lift in our favour. Closing in at the mark with the wind strenthening we wanted to cancel our 05oz kite. With the mark approaching we deiced we did not have time to change it so we will chance it(Risk blowing it) We had a good hoist and a very fast sail down tot the next mark. We sat on our main opponents quarter for the full leg. We rounded just behind then. At the next mark there were a few L34's between us which would have given us dirty airs if we had sailed for the shore so we tacked on the mark. The next leg was quite good with us keeping the boat going nicely. We managed to pass Freedon on this leg. We sailed around the and sailed a conservative leg. On the next mark we had to tack away quickly to avoid dirties again. On this beat Freedon overtook us, but we cunningly took our lead back and opened it up a bit. Round the Island and Kite up. At the nexxt mark we gybed but did not bother with the kite as it was a short leg and the wind was already over 30 knots. HArdening up on the leeward mark for a long beat we realized we were overpowered. Freedom had already put a reef in for thisd leg. Newvertheless we sailed on and managed to pass SWJ on this leg, leaving only two boats ahead of us. We hoisted the kite on the downwind giving us a great sail tot he finish. We came 1st in our class and 3rd in the bay race.
Overall: This was a great race. We came 1st overall in our class for the whole event.
Aboard were: Ian, Dale, Sarel, Michael V, Matej,Walter, Mark.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
WEDNESDAY NIGHT RACE (3rd race sailed)
Since our previous sail we had the pulpit straightened. At some job this will be improved upon or the pulpit replaced in order to make perfect but it is workable again. We also had the impeller for the log replaced. This was damaged in Salvador and finally gave up the ghost at the same time we replaced our Headboard Car with one which was brought in from Denmark. I call it an investment if you take the weak rand at the moment. THE RACE:
We got a good start but we struggled occationally for power as the winds were very light which our sail combination is not suited towards. A few larger boats powered over us. On the downwind we hung in with the bigger boats and maged to stave off those beind us. On the leg to Number 8 the boats behind seem to have got the wind first and they had a larger sail component so they caught up, especially in the lighter patches. Getting close to the leeward mark AL(Another Farr 38 with a different sail configuration) was on our tail so we hotted up in order to get to their weather in ordeer to at least protect our rights for the mark. We rounded well and sailed a "tricky" beat finishing just behind Majimoto and ahead of AL. We came 1st overall. Aboard were: Ian, Dale, Walter, Siger, Michael V and Tony Strutt(newbie) Boat performed well. Log was calibrated during the race.
Since our previous sail we had the pulpit straightened. At some job this will be improved upon or the pulpit replaced in order to make perfect but it is workable again. We also had the impeller for the log replaced. This was damaged in Salvador and finally gave up the ghost at the same time we replaced our Headboard Car with one which was brought in from Denmark. I call it an investment if you take the weak rand at the moment. THE RACE:
We got a good start but we struggled occationally for power as the winds were very light which our sail combination is not suited towards. A few larger boats powered over us. On the downwind we hung in with the bigger boats and maged to stave off those beind us. On the leg to Number 8 the boats behind seem to have got the wind first and they had a larger sail component so they caught up, especially in the lighter patches. Getting close to the leeward mark AL(Another Farr 38 with a different sail configuration) was on our tail so we hotted up in order to get to their weather in ordeer to at least protect our rights for the mark. We rounded well and sailed a "tricky" beat finishing just behind Majimoto and ahead of AL. We came 1st overall. Aboard were: Ian, Dale, Walter, Siger, Michael V and Tony Strutt(newbie) Boat performed well. Log was calibrated during the race.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Wednesday night Race(2nd in series)
Nice South Eater Blowing. It was a tighht start with lots of barging resulting in us being pushed and a altercation with an innocent boat. When the gun went we decided that we were over the line and went back and restarted which cost us some time. We sailed a good first leg, mainly in dirty winds. On the downwind we cleared our air and ventually caught the stern wave of one of the 50 footers coming through which gave us a tow. We gybed on the inside of everyone at the mark and managed to catch a tow on Majimoto for the whole of the next leg which really pulled us up in the fleet. We hardened up for the beat with the wind now blowing quite strongly. We judged the layline and tacked. On this part we were able to overtake Majimoto. We needed to do a hitch to lay the mark. At the mark we struggled to bear away and gybe but once we had done that it was a good sail to the leeward mark hardening up to beat for the finish with one tack. We came second overall being beaten by the catamaran. We felt that we had sailed a good race. If we were not over the line(we thought we were, by miles, not sure if the bridge saw though as there were others ahead of us) and did not go back we might have one. We sailed good legs and good lay lines and roundings which helped make up the time. Aboard were: Dale, Ian, Walter, Sarel, Siger, Mivhael V, Matej, Mark D. Boat performed well, pulpit needs to be straightened.
Nice South Eater Blowing. It was a tighht start with lots of barging resulting in us being pushed and a altercation with an innocent boat. When the gun went we decided that we were over the line and went back and restarted which cost us some time. We sailed a good first leg, mainly in dirty winds. On the downwind we cleared our air and ventually caught the stern wave of one of the 50 footers coming through which gave us a tow. We gybed on the inside of everyone at the mark and managed to catch a tow on Majimoto for the whole of the next leg which really pulled us up in the fleet. We hardened up for the beat with the wind now blowing quite strongly. We judged the layline and tacked. On this part we were able to overtake Majimoto. We needed to do a hitch to lay the mark. At the mark we struggled to bear away and gybe but once we had done that it was a good sail to the leeward mark hardening up to beat for the finish with one tack. We came second overall being beaten by the catamaran. We felt that we had sailed a good race. If we were not over the line(we thought we were, by miles, not sure if the bridge saw though as there were others ahead of us) and did not go back we might have one. We sailed good legs and good lay lines and roundings which helped make up the time. Aboard were: Dale, Ian, Walter, Sarel, Siger, Mivhael V, Matej, Mark D. Boat performed well, pulpit needs to be straightened.
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