7-17

David Sincox photo

Another super sketchy forecast for 1d racing, but we got in 2 races without much delay. Even got to go swimming! Predictions were all over the map: Sailflow said 4-6 W, NOAA said 10-15 E. Onboard was Jacob, Katie, Niki, and the last minute addition of Steve Schwartz, plus his little boombox and the most stuffed cooler of all time. Sailed out in about 8kts NE, then parked it up after an abandoned Etchells start. All of our latecomers were welcome: we had a great brunch of blueberrys, zucchini bread, Steve's still hilarious, and his Phish filled Ipod played what I believe was 1 long song for about 45 minutes....

Finalled filled in aroun 105 at 6ish, and we got a decent enough boat end start and led the rest of the race (iirc) We played around with our new light air modes. Tried 1/2" shim behind mast, around 200 on lowers but with a slightly tighter headstay to see if we could trade some point for more speed. Still pointed high, seemed faster than other boats. I think we were slightly better off last week with the headstay at our "3" setting, which translates to around 49.5" after a remeasure. This week we were at "2.5" on our turnbuckle, which is probably around 49.25". Second race we won the pin, but had a tack too late in the sequence so started slow, but were able to accelerate nicely with eased sheets and saggy headstay, trimmed on and pinched of 249, which is a tough boat to outpoint. Extended and won at an upwind finish.

Things that worked well: tune was good, I felt pretty good on the helm. In light air we've been really rolling the boat hard in gybes and tacks, which feels great and is hopefully fast. In light air gybes I've been coming out hotter, which we learned on our Etchells field trip this spring. We had a ton of info feedback from the crew yesterday, and got good at calling pressure and competition.

If we get more of this light air with flat water, I'd like to try even more shims behind the mast, as our main still looks a big deep. We talked about trying it in race 2 yesterday, but the chop had come up and Jacob liked the depth for accelerating. Worked well to get another bullet at an upwind finish. Croquet in park followed by Raiders of the Lost Ark in another park. Good day! Nice way to destress for the continued Mac race workweek.

Continued experimentation with shims aft+soft headstay seems like a good idea for working on light air speed, but I don't feel like we're deficient in what used to be a weakspot for us. Hopefully we don't forget how to work in big breeze and waves, which has been hard to get this year.

Shields sailing 7-7. 7-10

2010 so far is the year of bizarre sailing weather in Chicago, it's been all storms, light air, massive air etc.

This last week we went out for the beercan race, which was quite honestly the strangest bit of sailing I've ever done. We had me, Niki, John H (from Etchells and Farr40) and Niki's newlywed friends Dan and Liz. Kind of an eclectic mix, as John spent a lot of time as a pro sailor, and is always focused on speed, and Dan and Liz have both done some sailing but no racing, but it worked out really well for us, and we had a blast.

The oddness was all in the weather. Once we got out of the harbor it was about 15kts ENE, then we started our sequence and it was 5kts NW, we got our best pin start ever (shame its on a beercan) with 130 way down the line. Upwind we were laying the mark on port, then on starboard (no turns) we rounded, and started looking around for weather. There were lightning storms to the south. And the north. And uh, also to the west. All with rain and thunder, but our little corridor off Belmont was clear. On the run we saw NE breeze die, and about 30seconds later fill in to a strong SW. Feeling a bit lucky to have made it that far dry, we chose to retire after the leeward mark, as it looked like rain coming. We made it to the dock just in time for some monster puffs to roll through the harbor and _almost_ made it in dry. The weather was really spectacular to see, and I'm glad we went out (and then came in pretty quick) The crew mix was a blast, as Dan was really into trimming jib, and John was coaching him the whole time. I don't think we've ever had a beercan thats required quite so many adjustments, but we managed to balance it out with copious visits to the cooler. What a fun strange night!

Series racing on Saturday looked unlikely again, as all the forecasts had 3-4kts out of the west. Given our record this year (3 out of 8 scheduled races) it's easy to be pessimistic about sailing right now. Nevertheless we had a good crew lined up; me, Niki, Katie, Jacob and Jen W. Once we got sailing the breeze seemed g reat, being about 10kts WNW. As we sailed out the RC the breeze dropped and dropped though, and once we made it to Carrier (who was about 4mi offshore) there was little breeze to speak of, and what there was shifted around like crazy.

Eventually though, the breeze settled in to around 130 deg at 5 kts, and everyone started chomping at the bit to go sailing. Big pin favor so we tried a port tack start, but got hung up with 130 who was trying the same. Ducked a bunch of boats and made it far right, which seemed like better pressure. Crossed back ahead, but then fell into a hole on the left side, and then made it worse by doing 2 tacks trying to escape. Sailing to stbd layline it looked like we were behind the lead pack of 67, 196, and 45. gained a bit on the way and were able to leebow 196, and looked solid on layline... until we werent. Followed them on a tack out right, and got back on layline, and again slid down. Took us a while to figure out there was a pretty dramatic S-N current running, which was proved by the markset boat drifting into the mark! A couple more tacks and we finally made it around, behind 67 (go guys!) and just head of 45 and 196. had good speed downwind, and made up lots of ground on 67. in the final third of the run, we got to try something neat: we were on the port layline, 67 was just ahead and on stbd, soaking to stay ahead of us. We put the pole on the headstay, and ducked their stern, then layed it down while they gybed, putting us inside and ahead on the layline. Always wanted to try that! After rounding with 67 tucked behind, we saw a cool DW luffing match between 196 and 45 coming into the mark, which turned out to be not so good. Sailing upwind, we couldn't figure out why 196 sailed past the mark. As it turned out their bowman had gotten hit in the head, and was out cold. Skip from 39 is a doctor, and sailed alongside. Last we heard Chris was getting released with clear tests. Great guy and we all hope he's back out there soon.

Race 2 we wanted the boat, and were there, but had started a bit late as 196 luffed to shut out 45 just ahead of us. Here we discovered a new mode for the boat. Sailing with a ton of rake, with a pretty tight rig made us point like crazy (duh, but this is the first time we've ever been pointy in light air) and we able to lift over 196 without too much trouble. Tacked on them and sailed out to the stbd layline with them tucked underneath. Called the current right, with a couple tacks to lay, and extended for the finish.

Settings started at 49" headstay, 800/200 shrouds, then when the breeze came up in race 2, we tightened up the lowers. Good day racing, as we figured out a lot about light air, which has been an 88 weak point. I took a camera with, so here are some photos:

edit: David Sincox photos below:

Race B1 and B2

It was another dubious forecast for last Saturdays racing, and lots of people were wondering if we'd continue the trend of cancelled sailing, but Saturday turned out to be a pretty nice day! We got in 2 races in about 4-8kts of breeze. 88 didn't do so great, but it was very good racing.

We had me, Jacob, Katie Niki and new guy Andy. The initial forecast was for more breeze, but once on the water it looked pretty light. We tried 1/2" of shims behind the mast, plus a headstay at around 49". All this was to get the 08 main flat enough, as it's got an ugly looking knuckle otherwise. I think we got it pretty flat, but may have overdone it, as our acceleration was bit pokey, although final speed was fine.

The first race was pretty much decided at the start, as I gave us one of the worst starts ever, as we were at the boat (good) but about 30 seconds late (bad) and dead astern of 150 (worse!) Two tacks to clear and we were back into it, until we got leebowed by 63 and had to go all the way right. Pressure was nice right, and we seemed to go pretty well, but rounded behind 150 and never got close enough to attack. Our strategy this year is based on some tough assumptions: 196 is gunning for the season, and will do whatever they can to get points on us, 150's not going to make all the races, so they're out to win every race, and pretty much everyone else likes tacking on us, so it's kind of a multi front battle.

Race 2 both 150 and 88 wanted the pin end, with 150 trying the old port tack approach, and we tried to reach at the pin. We did win the pin, but 150 made out lots better ducking people (and pretty incredibly getting ducked by stbd boats) and going right. We got pinned by 130, and when we ducked to get back right we got both tacked on and pinched off by 196 and 249. Ouch! Another clearing tack put us past port tack layline, in about 5th. We got by 130 and 249 on the way to the mark, and then rounded behind 196 and 150. Stayed that way with only small gains on the downwind and rounding, and pretty much got covered upwind. The final downwind saw us 3rd, watching 196 and 150 joust up ahead. 150 went left and lost a spot to us, and we tried to chase down 196, and almost got them by the finish (big almost). The big mistake of the day was when we were finishing, we were inside boat with 150 just outside and behind. I told Kevin we'd need room, but then he reached up over our transom, and coasted in front of us at the boat when our spin collapsed. Definitely a shut-the-door moment if there ever was one, or (less desirable) a protest, as we definitely didn't owe him room. Brainfade on my part gave that one away. D'oh!

No racing for 2 weeks, but will have at leasat one beercan race coming up. In the meantime enjoy some of Dave Sincox's (130) photos. He seems to take these every weekend, and at this point I look forward to the Monday morning email of photos. Keep up the good work Dave!

Race B1 and B2

It was another dubious forecast for last Saturdays racing, and lots of people were wondering if we'd continue the trend of cancelled sailing, but Saturday turned out to be a pretty nice day! We got in 2 races in about 4-8kts of breeze. 88 didn't do so great, but it was very good racing.

We had me, Jacob, Katie Niki and new guy Andy. The initial forecast was for more breeze, but once on the water it looked pretty light. We tried 1/2" of shims behind the mast, plus a headstay at around 49". All this was to get the 08 main flat enough, as it's got an ugly looking knuckle otherwise. I think we got it pretty flat, but may have overdone it, as our acceleration was bit pokey, although final speed was fine.

The first race was pretty much decided at the start, as I gave us one of the worst starts ever, as we were at the boat (good) but about 30 seconds late (bad) and dead astern of 150 (worse!) Two tacks to clear and we were back into it, until we got leebowed by 63 and had to go all the way right. Pressure was nice right, and we seemed to go pretty well, but rounded behind 150 and never got close enough to attack.

Race 2 both 150 and 88 wanted the pin end, with 150 trying the old port tack approach, and we tried to reach at the pin. We did win the pin, but 150 made out lots better ducking people (and pretty incredibly getting ducked by stbd boats) and going right. We got pinned by 130, and when we ducked to get back right we got both tacked on and pinched off by 196 and 249. Ouch! Another clearing tack put us past port tack layline, in about 5th. We got by 130 and 249 on the way to the mark, and then rounded behind 196 and 150. Stayed that way with only small gains on the downwind and rounding, and pretty much got covered upwind. The final downwind saw us 3rd, watching 196 and 150 joust up ahead. 150 went left and lost a spot to us, and we tried to chase down 196, and almost got them by the finish (big almost). The big mistake of the day was when we were finishing, we were inside boat with 150 just outside and behind. I told Kevin we'd need room, but then he reached up over our transom, and coasted in front of us at the boat when our spin collapsed. Definitely a shut-the-door moment if there ever was one, or (less desirable) a protest, as we definitely didn't owe him room. Brainfade on my part gave that one away. D'oh!

No racing for 2 weeks, but will have at leasat one beercan race coming up. In the meantime enjoy some of Dave Sincox's (130) photos. He seems to take these every weekend, and at this point I look forward to the Monday morning email of photos. Keep up the good work Dave!

Finally!l

Dave Sincox photo
Shields fleet 3 actually had a race Saturday! Well, about 3/4 of one, but it was still pretty sweet.

Conditions started at around 10 kts, but built to the 20's, all out of the west with some good puffs. I recall us, 196, 130, 45, 67, 249 and 39

We wanted to start to windward of the pack, but as close to the pin as possible, and mostly pulled it off. Upwind speed was only ok, as we weighed around 550lbs (me, Niki, Katie and Jen W) and had the old sails on, but we were looking ok, leading the pack right and waiting for a rightie. It never really happened, and as the breeze built it went left. We looked like crossing 196, our nearest competitor who was on our windward hip, but after we tacked he leebowed us, and our tack was a bit off so we had to tack away. Next time we came back it was in front, but we overstood a bit and 196 made it to the mark before we did. We figured out later that we were tacking through about 75 degrees, which is higher than I'd expect, but I guess it was breezy and flat, and since we were light I was feathering early.

On the downwind we initially looked great, as we sailed lower and got a nice spot even and 6 lengths to leeward of 196, but then a very strange puff came down, and both 196 and 130 shot past in it, while we were light. It was a tough one, as the breeze was about 100' away, but never made it to us! Setting up for the rounding I wanted to round behind 130, as we can usually make bottom turns well, and this time worked out pretty good as me had a nice rounding and ended up to ww of Mike. Both he and 196 were in pinch mode, so we tacked out and went left. Overstood (again!) and started following 196 in on port lay. Once we made enough forward on them, I started to lay down so they couldn't tack and force us further out. As we approached the windward mark, we asked for room, and rounded first, only to find that the RC had finished us at the top mark! We were looking forward to the run, and were a bit bummed to only get that 1 race in, but still had a good time. We had no idea who crossed the line first, as we didn't even know there was a line, but 196 was sure they got it. The RC apparently, called us first, and last thing we heard 196 was asking for redress, so no idea how that turned out! It was great racing any way it shakes, and it sure felt like summer started for me that day!

Setup and lessons learned: we were at 48" on the headstay, which was good for the lulls but a bit much helm on the way in (crib reports 33kts, but I think we probably were in 25) uppers were at 850ish, lowers around 400. The mast was straight as a die, so that seemed like a good setting. Sailing with 3 girls, while fun, is not the fastest way around the course, and I wish we'd found a 5th for the day. We're working on getting a decent way to tack the jib in that much breeze with Katie, and are going to try cross sheeting next time, with the handle in the top of the winch, as the 2:1 is not enough for a 120lber! On the way back in, we tried supertwist in the main, with the trav way above center, and to my surprise it worked a lot better than I recalled from my days trimming. Guess Jen knows a thing or two about that sort of thing!

Great day to be sailing!

Finally!l

Shields fleet 3 actually had a race Saturday! Well, about 3/4 of one, but it was still pretty sweet.

Conditions started at around 10 kts, but built to the 20's, all out of the west with some good puffs.

We wanted to start to windward of the pack, but as close to the pin as possible, and mostly pulled it off. Upwind speed was only ok, as we weighed around 550lbs (me, Niki, Katie and Jen W) and had the old sails on, but we were looking ok, leading the pack right and waiting for a rightie. It never really happened, and as the breeze built it went left. We looked like crossing 196, our nearest competitor who was on our windward hip, but after we tacked he leebowed us, and our tack was a bit off so we had to tack away. Next time we came back it was in front, but we overstood a bit and 196 made it to the mark before we did. We figured out later that we were tacking through about 75 degrees, which is higher than I'd expect, but I guess it was breezy and flat, and since we were light I was feathering early.

On the downwind we initially looked great, as we sailed lower and got a nice spot even and 6 lengths to leeward of 196, but then a very strange puff came down, and both 196 and 130 shot past in it, while we were light. It was a tough one, as the breeze was about 100' away, but never made it to us! Setting up for the rounding I wanted to round behind 130, as we can usually make bottom turns well, and this time worked out pretty good as me had a nice rounding and ended up to ww of Mike. Both he and 196 were in pinch mode, so we tacked out and went left. Overstood (again!) and started following 196 in on port lay. Once we made enough forward on them, I started to lay down so they couldn't tack and force us further out. As we approached the windward mark, we asked for room, and rounded first, only to find that the RC had finished us at the top mark! We were looking forward to the run, and were a bit bummed to only get that 1 race in, but still had a good time. We had no idea who crossed the line first, as we didn't even know there was a line, but 196 was sure they got it. The RC apparently, called us first, and last thing we heard 196 was asking for redress, so no idea how that turned out! It was great racing any way it shakes, and it sure felt like summer started for me that day!

Setup and lessons learned: we were at 48" on the headstay, which was good for the lulls but a bit much helm on the way in (crib reports 33kts, but I think we probably were in 25) uppers were at 850ish, lowers around 400. The mast was straight as a die, so that seemed like a good setting. Sailing with 3 girls, while fun, is not the fastest way around the course, and I wish we'd found a 5th for the day. We're working on getting a decent way to tack the jib in that much breeze with Katie, and are going to try cross sheeting next time, with the handle in the top of the winch, as the 2:1 is not enough for a 120lber! On the way back in, we tried supertwist in the main, with the trav way above center, and to my surprise it worked a lot better than I recalled from my days trimming. Guess Jen knows a thing or two about that sort of thing!

Great day to be sailing!

Arghh!

Another cancelled day of racing today, so still no Shields series racing in Chicago. Very bummed about that, but at least we went out this wednesday. Here are some photos.