Hi Randy

It would be useful to quote wind speed in knots rather than Beaufort scale.  
Saves a lot of mental work for the rest of us …

Congrats on the race.  Was certainly a short one!

Mike
Persistence

From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of RANDY via 
CnC-List
Sent: Friday, August 05, 2016 4:47 PM
To: cnc-list
Cc: RANDY
Subject: Re: Stus-List Finally Won a Race

Thanks Chuck.  I'm having a blast.

My knot meter was indicating 5.5-6.25 knots depending on point of sail, but I 
don't know if it's calibrated perfectly.  I didn't have RaceQs running this 
time, to check it against GPS.  My theoretical max hull speed is ~6.67 knots.  
But a month ago the wind piped up to Beaufort 7 after a race and I hit 7.6 
knots on close reach according to GPS before my genoa tore :)  I assume GPS 
doesn't lie.

And thanks for the tips.  I've gotten different opinions on whether to sail 
dead downwind or broad reach and gybe.  But when I saw the more experienced 
(and more winning) skippers and crews and boats sailing DDW wing and wing with 
gennies poled out, and passing me broad reaching, that kind of settled the 
question :)  (at least for that wind speed).

Cheers,
Randy

________________________________
From: "Chuck S via CnC-List" 
<cnc-list@cnc-list.com<mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>>
To: "CNC boat owners, cnc-list" 
<cnc-list@cnc-list.com<mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>>
Cc: "Chuck S" <cscheaf...@comcast.net<mailto:cscheaf...@comcast.net>>
Sent: Friday, August 5, 2016 12:24:42 PM
Subject: Re: Stus-List Finally Won a Race

Hi Randy,
You sound like you're having a lot of fun racing.  You are definitely doing 
some things right.

Here's some things I would think about::
I had to look up the Beaufort scale to see you had 11 to 16 knots gusting 17 to 
21.  You should have been sailing at hullspeed on all points of sail.  What was 
your hullspeed indicating?  That would be a lot of wind for a 155% on my boat 
and smaller headsail may have pointed higher up wind where you seem to have an 
advantage over the fleet.  Downwind you want the full headsail, so I 
understand.  I agree, Clear Air is essential.  Sailing downwind in that strong 
a wind we would do wing and wing straight to the downwind mark.  I don't always 
set a pole when I'm by myself, but I find it really improves speed when sailing 
dead downwind.  It steadys the sail and keeps it projected straight out from 
the boat.  If you are serious about racing, clean the bottom before every race. 
 Here on the East Coast, that trick won me more races than anything, especially 
when the air was below 8 knots.

Glad to read your story.  Please keep sending those as you improve.

Chuck
Resolute
1990 C&C 34R
Broad Creek, Magothy River, Md

________________________________
From: "RANDY via CnC-List" <cnc-list@cnc-list.com<mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>>
To: "cnc-list" <cnc-list@cnc-list.com<mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>>
Cc: "RANDY" <randy.staff...@comcast.net<mailto:randy.staff...@comcast.net>>
Sent: Thursday, August 4, 2016 1:16:47 AM
Subject: Stus-List Finally Won a Race

I finally won a race tonight - the first time all season out of some 15 races - 
so I thought I'd share what went right.  Finally beat the winning boats in the 
fleet - two Catalina 27s - boat-for-boat and I don't think they'll correct over 
me.

1. The wind was about perfect for the 30-1, blowing Beaufort 4 gusting Beaufort 
5.  I was able to carry full main and 155% genoa without excessive weather 
helm, and I had six people on board so plenty of rail meat.

2. Had a good start at the committee boat end of the line on starboard tack.  A 
barger caused a logjam in front of me and I managed to duck under it all and 
crossed the line first.  Led the fleet to and around the windward mark with 
only two tacks upwind.  I had clean air and they couldn't close the gap.  Sail 
trim was good on both sails.

3. The Catalina 27s passed me downwind as did a Cal 22.  They went wing and 
wing the whole time, while I started out broad reaching and gybing to keep both 
sails hotter.  I eventually switched to wing and wing too, but couldn't retake 
them.  One of them had his genny poled out, and I didn't.  They flew their 
sails better than me, but I tried to limit my losses.

4. When rounding the leeward mark I was able to cut inside and above the Cal 22 
and one of the Catalina 27s, and retook them both on close reach to the offset 
mark.  Only one Catalina 27 remained ahead of me.

5. At the offset mark that leading Catalina 27 tacked, so I gambled and just 
hardened up to close-hauled.  That turned out to be a lucky move. I only had to 
tack once, several minutes later, to make the finish line.  I was able to point 
high enough to make the pin end on starboard tack and hold off the Catalina 27 
who was finishing on port tack, but he wasn't close enough to make it an issue. 
 Fortunately for me he just sailed a longer / slower course after the offset 
mark, given the wind direction.

I think the main reasons we won were a good start, and lucky gambling tactics 
around the leeward mark and after the offset mark.  This rarely or never 
happens for me, so I'm still trying to figure out why :)  The only thing I'd do 
differently is sail dead downwind wing and wing with my genny poled out, like 
the other guys, instead of trying to broad reach and gybe to the leeward mark.  
Hopefully I can have as good of luck next week.

Cheers,
Randy Stafford
S/V Grenadine
C&C 30-1 #7
Ken Caryl, CO



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This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like 
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greatly appreciated!

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This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like 
what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are 
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