last Donzo of 2011

Mudheads WNR 2011

Crew: Brian, Dan & RW
Winds: S 2 to 4 kts
Weather: clear
Current: flood – 1943 North Hill
Start/Finish: GLP Starting Area
Course: s/f–DM–s/f , Bearing 179, Distance: .8  nm
Shrouds: +0, +0, +0

We had a very good start windward of the fleet neat the RC, with Sans Souci to our lee, with Cosmic and the rest farther down the line.  Our pre-start wind checks along with an expected ebb lift led to a port favored strategy.  Sans Souci was the first to tack, followed shortly after by Cosmic (while Jolly Mon and the rest continued on out on starboard).  I delayed till we were well to windward of both, and we were fortunate to end up in a much better wind band. 

We could see a slight ripple on the water ahead and left near the finish. About two-thirds of the way out, Cosmic tacked to port, while Sans Souci hung on to the layline. Looking at our GPS chart, shows that that may have worked at about 1815 had we done so also; though I  was hesitant to do so in the extremely light air, keeping our tacks to a minimum. 

Breakin’ Wind having initially gone left was nearly the first to finish, though tacked too soon for the layline and got hung up at the pin. 

Link to chart

Last Race of the season results
Summer season results
2011 Season Class results

the Donzo - 08/24/11

Mudheads WNR 2011

Crew: Brian, Seth, Bob & RW
Winds: SW avg 5 kt avg, (S to NW 8.5 to 0 kts)
Weather: clear, Baro: 30.08, 62 F
Current: flood  NH 1353, ebb 1928
Start/Finish: GLP Starting Area

Course: s/f–N–s/f*2;  Distance: 6.75 nm
Shrouds: +3.5, +6, +3

We had a pretty good night yesterday...

Our strategy on the first lap was a path through the Dumpling, to best benefit from the dying flood.

Three or four minutes after the start, trailing Breakin’ Wind (and sensing a bit of a header), and about to be rolled by Jolly Mon, we took a short port tack to a clear lane.  Two or three minutes later, Sans Souci, Jolly Mon & Cosmic, all tacked to port to cross close ahead one by one.  I’m curious as to why? I did not perceive a header validating a tack. Cosmic eventually came back to lead us through the islands, yet Jolly Mon, Sans Souci and Breakin’ Wind, all went up the west side of the Dumplings. 

the Donzo - 08/17/11

Mudheads WNR 2011

Crew: Brian, Seth, Bob & RW
Winds: SW avg 5 kt avg, (S to NW 8.5 to 0 kts)
Weather: clear, Baro: 30.08, 74 F
Current: ebb - 1330 North Hill
Start/Finish: GLP Starting Area
Course: s/f–E–s/f, Distance: 5.8 nm
Shrouds: +0, +1, +1, then back to +0, +0, +0

When the RC announced a Silver Eel & back course, I was a more than skeptical of finishing based on my understanding of the forecast; and thought maybe they’d shorten it to finish down at Silver Eel.
Our strategy from the get-go was to tack to port and go far right at best opportunity at the start, get up current in the in the weakest flow then maybe benefit from a push towards Silver Eel, and after rounding to favor the Fisher Island shore on the way back.

the Donzo, 08/10/11

Mudheads WNR 2011
Link to chart
Link to TWS history
Fourth Race of Summer Season results
Crew: Brian, Dan, Bob & RW
Winds: SW 8 kt avg, 6 to 10 kts
Weather: clear, Baro: 29.58, 78 F
Current: flood - 1523 North Hill
Start/Finish: GLP Starting Area
Course: s/f–DM–s/f Bearing 240, Distance: 4.7 nm
Shrouds: +0, +1, +1

With Salud no longer on the scene, Dan Lettiere is boatless and we were fortunate to have him along last night in Seth’s absence.  Our arrival in the starting area did not afford much time for a tack to tack comparison, though hardening up on a short starboard & a couple of head-to-wind checks determined  starboard to be favored, and more so when we factored in the flood.  (190, plus a near 10 degree current lift should put us near to 40 degrees off the rhumbline.

Short of the gun we ran down the line, Cosmic & Mayaro ahead and leading Sans Souci, Breakin’ Wind and Jolly Mon.   Hardening up at the gun, boosting myself up onto the combing I lost my footing, luffed up and almost tacked, losing what little momentum we had on 'Sans Souci'.   She eventually rolled us to windward as Mayaro sandwiched us to port.  As short clearing tack, ducking both Breakin’ Wind & Jolly Mon’s sterns took us to clear air where we continued offshore for the deep channel and more current, with enough southing to weather Seaflower.  Everyone in our class except Cosmic & ourselves tacked & passed well north of Seaflower.

the Donzo, 08/03/11

Mudheads WNR 2011

Crew: Brian, Seth, Bob & RW
Winds: ESE 7 kt avg, 10 to 3 kts
Weather: overcast, Baro: 29.76, 72 F 
Current: ebb - 1355 North Hill
Start/Finish: GLP Starting Area
Course: s/f–W–s/f Distance: 4.2 nm
Shrouds: +0, +1, +1

A warm-front overcast moved in about 1500, with some shower activity threatening a few miles to the west, in NW to SE movement.   Fortunately, it stayed well west of us.  The RC was without a mark-boat again, so chose a course up to West Harbor and back, posted initially for two laps.  

In the pre-start, I sailed past the committee boat and tacked back a bit late to starboard at 45 seconds to the gun just ahead of Jolly Mon and Mayaro.  They were able to sail in our lee with their larger sail plans & momentum forcing us up to the line.  I went up high as I dared without crossing (so I may have been guilty of barging for a few seconds).   I should have started the lead back a few seconds sooner.

We tacked to port almost right away to work offshore for the ebb lift.  The crew did a great job of finding the wind, and we had our best windward leg of the season.  The water was uncommonly flat for a breeze opposing the current, great conditions for SeTherin, and we were the third boat to round the windward mark.