Sunday, June 24, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
HDA-2 Delivers
The second installment of the HDA series delivers another sleigh ride for JetStream. This time we would start at Knox, peek our nose to the Pacific and round Pt. Bonita buoy back to YRA 8 East of Angel Island to finish back at Knox. About a 17 mile run.
We had a good fleet of boats and some fun battles throughout the race. The usual suspects were out with Ohana, Mintaka, Jazzy, the Mumm 30 and GP26 out for some fun. An the bay would deliver great challenging conditions again. The race started at the end of a light flood and lighter winds 10 - 15. It was the regular parade into Sausalito and hugging the North shore to get out to Pt. Bonita. Things lighten out a bit past the bridge as Jazzy lead the way, with a few position changes behind him with Mintaka, Ohana, the Mumm and ourselves exchanging tacks. Near Bonita it payed to get back into the channel as the current started turning and that allowed us to catch up a bit to Jazzy and Mintaka who had stretched a bit.
We rounded third behind Jazzy and Mintaka and soon started the downwind chase. The winds remained light and headed to the SF side for more pressure. Jazzy was sailing lower in the lighter conditions and got back under the bridge first, but with the wind increasing as we approached we were now in striking position. As we crossed the bridge, someone flipped the switch and we went from a mellow 15 knots, to an 'oh shit' 25 - 30 in a span of about 300 yds. The boat just took off and we were just trying to keep it on its feet. We wanted to stay in the middle of the bay so threw a gybe in full speed mode. The gybe went fine, but soon after we didn't react fast enough to a stronger puff and we did the unthinkable.... we broached the JS. It just doesn't happen often. We are still figuring out our 3 sail setup. On this stronger conditions we might not want to keep the bigger jib up as it interferes with the lower angles we have to sail. On the lighter conditions it is not much of a problem as we run higher angles. So while trying to recover from a broach, I could see our A2 disintegrating. By the time I called for a douse it was already in shreds. The conditions proved a bit too much for our .6 oz light air kite. $%&#!
At this point we had split gybes with Jazzy and they were screaming towards Raccoon Straits, probably hoping for the wind to drop a bit before trying to gybe. Behind us we could see the other kites coming with the GP26 looking really good. Well, we would have to clean up and set the A5 as we still had a bit of runway to go for the leeward mark. In the cleanup, the tack line got sucked through the clutch and Rob had to go below and fish for it. So it took a bit to get back up. But up went the A5 and as we adjusted to it we could see Jazzy running on white sails along Angel Island. We passed them a bit before YRA8 and rounded the leeward mark in first place. From here it would be a drag race to the finish as we could make it in one tack. Jazzy probably rounded about a minute behind us but kept gaining on us. With about 200 yds to the finish they overlapped us to windward and we did everything we could to hold them off and we crossed the line nose to nose, just edging them for the gun.
The whole crew was a bit disappointed with the breakage, but at least we had the consolation of first to finish and first overall.
We had a good fleet of boats and some fun battles throughout the race. The usual suspects were out with Ohana, Mintaka, Jazzy, the Mumm 30 and GP26 out for some fun. An the bay would deliver great challenging conditions again. The race started at the end of a light flood and lighter winds 10 - 15. It was the regular parade into Sausalito and hugging the North shore to get out to Pt. Bonita. Things lighten out a bit past the bridge as Jazzy lead the way, with a few position changes behind him with Mintaka, Ohana, the Mumm and ourselves exchanging tacks. Near Bonita it payed to get back into the channel as the current started turning and that allowed us to catch up a bit to Jazzy and Mintaka who had stretched a bit.
We rounded third behind Jazzy and Mintaka and soon started the downwind chase. The winds remained light and headed to the SF side for more pressure. Jazzy was sailing lower in the lighter conditions and got back under the bridge first, but with the wind increasing as we approached we were now in striking position. As we crossed the bridge, someone flipped the switch and we went from a mellow 15 knots, to an 'oh shit' 25 - 30 in a span of about 300 yds. The boat just took off and we were just trying to keep it on its feet. We wanted to stay in the middle of the bay so threw a gybe in full speed mode. The gybe went fine, but soon after we didn't react fast enough to a stronger puff and we did the unthinkable.... we broached the JS. It just doesn't happen often. We are still figuring out our 3 sail setup. On this stronger conditions we might not want to keep the bigger jib up as it interferes with the lower angles we have to sail. On the lighter conditions it is not much of a problem as we run higher angles. So while trying to recover from a broach, I could see our A2 disintegrating. By the time I called for a douse it was already in shreds. The conditions proved a bit too much for our .6 oz light air kite. $%&#!
At this point we had split gybes with Jazzy and they were screaming towards Raccoon Straits, probably hoping for the wind to drop a bit before trying to gybe. Behind us we could see the other kites coming with the GP26 looking really good. Well, we would have to clean up and set the A5 as we still had a bit of runway to go for the leeward mark. In the cleanup, the tack line got sucked through the clutch and Rob had to go below and fish for it. So it took a bit to get back up. But up went the A5 and as we adjusted to it we could see Jazzy running on white sails along Angel Island. We passed them a bit before YRA8 and rounded the leeward mark in first place. From here it would be a drag race to the finish as we could make it in one tack. Jazzy probably rounded about a minute behind us but kept gaining on us. With about 200 yds to the finish they overlapped us to windward and we did everything we could to hold them off and we crossed the line nose to nose, just edging them for the gun.
The whole crew was a bit disappointed with the breakage, but at least we had the consolation of first to finish and first overall.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Epic Delta Ditch
Last Saturday was JetStream's inaugural Delta Ditch Run. I had done the race previously on other boats but never taken mine. The race is generally a downwind run from the Northern San Francisco Bay, up the Delta through the San Joaquin River into the city of Stockton. About 65 miles. Navigation is key to this race as there are mud flats hidden outside the marked channels and knowing what corners to cut is critical to do well. Though sticking the boat in the mud could easily end the day. I had been stressing about the navigation and memorizing and documenting as much as possible. With a short crew of just 3, we can't always have someone focused on navigation and with the predicted strong winds the twists and turns will come very quickly at us.
Into San Pablo Bay there was a lot of South component to the breeze which make it impossible to hold the big kite up and stay clear of the Pinole Channel. At this point we were even with the J125 Double Trouble leading the fleet out to Vallejo. Over the protestation of the crew I called to switch down to our Code0 to come up on the course. It was a good call. DT below us carried the kite a bit longer but had to drop to white sails, same with the rest of the fleet behind us. As we passed Pinole Pt. the wind started to clock back and we went back to our A2 leading the fleet into the Carquinez Straight. By this point the wind had moderated back into the teens and DT, the Melges 32 and the Sierra 26 were charging hard behind us. As we got under the Carquinez bridge DT had snuck ahead and the Melges and Sierra continued their chase through Benicia.
Into Suisun Bay the winds continued to stay on the lighter side the Melges had gotten in front of us and the Sierra was close approaching. As we tried to stretch the edges of the channel to reduce the number of gybes we were always paranoid about the mud flats. Rob did a great job keeping us in deep water. Two of our close competitors wouldn't be as lucky. The Sierra found the mud on the Northern edge of the channel, though after a few minutes they were able to free up and continue racing. For DT the encounter with the mud on the Southern edge will end their day. The wind and current pushed them into shallower water and they eventually had to use their engine to free themselves. Through the Mallard Slough it was just the Melges leading the way (thankfully with strong local knowledge of the Delta) with us matching them gybe for gybe all the way through to Sherman Island.
The winds have kept of building from the latter part of Suisun Bay onwards and we were now clocking some good speeds over the water. We were soon approaching a notorious mark of the course, Marker 19. This section of the course looks like an upside down U, which forces a few sail changes and transitions. We thought we could hold our smaller kite, but we had killer puffs coming over Sherman Island into the mid 30s. The water in front of us was churning white and some of the multihulls ahead were in pure survival mode. So down comes the kite and we are back to white sails as we reach up the back side of Sherman Island. This was a crazy reach with winds now in the high 20s and 30s. These are pretty good conditions for the JS and we were able to get ahead of the Melges again and leading the fleet of monohulls. Around the top of the inverted U there are opportunities to cut some corners and reset for a short downwind section. But without the lead of the Melges we decided to be conservative and stay in the channel. We also didn't have a good chance to prepare for this transition and weren't prepared to set the small kite on the top section. So we chose to reset the Code0 again. It helped, but the boats behind us who got to set made up some ground on us. We were still neck to neck with the Melges, but we had some issues as we came down the backside of the inverted U and they got ahead again.
We had an opportunity to catch them again when it was time to reset the big kite for the start of a long narrow downwind section to the finish after Prisoners Point. Give the ferocity to the winds we had just experienced we decided to go back up with the A5, but as we entered the narrow channel the winds subsided. We had to go back to white sails while we set up to reset the bigger A2 and by then the Sierra got back in front of us. It is good to have all the options on the sails. But managing all those sails with just 2 crew and a 3 foot wide foredeck showed some limitations. It is something we will plan better the next time around.
This next section of the course, the final stretch, worried me a bit. I wasn't sure how competitive we could be on a 300 - 400 ft channel doing gybe after gybe downwind against boats that could square back their symmetrical spinnakers and just go straight down the river. But we built a significant cushion on the reachy legs of the course to hold them back. The Farr 40 behind us made a strong push to catch us into the finish but they ran out of course.
We were the 3rd monohull to cross the finish line, with the Melges 32 and the Sierra 26 in front of us by only a couple hundred yards. It was a really fun battle with those two boats, exchanging places multiple times during the race. We had completed the race just shy of 6 hours and were very satisfied with our performance. Both Andrew and I had cramping arms, and Rob was both mentally and physically exhausted from all the demands we put on him. It had been a good race.
Thanks to Rob and Andrew for a great race and helping delivering the boat back the next day. That was mostly a 12 hr hate mission. But I'll leave that for another post (or not). Need to find a road trailer before next years race.
For the race we had our regular crew with Andrew and Rob. Andrew would be the trimmer, a long day on that spinnaker sheet, and Rob would do everything else while I drove. I think at the end Rob ended up with the more demanding job, both working the pointy end, preparing the boat for the many transitions in the race and navigating us to the finish.
The start of the race was pretty hectic. We didn't have a stellar start and were a few seconds late. It was a downwind start and soon everyone was working to get their kites up. We started at the pin on the leeward side in order to be able to cleanly bear away and set and we were off to the races. With boats broaching in front of us, we chose a low line to stay clear of the mayhem. With solid 20 knots and some flood current to help us along we were soon in San Pablo Bay making our way to Vallejo.
Into San Pablo Bay there was a lot of South component to the breeze which make it impossible to hold the big kite up and stay clear of the Pinole Channel. At this point we were even with the J125 Double Trouble leading the fleet out to Vallejo. Over the protestation of the crew I called to switch down to our Code0 to come up on the course. It was a good call. DT below us carried the kite a bit longer but had to drop to white sails, same with the rest of the fleet behind us. As we passed Pinole Pt. the wind started to clock back and we went back to our A2 leading the fleet into the Carquinez Straight. By this point the wind had moderated back into the teens and DT, the Melges 32 and the Sierra 26 were charging hard behind us. As we got under the Carquinez bridge DT had snuck ahead and the Melges and Sierra continued their chase through Benicia.
 |
Into Suisun Bay the winds continued to stay on the lighter side the Melges had gotten in front of us and the Sierra was close approaching. As we tried to stretch the edges of the channel to reduce the number of gybes we were always paranoid about the mud flats. Rob did a great job keeping us in deep water. Two of our close competitors wouldn't be as lucky. The Sierra found the mud on the Northern edge of the channel, though after a few minutes they were able to free up and continue racing. For DT the encounter with the mud on the Southern edge will end their day. The wind and current pushed them into shallower water and they eventually had to use their engine to free themselves. Through the Mallard Slough it was just the Melges leading the way (thankfully with strong local knowledge of the Delta) with us matching them gybe for gybe all the way through to Sherman Island.
The winds have kept of building from the latter part of Suisun Bay onwards and we were now clocking some good speeds over the water. We were soon approaching a notorious mark of the course, Marker 19. This section of the course looks like an upside down U, which forces a few sail changes and transitions. We thought we could hold our smaller kite, but we had killer puffs coming over Sherman Island into the mid 30s. The water in front of us was churning white and some of the multihulls ahead were in pure survival mode. So down comes the kite and we are back to white sails as we reach up the back side of Sherman Island. This was a crazy reach with winds now in the high 20s and 30s. These are pretty good conditions for the JS and we were able to get ahead of the Melges again and leading the fleet of monohulls. Around the top of the inverted U there are opportunities to cut some corners and reset for a short downwind section. But without the lead of the Melges we decided to be conservative and stay in the channel. We also didn't have a good chance to prepare for this transition and weren't prepared to set the small kite on the top section. So we chose to reset the Code0 again. It helped, but the boats behind us who got to set made up some ground on us. We were still neck to neck with the Melges, but we had some issues as we came down the backside of the inverted U and they got ahead again.
We had an opportunity to catch them again when it was time to reset the big kite for the start of a long narrow downwind section to the finish after Prisoners Point. Give the ferocity to the winds we had just experienced we decided to go back up with the A5, but as we entered the narrow channel the winds subsided. We had to go back to white sails while we set up to reset the bigger A2 and by then the Sierra got back in front of us. It is good to have all the options on the sails. But managing all those sails with just 2 crew and a 3 foot wide foredeck showed some limitations. It is something we will plan better the next time around.
This next section of the course, the final stretch, worried me a bit. I wasn't sure how competitive we could be on a 300 - 400 ft channel doing gybe after gybe downwind against boats that could square back their symmetrical spinnakers and just go straight down the river. But we built a significant cushion on the reachy legs of the course to hold them back. The Farr 40 behind us made a strong push to catch us into the finish but they ran out of course.
 |
| @ Slackwater At the finish |
We were the 3rd monohull to cross the finish line, with the Melges 32 and the Sierra 26 in front of us by only a couple hundred yards. It was a really fun battle with those two boats, exchanging places multiple times during the race. We had completed the race just shy of 6 hours and were very satisfied with our performance. Both Andrew and I had cramping arms, and Rob was both mentally and physically exhausted from all the demands we put on him. It had been a good race.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)