[Rhodes22-list] To Bob Weber: What Happened In The Race

[Roger Pihlaja]

Bob,

4th place overall in a 9 boat field on your first time out isn't so bad.
Don't be so hard on yourself.  That guy Danielson in his Catalina 25 seems
to be really hot, 1st place in the first two races in the Fall series.
Although, he didn't do so well in the Spring series.  Congratulations on
taking the start.

OK, I see it was a really light air race, 0 - 5 knots.  What kind of course
is the "Short Course".  5 nm of what?  Windward - leeward probably, but how
many legs?

Tell me about your boat.  What year is it?  Is your mainsail traveller the
old cable style or the newer style with the rod on the backstays?  Do you
have the genoa tracks for adjusting the lead position?  What condition are
your bottom, centerboard, & rudder blade in?

Hey, tacking in front of people is all part of sailboat racing.  Any move
which you can successfully execute, is not forbidden under the rules, & is
to your advantage is, by definition: "A tactically smart move."  If you
don't make it; then, you have, by definition:  "Made a tactical mistake."
Your opponents will thank you.  With only 100 feet to go to the 1st windward
mark, if you'd starboard tacked that guy, you probably would have stopped
him dead in the water, maybe even have made it impossible for him to fetch
the mark!  Gosh, your opponent's boat dead in the water, blocking the rest
of the fleet only 3 - 4 boat lengths from the windward mark with you in
clear air in front - what fun!  Bet he'd never try something like that on
you again.  This is called: "Covering your opponent."  In general, on the
windward leg, you want to try to stay between your opponent & the next mark
and give him the dirtiest air you possibly can.

Without a spinnaker, life on the downwind legs is going to be tough for you.
But, there are still some things you can do.  The next time a similar sized
boat passes you on the downwind leg, park right on that guy's windward hip.
Use your masthead wind indicator to aim your wind shadow right at his rig.
Your rig's wind shadow extends about 10 boat lengths out, but the closer the
better as far the effectiveness goes.  You'll know your aim is good when you
see his spinnaker collapse & mainsail start slatting.  Of course, he
probably going to start a gibing duel to try & scrape you off his transom.
But, with your standard rig, if you can't gibe faster than a spinnaker
rigged boat, then you need sail handling practice.  With his rig crippled by
your wind shadow, you should be able to easily keep up.  But, don't try to
pass him, just sit there slowing him down just enough to keep up until you
get about 4 boat lengths from the leeward mark.  When it's time for the
kill, move in as close as you dare, totally smother his rig with your wind
shadow, & he'll just about stop dead in the water.  With any luck, he'll get
a spinnaker wrap from your dirty air or make some other mistake.  While he's
dead in the water, pass him on the inside, & round the leeward mark in
front!

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Weber" <ruba1811@hotmail.com>
To: <rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
Sent: Monday, September 09, 2002 11:52 AM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] To Bob Weber: What Happened In The Race


> Roger, The rusults can be seen at http://www.geocities.com/boulderyc/ I
was
> assigned a 296 - asked for a 274 ???.  Came in forth overall and forth
> corrected. I suspect some handicap funny business especially by the 2nd
> place guy who flew his spinnaker.  I was first off the start and lead till
> about 100' shy of the first mark.  I was overtaken on the port on a port
> tack.  I considered tacking infront of him but didnt want to peeve anyone
> one my first race - also it would only have delayed my fate.  My downwind
> preformance was abismal.  Watched 2 other boats blanket than pass me.  My
> desire for a spinnaker has growen considerably (even more so after seeing
> the bueatiful pictures of Raven).  I got good information of Poling
> proceedures and that will be my short-term stop gap. I gained gound on the
> leaders on the next windward leg but not enough.  It was fun.  I havent
> raced in 17 years and almost forgot that sailing can be exciting and hard
> work.  While I am thinking about it I need a better traveller
arrangement -
> hopefully someone at K-Lake has worked out a better solution.  Thanks for
> asking I think I am hooked again.  Hold on the the wallet.
> Bob Weber
> SV Ruba
>
> >From: "Roger Pihlaja" <cen09402@centurytel.net>
> >Reply-To: rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org
> >To: <rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
> >Subject: [Rhodes22-list] To Bob Weber:  What Happened In The Race
> >Date: Mon, 9 Sep 2002 08:21:17 -0400
> >
> >Dear Bob,
> >
> >So what PHRF rating did the race committee assign to your Rhodes 22?  How
> >did you do in the weekend races?  We need details man!  Inquiring minds
> >want to know!
> >
> >Roger Pihlaja
> >S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>
>
>
>
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