We actually had a race on our hands

Wednesday evening was another evening of fun in which we did not come last. Danielle joined Morgan and Phil as crew. We disembarked early so that Danielle could learn the ropes, and we decided to deploy the spinnaker before the start of the race just to make sure she all was well. Thank goodness we did, because we had a few issues. After solving them we were ready to race.

There was little wind at the start line and we got in relatively good position, but we were doing about 1kt. For Prairie Gold these conditions are not ideal. Heavy cruising boat, low wind does not make much progress. We watched a lot of the fleet start to pull away. But then we realized we were not alone.

The course was two times around North 1.

As we were heading north we were in the windward leg, and there was a Boston Yacht Club race in the middle of our course. Darn it, all those little boats to keep clear of. As a consequence we had to tack a few extra times which slows us down, a lot. We rounded the windward mark, deployed the spinnaker and had a nice downwind leg. Blue note, with a PHRF rating of 159 (Prairie Gold 171) was behind us having problems with their spinnaker. Once deployed they started to catch us, they have a full spinnaker, we have an asymmetric. We rounded the leeward mark (end of lap 1) ahead then set off on the windward leg. We had a great leg, with only three tacks and were able to immediately round the windward mark. But Blue Note was better. She was able pass us and round the mark in front. She set off downwind and decided not to deploy her spinnaker. Morgan had a perfect spinnaker set and we were off. We used our recently acquired knowledge of changes in wind direction on this leg to set our course and were off in hot pursuit.

We were gaining and managed to overtake Blue Note 100-200yards from the finish line as she was playing “We are the champions”. She tried to cut inside. We blocked. We beat her on real and adjusted time.   With our difference on PHRF rating we have a 12 second handicap per nm over Blue Note. Since the course was 5nm our adjusted time should be an additional 60 seconds better.

It actually felt like a race rather than our slowly bringing up the rear of the pack.

We will be very interested to see our adjusted time in relation to other boats. I don’t expect us to edge anyone else out, but maybe we will be closer than usual. Maybe all of the spinnaker practice in Buzzards Bay and our testing of upwind and downwind VMG is helping us. Also, with the VMG practice I have identified a couple of small adjustments to make on my windward sailing that I think are helping. Put another way, I may have been slowing us previously.

Danielle was a quick learner and a great addition to the PG crew.  We hope she comes back for more.

On our weekend trip to Martha’s Vineyard Joe, Morgan and Phil were too tired to mix our Dark and Stormys. We still had ice and so we thought it was fitting to do so last night. Sandy and Sean joined us and we mixed a few Prairie Gold style cocktails. We still have four limes left. Drop by and try our mix.

Around the Island Race - results are in

You are probably wondering how the weekend in Martha’s vineyard went! Well maybe not, but I am going to tell you anyway.

Thursday 23^rd we disembarked from Boston and headed down to Martha’s vineyard (MV). We sailed down towards the Cape Cod Canal for a few hours, the engine for some more time. When we got to Buzzards Bay we were early for the current to be in our favor in Woods Hole. We used the time to practice the spinnaker changing, sailing at different angles, and optimizing speed. This was a good investment in our time.

Looking back along the canal at sunrise

After making it to the destination, Edgertown, we went in to the Yacht club for the “party”, skippers meeting. We learned that a skippers meeting means everyone gets together, the person who mumbles the most does the talking, and a bad PA system is used. And, all they do is repeat the written instructions you were just given. Not to complain, we did drink several dark and stormies and we proudly wore our Mount Gay caps that we had been given for being in the race.

 Dark and Stormy (the drink)

Edgartown Yacht Club and a spiffy boat

Next day we got up early, finessed our use of the BBQ for cooking bacon, and motored out to join the other 66 boats at the start. Was this ever fun. The appearance of absolute chaos but total organization at the same time. To sail to the first mark we needed to be on a port tack. But we knew other boats would be faster and could point higher than us so we decided we needed a starboard tack to start, and get right of way, until we could head far enough out to tack towards the mark. Only about 2 boats took starboard. We could see the rest of the boats on a collision course with us as we approached the start line. Then they had to dip and go around us. We look for small victories. This was one.

We rounded the first mark quickly and set sail south, along the eastern edge of MV with spinnaker flying. It was a glorious sight. (picture from EYC Facebook page)

Where is PG (Waldo)? And notice, we were not last

We were playing with wind angles and getting the best VMG to the next mark in the Atlantic Ocean south of MV. We even passed other boats!!! As we came down to the next mark we doused the spinnaker, genoa out and turned quickly. This is fun. Then we set off on the west to east journey along the southern side of MV. We had contemplated bringing the spinnaker out for all of this leg but we were quite close to the wind initially. However, with a turn in wind direction we deployed her and started catching more boats.  We were close to Trinity and the wind dropped. It dropped to nothing. Well, maybe 0.5kt. Joe and Morgan were scurrying around we were changing sails, furling the main, deploying spinnaker and genoa. We tried everything except getting off the boat and kicking to get propulsion. We were 90 degrees to Trinity and drifting on a course to hit her (we were 50ft away). We took down headsails, and pulled out the main since there was no water over rudder and I just hoped that there would be a small wind puff onto the main to push our bow up. It worked.

The skipper on Trinity was singing and dancing for wind. Quite a sight. Then all of a sudden, the wind came up, turned through over 360 degrees in about 30 seconds and we were off to the races again. With about 12kts of wind and sailing close hauled we were in a race with Trinity. As we came to the next mark, three boats descended on the mark simultaneously (well, within 50ft) and we had been racing for 30nm already.

Next we started tacking up Vineyard sound on the west side of MV. As we were sailing we were monitoring the current and direction of the current to learn about the sound. This allowed us to calculate that we could short tack on our last tack and that the current would (might) work in our favor with our direction and should (?) push us just north of the mark at the tip of MV. Quick committee discussion on PG. Sail 10 more minutes before we tack and make certain we get one long final tack or take the risk. Of course we went for the risk and it worked. We passed the northern most mark with 50feet to spare. As we were heading to the finish line the wind was dropping and we started to fear that given the current was due to turn against us in 15 minutes, that we might not be able to finish. I had the anchor plan in my head to hold us steady if necessary. I was not going to drop out of the race. But with 5kts of wind we crawled across the finish line. We sailed for nearly 12 hours. We were absolutely exhilarated

As we were sailing we heard boats calling in that they were not going to finish. We weren’t going to be last. Now we needed to see corrected times. We quickly headed to the Yacht Club sat at the bar and waited for results. We found that not only were we not last but we actually beat boats. Not many boats, but we beat them. Trinity being one who lost to PG.

Joe, Morgan and Phil were smiling cheek to cheek. Then the most bizarre thing happened. Someone in the club came up to Morgan and said the rule in the club is that he who wears a hat has to buy drinks for everyone and there were probably 100 people in the bar. And, he was serious. Morgan quickly took of his hat. No denim and not hats in the club. But apparently bow ties are permitted. My mate Bob would feel right at home here.

You are probably all bored reading this but just a few more comments about the return journey. We disembarked from Edgertown at 7:30am and made it back to Constitution marina at 9:38pm (~85nm). We sailed all of the way except in Woods Hole and in the Cape Cod Canal. We used the spinnaker for 80% of the journey. In Cape Cod Bay we even broached. That was fun. Actually it was fun. We are learning more about the limits of the boat. We had two wind gusts, one to 20kts, which nearly caused us to broach, then a few minutes later to ????. No time to look at numbers. What clearly happened was the increased wind speed accelerated us, we heeled over, nose came up to windward. Now the apparent wind was forward of the beam resulting in increased apparent wind speed. A positive feedback loop. We heeled way over, spinnaker dragging in the water which brought us to a sudden stop. PG held up to it, although downstairs the contents of our fridge and saloon had demonstrated that entropy rules.

Home in sight

It was a great weekend and can’t wait for the next. Joe and Morgan were great crew and I bet they slept really well last night if my sleep is anything to go by.

Race Day

6:30am - course is charted, charging boat batteries and a beautiful day. We have a little wind in the harbor but need only about another 8kts to be able to sail!! There are 9 groups go boats - 1-9 and they start in reverse order at 6 minute intervals. The warning horn will be at 8am, so we should be started in the fourth group to start at about 8:24am.  We are not yet sure of the finish, or whether any will finish with the low wind. There are two options, a finish line by returning to the start, or a shorter course.

At appropriate times we will try to update the blog.

11:52am - We are heading west along the south side of Martha's vineyard. All is well. Spinnaker has been up since 9am. We expect that as we turn north to sail up the west side of MV, that the current will turn to be following us - we hope.

Our mantra is - sail fast and don't make mistakes. We have passed a couple of boats,we saw a boat turn back so I guess that means we are not last!  Winds are 10-15kts. Its a good day

We finished - 7:44.28pm. We will right about the day tomorrow on our way home. Great race, and we did well. Several boats dropped out, we didn't. There was an hour of no wind. But then it cam back.

Great day

And we are off

At 7:57pm Phil Joe and Morgan departed constitution marina.

picture courtesy oh John S

Its now 10pm and burgers are on the bbq. Low wind, but good attitudes.

11:30pm - 10kts of wind, sails are out. Life is good
3:00am - Watching bioluminescence in the wake. The milky way looks great tonight.
3:45am - wind drops to 2 kts. Sails in, engine on
3:48am - twilight. Current in the Cape Cod Canal just turned in our favor. We are ahead of schedule and had a great sail.

5:00am - enter the cape cod canal

6:30am up goes the spinnaker in Buzzards Bay

7:30 getting tired and hungry
Bacon and eggs for breakfast - we learned that when you jibe the spinnaker with the bacon on the grill, all of the bacon fat sloshes to the other end and...

Friday 11:49am
Made it through Woods Hole, against the current. Fighting current near Martha's Vineyard. No wind.
Destination is in sight

12:50pm - arrived at mooring ball in Edgartown Harbor. - Beer, lunch, nap, swim. Ahhh. Off to the shore for the pre race Run Party

Off to the races - Martha's Vineyard here we come

We have been practicing racing around the buoys in Boston harbor during the Constitution Yacht Club Wednesday evening races. Tonight we set off for a 52nm race around Martha's Vineyard that will be held on Saturday July 25th 2015. We depart Boston at 8pm 7/23/15 (Thursday), for an overnight sail from Boston to Martha's Vineyard with an expected arrival time of 1pm Friday.

The race is out of Edgartown Yacht Club and can be followed in realtime from this site.

Will periodically send updates during the journey and race - winch grinding permitting.

I am looking forward to this race since my long term goal is long distance racing - e.g Newport to Bermuda, so at least in this race we will graduate from 5nm around the buoys, to a 50nm around the island race. Next step to increase the distance another order of magnitude.

Spinnakers as anchors

Yesterday evening we restarted Prairie Gold’s racing and ended up with an abdominal workout from intense laughter. Yolande, Joe Morgan and I were the crew and we had good wind – 10-15 kts. The course was #6 which included 5 mark roundings. This was a race of many firsts. At the start we were very competitive with about 10 boats in our division starting simultaneously. This time we didn’t get barged out and we made a good start. By the first mark we still had a few boats behind us (a first!) and none of the faster boats that start 5 minutes behind us had caught us. Another first. As we rounded the second mark we were still in good position and decided to fly the spinnaker. Poof, up it went and we were flying. We then rounded the leeward mark and dropped the spinnaker and we were really competitive. Another first.

But then…….we determined empirically that spinnakers act as great sea anchors. I will remember this one incase I need this when offshore in a storm. The foot of the spinnaker dragged in the water and before we could rescue it the whole spinnaker went over board. Another first. We have a snuffer around the spinnaker and due to our motion through the sea the snuffer unrolled from the spinnaker, much like peeling back the skin of a sausage.  It was a hilarious sight. Down the side of the boat was a red white and blue spinnaker followed by the grey spinnaker snuffer about 50 feet behind us. Joe and Morgan battled to try to bring it on deck, but we had to stop the boat. A few minutes later they got her on board and had a great workout and we resumed the race. By the end of the race we weren’t in such a  great position. However, we are learning a lot about how not to race, and that we really can be competitive when the wind is above 10 kts, and when we keep all sails on the boat. We will put it together.

Maybe next Wednesday will be our chance. The following weekend is the around the island race at Martha’s Vineyard. Hopefully by then.....

Potts Harbor to Kennebunkport and Portsmouth

We left Dolphin marina and headed south amongst the islands in Casco Bay and then had a three tack sail down to Kennebunkport; two 5nm tacks followed by a 25nm tack. This last one was glorious. We stopped at Chick's marina (expensive although nice service) and walked through town to a wine bar. We didn't see the Bush's but we did see a lot of Bush support in town and interesting anti-Obama and Clinton memorabilia. We got out of town quickly.

We left Kennebunkport at 8:30am since the river gets so shallow at low tide. We left about 2.5hrs prior to low tide and had depths of 7 feet. Glad we didn’t leave a little later.  Winds were right on the nose for our destination, Portsmouth. So we tacked out on a starboard tack for 10nm. Turned to a port tack and of course the wind died so we motor sailed. Then a nice storm came through and we got drenched.  We motored up Piscataqua river with 2kts of current behind us. We chose to go to the Prescott Park docks, which we have previously visited and were pleased to see that they have put in new floating docks. This seems to be part of a general investment in the area into public spaces. In the evening there was a concert next to the docks in a new outdoor facility. We chose Prescott Park docks over Badgers Island Marina, which we can see across the river from us, because we know the current can be vicious there and its essential to leave at slack water. When we had stayed there previously the dock hand showed us the dock damage caused by a large yacht that got caught by the current.

 Entering the mouth of Portsmouth Harbor

 Strange effect of wind against current. Boat is facing the current but the wind has pushed the boat forward of the mooring ball.

 The concert in Prescott Park

 The buoy marking the entrance to Prescott Park

   Looking back to the naval station.

 The bridge that connects Portsmouth to Kittery viewed from Prairie Gold

and last but not least, Prairie Gold in Prescott Park Docks