Sunday, April 21st - Frostbite Sailing
Morning Lasers and V-15’s
In the beginning Race Committee created the race course 'WL
4' for a 10:00 first warning. The RO saw that the course was good, and
separated the Lasers from the V-15’s. The RO called the starting line square,
the weather mark to weather, and the RO said, “Let there be sound,” and there
was sound.
The signal boat was stationed northeast of Belmont Harbor's
red nun buoy. The course started @ 155° with a distance of approximately a ¼ of
a nautical mile. Winds speeds ranged between 9 and 13 kts, waves at around 3 to
5 feet. As the morning lead on,
oscillations dominated left on the puffs
at approximately 15°, and the aggregated backed around approximately 10°. With
the puffs and pressure on the left, so went the favored side of the course. RC
adjusted the course throughout the morning, working to keep the legs true, and
the course as competitive as possible.
Average race times of approximately 18 to 20 minutes provided.
Six Lasers and seven Vanguard 15’s came to the starting
area, only one capsizing of a V-15, however, no foul - no damage. The competent
skipper and crew weathered the remainder of the morning with the sunny skies,
drying off the fridge lake chill.
Generally happy smiley faces, plenty of thank you’s and
other pleasantries exchanged from the sailors to the RC. The X and G flags were
kept down, as the racers exercised disciplined starts. Well that’s how I
remembered it…
Five races were had by the Lasers, four races for the V-15s.
Outstanding work on the mark-set and safely boats. Belmont Station was warm and
welcoming upon our return off the water.
Afternoon 420’s – In Harbor
The signal boat stationed on mooring can in the Northwest
corner of the harbor, with her stern off the bike path, giving enough room for
a competitive starting area. The weather
mark was under the CYC yardarm, with approximately three to five boat lengths
of maneuverability from the seawall and floating docks
Two boats came to the line, five races were had. One capsize
at the leeward mark, crew performed a text book scoop as our safely boat team
kept an outbound keel boat from creating havoc to our 420 crew whilst they
righted their hull.
Winds were SE at approximately 135°, oscillations too vast
and variable to calculate. Pressure favored the left, therefore, having speed
and rights at the line was quite critical. Best starts would best the day...
Tim M.
