Tuesday Evening Series on 6/25/2019
Race Report, Tuesday, June 25
Another beautiful night of weather at Rec Park- the warmer temperatures feel great, as does the sunshine. We have been incredibly lucky this year, with weather- YES it has rained a LOT, but it has seemed to clear out for our race days. Lucky us!!
Tonight, the winds were very fickle- we did HAVE wind, but it seemed to be from everywhere. However- there were patterns: - Races were generally S/F- 5- 4- 3 and Finish, or as they were extended- S/F- 5- 4- 3 - 1- 5 then Finish.
- The wind for each race seemed to follow the same pattern- a. fairly predictable from S to 5, shifting to a reach or even a run as you left the Line. Then as you approached #5 you wanted to be out in the lake and sail "down" on starboard to the Mark, because the winds were far lighter near the NW shore. From 5 to 4 was a beat, with a shift to the NW, meaning you sailed a veering course on an arc to the left in the last half of the leg- that means the fast line was to go south/ right on Port leaving Mark #5 then begin to round up on the last half to shoot the Mark. Sailing a straight line from 5 to 4 was not as fast.
Leaving 4- the fast lane was to go to the East shore, and sometimes I could follow that line all the way to #3 because the wind was better near shore. When that leg was a beat (maybe 25% of the time) I got by a few as I rode a lift the whole length while the others sailed out toward the middle. That was primarily early- maybe Heats 1-2-3. Later that leg was a run where it paid (again) to ride the eastern shore to #3. This basic pattern WAS consistent- even though it appeared to be very confused wind. BUT the run from either 3 to Finish or 3 to 5 then finish- ugh. You ran out of ind after the first 20-40 feet, to the S/F line before it kicked back in on the last half of the leg. There is paid to go right- again riding the better wind in the eastern 1/3 of the pond.
Rec Park IS tough- but it will teach you about seeing and reacting to wind shifts appropriately.
Another beautiful night of weather at Rec Park- the warmer temperatures feel great, as does the sunshine. We have been incredibly lucky this year, with weather- YES it has rained a LOT, but it has seemed to clear out for our race days. Lucky us!!
Tonight, the winds were very fickle- we did HAVE wind, but it seemed to be from everywhere. However- there were patterns: - Races were generally S/F- 5- 4- 3 and Finish, or as they were extended- S/F- 5- 4- 3 - 1- 5 then Finish.
- The wind for each race seemed to follow the same pattern- a. fairly predictable from S to 5, shifting to a reach or even a run as you left the Line. Then as you approached #5 you wanted to be out in the lake and sail "down" on starboard to the Mark, because the winds were far lighter near the NW shore. From 5 to 4 was a beat, with a shift to the NW, meaning you sailed a veering course on an arc to the left in the last half of the leg- that means the fast line was to go south/ right on Port leaving Mark #5 then begin to round up on the last half to shoot the Mark. Sailing a straight line from 5 to 4 was not as fast.
Leaving 4- the fast lane was to go to the East shore, and sometimes I could follow that line all the way to #3 because the wind was better near shore. When that leg was a beat (maybe 25% of the time) I got by a few as I rode a lift the whole length while the others sailed out toward the middle. That was primarily early- maybe Heats 1-2-3. Later that leg was a run where it paid (again) to ride the eastern shore to #3. This basic pattern WAS consistent- even though it appeared to be very confused wind. BUT the run from either 3 to Finish or 3 to 5 then finish- ugh. You ran out of ind after the first 20-40 feet, to the S/F line before it kicked back in on the last half of the leg. There is paid to go right- again riding the better wind in the eastern 1/3 of the pond.
Rec Park IS tough- but it will teach you about seeing and reacting to wind shifts appropriately.