Saturday Series on 6/29/2019
Saturday Series 6/29/19
A VERY wet day greeted us as we arrived at the Painesville Rec Park pond- pouring rain. So, we huddled under the nearest pavilion, while Dan Jarold taught the Sailing School- topic “Rules We Forgot”. This is not really those Racing Rules that we skipped by accident, but the finer points on some of the more often faced situations, interspersed with a review of the Rules we have covered in sessions so far. The review generated some good questions from those who had thought over the presentations from previous weeks, and found some variations or wanted further explanation. Examples are mark rounding and giving room, and then Dan even covered hailing for room to tack for an obstruction like the shore. Nice job, Dan. Turnout was light- only three in Gold Fleet, and a decent five boats in Silver.
At almost EXACTLY 10:45- the time racing is supposed to get underway – the skies cleared, the sun came out, and it was time!!! After one practice race, and then for the next six Heats, the wind was terrific, about 8 from the SE, steady so we could sail nice beats all the way to the south end of the lake, round #2 and return. There were shifts- but smaller ones where it paid to tack, and not the normal, unpredictable huge shifts we see at this venue. RD Bob Valentine set up windward/ leeward courses followed by a short beat from 5 to Finish. (Start- #2- #5- Finish) He then sometimes even added a second windward leg, making it Start- #2- #5- Finish making for a nice long race where less importance is attached to the Start.
By Heat 7, the winds were starting to return to more normal (unpredictable!) Rec Park-like conditions, still at about 6 -8 MPH, but shifting 20- 30 degrees then back, and with holes in various places where shoreline trees affect the breeze. In these conditions getting a good Start then spotting and tacking on the shifts, staying “in synch” with the wind became more important, as did staying with your basic strategy instead of chasing the wind (only to find it was gone when you got there). As the day ended, RD Valentine wrapped everything up at exactly 1:30 PM, the last time we can start a race. He got in all 12 Heats, and did a nice job doing it, too. Thanks Bob!!
Brad Ferrell placed first, over new sailor Steve Winfield. BUT (another new sailor) Bob Kalman had his best day ever- winning three Heats, and finishing 2nd in two for a solid third place. Nice progress Bob!
At almost EXACTLY 10:45- the time racing is supposed to get underway – the skies cleared, the sun came out, and it was time!!! After one practice race, and then for the next six Heats, the wind was terrific, about 8 from the SE, steady so we could sail nice beats all the way to the south end of the lake, round #2 and return. There were shifts- but smaller ones where it paid to tack, and not the normal, unpredictable huge shifts we see at this venue. RD Bob Valentine set up windward/ leeward courses followed by a short beat from 5 to Finish. (Start- #2- #5- Finish) He then sometimes even added a second windward leg, making it Start- #2- #5- Finish making for a nice long race where less importance is attached to the Start.
By Heat 7, the winds were starting to return to more normal (unpredictable!) Rec Park-like conditions, still at about 6 -8 MPH, but shifting 20- 30 degrees then back, and with holes in various places where shoreline trees affect the breeze. In these conditions getting a good Start then spotting and tacking on the shifts, staying “in synch” with the wind became more important, as did staying with your basic strategy instead of chasing the wind (only to find it was gone when you got there). As the day ended, RD Valentine wrapped everything up at exactly 1:30 PM, the last time we can start a race. He got in all 12 Heats, and did a nice job doing it, too. Thanks Bob!!
Brad Ferrell placed first, over new sailor Steve Winfield. BUT (another new sailor) Bob Kalman had his best day ever- winning three Heats, and finishing 2nd in two for a solid third place. Nice progress Bob!