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CURRENTS – April 2017

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CURRENTS – April 2017 Newsletter of the Constitution Yacht ClubCURRENTS – April 2017 Welcome to a new season and the spring edition of the CYC Currents newsletter. Last fall presented some late season wind condition challenges and Peter Galipault leads us through his boat handling suggestions to keep safe and be successful on the race course when air speeds exceed 20 knots. Some of you may be aware that there are changes to the rules of racing this year, and we have recap of the basics from Peter Brown, who attended a recent seminar at MIT. Also this winter there was some adventure during an offshore cruise to Bermuda which is relayed to us from the Tartan 4000 Argon. Linda Perry Riera describes the boat’s introduction to sailing performance tips during the passage provided by CYC fleet captain Lance Ryley. Boat Handling Perspectives on Racing Sailboats in Heavy Air by Peter Galipault In the several decades that I have sailed on Scherherazade I have had a fair amount of experience in heavy air racing - with steady wind velocities over 20 and gusts anywhere from 25 to 35 knots. The current Scher, born year 2000, has raced in these kinds of conditions from Key West to Buzzards Bay, Marblehead, and of course Boston Harbor (but not often in complete darkness). Scher is a very tender yacht, so survival in challenging conditions sometimes means knowing when not to hoist sails, when to leave the racing area, or even not go out at all. Picture courtesy of Lisa McKerracher Safety is always foremost in our minds and if we do find ourselves heading out on a windy day, the first priority is to make sure that everybody has a life jacket on and to remind everyone that the number one job is stay on the boat. I also commonly advise the crew that the goal is to get around the course as best we can safely and avoid other boats, which is a good idea to keep in mind in just about any weather conditions. Although it is rare, in some cases we will not hoist the spinnaker and, if we do hoist, we’ll sometimes douse instead of jibing with the spinnaker up. When we’re about to maneuver, whether tacking, jibing or rounding a mark, communication becomes vital, so I speak very loudly, to the point of shouting, so everyone can hear over the accompanying noise. Often I’ll ask the mid-deck crew to relay orders to the foredeck; they’re the farthest away and often have a hard time hearing any messages from the helm. Before mark roundings or any sail changes, I try to give as much warning as possible. At windward mark roundings, we will often delay hoisting the spinnaker until there is a good angle for carrying the sail. At leeward marks (which come up so much faster in a breeze) it’s prudent to get the spinnaker down early before the rounding. An early douse will also provide better ability to maneuver at the mark and avoid traffic with converging boats. On our boat we discuss the mark rounding well in advance to make sure from the bow of the boat to the stern, everyone is clear on what is about to happen and what their role is. Boat handling and steering can be especially challenging when sailing hard on the breeze. I try to feather as much as possible to keep the boat on an even keel and moving forward. When a gust does hit, I let the boat come up until there is nearly no pressure on the helm. I try to anticipate if the next puff is going to be a header, mindful to avoid auto-tacking. This is also something that you can feel when the helm gets too light. The foredeck and mid-deck folks can usually tell me when a puff is coming, but sometimes they forget to tell me. To stay on an even keel and avoid rounding up, the main sheet trimmer is very active and makes sure the sheet is never cleated. Downwind in these conditions, to avoid broaching there is always someone who is also dedicated to the vang. By keeping our primary focus on everyone’s safety, communicating clearly and keeping the boat on track in big breezes, that post-race beer in the bar at the end of the racing day definitely tastes so much better. Cheers and fair winds. Racing Rules A Day with Dave! by Peter Brown Recap of North Sails Rules Seminar held Sunday, March 26 at MIT: My main reason for sailing is to enjoy the water, the wind, my crew, and the shared experience of others around me on the water. While I love a relaxed sail, I also normally race against my friends and so try very hard during racing season to avoid losing friends over controversies arising when boats converge. One of the ways I do that is by knowing the racing rules. This philosophy led me to the North Sails Rules Seminar and a day with rules guru Dave Dellenbaugh. Dave is the rules advisor to the USA Olympic Sailing Squad, so arguing with him is a bit of a losing proposition. I decided instead to try to be a sponge. Here is some of what I learned. 1. All boats, whether the right of way boat or not, must take action to prevent contact! 2. Port / starboard - very little needs to be said. 3. Leeward is king, if a boat from behind gets an overlap (a line across your transom) within 2 of their boat lengths to leeward of you, they can sail their proper course to the next mark and you, as the windward boat, are required to keep clear. 4. At marks, the inside boat gets the room. Mark roundings have the most rules, so it is probably a good idea to read about these and sort out any questions. 5. You cannot change course so quickly that another boat does not have time to keep clear. 6. The Racing Rules of Sailing start to apply when you get into the racing area, and penalties start after your Prep Signal. Boats not in our race are obstructions (e.g., Soling fleet) The rules were created for safety to eliminate collisions and to ensure sure we all race the same way and follow the same precaution standards on the course. For those Interested in more racing rules information, here are some useful resources US Sailing - Rule Book & Appeals (available online) Dave Perry’s book Racing Rules of Sailing Dave Dellenbaugh’s newsletter Speed & Smarts A Safety Reminder from the Fleet Captain From the Racing Rules of Sailing : Rule 1.1 “Helping those in danger” states that each boat and sailor must give all possible assistance to any boat in danger, even if that boat is not racing. Education Recap of CYC Education Seminar Events 2017 by Phil and Yolande Haydon Seminar 1 on February 15 – Vendée Globe: The CYC 2017 Education Seminar series kicked off with a riveting presentation by Jonathan Green, Boston-based specialist in shorthanded sailing. As a member of Rich Wilson’s team in the Vendée Globe around the world solo race, Jonathan was closely involved in preparations for the race and described the team’s goal to support Rich’s related international school program Sites Alive. Jonathan then explored the history of the Vendée Globe and homed in on the voyage’s goal to be a platform for exciting real-world education experiences shared by students around the world. The presentation made clear the monumental effort needed to participate, not only for the boat and skipper, but also for the extensive fundraising required. A few days after the seminar, Rich actually reached Les Sables d’Olonne to finish the grueling course and Jonathan was there to greet him. As for the future, Jonathan has already begun his campaign to enter the race in 2020. CYC members will surely be following his progress with great interest. Seminar 2 on March 15 – Community Boat Building: Since 2014 Community Boat Building, located in the Seaport District, has partnered with Boston inner-city elementary schools to support a STEM curriculum in marine science, math, rowing, sailing and swimming. Stockton Reece, Director of the organization, braved the snowy elements of March 15 to present the second seminar of the series, describing how the workshop places students with volunteers to build rowboats. To the great excitement of all, finished boats are launched on Jamaica Pond and some boats are even sold to raise funds for the organization. Several attendees of the seminar expressed interest in visiting Community Boat Building with a view to volunteering. Seminar 3 on April 12 – The Rescue of the Clyde Challenger Crew: Luke Leafgren gave a thrilling presentation on his experiences aboard the ill-fated Clyde Challenger, a 60-foot sailing vessel making a passage from the Azores to Scotland. After the start, crew and boat soon encountered heavy seas and high winds. Four days into the voyage, as Clyde Challenger approached the northern coast of Spain, the barometer started dropping and winds began to build. The vessel soon began to show the strain as there was a broken preventer, plastic tags holding the spray shields broke, a life sling was pulled off into the water (it had to be rescued), and the dodger had to be lashed down. Nobody is entirely clear what happened next. Was the boat hit by a rogue wave? Did the boat turn up into the wind too much during a change in helmsman? The next thing the crew knew, the boat rolled and the cockpit was full of water.
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