Okay, I'll try again. We're a week + 2 days away from the Drakes Bay Races. There's been some chatter over on Pressure Drop, so I thought opening a thread on the SSS site would be good, too. Info on where to anchor - and which boats to abuse while they're anchored on the PD site. As the race draws nearer, how about some chats about strategies/tactics/etc. Who's going? Who's crewing doublehanded? Plans for Saturday night at DB? Other than "follow the yellow boat" any tactics/strategies to share? And, as the date gets really close, ideas about wind? Pat "NANCY" #28890
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2016 SSS Drakess Bay Races Chatter
- Thread starter Wylieguy
- Start date
Philpott
Cal 2-27 Dura Mater
Hi, Pat. Sorry for the delay. I considered posting on Sailing Anarchy but they scare me over there.
Dura Mater will not be following the yellow boat. Dura Mater follows all boats indiscriminately, regardless of color.
What is the Big Plan? To have enough wind to sail rather than motor. Oh my, wouldn’t that be a nice change? This is the third year of sailing to Drakes Bay, and I hope to arrive before dark. Last year I rafted up with Elise and Red Sky and Eyrie and Tortuga. Randy Leasure baked pizza and muffins. Seriously. Enjoyed sushi and fine accordion music.
I hope that whale from last year comes over to cozy up to DM again. And those flocks of birds as we entered the bay. Ooh. That was very cool. That’s our plan. Oh, and singlehanded. Of course. Because this is the Singlehanded Sailing Society, is it not?
https://vimeo.com/179284925
Dura Mater will not be following the yellow boat. Dura Mater follows all boats indiscriminately, regardless of color.
What is the Big Plan? To have enough wind to sail rather than motor. Oh my, wouldn’t that be a nice change? This is the third year of sailing to Drakes Bay, and I hope to arrive before dark. Last year I rafted up with Elise and Red Sky and Eyrie and Tortuga. Randy Leasure baked pizza and muffins. Seriously. Enjoyed sushi and fine accordion music.
I hope that whale from last year comes over to cozy up to DM again. And those flocks of birds as we entered the bay. Ooh. That was very cool. That’s our plan. Oh, and singlehanded. Of course. Because this is the Singlehanded Sailing Society, is it not?
https://vimeo.com/179284925
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Philpott
Cal 2-27 Dura Mater
Is Yvonne coming? Is she cooking? Why of course you raft up next to DM!
Henry & others, Anchor out. Sometimes raft up for dinner/social time, but usually go off and anchor overnight separately afterward. There's more "ripple" in Drakes Bay than it appears and rafting overnight often ends up being "bumpy" and uncomfortable. Anchor in 15 - 20' or so on the west side, north of the old fishing pier in sand/mud. There's grass closer to the old Coast Guard pier and poorer holding. It looks like the wind's going to be on the lighter side again this year, but it can blow hard through the anchorage if it's windy. We set an anchor alarm just in case, but have never dragged. It will be pretty clear what's going on when you arrive and see what other boats are doing anchor-wise.
Philpott
Cal 2-27 Dura Mater
Oh, you know I was kidding, right? My first Drakes Bay race was with Carliane on Dura Mater. We arrived in the dark and rafted up next to Krissy, bribed our way aboard with a good bottle of Pinot Noir and had a lovely dinner with Allan. Last year was a big raft up, Red Sky was the frat house and music went late. 2016 is a new year. Cruise around and decide for yourself. It is very lovely there.
BobJ
Alerion 38 "Surprise!"
I talked to the "yellow boat" skipper yesterday - he was reinstalling LIGHTSPEED's dingleballs and underwater lights for next weekend. It sounds like he has it all worked out - how much wind there will be, the currents, how he plans to exit the Bay, etc. But I'm not telling.
I reinstalled Rags' bobstay (among other things) so I can keep up with Henry.
Okay now we have a "colorful" parade to follow, since Jim Q is also sailing the race. Follow the "blue boat" following the "yellow boat" and for good measure follow the "green boat." My next boat is going to be painted "ecru" or "puce" so I can join the colorful parade. Enough with plain "white" boats that all look the same from a distance behind!
Sail Flow's suggesting light S/SW wind (okay,it's still a week out), but that would be interesting if it happened. A spinnaker parade up to Drakes Bay? More color to pay attention to and follow. There should be a place on Jibeset to list spinnaker colors. Or, everyone should be required to have a symbol on their chute identifying their boat. Like a "sea star" or a buffalo or maybe just a "RAGged" bunch of nylon fluttering in the wind.
Sail Flow's suggesting light S/SW wind (okay,it's still a week out), but that would be interesting if it happened. A spinnaker parade up to Drakes Bay? More color to pay attention to and follow. There should be a place on Jibeset to list spinnaker colors. Or, everyone should be required to have a symbol on their chute identifying their boat. Like a "sea star" or a buffalo or maybe just a "RAGged" bunch of nylon fluttering in the wind.
Daydreamer
SAILOR
Hopefully I didn't miss anything pertinent at the skippers meeting last night.
You guys didn't secretly change the starting location, right?
No real plan, just get out there and enjoy the day.
Last years Drakes was my first time flying (sort of) the spinnaker.
If the forecast SW breeze holds true I should be able to set sooner and hopefully better last years time
You guys didn't secretly change the starting location, right?
No real plan, just get out there and enjoy the day.
Last years Drakes was my first time flying (sort of) the spinnaker.
If the forecast SW breeze holds true I should be able to set sooner and hopefully better last years time
Philpott
Cal 2-27 Dura Mater
Re-entry into the Bay after Drakes Bay it was windy windy. The radio person at Corinthian Yacht Club, apparently feeling a bit harried by the approach of about eight boats within a short period of time, sounded like a high school teacher scolding his pupils. Here is the radio exchange between him and Henry/SV Grace upon Grace’s approach at the finish:
Henry: Race Committee, this is Grace, sail # 158 approaching the finish.
RC: Grace, could you describe your boat and sail?
Henry: My boat is white. My headsail is white. My mainsail is white.
RC: But could you tell us the color of your sail?
Henry: [long pause] My boat is white. My headsail is white. My mainsail is white.
RC: [impatient] What color is your spinnaker?
Henry: [patient] I have no spinnaker. My boat is white. My headsail is white, My mainsail is white.
RC: Yes, alright. Fine. We have your white boat.
Henry: Race Committee, this is Grace, sail # 158 approaching the finish.
RC: Grace, could you describe your boat and sail?
Henry: My boat is white. My headsail is white. My mainsail is white.
RC: But could you tell us the color of your sail?
Henry: [long pause] My boat is white. My headsail is white. My mainsail is white.
RC: [impatient] What color is your spinnaker?
Henry: [patient] I have no spinnaker. My boat is white. My headsail is white, My mainsail is white.
RC: Yes, alright. Fine. We have your white boat.
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There are no comments about the races - that's unusual.
So, I will start with my lows and highs:
Low:
Passed DR1 on port (wrong) side on Saturday and have to return in painfully light wind to re round. I wouldn't even know about the error without Max on INISCAW telling me when we passed. Thanks Max.
Anchor alarm @ 1 AM
High:
Passing big blue boat Swan 53 "Blue" with rock stars on board three times on Sunday in light air - after the third pass, they started engine and motored back.
Finishing Sunday race
So, I will start with my lows and highs:
Low:
Passed DR1 on port (wrong) side on Saturday and have to return in painfully light wind to re round. I wouldn't even know about the error without Max on INISCAW telling me when we passed. Thanks Max.
Anchor alarm @ 1 AM
High:
Passing big blue boat Swan 53 "Blue" with rock stars on board three times on Sunday in light air - after the third pass, they started engine and motored back.
Finishing Sunday race
solosailor
New member
Hey now, I wrote up Saturday at anchor. Cell reception there has usually been elusive.
Daydreamer
SAILOR
That was an enjoyable sail, racing, not so much.
After starting on time, and working my way out the Gate I found the predicted southerly not present.
I swapped out the jib for a 125 for a bit more speed. After Duxbury I settle big spin and carried it to Drakes.
Finished and got anchored just before dark.
Saw plenty of dolphins and a few whales, humpbacks headed north, birds, birds and more birds. And fishing boats. Wow!
A few people tacked around but I just ran the gauntlet and made it through fine.
After a nice dinner of BBQ chicken with Louisiana red beans and rice I slept like a rock.
Sunday morning after breakfast and getting ready, anchor de-weeded and stowed, headed for the start. I realize now I needed at least another hour!
The little zephyrs drifting through the anchorage earlier were now gone and the start line felt as far away as San Francisco Bay.
After escaping the clutches of Drakes bay I headed further out hoping for more breeze. Fugu kept closer to the coast. Chris is a good skipper with a comparable boat so I am mindful of his tactics.
I was able to set the big spinnaker and started to gain some ground when the breeze shut off again. Patience, perseverance, and stubbornness paid off cause the breeze finally returned.
My tactic took me DDW from Duxbury to Point Bonita, which did not pay off. Both Fugu and Arcadia were sailing hotter angles and pulled ahead even sailing greater distance and finished ahead.
Wind inside the Gate had me on the ragged edge, rounding up once, and luffing hard a few times. Found a wind hole at Harding then barely got past Pt Stuart.
Tactics.
All in all and enjoyable weekend.
Here are some photos.
After starting on time, and working my way out the Gate I found the predicted southerly not present.
I swapped out the jib for a 125 for a bit more speed. After Duxbury I settle big spin and carried it to Drakes.
Finished and got anchored just before dark.
Saw plenty of dolphins and a few whales, humpbacks headed north, birds, birds and more birds. And fishing boats. Wow!
A few people tacked around but I just ran the gauntlet and made it through fine.
After a nice dinner of BBQ chicken with Louisiana red beans and rice I slept like a rock.
Sunday morning after breakfast and getting ready, anchor de-weeded and stowed, headed for the start. I realize now I needed at least another hour!
The little zephyrs drifting through the anchorage earlier were now gone and the start line felt as far away as San Francisco Bay.
After escaping the clutches of Drakes bay I headed further out hoping for more breeze. Fugu kept closer to the coast. Chris is a good skipper with a comparable boat so I am mindful of his tactics.
I was able to set the big spinnaker and started to gain some ground when the breeze shut off again. Patience, perseverance, and stubbornness paid off cause the breeze finally returned.
My tactic took me DDW from Duxbury to Point Bonita, which did not pay off. Both Fugu and Arcadia were sailing hotter angles and pulled ahead even sailing greater distance and finished ahead.
Wind inside the Gate had me on the ragged edge, rounding up once, and luffing hard a few times. Found a wind hole at Harding then barely got past Pt Stuart.
Tactics.
All in all and enjoyable weekend.
Here are some photos.
Daydreamer
SAILOR
Here's a couple more.View attachment 1736
Attachments
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Greg, I too was surprised by a combination of too many tasks and not enough wind to get to the Sunday start, and seemingly spotted the fleet 20 minutes.
I deliberately aimed low towards Duxbury Reef or lower. I was thinking of a shorter course and the thought that with light winds from aft all day that if I went west in the hope of wind, eventually I'd need to head back down, which is painful in light air. I did risk the breeze getting to boats further offshore first, and maybe the wind never getting inshore to me. For a little while it was looking bad for FUGU as offshore boats seemed to have more wind, but wind increased closer to land not too much later.
Stayed on a starboard pole as I passed Pt Bonita, the wind clocked around from NW to west-ish, and I kept following it down. My mistake was to not jibe at Pt Bonita, the Archambald 35, Mirthmaker along side at Pt Bonita did so, and finished 10-15 minutes ahead. I went to Baker beach thinking I'd pick up a more established flood, but no!
Doused then jibed at Baker Beach, I was chicken after last years travails with a nasty wrap, multiple round-ups which cost me 20 minutes, I decided to sail conservatively this year.
I deliberately aimed low towards Duxbury Reef or lower. I was thinking of a shorter course and the thought that with light winds from aft all day that if I went west in the hope of wind, eventually I'd need to head back down, which is painful in light air. I did risk the breeze getting to boats further offshore first, and maybe the wind never getting inshore to me. For a little while it was looking bad for FUGU as offshore boats seemed to have more wind, but wind increased closer to land not too much later.
Stayed on a starboard pole as I passed Pt Bonita, the wind clocked around from NW to west-ish, and I kept following it down. My mistake was to not jibe at Pt Bonita, the Archambald 35, Mirthmaker along side at Pt Bonita did so, and finished 10-15 minutes ahead. I went to Baker beach thinking I'd pick up a more established flood, but no!
Doused then jibed at Baker Beach, I was chicken after last years travails with a nasty wrap, multiple round-ups which cost me 20 minutes, I decided to sail conservatively this year.