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Berkeley Sunday Midwinters

Snuffers are like Listerine - "I HATE it, twice a day!" Everything that could go wrong with it did - although I managed to keep it out of the water. I sailed the final upwind leg with it still hoisted, since it was jammed in the shrouds at the spreaders. There will probably be photos.

But yes, we got around the course in the cold and wet and it was good to see everyone out there.
 
Oh my I'm glad I wasn't the only one with problems ,,, I saw my own video and went.. WTF ? You're damn slow at everything... I'm thinking of secondary winches on a freaking Cal20..... lol
Just so that you know.. I'm still jealous of you fast boats... cheers
P
 
Fun times guys! Good to see everyone out on the water! That's the first time I've raced a short course in my boat solo and I have to say, I experienced pangs of jealousy over Bob's asym with the snuffer and Paul's solo-sized spinnaker... well sailed to all and looking forward to doing it again, hopefully in drier weather!
 
Wow! Less than 50 seconds between the top three today on corrected. Super fun! I am enjoying the learning process of racing on short courses singlehanded...just not much room for error and lots of value in the preparation. If I hadn't crossed up the halyards, or put AP controller in my pocket facing the wrong way, I wouldn't have been messing around on the bow and then leaned against the jib and turned off the autopilot and tacked....yeesh. I'm going to build a holster for that thing. Well done Bob for the win!
 
I'm glad we had some breeze - it wasn't in the forecast.

I've about had it with the snuffer (again). I gave up on it with the J/92 and am ready to "bag" it with this boat, except for ocean races. I watched you pull your kite down under the boom and was reminded what it's supposed to look like. A first-ever today: I was hoisting the kite in the snuffer and it was fighting me. Somehow a jib sheet hooked itself on the top of the snuffer and was trying to take a ride to the top. That thing is more trouble than it's worth.

Meanwhile Paul hoists his spinnaker out of his pocket I think.

But overall a fun day. Thanks for coming out to race. We had ten boats in the singlehanded division - that might be a record in the Midwinters.
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That WAS fun. Here's Jonathan on Stink Eye, looking like he knows what he's doing:

IMG-9702 - Copy (3).JPG
 
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Great photos, thanks! A great crowd! Bob, I was bummed to see the division cutoff for 3BF was at 111--I don't feel like I'm racing if I'm not wondering where Bob is.
 
Since 3BF is a pursuit race, I hope I see Barcanova only because you're sailing in the opposite direction.

Nothing personal of course!
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I will probably conclude that if I am sailing in the opposite direction from you, I am sailing the wrong way.

Which is not good, but still probably preferable to not sailing the wrong way, like that time I did this race a few years back in a Moore 24 and went under the Golden Gate six times before calling it quits.
 
I remember that one. I started and headed directly for Raccoon Strait - I didn't want to get near the Gate. I dropped out when I got close to the rocks at Pt. Cavallo!

Might take out Blackaller first this year. At 1700 it will be ebbing at 4.3 knots at the Gate. If Blackaller is your last mark, you're probably screwed.
 
Where do you expert locals go for premium tide data?

Growing up on a lake, it's one of those things that I tend to either fail to consider or radically overcompensate for. Got some work to do here!
 
I'm no expert but I use AyeTides on my iPhone (from the App Store). They update it frequently and it references a lot of stations around the Bay - some are tide only and some are current.

I also keep one of the little free books in the nav station just in case. Danny has a batch of new 2021's.

When all else fails, I follow Hank or Gordie!
 
Where do you expert locals go for premium tide data?

Growing up on a lake, it's one of those things that I tend to either fail to consider or radically overcompensate for. Got some work to do here!

The tide books with corresponding current diagram are quite helpful.
Attending one of Kame's "tide talks" at the bay model helped a bunch. (Though not likely to happen anytime soon)
Reminded me of watching streams as a kid and that the bay is dynamic like a river on a grand scale.
Catching those helpful counter currents is just a hoot!
 
In Thursday's mail, situation-appropriate swag from the BYC Midwinters. I finished second to Paul Sutchek and it was a good series.

Big thanks to veteran Bobbi Tosse and her race committee for making it happen despite the challenges.

I've read that this is the oldest midwinter series on the Bay. I remember when they called it the Berkeley Metros because Oakland's Metropolitan Yacht Club also participated.
I first raced the series 20 years ago with the red boat and a bunch of friends.

BMW Swag.JPG
 
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Here's THAT Berkeley Midwinter hat. It's still blue on the inside:

Jack Hat 1.JPGJack Hat 2.JPG

Jack is our first grandbaby. He's eight months old.

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