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Help A "Newbie" Get his Bearings

lbrindze

lbrindze

New member
I want to respect the forums rules, if this post violates policy please let me know where the best place to file this is. I tried a few searches for what I am posting and nothing turned up.

Greetings! I recently got a job in the bay area and will be relocating at the end of the month. I currently live aboard a boat in Mexico that I have cruised extensively singlehanded for the past year. At this point, I have a fair share of multi-day passages under my belt, but nothing longer than a week. Seeing as I am giving up the cruising thing for the time being (I wish I didn't have to, but alas, such is life...) I figured I could scratch my itch doing the racing thing with you guys.

Only problem is, I have almost zero racing experience. My boat is a classic, but hardly competitive, to say it nicely — She is a 1964 Pearson Vanguard with a phrf north of 200 (and will be staying in San Carlos for next few months anyway while I get my feet planted in the bay). My sailing style has been to set a course with the windvane, and then go inside and read for a while until conditions change... I imagine racing is quite different than this.

I was wondering if you guys have any advice for someone in my position. It would be nice to stay active with sailing and I definitely prefer the challenge of sailing by myself (though I am open to crew on double handed boat, I have tried racing on a typical race boat and did not enjoy the crowd). If I decide I like this sort of thing what kind of boats should I be looking at (one of the perks of having a job is you can think about these sorts of questions)? Any other relevant advice?

Thanks!
 
Cool - welcome! Some quick thoughts:
1. Nothing wrong with racing the boat you have. There are plenty of boats racing in SSS with PHRF > 200.
2. Racing as crew on a doublehanded boat is a great way to get your feet wet if you haven't done a lot of racing. Most SSS races have a doublehanded division. Or get an experienced SSSer whose boat is out of action to come with you. I'd volunteer myself, but I'm about to follow my boat to SoCal, and there aren't a lot of shorthanded races left this year.
3. Keep an eye on the SSS website toward the end of the year, when all the shorthanded races for 2018 will be posted. And/or pick up the YRA / Latitude 38 annual racing calendar about the same time for this and other info.
4. If you do decide to race your own boat, join YRA at the end of the year and apply for a PHRF certificate. Some clubs running shorthanded races don't require a certificate, but SSS does.
5. You may want to skip the Three Bridge Fiasco at the end of January. 350+ boats converging on the start line can be stressful.
I'm sure others will chime in.
Max
 
Welcome -
Everything Max says is true...
I would add that philosophically there are about equal portions of us concerned with getting somewhere first and those more interested in the journey.
Just don't let the "racing" part put you off.

DH
 
haha Holy cow! I definitely won't make that my first race to be sure. I did have the boat in Berkeley for a while up until 2012 and I remember that being a formidable race.

Thanks for the warm welcome and the good advice. The first challenge will be bashing up (or maybe shipping??) before I worry about racing, which is all fine and well as it seems the season is over for 2017. But that is a problem for mañana as the saying goes...

I wanted to get the feelers out now though so I can start planning for the coming year. I will likely have access to a Tartan 30 through a friend of mine who will most likely let me sail her by myself given my experience (though I doubt they will let me race her given the increased chances of collision as seen in the photo above), so I may be out doing bay cruises in the meantime. Any other opportunities for Singlehanded events or races in the off season?

Thanks again for the warm welcome and good advice!
 
Before Jackie yells "fake news" I'll clarify that the photo above is from Lake Union's "Duck Dodge." But the Three Bridge Fiasco has had similar moments.

The SSS Annual Meeting is November 8th at 1930 (do we have a location yet?). If you're in town, come and introduce yourself. Except for being socially-challenged and having poor personal hygiene, we're an approachable lot.
 
lbrindze said:
My sailing style has been to set a course with the windvane, and then go inside and read for a while until conditions change... I imagine racing is quite different than this.
Click to expand...


Racing is 100% different than this. I have been a single handed cruiser for many years, following the approach you describe. I am now planning on entering the 2018 SHTP, so this year I have been racing – single handed, with crew, as crew; even doing committee boat duty. Racing is very different, but it will make you a better sailor, and is very worth doing. I second all of the comments above, including race the boat you have. I’ll be racing a Valiant 32 to Hawaii. Get someone with racing experience to sail in double handed races and you will learn a lot.
 
Count me in! I will be in the Bay Area by 10/30 and will most likely be living in alameda or Oakland so that should be very convenient.
 
Cool. I'll be the one wearing an SSS shirt. Here you go but be careful - excessive speed may be addictive.

speed bearings.jpg
 
Pearson Vanguard = NorCal phrf 222
Finally! Someone else at the end of the pack when the faster boats start first.
 
Welcome, lbrindze!!! You've gotten some very good advice so far -- up until the irreverent started chiming in -- but that's the way we roll ;) You will soon find out what an amazing group of sailors are in the SSS, and just down-right nice people. I started single-handing 4 years ago with the Vallejo 1-2, which is coming up this weekend. That's the last race of 2018. Jackie (Dura Mater) has been known to rally a group of us to sail somewhere for lunch during the week. That's good, if you can easily skip out on work. I'm sure we can create an impromptu race before the end of the year. Where's that Fastest Time Around Alcatraz trophy these days? I would suggest you go ahead and submit your PHRF application to YRA. They get super busy when everyone waits last minute to get that done in December just before Three Bridge Fiasco. As to the delivery, one of the SHTP vets sailed with me when I brought Kynntana up from San Diego. He perfectly called the weather forecasting - twice! (Seriously, these folks are amazing sailors) and we had an easy motor north in two hops. Post here again and I'm sure you'll get all sort of input about the weather; however, we did the trip in June. The winter storm season is going to be starting soon. All the best to you on the move!

Carliane
s/v Kynntana (Freedom 38)
 
Last edited:
Philpott said:
Pearson Vanguard = NorCal phrf 222
Finally! Someone else at the end of the pack when the faster boats start first.
Click to expand...

Wasn't Little Wing a Pearson, too? I think Firefoxx (Yamaha 33) is also rated around 180. Maybe Doug will chime in soon.
 
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