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Late Pacs

Both OWL and LIBRA have AIS and their progress (while relatively close to shore) can be viewed at www.marinetraffic.com . As of a few minutes ago OWL had traveled from Richmond to the GG bridge and then retreated to Sausalito. It looks like LIBRA is still in Sausalito Yacht Harbor.

BTW, it's been interesting to see which boats showup well on MarineTraffic. During the Farallones race GALAXSEA was visible as they rounded SE Farallon. I suspect his AIS antenna is high up.

Tom P.
 
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Owl is headed west. 18 nm nw of the Gate it is 7.8 knots. Libra is still at the dock in Sausalito.
Go, John!
 
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With light winds from the westerly quadrant forecast through tomorrow, OWL has his work cutout getting to the weather mark. Port tack almost parallels the northwest trending shoreline with leftover NW seas on the bow. Starboard isn't much better. Will be interesting to see which tack John chooses. Eventually, Monday, the breeze should veer NW, and OWL should begin to hunt.

Interesting to note John has chosen to calibrate his DeLorme in nautical miles and knots.
 
Hi John,

It is NM, nautical miles, else you haven't done the qual. BTW, when you are using marine charts, as required, you might want to take note that they are all calibrated in NM. Also, when you reduce your sextant data, it is going to resolve to degrees, mins, secs, which are conveniently set up to split the earth into a nice set of degrees found on the magnetic marine compass on your deck. Those same units are found on the charts and GPS charts you are using. This was agreed to a few years back, one of the few international agreements that has stuck .


Regards,

Brian BOschma


JohnS said:
Not to kick the hornet's nest (and I recall a few posts related to this issue elsewhere this year) but...The rules do not state nautical miles. The RRC's simply say "miles." If I had to make an argument I'd go with common usage for miles, which would be statute. So, 100 miles off shore and 400 miles under sail. Nothing says you can't go out 100 miles, turn around and come back and sail laps around the bay until you reach the required number. Although I think traffic in the bay might be a bit of an issue.

Personally, also being in the "latest-possible-pac" group (where was the wind last year during Long-pac??) I'm looking at a possible start on Saturday the 28th and I'll likely check the 100 mile box and find a comfortable point of sail and do a few laps until the return makes the distance. At least that's what the plan looks like now. And we all know things always go as planned off shore...

Also, I just noticed while looking at the RRC's to confirm the qual cruise details that there is a minor "navigational" error in the document. 2.04 [a] indicates that the qual cruise details can be found in Rule 9. In fact, it is Rule 8 that describes the required qual cruise details. (I seriously doubt this is worth correcting at this point.)
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Yesterday was a tough day to start your qualifier - I went out with Adam and we saw gusts of 48 knots. Good luck to them!
 
Question: Is hove to with a sea anchor disqualifying on this qualifying sail? Technically, it's still underway but "not under command."

I'm going to get stuck in a box with a lee shore on three sides and the eye of the wind on the 4th, without enough seaway to sleep without tossing out the parachute for safety. It'll keep me from approaching shore by retaining what little seaway I have.

Before anyone says that's illegal, the freighters do it all the time. If that's not cool, then I might as well turn around and start again tomorrow. I'm practically becalmed out here and trying to claw my way past the shipping lanes.

----

Disregard... I drifted into the traffic lanes and had to start my engine to avoid scratching the paint on M/V Heritage Leader.

Maybe later...
 
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pbryant said:
Question: Is hove to with a sea anchor disqualifying on this qualifying sail? Technically, it's still underway but "not under command."

I'm going to get stuck in a box with a lee shore on three sides and the eye of the wind on the 4th, without enough seaway to sleep without tossing out the parachute for safety. It'll keep me from approaching shore by retaining what little seaway I have.

Before anyone says that's illegal, the freighters do it all the time. If that's not cool, then I might as well turn around and start again tomorrow. I'm practically becalmed out here and trying to claw my way past the shipping lanes.

----

Disregard... I drifted into the traffic lanes and had to start my engine to avoid scratching the paint on M/V Heritage Leader.

Maybe later...
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I am certainly no authority on this - it is my understanding that if you are floating around with no wind and you must start up your engine to avoid a tanker then that is called prudent seamanship and is not punished by the laws of racing (no idea if it applies to this qualifier) and as long as its reported (and you didn't gain any ground) it shouldn't count against you... Looks like you are heading back already. I am sure you will find another good window to do you qualifier - great effort.
 
In the LongPac race you have to reach 126 40W. In the LatePac you can wander around as long as you get at least 33.3 leagues offshore and eat enough PopTarts.
 
JohnS said:
Nothing says you can't go out 100 miles, turn around and come back and sail laps around the bay until you reach the required number. Although I think traffic in the bay might be a bit of an issue.
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Not to burst anyone's bubble, but in 2008 AH sailed out 100 miles, sailed back into SF Bay, and completed his qualifying cruise inside the Bay without stepping ashore. The RC from 2008 reports "we had the good fortune to deny him and make him do another qualifier."

Perhaps the qualifier, as well as being sailed in nautical miles, should have half the distance to be sailed outside 100 miles, rather than doing loops closer to shore?
 
sleddog said:
Not to burst anyone's bubble, but in 2008 AH sailed out 100 miles, sailed back into SF Bay, and completed his qualifying cruise inside the Bay without stepping ashore. The RC from 2008 reports "we had the good fortune to deny him and make him do another qualifier."

Perhaps the qualifier, as well as being sailed in nautical miles, should have half the distance to be sailed outside 100 miles, rather than doing loops closer to shore?
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Finding four good consecutive days in Spring weather, with its steady progression of troughs and filthy sea states, is a real challenge. Being barred from performing some of that sail closer ashore (though I would NOT argue in favor of doing it in the Bay) further diminishes the opportunities. The Spring weather runs either cold or hot offshore, and seldom warm, this time of year. Looking at the current forecast, I have another window starting Monday, but the offshore forecast for Thursday calls for: "SEAS BUILDING TO 9 TO 14 FT." The sea state is better (though challenging) closer ashore. I do not intentionally set out to sail in 14 foot seas at 8 seconds (per the current NOAA wave period forecast). If I can't do a portion of that sail closer than 100 miles offshore, then that's a problem.

My next window for sailing offshore closes on Thursday, which isn't a large enough time window for my "100 miles on a good day" boat.

I recall reading accounts of other qualifiers ending with a sail down to Monterey and back. Am I imagining things?
 
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pbryant said:
I recall reading accounts of other qualifiers ending with a sail down to Monterey and back. Am I imagining things?
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I believe that's what Nathalie Criou on Elise did a few years ago. Raced and finished the Spinnaker Cup, turned and headed back, being sure to get 100 miles offshore during the return.
 
Critter said:
I believe that's what Nathalie Criou on Elise did a few years ago. Raced and finished the Spinnaker Cup, turned and headed back, being sure to get 100 miles offshore during the return.
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That may have occurred, but I don't think it was Nat.
IIRC, in 2014, Natalie did a more or less "by the book" late pac, but diverted to Santa Cruz after finding herself beating into an unanticipated 25knot gale on her last day while returning from the south after a fairly light and uneventful few days offshore.
 
I'm still back in port at Pillar Point, looking at the current weather and forecast. Wind is still 270 degrees true at buoy 46012 (off Half Moon Bay). I could go back to doing north/south boards, cheating south this time to avoid heavy traffic out of the Bay, but the real challenge is getting enough seaway to safely sleep. I could deploy my sea anchor without adequate underway seaway, but that will delay my progress. Finally - off shore weather is forecast to be UGLY starting Thursday: 30 knot winds (possibly a gale), and much worse: 15 foot seas at 9 seconds (based on the Pacific Briefing Package).

Still, I've got my boat ready to go, so I might as well enjoy a sail for now. As forecast now, Thursday is No Go - not prudent - bad idea. But I'll watch the forecast...
 
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Looks like Libra turned around and is on it's way back. He is pretty far South but tomorrow's WNW winds should allow him to come back at a nice angle.
Owl is still on it's way out, maybe turning around later tonight.

Dirk "TIJD" First 30JK
 
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