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Singlehanded Farallones 2015
- Thread starter BobJ
- Start date
Philpott
Cal 2-27 Dura Mater
Hi, Max
The Navik is back in Dura Mater's cabin while I reinforce the 5mm fiberglass on her transom. However, Tom Krase's boat Constellation, which has a Navik, is at Richmond Yacht Club and he has given me permission to step aboard in order to remind myself of how to set up my own windvane. How to adjust the spring loaded part and the mechanics of lowering and raising the paddle (without losing it or my finger) are my concerns. Thank you for the offer. And by the way, Tom has asked me to tell everyone that Contellation is for sale. He can't come on Saturday because his son is graduating from Cal and (naturally) all in-laws are in town for the event.
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Right about OYRA pre-race MER inspections. They're calling random boats for post-race MER inspections. I think it's up to individual race authorities to determine whether they want pre/post/no MER inspections for ocean races. As far as I know the Spinnaker Cup isn't inspecting, for instance. I don't think the SSS is requiring inspections for the Farallones????
Philpott
Cal 2-27 Dura Mater
"Thank you to the SSS race deck for putting on this race. I can tell you that if we had fog I would have turned around! Even keel handled the conditions very nice. I set the first reef at the second green buoy out , after I saw Shaman setting her reef. If a Cal 40 is reefed a Catalina 320 should have already been reefed. The waves were impressive. Rounding the island was a challenge as the waves kept pushing me closer to the rocks then I wanted, a couple of extra tacks and around the island we went. On the return trip I saw the most impressive waves and much stronger winds. I observed a peak wind gust of 42 kts, yikes! Mostly the wind was around 30-35 kts from 120 deg. The waves on the return did give us trouble (boat and skipper) and both of us a good soaking, Even Keel clean and Mike wet."
Okay, I'm confused. The above quote is from Mike Meloy after the 2013 Farallones Race. I'm trying to figure weather out. According to NOAA, on May 18, 2013 the following weather @ 5pm is recorded @ Buoy 46026, which is half way to the Farallones: Direction 324; wind speed 7.6, gusts 9.3, wave height 1.65 with a dominant period of 6.25. How can I reconcile this information with my own and others' experiences of wind during that day, which was so different? So much more ... robust.
Okay, I'm confused. The above quote is from Mike Meloy after the 2013 Farallones Race. I'm trying to figure weather out. According to NOAA, on May 18, 2013 the following weather @ 5pm is recorded @ Buoy 46026, which is half way to the Farallones: Direction 324; wind speed 7.6, gusts 9.3, wave height 1.65 with a dominant period of 6.25. How can I reconcile this information with my own and others' experiences of wind during that day, which was so different? So much more ... robust.
mike cunningham
Freedom 30 "Jacqueline"
Apparently I am not the only one paying attention to that bouy. I have been keeping an eye on it for a couple weeks. Hey, I'm thinking, that's not so bad. Thanks a lot for raining on my parade Jackie
Wind speed historical data for 46026 looks to be in meters/second. Multipling by 2 is a fair estimate of knots. Wave height also metric. Wind speed may be the 10 minute average....
Anemometers are notoriously inaccurate. Buoys get hit all the time. I found one anemometer at Pt.Pinos the NWS used for reporting was so rusted the direction never changed, and the windspeed never exceeded 3 knots for months. WD-40 anyone?
Anemometers are notoriously inaccurate. Buoys get hit all the time. I found one anemometer at Pt.Pinos the NWS used for reporting was so rusted the direction never changed, and the windspeed never exceeded 3 knots for months. WD-40 anyone?
mike cunningham
Freedom 30 "Jacqueline"
I just rechecked 46026 at NOAA. I had been using an app. On android. It is reporting realtime in KTS and, at least, the historical graphs are also in KTS?? What are you looking at?
BobJ
Alerion 38 "Surprise!"
It's still early for a forecast but whatever units you use, it's looking velly velly nice for a little sail to the stinky rocks on Saturday.
I hope this holds: (At the rocks) NW wind 11 to 16 kt. Mostly cloudy. Mixed swell...WNW 5 to 6 ft and SSW 2 ft. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft.
So sign up already!
I hope this holds: (At the rocks) NW wind 11 to 16 kt. Mostly cloudy. Mixed swell...WNW 5 to 6 ft and SSW 2 ft. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft.
So sign up already!
The Smokester
New member
Novice question: I have a cutter rig with (of course) a regular 100% jib up front and a smaller staysail behind it. ***I am intending to enter the Non-Spin Division.*** My rating is for a cutter rig. With respect to the rules, under what circumstances can I use the various sail combinations? Examples: 1) During light winds can I fly main and both jib and staysail together?; 2) When it's blowing like stink, can I switch over to just main and staysail? 3) Can I pole out my jib downwind (wing-on-wing, no staysail)? I know that it's explicit that I cannot pole out twins (which I don't have yet anyway) in the non-spin division.
Is there a rule simply that I "cannot use both staysail and jib simultaneously" in non-spin?
Is there a rule simply that I "cannot use both staysail and jib simultaneously" in non-spin?
BobJ
Alerion 38 "Surprise!"
1.c.ii. allows "Twin headsails set on two poles for downwind sailing. This modifies RRS 50.2." but then it says "In the non-spinnaker division only one head sail may be used at a time."
In the context I'm guessing the latter only applies downwind but I see the confusion. Can we get Smokester a clarification? Randy (Westsail 32 Tortuga) often races with both jib and stays'l but in a spinnaker division. I think Dan (Galaxsea) does too.
In the context I'm guessing the latter only applies downwind but I see the confusion. Can we get Smokester a clarification? Randy (Westsail 32 Tortuga) often races with both jib and stays'l but in a spinnaker division. I think Dan (Galaxsea) does too.
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The decision is always the Organizing Authority as they define in NOR/SI.
DHF always had a right to inspect in the SI. Violations are DSQ wo Appeal.*
NCORC initially recommended full inspections prior to race.
DHF continued with the right to do inspections and attempted a compromise drive by random inspection post finish- didn't work
NCORC dropped the recommendation for inspection.
DHF continues with right to do inspections and experimented this year with photo remote email inspections which show promise.
cheers
bob
* This was discussed in NCORC and would apparently violate the rules if USS sanctioned race
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captleasure
New member
Ahoy! Yes I use my staysail on Tortuga all the time. I don't believe it is considered a 2nd jib and I use it mostly upwind and just off the wind. Anything deeper and it gets in the way of the jib. Cheers
Randy W32 Tortuga
Randy W32 Tortuga
The Smokester
New member
Thank you for the replies. I asked around at the skippers' meeting last night. Here is the result.
The confounding statement "...In the non-spinnaker division only one head sail may be used at a time..." applies to twin jibs only. A cutter is rated as a cutter, so using the staysail and jib together allows it to be sailed to its rating as intended. Protests based on a literal interpretation of the confounding statement have not been successful.
Nice to meet you and glad it worked out for you.
Philpott
Cal 2-27 Dura Mater
Yes, I'm watching that forecast change every 12 hours, especially the "4-7 ft nw swell 7 to 9 ft at 8 seconds". Huh?! The Big Fat Baby in me turned to my Go-To Guy, Bob Johnston. Here is his advice:
Well first, that's an average for the whole day and 15-25 is a broad range. The last time I looked it was going to be more like high teens out at the Farallones = a piece o'cake. It is forecast to get windier at the end of the day, with gusts as high as 31 knots. Therefore if you're not around the island by mid-afternoon you might want to head back, but see how it's going and how you're feeling.
On the way out, once the breeze picks up keep your sails flat - plenty of halyard tension, cunningham and outhaul on the main, halyard and sheet on the jib (grind it in flat). If you're still heeling too much you can reef of course, and also try to move the jib leads aft to open up the jib's leech a bit while keeping the foot tight.
On the way back you can ease everything some. A looser vang will help to keep you from broaching and of course, ease the mainsheet well out if it's getting broachy. If the jib is a little on the tight side (overtrimmed) it will hold your bow down better coming back, also reducing the tendency to broach. If you have an outboard jib lead (like out to the rail) use that - it will also want to led a little farther forward. This will keep the top of the sail from luffing when you ease it out on the reach home.
If that forecast (below) proves correct and the wave period is that short, it's going to be a bit sloppy. Remember though - just close up the companionway and turn around and it becomes more manageable/comfortable coming back. So keep going until you're not having fun anymore and then turn around. Hopefully that will be at the island!
Just a reminder on the rounding: You see the knob on the NE corner of the island from way off so it's pretty easy to plan to pass it at a seamanlike distance. Once you do that, don't bear off - hold a heading of 255 Mag (270 True) i.e. due West, even though the island tapers off to the south as you proceed along the north side. Watch for breakers off your STARBOARD bow. If you see any big ones, tack over and get farther North. Then don't bear away around the west end of the island until you're almost past it. Simply said - sail due West across the top, don't cut the corner.
Then once around and in the lee of the island (on the south side), use the head and get everything out in the cockpit you're going to want during the trip home. Then relax and enjoy the ride. It's nice to know the bearing back to the Gate since you won't be able to see it until you get closer in. Don't forget to turn on your running lights (I do it early), call in your approach to the finish and jot down your finish time in case the R/C misses it.