Home	Nationals Regatta at GGYC 10/4/14

(If you like, you can skip down through the prose and go straight to the pictures below!)

It was worth waiting for! Eight Islanders sailed two good races for an outstanding 2014 Nationals Regatta held off Golden Gate Yacht Club on Saturday, October 4th. Counting up the crews and Race Management, we had over 40 people and 10 Islanders represented, and if you count Bella Luna crew David Chiodo's Freeport 36, that's 11 Islanders.

A near-record heat wave blanketed the whole Bay Area and the day started with no wind. As our Islander 36s started to arrive in the starting area for the scheduled 1130 warning gun, they found a fleet of 17 ocean racers milling around in a postponement from their scheduled 1000 warning gun. With no wind on the water, all the Islanders were directed by radio to come in to the GGYC docks and cool their heels (or transoms as the case may be.) By noon all eight entries were dockside and relaxed inside GGYC or sat on the rocks watch for some wind to come up and the start of the ocean racers.

Finally the wind line a mile and three quarters to the west under the Golden Gate Bridge started to slowly work east. By 1300 there was enough wind for the ocean racers to commence their five start sequence. Gary and Pat Salvo, serving as the GGYC Race Committee, called an Islander Skippers Meeting downstairs in the clubhouse. Gary explained that we would start with Course #7, a triangle with the windward leg off the starting line up to Blackaller buoy, then northeast across the Bay to round Harding Rock buoy, then southeast to the #6 buoy off of Fort Mason, and a beat to the finish at GGYC, 5.4 miles total rhumbline distance. The Warning Gun would be at 1340, with the start at 1345. The fleet was requested, if possible, to stay clear of the National Match Racing regatta that St. Francis was holding about a third of a mile directly upwind of our starting line at GGYC.

With about a one knot ebb flowing across the starting line toward the first mark, racers were cautious about approaching the line too early. Kapai took advantage of that caution and started a run on port tack close to shore and easily cleared the fleet on port tack for a clean start headed out into the favorable ebb tide. Over the next minute the remaining seven starboard tack starters tacked over to port to get out into the Bay.

This is the first regatta where we have tried, consistent with this year's motto of "Safe, Fun, and as Fair As Possible," using different ratings to reflect the most obvious speed-potential differences between boats. To encourage those with fixed props, we gave an allowance of 10 seconds per mile for a 2-blade fixed prop, and 15 seconds for a 3-blade prop. For that that only had headsails larger than our 135% standard jib,, we added a penalty of 6 seconds per mile for jibs over 140%. Though we allowed Tall Rigs without a particular penalty for this regatta, they could not get prop allowances. The table below shows the adjustments for the Nationals Regatta. Prop designations are : Fixed, Folding, Feathering.

Meanwhile, back on the race course, Cassiopeia rounded Blackaller with a nice lead followed by a tight pack of Some Day, Kapai and Califia. A bit farther back was the trio of Serenity, Osprey and Bella Luna, and then Orion using a jib borrowed from Mischief. Though there were some good downwind tacking duels, the final results were in that order. For this first race, the adjusted ratings didn't change the finish order, but kept the second through fifth place finishes tight enough that one bad tack would have made a difference.

The second race started at 1515 with a nice ten knots of wind and a shorter 3.4 mile windward leeward course. Again Kapai pulled off a port tack start, but would not have in the starboard tack pin-end boat had had her jib trimmed and up to speed. You can see that in the video clip of the second race start. Note Kapai's shadow clearing the starboard tack boat's bow with open water between them. Cassiopeia led at the weather mark and quickly set up a wing and wing run down to Fort Mason, with others slow to follow suit.

In this race, the new ratings made a difference. Though Califia finished 29 seconds ahead of Some Day, the combination of Some Day's 10 second plus for a 2-blade fixed prop, and Califia's 6 second minus for flying a 155% jib, resulted in Califia owing Some Day 54 seconds, and thus Some Day corrected into third place. Even though the fixed prop allowance alone would have just been enough, you can also see the down side of racing an I-36 with a big jib in picture number 109 where you can see Califia's rudder partly out of water in less the twelve knots of wind - that slows you down.

Before we wrap this up, here are two comments from the racers that reflect the fun and spirit of the day:

From Eric Mueller: Serenity's Islander 36 Nationals
What a wonderful weekend! It started with an early morning motor from Coyote point up to GGYC. The weather was clear and a gorgeous sunrise greeted me as I was heading up the South Bay. Serenity arrived around 0940 to await crew set to arrive at 1030. I went up and said my hello's to Pat and Gary who had opened up the YC and were sitting waiting for wind. Bobby and the crew were there from Berkeley waiting to send off the OYRA boats. With it dead calm there was much grumbling and reviewing of weather forecasts hoping for some wind.

Serge showed up with a huge pile of munchies quickly followed by Ali with her great enthusiasm and a bottle of wine. We started setting up the boat while waiting for the winds to show some signs of life. The rest of the Islander fleet slowly trickled in and Jim who had graciously offered the use of his 135 (we only have a 110) moored up next to us. He not only let us borrow the jib he and his crew helped get the 110 off and the 135 on the roller!

The wind finally picked up in the early afternoon into the teens and everyone kicked into high gear to get the racing started. We headed out got the main and jib up in short order. We lined up and got a middle back of the fleet start on our way to Blackaller. The course was a nice triangle over to Harding. We were doing fairly well adjusting the car leads for the new sail as we went. We rounded the first mark on our way to Harding with two boats in our wake. Not bad for a new crew and sail. Ali was feeling a little out of it so we agreed she should take it easy. This left Serge running around like a madman with my help for the remainder. We rounded Harding in fifth and pretty much stayed there. For two of us I think we did an outstanding job on the tacks. My strategy could have used some help. I was concentrating on keeping us going.

The second start for a quick windward leeward was much improved and were starboard at the pin end 2nd row with better than half the fleet behind us. Just as we were crossing the start line a Port tack boat came across and caused some problems. I hollered Starboard to a worried look. The boat in front of me turned up and I ducked as the port tack boat came head to wind. He must have been a little worried. Unfortunately having to duck him cost us a couple of spots and we were 4th on the first weather leg.

We held onto that for about half of the downwind leg. We did not have the manpower to rig the pole so we free flew the jib wing and wing. We did try and slow him down a little but without the pole did just not have the speed. Back to weather we gave him a run for the money and managed to keep the lead to a couple of boat lengths finishing 5th in our second race. Thank you to Ali for the beer and munchies at the end of the day. Talk about your great crew!

The only failure we had was the mainsheet winch. It seized on the final upwind leg. I am still trying to figure out the problem. The main slippoed and we had to tighten it up. Thank goodness for the mainsail track system. There are some expected rig tuning issues still to be worked out as we seem to point slightly better on a starboard tack than on port. The wonderful loan of a sail from Jim gave us at least a chance in the light winds. Definitely owe him a case of beer or a nice bottle of wine!

Incredible thanks to Serge who got more than he bargained for and to Ali who soldiered through despite not feeling well. I hope they both left with smiles. Two fifth places is great for new crew and shorthanded to boot. How often do you get sunny warm medium wind on the Bay. It was just a fantastic day on the water!

From Jim Lovel: Osprey
Thanks for organizing the race - we all had a blast. The crew had about 3 tacks of experience before the 1st start and by the end we were clicking well. Everyone wants to do it again which is the sign of a great day.

Sorry we couldn't join afterwards but we had to hustle over to Angel Island to try to catch my wife (although her ferry was pulling out just as we pulled up).

Thanks!

Most other boats came ashore and joined the celebration at GGYC. When you signed in for the party you got a ticket that was good for a free beer or glass of wine, in addition to the salad, chili and hot dog spread with all the trimmings. It was one terrific afternoon of good sailing fun and friendship. A great way to end the 2014 season, with much promise for 2015! If you want an original of any of the images (there are only 800 x 600 web versions), email Rick Van Mell with the picture caption and number.

Pictures (so far) by Rick Van Mell. Click on images to enlarge, click "Back" to return.

Results			Race	Race	Points	Place
Sail #	Boat Name	Skipper	1	2
6763	Cassiopeia	Kit Wiegman	1	1	2	1
438	Kapai	Richard Egan	3	2	5	2
580	Some Day	Roy Samuelson	2	3	5	3
67074	Califia (Tall)	Tim Bussiek	4	4	8	4
82659	Serenity	Eric Mueller	5	5	10	5
620	Osprey	Jim Lovell	6	6	12	6
6697	Bella Luna (Tall)	Robert DaPrato	7	7	14	7
211	Orion	Alex Okrut	8	8	16	8

Race Details: Race 1; Race 2.

Golden Gate YC ..	looks great ...	but no wind!	Ophira is here	Cassiopeia arrives ...
Serenity too	crew talk ...	new Algrip ...	new carbon pole ...	ports too.
Cassiopeia gleams	Here comes ...	Osprey	Gary's program ...	has boats listed ...
ready to go ...	Race committee team	No Wind!	Islanders fill slips ...	big iron under the bridge
tucked in ...	big shots ...	wrong direction (east) ...	Islanders fill up.	Kit and Gary
Here comes ...	Orion ...	tucked in.	Serenity ...	and crew.
Osprey ...	stern ...	crew.	Cassieopiea ...	stern ...
crew.	Some Day ...	stern ...	crew.	Orion ...
stern ...	crew.	Lots of sterns!	Califia ...	stern ...
crew.	Ophira ...	name.	Kapai ...	Rick Egan ...
crew.	Bella Luna ...	stern ...	crew.	Gun time for ...
ocean race start.	Skippers' meeting ...	casual approach ...	listening up ...	all ears.
To the start ...	Hoisting sail	A day on the Bay	Trail runs	Triple fun
2 minutes ...	setting up ...	lining up ...	1 minute ...	45 seconds ...

Kapai on port ...	they're off.	Chinese laundry	Crossing the Gate	Approaching Blackaller
Rounding	Pt & Gary watch	Sandy too.	Renaissance of Tahoe Vista ...	gybing ...
oops! (not racing)	Heading for the finish ...	chasing.	1st Cassiopeia	tacking after finish
Coming up ...	inside approach ...	2nd Some Day	3rd Kapai	4th Califia
5th Serenity	6th Osprey	7th Bella Luna	8th Orion	Ready for Race 2?
Pre-start check ...	crew is ready ...	Serenity ...	reaches away ...	tacking.

Bella Luna	Soome Day	Here they come	Kapai on port again	30 seconds after start
10 seconds later ...	sorted out ...	away to windward	Stretching out	Riding the ebb
Blackaller again	Foiling kiteboarder	Califia & Some Day	zoomed in.	Serenity & Orion
Downwind ...	Kapai wing and wing	Wing and wing - race 2	1st Cassiopeia	Kapai tacks for ...
the finish line.	2nd Kapai	4th Califia	5th Serenity	6th Osprey
7tj Bella Luna	8th Orion	Coming ashore ...	Serenity too ...	filling up ...
Orion too ...	looking good.	Check-in table ...	crews ashore.	Some Day crew ...
talks it over.	Where is everybody?	they're here!	One great Islander day!

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