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Islander 36 Association |
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Islander 36 Association |
Sail Trim Clinic
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Getting a little rough around the edges? Need a trim? Sailing is a skill. And sailing well requires honing that skill. On April 17th, we will provide the Islander 36 clan an opportunity, both on and off the water, to sharpen up. Starting at 10:00 am, with a continental breakfast, the Golden Gate Yacht Club will be the place for our annual Trim Clinic. In the morning, Tom and David Newton, will begin a three part clinic. The first part will consist of a discussion, upstairs in the clubhouse, of sail trim techniques in the context of sailing to Vallejo and back the next day for the Great Vallejo Race on May 1st and 2nd. We want to encourage a large and varied I36 turn out for the famous Vallejo Race and believe it fits with the trim clinic because the race contains the best of both worlds, a downwind racing cruise to a raft-up style party and a beat back the next day. The race back to the bay proper from Vallejo on Sunday will count for the YRA season championship and the race to Vallejo on Saturday will count for the “All Sails” trophy presented at the fall dinner. So, the Saturday race to Vallejo will allow spinnakers - lots of fun! But also, to encourage anyone who would still cruise up to Vallejo on Saturday and enjoy the festivities but who would not fly a spinnaker, for the first time we are offering the “I Don’t Give a Chute” keeper trophy (to be presented at the fall dinner) for that boat sailing without a chute to finish before any other I36 also sailing without one (Saturday only). Who will win this unprecedented honor? The buzz has already begun. We see the Vallejo Race as a time to test out what can be learned during the clinic. The second part of the clinic will be held on the water. Now, exactly what happens on the water and when it happens will naturally depend on the weather which, at this time of year, can be absolutely anything. But here are a few ideas we can kick around in the morning. Brushing (non-competitive practice). To practice sailing and improve your skill, you don’t have to race your boat. Everybody knows that the finest way to improve your sailing ability is to sail right next to another identical boat and match sail trim to achieve the same speed. How can you improve your sailing if you’ve been dusted so bad you can’t even see the other boats up close and personal to observe what they are doing? The Captain Hooke invites all the other boats in the fleet to sail side by side while we all work on getting your boat to foot faster and point higher! This is not a competition; it is not about being left behind. It’s about catching up and sailing with, not behind, other boats. Also on deck at the GGYC, we will have a race committee ready to go so we can try a couple of relaxed starts and a couple of easygoing races up and down the city front so you can immediately try out what you learned while brushing. This would be competitive practice. And thirdly. In addition, it is our intent to have our boats photographed while sailing in front of the GGYC such that afterwards, back on shore while we fire up with hot chili and burgers, those same pictures can be reviewed again for even more feedback on sail trim. If you can bring your boat to the trim clinic, you will be sailing faster on the way home, and who doesn’t want to get home faster? But even if you can’t bring your boat, we will try to get you on another boat (if you want) and we think you will be able to observe enough of the action on the water and back on shore to still improve your sailing. Put this in your pipe and smoke it: Formation sailing: If the Blue Angels can do it, why not us? Formation sailing is a revolutionary concept (Tom claims he thought of it, but he also thinks he’s Admiral Nelson). In this would be demonstration of collective discipline, a feat of coordinated sailing skill and group trust, the idea is not to go faster than another boat or, for that matter, slower, but all participating boats to sail at exactly the same speed, close together as is safe (inches?) in a group, all bows defining a straight line, or some other predetermined geometry, and then, by a radio call, all tack together at the same or perhaps in a predetermined peel off sequence. Think Busby Berkeley or the Rockettes if you’re having trouble with the concept. Fleet Captains Tom and David Newton have organized this great event, so come one and come all! Here's the drill: Report to Golden Gate YC (upstairs) Saturday morning - either bring your boat, or come by car. For food, we will have some rolls & beverages available for breakfast, then a chili & small burgers buffet after we come in about 1500 - 1600. There will be a modest charge of about $20 per person for food. A cash bar will be available in the afternoon. Tie up, say "hi" to your friends and get registered, coffeed, sandboxed and in your seats by 1000. (You can come Friday night if you want.) Morning: We'll be in the upstairs room reviewing the day's agenda and learning from a wealth of experience on the Bay. We will cover setting up your sails for different situations, and review basic racing skills. Conditions permitting, we may be on the docks adjusting sails. Noonish: It's time to get your boats out on the water & squeeze in your own lunch. Early afternoon: We will try to set up some pairs of boats to compare sail trim postitions, and then run some practice starts or a short race -- weather permitting. Between 1500 - 1600 Back to the dock & up or downstairs at GGYC for well-earned chili & libations, celebrations and pictures of our boats under sail to review what we've learned. So..... if you don't want to be left ashore, you'd better fill out the participation form below - first come, first served! Welcome aboard for a great 2010 season with the most vital "grand old fleet" on the Bay! For additional details or questions, contact David Newton: newtondavid@fhda.edu. |