BYC & Regatta Pro Mid Winters

[Photoboy]

"It sure beats dodging super typhoons"

Was the mantra of the day, as 104 boats sailing in 15 divisions in 2 separate regattas
stretched out on yet another glorious Autumn weekend in the San Francisco Bay on the Bezerkely Flats. With the Regatta Pro setting up a bit closer to the slot and in a tad bit deeper water with an earlier start, the one designs in Moore, Melges 24, J-24's J-105's J-70's, and J-120 managed to squeeze in a start with 8-10 knots of north westerly before it began to fade and eventually shut off. A premium on light air tactics and prediction of the wind movement, (think patches of light air) and a bit of current assessment was rewarded with high scores.






Nearby on the Olympic Circle, the BYC RC had a bit later start and consequently light wind. When they finally did get breeze it was of 4-7 knot variety with dividends paying off for those who could predict the wind movements and current adjustments. For a while it appeared that the later starters would not even make it around the course befor the 5:00 whistle blew.










With a massive die off of wind around the 14:00 period, things looked grim until the tell-tale sign of a westerly building became evident.

Rejoice!







By 2:30 PM a nice 10-12 knot injection of SW breeze allowing the Regatta Pro division's and opportunity to run a 2nd race, even though some boats had departed in assumption the light and variable forecast would remain true. With that the Oly Circle crews also received a welcome push of breeze to escort them on the track and later to the BYC for Chowder and Brewski's before heading home for the night. A glorious day on the the Bay, and with the harsh weather being dealt elsewhere, there would be few complaints on the light air nature.







Additional Photos HERE!!!


Regatta Pro Results


BYC Saturday Results

[Idiotwind]

Love the shots of the Can. That's just what happens when you do a garbage set from the back side! Paulie took about 45 seconds to get it sorted out. Nice start to the new year, with 5 '20s on the line. Should be 6 in December. Thanks, PB!

[Slackwater_SF]

Nice looking day for getting around buoys.

Six (6) Cal-20's is good fleet,

Merit25's have a one-design group in the Alameda Estuary. Maybe your efforts will lead to even more 20's around the buoys, S-->

[Photoboy]

Love the shots of the Can. That's just what happens when you do a garbage set from the back side! Paulie took about 45 seconds to get it sorted out. Nice start to the new year, with 5 '20s on the line. Should be 6 in December. Thanks, PB!

Gotta share the ® "Can-O-Whoopass" super secret pole less Petaluma chicken coop set employed during the 1st race of the BYC Mid Winter Worlds




Part 1:Foredeck drags kite unceremoniously out sometime after rounding weather mark





Part 2: Without pole assist, the foredeck holds the kite on board and hooks up lines






Part 3: When ready, foredeck hollers "Hoist" and up she goes





Part 4: When kite head has reached the sheave, the foredeck yells "Made" and then starts to unravel said kite




This is the tricky part, with kite beginning to fill, the foredeck holds the sheet clew while undoing the sheet and clears the line, then reassembles







The process is repeated for the guy




Once sorted, the spinnaker pole is inserted




The foredeck then returns to the cockpit and pulls on the right lines until the kite is
properly trimmed, while the driver carefully maneuvers to keep the boat under the powerful
windcatcher




Once completed, crew pose for the 2014 Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image of the Year contest
* (note the shaka, not the shocker is employed, very important for contest photos)

[Buzz Light Beer]

That thars a fine, fine example of seamanship. But where are the lifelines?

[Idiotwind]

Hardy har har, on the lifelines. See you in the Spring, in the BAMA DH Rockpile. Bring your "A" game.

This sequence all happened in about 90 seconds. Hilarious. I'm telling the C20 Fleet all about it, so they can learn. Guys with massive wallets, $250k boats, and no experience racing should get one of these, and build some chops. Paul's a beast. Crew wins races. Skipper's lose them, most of the time.

624, out.

[IOR Geezer]

Just for clarification, when is the proper time to use the "super secret pole less Petaluma chicken coop set" over more conventional sets?

[BobJ]

Top J/24 crews have been doing something similar for years, since hoisting out of a turtle can be slow. Throw the kite out under the boom and top it - done.

Quite doable on a 24'er (or in this case, a 20'er). A full-sized boat, not so much.

The lifeline comment was a low blow (although I admit I thought about it!) Good to meet you in Vallejo, Richard.

[Buzz Light Beer]

Just stirring it up a little. My guess is they were set up for a gybe set coming into the weather mark and the wind shift from
NW to SW happened just as they reached the mark.

Hate it when that happens!

[Charlie Tuna]

Are we finally gonna have a lynching?

[Buzz Light Beer]

You know I'm allergic to spectra neck ties

[Angry Dolphin]

New England Ropes is making a new hypoallergenic line of lines.

[Idiotwind]

In re: Garbage Sets. Yeah, we hate it when that happens, too, but we just roll with it. I packed the kite, so I take full responsibility for the magnificent photo sequence.

[Prince of Whales]

[Idiotwind]

Is that the State of the Onion? Who's the white guy? What's Barry saying?