Win a pair of sailing gloves. . .

Now that tropical storm Faye has moved north of Central Florida we are ready to get back to our normal routine. While many of you spent this past week assessing and cleaning up flood damage, I took the time to get rid of the clutter in my life. It is amazing how much junk collects over the years and how much 'stuff' can be crammed into a closet. Albeit most of the closets are now empty, with a vow to never pile one item on top of another, or one box in front of another, there are still odds and ends on my bookshelf, my kitchen counter, and end tables scattered about the house. Enough decluttering, it is time to get back into shape mentally and physically.

Having lost 15 pounds I am just beginning to feel spry again. Who knows maybe it will even give me the edge I need for sunfish competition. Speaking of competition, what have ya'll been doing to improve your sailing? Everyone on the Fast Lane Team joined as a volunteer committed to learning how to race. Learning to race is an ever evolving process. As soon as you figure out how to hook up the spinnaker pole, you are asked to anticipate when you will need it. An efficient foredeck crew doesn't wait for the skipper to bellow to the bowman to 'hoist the pole,' rather
the foredeck crew learns to watch the wind and be aware of when the boat will be turning to a downwind tract. How do you that?

Watch the windvane. . . On the upwind leg the foredeck spends their time (a) skirting the jib as part of the tacking maneavers, (b) watches for puffs (c) takes bearings on other boats and the marks and (d) looks up at the wind vane. On the upwind leg the windvane points nearly parallell to the boat; the pointed end toward the bow and the wider end toward the stern. As the boat is turned off the wind (onto a reach) the wind vane lies perpendicular to the boat. In other words the pointed end points toward the port or starboard side of the boat with the wider end of the windvane pointing toward the opposite port or starboard side. Then, when the boat is headed downwind, the pointed end of the windvane points aft (or toward the stern, with the wider end of the windwave toward the bow.

Here's a contest: The first gal to draw a picture of the three angles of the windvane - upwind, reaching and downwind will win a brand new pair of sailing gloves. Send your pix via e-mail or
snail mail, or present to your boat captain.

Quit reading and start drawing. . . .

Sailing Success

After a great day of racing, albeit we were 4th out of 4th, we are reminded of what we need to improve on:

(a) I will trust the foredeck folks to figure out their problems
(b) I will always steer toward the mark even while rigging problems are being worked out,
(c) We will keep Tom on the stern centerline
(d) follow Bowman's advice (Michael Phelps' swim coach):



Successful people do what unsuccessful people don't want to do!



So, ladies, espcially our Fast Lane crew, as much as you resist, I beg you to start sailing small boats; that will get us to the finish line faster than any other practice we do. Until you understand how the helmsman effects everything else on the boat, you will always be reacting rather than anticipating. MYC has plenty of boats we can use. Let me know when you want to go. I'm there every Thursday from 4 pm - 8 pm and every other Sunday. You didn't learn to drive a car by sitting shotgun. Starting at our next outing on Fast Lane whomever takes the initiative to sail in a small boat will get the opportunity to drive Fast Lane after the races. So there's your incentive. :-) :-) :-)


For tonight, relish in your accomplishments. If you have any energy left, please send me one term, concept or skill you improved on today or need clarified. In addition to Tom's great coaching, Jim Henry has begun giving us great advise. He's a no nonsense guy who like Tom loves coaching.


Thank you Sherry R., Shelly, Rachel, Sue, Susan, Meg and Maryann!

Tips for Sailing Fast

While most of my writings have focused on the wonder of sailing it is time to pay attention to the technical aspects integral to making your boat go where you want it to. How fast you want to get to your destination depends on your perspective. If a storm is brewing you would want to get to shelter. Regardless of whether you seek a safe harbor or choose to sail in another direction to avoid a downpour, getting to your destination efficiently makes sense. If you are racing you would want to get to the finish line before the competition. Wouldn't you?

After years of racing on crewed boats one peeve I have is chatter on the rail. This is quite common on those long upwind legs. With the rail digging into your hamstrings while avoiding the spray jettisoning from the bow, crew seem instinctively trying to focus on world news or whose dating whom. Perhaps it is comfort chat. BUT, in addition to presenting an unsafe situation, it is slow.

Sherry Beckett clearly outlines 4 topics worth chatting about while on the rail. See section 2.4 of her 'Crew Handbook, which can be found at:

http://www.svsoggypaws.com/fastlane/FastLane5thEd.PDF

1. Spot wind gusts by looking at the ripples on the water
2. Give bearings on other boats
3. Give bearings on windward mark
4. Know where we are in relation to the whole course

Now, we have something to talk about on the rail. Even more so, we have a reason to go back to the club after the race for a cold drink while catching up on the latest . . .

Sailing Made Easier

Hard to believe, I know that twice this past month I sacrified great sailing for spending time dockside. When I could have spent two more weeks in the Bahamas I chose to come back to the brackish waters of the Intercoastal Waterway in my home waters. Then, just yesterday when I could have sailed the ocean blue from Ft. Pierce to Port Canaveral I again chose the ICW in order to come home day early. What has gotten in to me?


In the first case, I realized a 28 foot boat, even with its comfortable 8x10 patios on either side of the main hull, just wasn't seaworthy enough for my crossing the great oceans. So, I headed west from Abaco when I had a 98% chance of excellent sailing across the Gulf Stream; one can never be 100% sure of perfection. During those two weeks home I spent every day researching a more seaworthy multihull.


Just this past Tuesday when leaving for a 3 day sail and camp with my new sailing bud, Sherrie R.. we had a really tough time leaving the dock. There is a strong current where Turkey Creek flows into Palm Bay where SPRAY is docked. After 15 minutes of fighting to get out of the slip, I vowed, "This sucks and will never happen again."


Despite a beautiful sail to Ft. Pierce my thoughts were focused on ways to improve the docking situation. Afterall, despite the current, it is an ideal location to where I live and work. The dock is owned by a great friend and professional multihull sailor. It is great fun hanging out at his place. Besides, he's an excellent coach and freely offers safety tips. After a peaceful sleep at anchor on the north side of the bascule bridge I told Sherrie of my disappointment that it would be in our best interest to go home a day early and start working on a new docking system. That way when we want to sail off in the future it will be a matter of flipping a few lines and getting underway in about two minutes rather than struggle each and every time.


Moral of the story: When sailing at sixty staying away from hard objects - like docks and pilings -it is more important than an extra day of sailing. Funny how priorities change . . .

Oops,

This new blog is interesting. I must have hit the button to publish the previous entry before I said, thanks for listening, stay tuned, and ladies: come sail with me!

Sailing Back in Home Waters

What a pleasant surprise! After years of wishing there was another women's team sailing a similar boat to my preference, I have the privilege of consession. That is, while I would prefer someone else acquire a multihull, I have been given the opportunity to skipper an all women's team aboard a Lindenberg 28. Two other L28s compete in our monthly and annual women's events so at least I can measure my abilaity in a more competitive style than having a more dissimilar style of boat.

The real honor is that this particular L28 was owned and skippered by Sherry Beckett. Sherry raced Fast Lane for nearly 10 years in the Melbourne area and built a respectable reputation with her seamanship and hard work keeping the women sailing. Then, just two days ago Rochelle Y., one of her former crew, who now skippers Mouse, another L28, bequeathed me with 3 of her original Fast Lane t-shirts. Wow, I don't know who to thank the most:

Sherry for leaving me a trail to follow (she is currently circumnavigating the globe).
Rochelle for convincing the new Fast Lane owners to enter into the women's series.
Will G. and Phil S. the current owners for agreeing to letting me skipper.
Tom K. for his excellent coaching.
The new crew who are proving to be 'fast women' regarding the learning curve.
Dan S. that special guy I always come home to.