My first RC day

I'm a slacker.  I've been sailing for 5 years, and always seemed to weasel out of race committee.  I've tried, honestly, but one those day there's always been someone else who has injured themselves or forgot their gear, or something who volunteers to take my place.  At least that's the story I'm going with...

Some people hate race committee (RC) duty.  Some people don't mind, and others absolutely enjoy it.  As of last Monday, I'm of the "I enjoy it, but I'd rather be sailing" mindset.

Being still sore from the Masters' Worlds' (post on that later...) I volunteered for RC on Monday.  I figure after racing 5 years, it's about time, eh?

I set the course the way Mario recommended -- centre mark first, take a few wind bearings, etc.  I set the windward, gybe and leeward marks in good enough time, and held a (very quick) skipper's meeting on the beach.  Some of the sailors were surprised I had a skipper's meeting, but I wanted to let them know that it was a short course (I wanted to try to get three races in) with a short start line (I wanted to generate some traffic).

We had four boats, initially, all very different.  Ken was skippering an Albacore, with Corrine.  Steve and Carla took out a 29er (without a kite).  Tony and Alex were in a Hobie 16, and a member I didn't know (Andrea) was in a Laser.

A few warning signals (that Ken initially didn't hear) and we were off.  No surprise, with Steve taking the start.  The cat got caught up in irons, and the Laser made it through.  As the boats were nearing the windward mark, Ken swung by to ask if the race started, and he crossed the start line and started making his way upwind.

Lesson 1: use a louder whistle or air horn

The cat passed the 29er on the 1st reach, but got caught in irons rounding the leeward mark.  The 29er rounded and could not be caught, and Ken was able to overtake the 16.  It was close between the 16 and the Laser for 3rd place, but Tony got some speed and was able to cross.

One thing I was quite proud of is seeing the downwind leg, both the 29er and the cat were butterflying the jib -- now THAT's a square course.  Good job, RC!

Second race, it was only the 29er, the 16 and the Laser, as Ken was going in to drop Corrine off, and pick up Alex.  Same results -- 16 kept getting stuck in irons, 29er first, Laser last.  By the downwind leg, Ken had picked up Alex, and the two were messing about around the RC boat.  I shouted to Ken "about 10 minutes before the next race", and distracted him while a gust hit -- capsize.  Man, I felt bad.

Lesson 2: STFU and run the race

Third race, the 29er went in, as Carla had enough of a workout.  Mike R came out in the Byte though.  Albacore vs Laser vs Byte vs Hobie.  The wind was getting gustier by this time.  The Laser kept capsizing, and the Albacore dumped at the gybe mark.  Mike might have taken it.  The Albacore was turtled, and it looked like no one was getting up on the boat.  I went over with the power boat.  Eventually, we managed to pull the thing upright, with Mike's help (he dumped and abandoned his byte to assist.  Because it took so long, we called the race abandoned, although I had no flag to fly.  Several exhausted sailors later, it was pointed out that the RC boat is not comfortable to get in.

Lesson 3: Carry the abandonment flag
Lesson 4: Carry the ladder in the RC boat

I'm happy we abandoned the race -- it was the right thing to do, to help out.  I still feel awful for distracting Ken/Alex on that first capsize.

Log - Training - June 30, 2015

I got a hold of the instructor at KSC and was able to book a training session for tonight.

Forecast: 12knts gusting to 18
Actual: Started out almost dead (<5knt) but built up to a solid 10-12 knts (constant, very little gusts)

We started out with roll tacks.  I tended to be bearing off too much after the tack, and wasn't "slamming" the boat down hard enough coming out of the turn.  Will have to work on that.  Tacking port to starboard was much smoother than starboard to port tack.  Practice

Upwind, I tended to hike on my "ankles" rather than "feet".  Practice, excercise

Downwind, I wasn't "yanking" the sheet over enough, and was doing so too soon.  Practice

End result -- got lots of tips, not I just have to practice them more.