Racing

I ended up with stress fractures in my foot after a recent ocean regatta. It isn’t quite clear what caused the injury, but it kept me off the Laser for three weeks in the midst of three regattas I’d been aiming toward this year. Finally this past weekend I was able to sail in the QYC Last Blast Laser regatta. The wind speeds were in the mid twenties with higher gusts and even with the radial I was struggling. It was some of my worst racing this year – a few reflections.

The Boston area winds were fine yesterday for my weight and a full Laser rig. We, Master sailors and women who have to choose between full and radial rigs, love it when we don’t have to make close-call decisions; yesterday started as clearly a full-rig day for me.

From the beach area, the wind ripples on the lake gave the water a deep green/gray hue. The monotone surface suggested no puffs and no lulls, just a steady consistent 8 to 10 knot breeze that should place a premium on sail trim and boat handling in the upcoming club races. This eyeball assessment didn’t come close to forecasting the squirrelly shifting breeze that played games all across the race course a half hour later with gusts that flogged the Laser’s sail and lulls that had me crowded up against the centerboard.

The Sunapee Laser regatta was held in very light air broken up by a few very mild puffs and regularly periods of drifting. None of this seemed to bother Peter Seindenberg who sailed five firsts out of seven races. With his throw-out race taking away one of the non-firsts, that didn’t leave much for the rest of us.

At the start my bow was just below the line and I was three-quarters hiked with good speed. All the boats to windward were holding the same line I was and I was matching their speed.  The boat to leeward had pulled in below me at the last minute and at first looked like he could keep his air clean, but he was only half hiked and began to fall back where my wind shadow was going to threaten him. He had lots of room to bear off and kick his speed back up, but instead he pinched up until his sail luff started breaking.  I had to eke up to stay clear and by the time I adjusted my head to the need to force the boat above me way up, three boats were rolling over both of us. The best I could do then was to hang in until I had a clear lane to tack toward the right side and clear my air.

I was doing pretty well in the fifth race of a competitive Master Laser regatta in New England. I figured my next move was to keep going right until the Laser underneath me tacked and ducked, give him enough room to breathe and then tack and race him to one more quick port tack and the starboard layline. The finial tack to starboard would be about five boat lengths shy of the windward mark. He would be forced to follow me into the starboard tack and I’d be clear ahead.

On May 9th QYC holds its annual May Madness Regatta. The last couple of years there has been a great turnout and good racing. Bring your full kit bag as no telling what the weather will be - quiet to wild. This is a competitive regatta, but beginners will feel comfortable too.

Quanapowitt Yacht Club is hosting the May Madness Regatta on May 9th. This is a fun but competitive day with expert Laser sailors and beginners all welcome to come to the first race of the spring season. Usually 15 boats or so.

My club Laser fleet had a discussion this winter about whether we will allow “practice” sails (those made without Laser approval) to be used in club racing. The whole issue broke my heart.

I used to spend my winters working on my big boats. Winning meant having my boat’s bottom smoother and my sails fresher then anybody else. I spent all my spare time routing lines for most efficient use and installing better data readouts. Then I bought a Melges-24 and the sail makers broke my back. I couldn’t keep up with their deep pockets. I came to the Laser in part because it was strict One-Design.

I found it helpful to break out the major rule changes for 2009 and see them as a set. These are my rewording of the changes as presented by Dave Perry and the rules book. When I'm trying to learn, I find that if I engage different parts of my learning apparatus the information sticks better. So now I’ve read them, I’ve written them, I will discuss them with fellow club members on March 22^nd, I’ve looked at diagrams and I have created a visualization of me in each situation.