Once again, the wind gods gave us a beautiful light air afternoon of sailing in the cove, except for one drifter race which tried our patience and ability to sit still. That brief absence of any air at all corresponded with a general shift all day in the breeze from north to south, or left to right. Because of this persistent shift, the right side of the course was generally favored (except in the drifter race when the wind came first from the left). Because the wind was so light it was crucial to keep the boat moving at all times. For example, starting a race a bit late worked better than starting precisely on the line without speed. It is very hard to time a start dead on with maximum speed in light air and I do not recommend ever starting too early (as I did in one race). Roll tacks and jibes were also crucial in the light air. I LOVE the feeling of a boat snapping out of a well executed roll tack. There is nothing like it. It was a good day for working on this type of boat handling. Nabeel and Russ did a great job with R.C., signaling us every now and then to let us know where they were during a course change. Also, I know there were several crowded starts and tight finishes. The R.C. did a great job of keeping track of everything. As I prepare to sail off to another country, I just want to say that I have had a great time sailing with the fleet this winter and wish all of you the best of luck with your sailing. Regards, Geoff |
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