Texas December Racing

PaulK · Dec 14, 2020

Looking at the difference in your PHRF ratings, you would have been hard-pressed to keep her from passing you. The Cal 33 rates around 147, and the Hunter 340 about 156. How did they get behind you in the first place? And how did you get ahead of them for them to pass you again? The first time they had their asym up & full well before yours started drawing, but you say you traded places seven times? The wind must have been really flukey. We routinely sail through the lee of boats when the difference in our ratings is so big. Trying to keep your boat lined up between them and the next mark might have helped. It puts you in a better position for heading them up if they try to go above you, so they're more likely to go below you and get stuck in your wind shadow. Doesn't work so well with wind changing directions and being flukey, however.

Also, what's this sarcastic "beautiful day" comment - complaining about rain? It snowed here today. 17" expected Wednesday night.

Plus, how did the chili turn out????? Inquiring minds need to know!

Jackdaw · Dec 16, 2020

Yea, the time to keep a boat from driving over you is not when they are a lane up and overtaking, its when they are well clear astern, and you drive up to their lane and show them a clear transom. This is the universal sign that you're going to be a tough out if they wanna drive over the top. Doing it later (like at 4:50) is just a pissing contest.

Jackdaw · Dec 16, 2020

Bill19233 said:
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Chili contest portion of the regatta was cancelled due to Covid concerns. Normally two classes, chili cooked on shore and chili cooked on board while racing. Last year, Tom on "Hobgoblin" won overall and best cooked on board and he cooked a pot again this race.

After a month in Texas, I developed a fairly refined taste for Texas chili. I’ve been working on perfecting my own recipe for ‘red’ ever since.

PaulK · Dec 17, 2020

If you are able to race in a Hunter 340 now, imagine what you'll do when you move up to a J/111!

Jackdaw · Dec 18, 2020

Bill19233 said:
Tried to stay between the mark and the boats behind and still stay as high as them on the downwind leg in a race last Saturday. Doesn't work real well when the other boats are a Diva 39 and an Express 34 and you're driving a Hunter 340. A lull on the upwind first leg caught me first and eliminated my handicap lead. But, we did finish ahead of a C&C 41 and Jeanneau 54, by keeping our a-sail up on the close reach last leg. Working on the video.
View attachment 188295

Am I the only one who races a Hunter 340? Would love to hear how other 336's and 340's do in races. Or even the 356's and 376's with the same B&R rig.

I think your boat suits your program just fine. With your causal mix of crew and amazingly cool 'lets have fun' attitude, moving to something like a J111 might be a mistake. They can bite. And it's a common fallacy to think that a 'faster' boat will improve your results.

While its true that 'race' boats will often sail to its rating in a wider range of conditions, PHRF numbers are assigned for typical racing in 8-12 knots. Most boats, well sailed and well prepared, can sail to their number.

PaulK · Dec 21, 2020

Hard to jibe when there's not enough wind to keep the sail full. Looks like you kept her moving as best you could, and remembered to get people out of the cockpit a lot of the time. Hard to stay in front of a J/92 in light/no air. Looks like it may have shifted around a bit too, to throw another wrench in the works. But at least it was warm and sunny! We have 6" of snow on the ground here.

PaulK · Dec 28, 2020

Why late to the start in a pursuit race? If you're going to switch around the video based on where you look, you need to say "clack clack clack" like Jean LeCam when you turn, so we don't get seasick watching. Nice shot of the crossing with the C&C 33. Looks like you need more wind down there. We had gusts to 60+ knots this weekend. Let me know and I'll try to send you some. Good social distancing. Was the autopilot on? Is the outhaul too tight at 9:43? TLE?? Too bad you had to withdraw, but still better than spending the afternoon waxing the car. Happy New Year!

PaulK · Dec 30, 2020

So you know where Jean LeCam is right now? Hope he has more wind than you did! In an earlier race he had a video camera which made a noise when he moved it to a different angle. Now he makes a "clack, clack, clack" sound when he shifts his camera to tell viewers that he's going to change the shot. We got a videocamera and started using it with no instructions or advice on a trip to China. Two-second clips of the Great Wall and twenty-second pans of Beijing from the bouncy tour bus... not conducive to a relaxing screening. TLE is short for the official term Time Limit Expired, which should be defined somewhere in your Sailing Instructions. Was the idea for keeping the outhaul that tight in light air written on the back of an envelope slipped under your hatchboards last summer? Don't believe everything you read THAT much, but do remember to ease off offwind. If you tell the crew who tightens it (and who adjusts the downhaul or Cunningham) that they're responsible for easing them all going downwind, it might help, and give you less to have to remember. How'd you do in the breeze between Christmas & New Years? Good luck this weekend!

PaulK · Dec 31, 2020

Placing third in the Series, Sunspot Baby shows how it is DONE!
Congratulations!

Maybe talk to your RC about adding a time limit. Perhaps something like an hour after the first boat finishes, or three hours after the start? Or at sundown? There are lots of options. It allows people to move on when it becomes too ridiculous.