Heavy Air Cup starting line

[Jackdaw]

Last Sunday it was steady 24 knots with gusts to 32, so WYC abandoned our regular A-series races and went with a Heavy Air Cup. In the HAC all boats from all fleets start together, and are scored via PHRF ratings. 16 came out to play in the breese.

Many of the OD boats screwed up when they tried their typical dial-up start in the chop. The waves ground them to a halt. On BlueJ we found a open lane end kept the power on, starting only 3 seconds late with nobody near. Finished 3, not bad with a pick-up crew!

 

[topcat0399]

Looks like a darn good time!

Don't see many sailboat races 'round these parts so always had this impression:

 

[Jackdaw]

Looks like a darn good time!

It gets very interesting in the pre-start. The Capri 25 and the J/24 are notorious for auto-tacking in heavy air. Kinda make you want to stay well clear.

 

[weinie]

How did the guy starting on port tack finish?

 

[Rick486]

Last Sunday it was steady 24 knots with gusts to 32, so WYC abandoned our regular A-series races and went with a Heavy Air Cup. In the HAC all boats from all fleets start together, and are scored via PHRF ratings. 16 came out to play in the breese.

Many of the OD boats screwed up when they tried their typical dial-up start in the chop. The waves ground them to a halt. On BlueJ we found a open lane end kept the power on, starting only 3 seconds late with nobody near. Finished 3, not bad with a pick-up crew!

That was my favorite starting tactic in a breeze. Port tack with a long line of boats coming at us on starboard heading for the port end. If the lead boat is late we cross him; if he's early we duck him and the next few if necessary...then we cross in clear air, no chop....had good luck with it back in the day...

 

[Jackdaw]

How did the guy starting on port tack finish?

he sailed well that day. The boat likes the conditions. He was the only non-spin boat out, so he won non-spin! If they would have corrected him against the spin boats, he would have finished mid-pack, a great showing.

 

[Jackdaw]

That was my favorite starting tactic in a breeze. Port tack with a long line of boats coming at us on starboard heading for the port end. If the lead boat is late we cross him; if he's early we duck him and the next few if necessary...then we cross in clear air, no chop....had good luck with it back in the day...

Ballsy. I like it. That usually only works if there is a big lefty at the start, like there was here. He didn't get over us, but he got over everyone else. Some boats didn't make the line on starboard the shift was so hard. Under most conditions you end up taking A LOT of transoms!

 

[Rick486]

Ballsy. I like it. That usually only works if there is a big lefty at the start, like there was here. He didn't get over us, but he got over everyone else. Some boats didn't make the line on starboard the shift was so hard. Under most conditions you end up taking A LOT of transoms!

And you must keep your speed up.....if you start luffing up the whole fleet rolls right over you....aaarrgghhh. But what a thrill when you cross the whole fleet because they were afraid to be early.....

 

[Jackdaw]

And you must keep your speed up.....if you start luffing up the whole fleet rolls right over you....aaarrgghhh. But what a thrill when you cross the whole fleet because they were afraid to be early.....

That's the trick. As you are on port you have to have a CLEAN cross. That means at least a boat-length lead on that first boat that quickly. If they get a good start (and in most good fleets the good boats do) you meet as the the give-way and then you are ducking ducking ducking.

But I agree, when it works its glorious! ;^)