I raced my Beneteau Oceanis 361 for just the second time this past Saturday, and had a good time. We had a terrible start because the wind left us right before the start, so we were way behind (it's a pursuit start). We finished strong though.
I had been wanting a whisker pole for a couple years now, because the only other time I raced my boat was during this race in 2017, and after being in the lead for about half that race, a big Catalina 470-ish caught me on the long downwind run.
Sadly I never got that whisker pole, so this year, instead of trying to compete with all the other boats with whisker poles (JAM only race), I sailed a broad reach to keep my speed up on the downwind legs, jibing back and forth behind the fleet, but not falling further behind.
As we turned the downwind mark, we still had about half the race left, and we evidently started to catch up. We finally did pass a Catalina 400, a Pearson 38, and a 32-footer (I forget what) right before the final mark. The run from the final mark to the finish line, however, was dead downwind, and these boats were only about 30 seconds behind me, I think.
Fortunately for me, they all came together at that final mark, and I think it delayed them a little bit, jockeying with each other. I'm still expecting to lose my recently-gotten lead, however, but I continue with my broad reaching strategy.
Surprise Surprise! I was able to hold them off! I had never actually tried that strategy, but was pleased it worked. Winds were light, maybe five or six knots apparent, and I was doing just over 3 knots over ground. The three boats I passed all finished together maybe less than a minute after us.
If I had a better start, I might have beaten the Beneteau 49 that finished a few minutes ahead of me.
Very fun race, especially the passing other boats part.
I had been wanting a whisker pole for a couple years now, because the only other time I raced my boat was during this race in 2017, and after being in the lead for about half that race, a big Catalina 470-ish caught me on the long downwind run.
Sadly I never got that whisker pole, so this year, instead of trying to compete with all the other boats with whisker poles (JAM only race), I sailed a broad reach to keep my speed up on the downwind legs, jibing back and forth behind the fleet, but not falling further behind.
As we turned the downwind mark, we still had about half the race left, and we evidently started to catch up. We finally did pass a Catalina 400, a Pearson 38, and a 32-footer (I forget what) right before the final mark. The run from the final mark to the finish line, however, was dead downwind, and these boats were only about 30 seconds behind me, I think.
Fortunately for me, they all came together at that final mark, and I think it delayed them a little bit, jockeying with each other. I'm still expecting to lose my recently-gotten lead, however, but I continue with my broad reaching strategy.
Surprise Surprise! I was able to hold them off! I had never actually tried that strategy, but was pleased it worked. Winds were light, maybe five or six knots apparent, and I was doing just over 3 knots over ground. The three boats I passed all finished together maybe less than a minute after us.
If I had a better start, I might have beaten the Beneteau 49 that finished a few minutes ahead of me.
Very fun race, especially the passing other boats part.