Hey Rod, I was aboard Vivienne in that race, blew our main, and despite being 100yds from the finish could NOT make the finish line, got rounded up 5miles out before we could get everything settled. Glad to hear your still chasing silver platters
Fast or Furious?
- Thread starter Phil Herring
- Start date
I started sailing, racing on in a Lightning, before I can really remember. Later, I did a lot of PHRF racing on a big lake for years with two previous boats.
We nearly took on a PHRF race this season, it would have been our first on our present boat but the desire wasn't strong enough. I like sailing my way which doesn't jibe with racing these days. Maybe at some point,...
I thank racing for helping me become a much better sailor. I was fascinated by sail trim in those days, studied material and took a few classes as well. That sticks with you, your never stop tweaking the sails.
We nearly took on a PHRF race this season, it would have been our first on our present boat but the desire wasn't strong enough. I like sailing my way which doesn't jibe with racing these days. Maybe at some point,...
I thank racing for helping me become a much better sailor. I was fascinated by sail trim in those days, studied material and took a few classes as well. That sticks with you, your never stop tweaking the sails.
Hey Scott, try the Toms River Yacht Club, or the Island Heights Yacht Club. They both have races every Wednesday evenings.
I race because I like sailing with the group and with a purpose. I am a much better sailor for it. I only race PHRF so I put some effort and money into it but not too much. If I wanted to really go nuts I would go one design, Then I might spend more money and effort. Also, it gets me out on the water every week.
I used to enjoy racing club boats, they were beat up Mercury 15’ keel boats. It was fun because all the boats were club owned and the boat you sailed was picked by drawing numbers. There was no “gear competition” and that was a nice equalizer.
I raced my own boat only once, in a PHRF race mixed with monohulls. My boat (trimaran) was handicapped at -50 which meant there was no way to win unless the wind was strong enough to allow us to sail beyond “hull speed”. Regardless, monos and multihulls don’t belong on the same race course, and I don’t like the sound of crunching fiberglass. The one time I raced I was cut off deliberately by a much slower monohull who had right of way; I was overtaking with spinnaker and he swerved into our path when only a few boat lengths ahead! I had to round up with spinnaker flying- and it was a mess to sort out
I decided bouy racing with my own boat is not in my future, nor racing with monohulls, and longer distance racing with multis is not my ambition either.
We’re just a fast cruising boat and enjoying being out on the water. 9 knots is usually better than 4 knots, all else equal. And I’d be happy on almost any boat, whether on the hook or sail, and I enjoy making a boat sail well. Fast is fun, and smaller boats are also more responsive and “funner” to sail than larger boats.
I raced my own boat only once, in a PHRF race mixed with monohulls. My boat (trimaran) was handicapped at -50 which meant there was no way to win unless the wind was strong enough to allow us to sail beyond “hull speed”. Regardless, monos and multihulls don’t belong on the same race course, and I don’t like the sound of crunching fiberglass. The one time I raced I was cut off deliberately by a much slower monohull who had right of way; I was overtaking with spinnaker and he swerved into our path when only a few boat lengths ahead! I had to round up with spinnaker flying- and it was a mess to sort out
I decided bouy racing with my own boat is not in my future, nor racing with monohulls, and longer distance racing with multis is not my ambition either. We’re just a fast cruising boat and enjoying being out on the water. 9 knots is usually better than 4 knots, all else equal. And I’d be happy on almost any boat, whether on the hook or sail, and I enjoy making a boat sail well. Fast is fun, and smaller boats are also more responsive and “funner” to sail than larger boats.
I raced, usually in cruising class, and usually in distance races. I have 18 trophies from participation on our current boat that we have had going on 20 years. The simple reason I preferred distance races is because the crews were amateur or new sailors that really knew little on their own. Buoy racing is fun; local knowledge rules and you need a good crew to make a go of it. And, the boat should be in race trim, not a fat cruiser with 80 pounds of tools and spares under the V-berth. What I enjoyed of regattas was the friendship, the competition, pushing the envelope, testing your skills and learning others. Of course, there is bragging rights and being part of the fraternity too. Additionally, it was an opportunity to tune the boat, add optimizing equipment, add and maintain safety gear and keep a keener eye on maintenance.
I haven't raced in five years now. The crew got old and scary. I got old too and took on heavy administrative responsibilities in civic and yachting that limit my time. I may engage in some racing in the future since I have a nephew who took an ASA class and is getting into it. A younger enthusiastic crew might get me going again.
I haven't raced in five years now. The crew got old and scary. I got old too and took on heavy administrative responsibilities in civic and yachting that limit my time. I may engage in some racing in the future since I have a nephew who took an ASA class and is getting into it. A younger enthusiastic crew might get me going again.
I do not race my boat at all. No way, nada, never, not even messing about against another cruising boat.
If one wants to race, then one obviously wants to win and that means pushing the boat and the equipment to, and in some cases, over the limit. That means broken gear. Broken gear means money out the window for nothing more than a cup or bragging rights, which is all one receives in sailboat racing. Been there and done that as crew and found it was a ball to be on a winning boat 5 out of 7 seasons, but I wasn't paying the bills.
Not to say I wouldn't race someone else's boat, and make every effort to win, or that I in any way look down on those who do. I just do not see it as good value for the cost, on our boat.
If one wants to race, then one obviously wants to win and that means pushing the boat and the equipment to, and in some cases, over the limit. That means broken gear. Broken gear means money out the window for nothing more than a cup or bragging rights, which is all one receives in sailboat racing. Been there and done that as crew and found it was a ball to be on a winning boat 5 out of 7 seasons, but I wasn't paying the bills.
Not to say I wouldn't race someone else's boat, and make every effort to win, or that I in any way look down on those who do. I just do not see it as good value for the cost, on our boat.
Regarding racing and busted gear....
In the last 5 years and over 100+ races on BlueJ and Kestrel we have had nothing break. I'd like to think its a combination of good gear, skillful maneuvers, and a little luck. We have had the clews of two sails blow out; those were construction errors and were repaired by the sailmaker free of charge. Did cost us places in races however!
In the last 5 years and over 100+ races on BlueJ and Kestrel we have had nothing break. I'd like to think its a combination of good gear, skillful maneuvers, and a little luck. We have had the clews of two sails blow out; those were construction errors and were repaired by the sailmaker free of charge. Did cost us places in races however!
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Of course, if you set your boat up for racing, your likelihood of breaking gear would be much less, but it is possible a pleasure sailor or cruiser who decides to race may have a much different outcome.
I used to race MC scows for a number of years. Had a blast, but usually placed somewhere in the middle of the fleet because I weighed a little too much for the boat. My sons grew up sailing, starting on Butterflies, and moving into the bigger boats. It began to get more expensive, and paying for college expenses began to take precedence.
My late wife never liked racing, so we eventually bought the Beneteau. Not a racing boat, but still fairly fast. It seems like whenever 2 or more boats are out, some form of racing ensues. Its fun, but doesn’t generate as much excitement as a start in a fleet of 25 one designs, or a hotly contested windward mark rounding.
My late wife never liked racing, so we eventually bought the Beneteau. Not a racing boat, but still fairly fast. It seems like whenever 2 or more boats are out, some form of racing ensues. Its fun, but doesn’t generate as much excitement as a start in a fleet of 25 one designs, or a hotly contested windward mark rounding.
The jib halyard splice gave up on us in 25 knots apparent in a race two weeks ago. But, it never gets looked at and its was probably original to the boat, close to 20 years old. Only failure in a race so far, knock on wood.
I used to think it was counterproductive to introduce a bunch of stress and intensity into an activity I did to relax. I did my best to keep clear of other boats. As my sail trimming and boat handling improved, one day on the Bay I followed some racers around the course and I was hooked. Haven't missed many races in the last couple years. Now my friends and family think my sole purpose in life is to make my boat faster upwind, and they might be right.
I used to think it was counterproductive to introduce a bunch of stress and intensity into an activity I did to relax. I did my best to keep clear of other boats. As my sail trimming and boat handling improved, one day on the Bay I followed some racers around the course and I was hooked. Haven't missed many races in the last couple years. Now my friends and family think my sole purpose in life is to make my boat faster upwind, and they might be right.
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I learned to sail in college, racing FJs all over the pacific NW. Eventually became commodore of the Portland State University sailing team. I had a buddy from high school who had joined and he told me it was a good time; come on down! Sailing dinghies on the Willamette river makes you a light-air specialist. Even with a crew that far outstripped the recommended crew weight of an FJ (thanks to my 220-lb ass) we found ways to pass people in nothing more than a whisper. I also ended up being a regular crew member on Wildings, a NY40 (rare boat) that did PHRF racing on the Columbia as part of SYSCO.
Fast forward 8 years, out of college, married, driving over the I-5 bridge every day, watching those pretty spinnakers every Tuesday and Thursday in the summertime started to make me jealous. Bought a Catalina 22, then less than a week later, find out we’re pregnant. Didn’t race that whole first summer—never even crossed my mind. Was happy to day sail. Next summer, son comes along, delayed start to season. Had to find a new place to moor the boat for the summer (I’m SO not interested in launching off a trailer for an after-work sail), and discovered that Tomahawk Bay gives significant discounts on moorage for people who join SYSCO (small yacht sailing club Oregon). So paid my dues, and discovered that it wasn’t just sailing I missed—it was racing! The friendly competitiveness, the camaraderie, the hunt for that last tenth of a knot (hey, in a C-22, it all counts). The best part of the whole thing is that I’m moored on “racer’s row” with 6 other C-22s, who all race in our own little fleet on Thursdays. I dug up a few of my college sailing buddies as crew, and we are finding that our dinghy experience makes us reasonably competitive! Although as anybody from fleet 20 will tell you, as soon as the wind drops, the super soakers come out. Having the Bimini top puts us at a distinct advantage there, even if it’s not very racerly. Thanks to @$tingy Sailor for keeping us dry!
Fast forward 8 years, out of college, married, driving over the I-5 bridge every day, watching those pretty spinnakers every Tuesday and Thursday in the summertime started to make me jealous. Bought a Catalina 22, then less than a week later, find out we’re pregnant. Didn’t race that whole first summer—never even crossed my mind. Was happy to day sail. Next summer, son comes along, delayed start to season. Had to find a new place to moor the boat for the summer (I’m SO not interested in launching off a trailer for an after-work sail), and discovered that Tomahawk Bay gives significant discounts on moorage for people who join SYSCO (small yacht sailing club Oregon). So paid my dues, and discovered that it wasn’t just sailing I missed—it was racing! The friendly competitiveness, the camaraderie, the hunt for that last tenth of a knot (hey, in a C-22, it all counts). The best part of the whole thing is that I’m moored on “racer’s row” with 6 other C-22s, who all race in our own little fleet on Thursdays. I dug up a few of my college sailing buddies as crew, and we are finding that our dinghy experience makes us reasonably competitive! Although as anybody from fleet 20 will tell you, as soon as the wind drops, the super soakers come out. Having the Bimini top puts us at a distinct advantage there, even if it’s not very racerly. Thanks to @$tingy Sailor for keeping us dry!
If you were were overtaking, I think you may have had right of way. A vessel being overtaken is obliged to maintain course and speed. His swerving constitutes a basic failure to avoid collision.
-Will (Dragonfly)
One little tip for for better upwind performance.. We all know flat is fast, but the crew sitting like that actually does very little to aid the Righting Moment of the boat. That far inboard, they are almost sitting directly above the keel when heeled to that angle. Moving outward, swinging around with legs over the rail and torso under the upper lifeline will make a big different that you'll be able to feel.
Exactly the opposite when racing. Assuming same tack, a boat clear astern must keep clear. RRS#12. His swerving is an attempt to not let someone pass and is a common racing strategy.
Me too. If it doesn't involve at least 2 overnights, a couple of squalls, sleep deprivation, and some serious mileage how do you really know who are the best sailors?
J-Racer, aka Shane; great pictures of our lake as well.....good reading; and studying...Heather's sister's husband sails and mostly races his J-35...".Killer " out of Charleston YC...I don't think they do any cruising....Patrick
Thanks Jackdaw, I know, I know. I envy you with your crew. Most of my crew don't want to get into a position that will make it difficult for them to get another beer or get them a little wet. If I said no beer till the finish, I'd be alone on the boat. I've got a couple guys that will get out on the rail, but they have busy lives and can't make a lot of races. When I'm not on the helm, I'm on the rail trying to set an example. Always looking for more crew.