Flotsam, race notes	42

 

Flotsam, 1999   photo by Jim Foster

Below is a race story I wrote May of 2001, and emailed to Ariane Paul who was the Newsletter chairman for the Master Mariner Benevolent Association MMBA (Sponsors of the yearly Master Mariners Regatta in San Francisco Bay). The story was published in the "Shell Back" the MMBA Newsletter.   Very Respectfully, Don Keleher Email: djkeleher@earthlink.net   RACE STORY:   The Master Mariner Regatta is a race of classic, primarily wooden sailing vessels. Boat owners take pride in their respective yachts. Many owners are stimulated by this event to accomplish some of the maintenance that has been put off in the early part of the season, sand, varnish, sand, paint, repair, replace, and sand, varnish, sand, paint. Earlier in the year temptations to go for a sail rather than, sand, varnish, paint, is suppressed, because you know you are going to race in the Master Mariner Regatta. This is a time when you want your yacht to be and look its best. Race preparation includes both human and technical decisions: captain and crew availability, (spinnaker or no spinnaker), handicap ratings, starting time and what the current, waves, wind, and weather pattern in general are projected to be doing on race day. Then there is the small matter of getting to the race on time. My insurance policy in getting to the start (with no engine) on time was, the yacht John T, captained by Ariane Paul, a tow offered if needed, even if Aeolius (Greek god of the wind) should be fickle, I felt confident we were going to make the start. The best insurance policy, is one that is not needed to collect on, and so it was that Aeolius smiled on Flotsam and provided the steady breeze to make her fly to her first Master Mariner race. On Friday, I prepared Flotsam (Yankee One Design), for a quick early (08:45) departure and requested the crew be there at 08:30.   My crew, Ted Todd, long time family friend, first mate, and former owner of Tarfun (Yankee O.D.) with 40+ years of sailing experience. Geoff Clerk, family friend (nephew to John Linderman, boat builder, of Flotsam) foredeck man and sail handling guru, 30+ years sailing experience. Bill Macarthy (a new crewmember, with a reputation for knowing spinnaker work) and myself. Flotsam departed Fortman Marina, Alameda, at 08:45, as scheduled. We sailed with a steady westerly west wind approx. 16 - 18 knots, under overcast skies out the Alameda / Oakland estuary, encouraged by the last of an ebb current and headed for the San Francisco front.   Reviewed some of the intricacies of Flotsam's equipment with Bill and discussed the day's strategy and possible tactics with Ted, Geoff, and Bill. Noted our, Course # 2, was to leave all marks of the course to port except South Hampton Shoals. Arrived at the starting line with lots of time to spare. Discussed, whether to reef the main but decided not to as the overcast skies, boded for a steady 15 - 25 knot wind (NOA forecast). Agreed to make a decision to fly, or not to fly, the chute (spinnaker) depending on wind velocity, before rounding Crissy (mark 16) and starting the down wind run to Blossom Rock.   Our starting strategy was simple, stay up current from the starting area until 5 minutes before the start. Then sail into the starting area with the flood current between the Golden Gate and St Francis Yacht Clubs and stay out of the Hawaiian Chieftains way, or any other yacht during the start. As the gun went off, in a 16 - 20 knot wind, we headed for, and made the starting mark, near the committee boat end of the line almost as planned (approx. 30 seconds late -- mea culpa... "Crew win races, captains loose them").   After starting we were able to reach high and then ease off our sail trim as we headed for the first mark of the race, Little Harding Rock (mark 12). Again with the flood pushing us up to the mark, we hardened up to a close reach and rounded mark 12 to port, right on the money. The question at this time was how far to go before tacking, and heading to Chrissy (mark 16), since we would be crossing the slot between the Marin and San Francisco headlands, around the time of maximum flood current. Did we tack too early for Chrissy, did we cover the fleet? On the leg of the course to Chrissy, we sailed a close reach and arrived at Chrissy (mark 16) about 3 boat lengths east of the mark and had to tack back up to Chrissy against the current (probably lost some time here). Then another tack to take Chrissy rounding to port.   The course from Chrissy (mark 16) to Blossom Rock (mark 18) was a run with the wind now approx. 20 - with gusts to 25 knots and the current pushing us toward the mark. The decision to set the chute was made. Geoff provided muscle to the spinnaker pole and magic to the spinnaker halyard as the chute went up. Ted and Bill coordinated the opening and trim of chute to port, and starboard, by charming spinnaker sheets and foreguys to obey their commands. I just steered and worried (although I had packed the chute myself) that there would be no wraps around the fore stay, as happened a few weeks before in a 10-knot wind and a smooth sea. Next we were charging down the SF front with the chute (spinnaker) flying, passed the yacht Pampero (Windward Class yacht and competition). A gust from Aeolius gave us some exciting spinnaker rock 'n roll, but was quickly brought under control by Ted, Geoff and Bill. As we neared the mark, Geoff dropped the chute, set the jib, and cleaned up the fore deck just in time to round Blossom Rock (mark 18), within a few feet.   On the next leg from Blossom Rock to South Hampton Shoals (mark SS) we played the current to windward. Geoff and Bill trimmed the sheets in the gusts. Ted, kept an eye on the competition and the mark, (passed a ketch to windward). We rounded South Hampton Shoals to starboard in a temporary 10 knot wind, leaving room at the mark for the Ketch, Kathleen (?) who rounded at nearly the same time.   South Hampton to buoy # 8 was a reach, with wind slowly increasing in velocity to a steady 22 - 25. Made the mark without a tack and rounded # 8 to port with a beam reach to the finish line on the east side of Treasure Island. Now a relaxing run in the sun down the Alameda / Oakland estuary, past the Encinal Yacht Club (EYC) and back to our berth at Fortman to put Flotsam away for the day.   Later we all met at EYC for some refreshment.