EYC Friday Night Racing - Impetuous


Revised: May 13, 2001

File: c:\mikec\htm\BoatFriNights.htm


Various notes...


Schedule

Date Event Notes
February
SAT 24 FEB Race Work day - CANCELLED Get boat ready for racing. See list below
March
SAT 31 MAR Race Practice day Practice... Out to dinner afterward if you wish.
April
FRI 13 APR Spring Twilight #1 BBQ at EYC
FRI 27 APR Spring Twilight #2 Dinner at Juanita's
May
FRI 11 MAY Spring Twilight #3 BBQ at EYC
June
FRI 1 JUN Spring Twilight #4 Dinner at Linguini's
FRI 15 JUN Spring Twilight #5 Dinner at EYC


Possible crew

Name Practice Race 1Race 2Race 3Race 4Race 5
31 MAR 13 APR27 APR11 MAY 1 JUN15 JUN
Mike C. Y Y Y Y Y Y
David V. Y Y Y Y Y Y
Jeff R. Y Y Y Y Y Y
Ted L. Y Y Y Y, but noY ?? Y
John D. Y N Y Y Y Y
Anastasia K. Y N Y, but triedY Y Y
Jeffrey K. N Y Y Y N Y
Elizabeth D. N N Y Y Y Y
Sue M. Y N Y, but sickN Y N
Bill M. Y N Y N Y N
Chris C. N Y N N N Y
Kristi Y
---
TOTAL YES 8 6 8 8 9? 9
---
Spinnaker? Y Y Y Y Y Y
---
Marylyn C. N N N N ? ?
Eric G.
Jennifer
Other

"Yes" means means 95% sure, that nothing else is already known to conflict, and that, if something really special or an emergency comes up, we understand. [Thanks, David, for the definition.]


Results

Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 4 Race5
Finished 13 13 15
Out of... 14 13 15
Behind 1st 675 sec 678 sec 1016 sec
Behind next204 sec 111 sec 150 sec
Overall 13 13


Boat workday - SAT 24 FEB - 9:00AM - 4:30PM

Cancelled due to weather

Purpose: To get the boat ready for racing.

Timing - Crew call: 9:00 AM at Embarcadero Cove Marina.

I will supply: Coffee, breakfast rolls, sandwiches for lunch, drinks.

We can go out to dinner afterwards if you wish...Mexican, EYC, Linguini's

Punch list


Race practice day - SAT 31 MAR - 9:00AM - 5:00 PM

Purpose: To practice sailing the boat in racing situations.

Timing - Crew call: 9:00 AM at Embarcadero Cove Marina. We leave the dock no later than 10:00 AM.

Call my cell phone if you have last-minute changes: 415-370-6136

I will supply: Coffee, breakfast rolls, sandwiches for lunch, drinks.

You supply/bring: Layers of clothes (weather will be variable), happy-hour snacks (for 5PM), do not wear black-soled shoes, bring money for dinner, bring hors d'ouvres for 5:00P.

We can go out to dinner afterwards if you wish.

Punch list

Also see workday punch list.


Race days - See schedule - 5:00 PM

Meet at Encinal Yacht Club -

Link to Map to EYC

Call my cell phone if you have last-minute changes: 415-370-6136 (Leave a message; do not press 2 and leave a page.)

I will supply: Just the boat (no snacks or ice or drinks).

You supply: Whatever snack you want/need to keep going until the dinner after the race. No drinking during the race.


Crew positions

Need 6-8 for spinnaker

Position
1Helmsman
2Cockpit #1
3Cockpit #2
4Foredeck
5Spotter
For spinnaker
6Foredeck
7Cockpit #3
8Takedown, lookout, etc.


Memo #1

From: mikec 
Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2001 11:07 AM

Subject: Impetuous Friday Night Racing - Memo #1

Happy New Year/Milennium....

Continuing my "retire, go sailing" plans, I am considering
entering my boat in the EYC Friday night races.

So...if you are interested, please RSVP with a definite
yes/no/maybe for each of the dates below.  The work
day is optional but appreciated.  Work/practice days are 10AM-4PM.
Crew call for Friday race days is 5:00PM.

Differences this year:

   * Meet at Encinal YC at 5PM, rather than at Oakland marina.
     That gives us more flexibility for both before and after
     the race (though the driving is a little more complex).
     We will probably do more after-race dinners at the club
     or in Alameda (Linguini's, Acapulco) rather than going to
     Oakland.

   * Spinnaker division, rather than non-spinnaker.  Hopefully
     we can sign up enough crew to do this.  I plan to
     replace the old spinnaker winches with new ones.

   * Standard (old-time) start sequence.  EYC has gone back to
     this rather than continuing to use the newer experimental one.

   * New bottom paint, being done the first weekend in February.

Let me know if you have questions, comments, or friends who might
want to participate (because of the spinnaker, additional crew
should have had sailing experience).

Hope you can join us for this activity.  If not, we will be doing
other sailing stuff too.

Thanks,

MC


Memo #2

Sent: Sunday, February 11, 2001 11:49 AM

Subject: Impetuous Friday Night Racing - Memo #2


Hi....

Here's an update about Friday night racing....

  * Impetuous is now back in the water, after the haulout last week.
    Everything is fine, and it does go MUCH faster with a clean bottom.

  * I have Lewmar winches to replace the old broken South Coast
    bronze winches used for the spinnaker.  They are two-speed
    winches and that should be helpful when sheeting in the
    spinnaker.

  * Our "work day" is SAT 24 FEB.  This is the day when we get
    the boat ready for racing.  The details are in the attachment.
    Hope you can help.

  * Our "race practice day" is still scheduled for SAT 31 MAR.
    I've had a couple of questions about changing it to SUN 1 APR.
    Please let me know your preference.

The main thing is to enlist more crew.  As you can see from
the attachment, we have (just) enough crew (6) to do spinnaker
on two of the five races.  If you can help out in any way,
let me know.

Questions?  Comments?  RSVP?

I'm really looking forward to sailing with all of you.

Thanks,

MC


Memo #3

Sent: Monday March 19,2001 

Subject: Impetuous Friday Night Racing - Memo #3


Hi....

Another update about Friday night racing.....

*** Race practice day is SAT 31 MAR.....meet at the boat at 9:00AM

  * See the updated web page at http://www.mgb67.com/BoatFriNights.htm 
    for schedules, etc.

  * We now have enough crew to do spinnaker on 3 of the 5 races, yet still
    need crew for 13 APR and 15 JUN.  Let me know if you can help on
    those dates.

  * The new spinnaker winches are installed and working very nicely.

  * The spinnaker pole has been rebuilt

The weather has been beautiful lately, and the "summer weather pattern"
has kicked in....great for sailing.

Please RSVP a definite YES/NO for each date if you have not already done so.
I need to know no later than THU 5 APR.

This should be a fun series.

Thanks,

MC


Memo #4

Sent: Monday March 26 ,2001 

Subject: Impetuous practice day on SAT 31 MAR- Memo #4


Hi....

Here is the info about our practice day....

*** Race practice day is SAT 31 MAR.....meet at the boat at 9:00AM at
    Embarcadero Cove (not at the Yacht Club).

    How to get to Embarcadero cove:
      
        http://www.mgb67.com/sailing5.htm

  * I cannot tell when we might get back to the dock.  I'm guessing
    5:00-6:00 PM.

  * See the updated web page at http://www.mgb67.com/BoatFriNights.htm 
    for schedules, what to bring, etc.

  * Call my cell phone if you have last-minute changes: 415-370-6136
    (Leave a message; do not press 2 to leave a numeric page.)

  * I will supply: Coffee, breakfast rolls, sandwiches for lunch, drinks.

  * You supply: Light/simple hors d'ouvres/snacks for 5:00PM.

  * No black-soled shoes, please

  * No matter WHAT the weather is, we arrive at the boat and go from there.

See (most of you) then.

Thanks,

MC


Memo #5

Sent: Monday April 2, 2001 

Re: Impetuous - Sailing practice day, notes for racing - Memo #5

What a great day!  Super crew, super weather, super time!  What fun!

I've sorted through the 3x5 note cards and have updated the
web page (http://www.mgb67.com/BoatFriNights.htm) and have summarized
other notes below.  Also review the checklists at
(http://www.mgb67.com/sailing3.htm).

Please check these somewhat wordy notes and the web page for items 
that pertain to you.

Perhaps my main message is that during an actual race, everything
will go MUCH FASTER, so you need to be prepared for that, and you
will have to react quickly to solve problems.

Ideally, we would have two more practice days to polish our approach.
If you have questions/suggestions, let me know.

And a reminder that crew call for racing days is 5:00 PM, and we
want to be on the water at 5:30 PM.

Again, many thanks for a great day.

MC

---------

Things that went well ---

  - Very good teamwork by everyone, in a real learning situation
  - I think the responsibility assignments worked out fine, so I do not
    plan to change them (let me know if you think otherwise)
  - Nice spinnaker work....three sets and douses and a couple of jibes, too.
  - Good "spotting" of traffic and informing the helmsman.  Thanks Sue, Ted
    and others.
  - All of the lines in the cockpit were kept neat and ready.  Special 
    thanks to Sue.  [Everyone]  Please continue with this.
  - Good coordination on "pole forward/back" requests, which takes three
    people working in unison.
  - The "olive bar" was a great idea.  Thanks, Jeff.

Things we need to do better --- (responsibilities are in "[]")

 ** [Jeff, cockpit crew]  My main concern during the day was that the
    cockpit crew kept handling the spinnaker lazy guy/sheet.  These fuzzy
    lines should be loosely tied off almost all of the time, and are moved
    only for:
        1. Spinnaker set - when the foredeck crew needs the spinnaker
           lines slack so they can attach them to the spinnaker
        2. Spinnaker gybe - take control with the lazy sheet and
           release the sheet for the foredeck crew.   (Note:  We need
           to use the white snatch blocks...we'll talk about this next time.)
        3. Spinnaker takedown - fully release the lazy guy, while the
           lazy sheet is used to pull the spinnaker into the cabin

    The main focus of the cockpit crew when the spinner is up MUST be
    the spinnaker sheet and guy, and not touch the lazy sheet/guy at
    all (check it visually every 30 seconds to make sure it is not in the
    water, however).  The guy (which goes to the pole) should be cleated
    almost all the time; the sheet is never cleated but always held by hand.
    [John] Make sure that the spinnaker sheet/guy is through the aft
    turning block, not directly to the secondary winch.

    ....

    Many of you heard Anastasia's story about putting the mast in the
    water a few weeks ago.  You can avoid this by handling and focussing
    on only ONE spinnaker or cockpit line.

  * [Mike, David] There were multiple requests from the foredeck crew 
    for a place to stow the winch handle.  I bought a holder, but it is 
    not yet installed.  I think it's large enough to hold both a locking
    winch handle AND the outhaul winch handle.

  * [Mike, David] Spinnaker pole needs work.  The recent shortening
    means that the topping lift wire is too long.  Also, the release
    did not trip/latch properly...not sure what this problem was
    or what we should do to eliminate the problem.

  * [Jeff] We need a dedicated person (same each time) doing the 
    spinnaker halliard for takedowns.  It is the most important line
    for takedowns.  Let me know how you want to take care of this.

  - [David] At the leeward mark, we will probably have to tack VERY
    soon after rounding the mark (e.g. the daymark in the estuary),
    and we can't wait for the pole to be stowed, so be prepared for
    a tack soon after the mark, lifting the genoa over the pole and 
    stowing the pole afterward.

  - [Mike] Skipper did not have good "out to dinner" recommendations.
    Thanks to David, we went and had a good time.  See dinner list below,
    which we can use when we wish.  Plan on having dinner on race #5
    (last race) at EYC

Other miscellaneous notes --

  - Bill/Sue - Your "United We Care" windbreaker is on the boat, hanging
    in the forward cabin.
  - On race days, I'll have the boat at the yacht club (EYC) no later than
    3:00PM, so those of you (Anastasia, David?, etc.) who want to beat
    the horriffic Friday commute can arrive early and hang out at the boat.
  - Sandwiches purchased the day before taste great, but get somewhat
    soggy the next day.
  - Beer: "Full Sail" was good.  Anastasia requests Sapporo
  - More rubber bands (for the spinnaker) are on order
  - Restaurants...
      - Sushi - Alameda
      - Linguini's - Alameda
      - La Pinata or Acapulco - Alameda
      - Peruvian - Oakland (Broadway)
      - Carrera's - Oakland - Chrysler dealer
      - Cuckoo's Nest (Oakland) - no longer serving dinner
          M-F  7AM-3PM.... S-S 9AM-2PM
      - Italian Colors (Jack London Square) - good food, very good service






Memo #6

Sent: Friday April 6, 2001 

Re: Impetuous Friday Night Racing - Memo #6


Hi...

Web-type updates:

   1. Pictures.  David Volansky's pix of our practice day are at:

         http://www.netreamer.com/sailing

      A fine and fun set!  (The "asshole"/"admiral" references are
      to a phrase that only certain people in the above categories
      can stand in the companionway.)

   2. EYC preliminary "SI" (sailing instructions) are at:

         http://www.encinal.org/pdf/2001springtwilight_SI.pdf

      Please read these and familiarize yourself with them,
      as they are the official set of rules.  Let me know
      if you have questions.

Thanks,

MC


Memo #7

Sent: Wednesday April 18, 2001 

Re: Impetuous Friday Night Racing - Memo #7
  
Hi, all....

We completed our first race, even getting the spinnaker up (and down)
with just 6 of us.  We came in 16 in a crowded fleet of 19, partly
because we did not fly the spinnaker on the first of the two downwind legs.
We did have a good time and enjoyed the BBQ at the club afterward.
On corrected time, we finished 666 seconds (11M 6S) behind the first
place boat and about 50 seconds behind the boat in front of us.

Here are my notes (in on particular order):

  - Our PHRF handicap rating is 171, a typical CAL-34 rating.  Slower boats
    have higher ratings.  EYC is using "time on time" handicapping, which
    means that the actual elapsed time (in seconds) is multiplied by
    620 / (520 + PHRF).  Thus, the multipler is smaller for boats with
    higher PHRF ratings.
     
  - The Race Committee (including yours truly) continues to work behind
    the scenes to make the starting flag sequence easier to comprehend.
   
    One change is that the first gun will be at 6:25, not 6:24, and 
    everything will be on a 5-minute cycle.

    I'm still trying to get them to publish the times when the course
    flag is lowered.  Whatever happens, the approach of "your course
    is shown between T-4 and T-1" will work.

 ** It is highly likely that our class (called "B") will now be called
    class "C" and have a start time of 6:40, not 6:35.  So learn your
    A, B, and C flags.

  - In my previous memo, I gave you a reference to the new 2001-2004 rules
    and encourage you to read it.

  - We came up with no items on the "punch list" (the list of things to
    do before the next race).  The spinnaker rubber bands were reluctant
    to let go, however.

  - For the next race, a couple of things:

      - (Ted)  Please record our actual start and finish times (that helps
        insure we are scored in the proper class and will help us tighten
        up our starts)
      - (Jeff) We forgot an item on the post-race checklist - loosening the
        backstay

  - For variety in dining after the race, I would propose:

       Race 2  -  Juanita's (Mexican, in Alameda)
       Race 3  -  BBQ at the club
       Race 4  -  Linguini's (Italian, in Alameda)
       Race 5  -  Sit-down dinner at the club

  - Crazy idea:  Trade one or two of our crew with the other CAL-34 "Sonrisa"
    for Race 4.  Comments?   Being on another boat which is "the same" can
    be most interesting.  Any volunteers?  (I have not mentioned this to
    "Sonrisa" yet.)
   
Looking forward to seeing you on FRI 27 APR (per our web page signups).


Thanks,

MC


Memo #8

(Minor update memo)


Memo #9

Sent: Sunday May 13, 2001 

Re: Impetuous Friday Night Racing - Memo #9

 
Hi....

We completed our third race...and the one-word summary
is: "Consistent" (meaning last).  As usual, we had a
fine time anyway.

Thanks,

MC

============================================================


Here are my notes for the next race (#4): 

  - I very much appreciate all your watchful eyes keeping track of
    other boats in the close quarters, with about 55 other boats
    around.  I don't think I want to cut it any closer than I
    did a few times on this last race.  Thanks to all.

  - Nice work by the cockpit crew on the tacking.

  - David and Jeff Riley will switch places for the last two races,
    so they can see what the other end of the boat is doing during
    all this spinnaker stuff.

  - Make sure we have the hole in the main patched (David)

  - I think my "dead downwind" spinnaker run was not a good idea,
    as that is a slow point of sail.  We would do better broad
    reaching, though that might require a spinnaker gybe.
    And I could have taken better advantage of the 0.5K ebb tide. 

  - Had a request to re-check the spinnaker packing before the next
    race, as we had different people do it (Jeff and David...please
    work together on this) (thanks for the note, Elizabeth) 

  - Another suggestion is that we watch the boats in front of us
    (Spridle, etc.) to see what strategies they are using so
    we can copy/learn from them (Kristi, thanks).
     
  - Future dinner plans are:
       Race 4  -  Linguini's (Italian, in Alameda)
       Race 5  -  Sit-down dinner at the club (maybe BBQ if the 
                  weather is warm)