Regatta Results from 30 Sept at NYCC

We sailed at NYCC in more much breeze than we've had there all season. Due to death rolls downwind and the gusty conditions, there were at least a half dozen capsizes, but all of our boats stayed upright. Here is the description of the conditions from the regatta organizers:

     Another perfect regatta day on the Lafayette River brought blue skies, lumpy seas, and winds 10-16 mph with gusts higher out of the NNW clocking to NNE with minor oscillations.

     On the varsity course 27 teams representing 15 schools completed 7 races in each of 2 divisions on a W4/W3 with gate course. Norfolk Collegiate Team 1 captured first place, followed by Nansemond-Suffolk Academy in second, and Norfolk Academy in third place.

Below are the results, first from Crusaders 1 (the juniors and seniors) :

Skipper/Crew combinations and finishes. There were 27 boats.

A1-4 Charlie/Mark 25, 22, 23, 25

B1-4 Matt/Maggie 21, 17, 20, 26

A5-6 Jake/Mark 25, 25

B5-6 Maggie/Matt 25, 23

A7 Jake/Charlie 11

B7 Matt/Maggie 10

Note that our best finishes were at the end of the day.

Here are the finishes from Crusaders 2 (the freshmen and sophomores.) There were 27 boats.

Again, the skipper/crew combinations and finishes:

A1-4 Josh/Tyler 24, 25, 26, 21

B1-7 Zach/Oliver 26, 22, 25, 27, 24, 25, 21

A5-7 Josh/Gus 24, 24, 21

Note again that our best finishes were at the end of the day.

23 September regatta results

Were were again at NYCC for a fleet regatta. Here is the description of the conditions from the regatta organizers: 

    Sailors arrived to another perfect sunny day on the Lafayette River with gentle seas and winds of 10-12 mph out of the N to NNS with minor oscillations.

    On the varsity course, 26 teams representing 15 schools completed 6 W4/W3 races in each division. Christchurch School Team 1 took first place, followed by Christchurch School Team 2 in second, and Norfolk Collegiate School Team 1 in third place.

We entered four boats. Here are the results for Crusaders1:

Our skipper/crew combinations with their finishes were (26 boats racing):

A1-6 Charlie/Mark 24, 20, 22, 24, 21, 23

B1-6 Jake/Matt M. 18, 24, 8, 19, 23, 16

Here are the results for Crusaders2:

Our skipper/crew combinations with their finishes were (26 boats racing):

A1 Maggie/Zack 26

A2 Zack/Maggie 18

A3-4 Zach/Tyler 25, 25

A5-6 Maggie/Tyler 26, 25

B1-6 Josh/Oliver 16, 17, 21, 22, 18, 25

Regatta results 16 September

Sailing at NYCC for the first fleet race this year, we entered one varsity A/B pair and one JV boat in the regatta. Here is the report from the regatta organizers:

    Sailors were met with a beautiful clear day on the Lafayette River with temperatures in the 70's. Breezes were NNE 10-15 mph with gusts higher and some oscillations to the east.

    On the varsity course, twenty-four teams from 15 schools completed 5 W4/W3 races in each division. Norfolk Collegiate Team 1 took first place, followed by Christchurch School Team 1 in second place, Christchurch School Team 2 in third place and Nansemond-Suffolk Academy in fourth place.

    The JV competition saw twelve teams from 9 schools complete 6 W4 races. Norfolk Academy Team 1 took first place, followed by Norfolk Academy Team 2 in second place, Poquoson High School Team 1 in third place, and Walsingham Academy in fourth place.

Here are our varsity results:

Our A/B pairs and their finishes (out of 24 boats) were:

A1-2, 5 Jake/Mark 24, 24, 23

A3-4 Matt L./ Matt M. 23, 22

B1-2 Maggie/Sabrina 23, DNF

B3-4 Charlie/Sabrina 8, 13

B5 Charlie/Maggie 15

Charlie's 8th out of 24 was the highest place we've had all season.

In the JV fleet of 12 we entered one boat. Here are the results:

Races 1-2, 5-6 Zach/Tyler 11, 11, 12, 12 

Races 3-4 Gus/Oliver 12, DNF

As the day wore on we were definitely getting closer to the pack. The JV racing ended at 1:00 p.m.

CCS regatta report 9 September

We had eight team members race at Christchurch on Saturday September 9th. The conditions started around 10-12 knots but by the time racing concluded had built to 15-20. This was certainly more wind than we had sailed in all season and our technique was sloppy at times (including a couple of capsizes.)  The results were less than spectacular. Below are the scores for Crusaders 1 (the juniors and seniors).

The skipper/crew combinations and finishes (of the 11 boats)  were:



A1-6 Jake/Mark DSQ, 8, 4, 5, 5, 8
B1-2 Matt/Gus 4, 8
B3-6 Josh/Gus DSQ, DSQ, DNS, DNS

Note that Jake's DSQ was for not passing through the leeward gate. Josh's scores were counted as DNS/DNQ due to having Matt leave early for the retreat. Sailors cannot compete on different "teams" and Josh was sailing in A division for Crusaders1

Here are the finishes for Crusaders2 (the sophomores and freshmen):

The skipper/crew combinations and finishes (of the 11 boats)  were:

A1-6 Josh/Oliver 7, DSQ, 11, 9, 7, DNF
B1-6 Maggie/Tyler 11, 10, 9, 9, 8, 10

Stop and go drill

We're still working on boat handling and seamanship skills. One skill needed when racing, especially before the start in fleet racing and at turning marks in team racing is the stop and go drill. Key points are identified in the video:

1. The safety position is about 60-70 degrees off the wind (if you point straight into the wind to slow you need to bear off before the boat stops.)
2. Make sure both sails are luffing completely. If the boom is hitting the shroud you're too far off the wind -- head up until the boom comes off the shroud.
3. Get going again by trimming. If you stay 60-70 degrees off the wind you are only close reaching (not beating) and the sail should not be all of the way in. If you come up to a beat both sheets need to come in tight.
4. If the hiking stick seems too long you need to slide forward and out. Your tailbone should be on the rail and your "front" leg should be against the traveler bar. The skipper should tell the crew to place their weight to balance the boat. In light air they should be sitting to leeward.
5. Trim the main using both hands. swing the hiking stick (not the tiller) as you trim in. Keep the sheet under the hiking stick so that the excess falls between your legs. Your "aft" hand is always on the hiking stick and your forward hand is on the sheet.
6. When on the other tack the forward hand still has the sheet and the aft hand has the hiking stick. Make sure you switch hands when tacking and jibing. You need to become ambidextrous!

First session at the Sailing Center

We finally got to attend a session at the Naval Station Sailing Center. Unfortunately, Thor had other ideas. In fact, as we were getting off the bus the siren went off. We spent the session as a "chalk talk" in the classroom primarily discussing team racing. Thanks to Mr. Suhr for acting as our escort.

We expect to get some water time tomorrow!

Light air mothing

We had a short session with Maggie, Zach, and Matt back in some classic moths. I shot some short clips with the goPro. The first clip shows all three sailing downwind in 3-5 knots of wind.

The second clip (in two parts) shows each gybing and the importance of sailing any boat on her lines.

The third shows each reaching. Sail trim and weight placement make a huge difference in light air!