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Bump's World - October 2009
October 12, 2009
2009 PHRF NE CHAMPIONSHIPS
The economic situation this summer had me focusing on business with not as much time to sail, as I would like. Therefore I did not have a sailboat of my own use this summer. I also thought this could be a good time to sail with customers and friends. Last year I sailed al lot on Africa the Taylor 41 I sold to Jud and Cindy Smith. This year Lindsey Smith, their daughter, wanted to sail more with her friends on Africa so I wasn’t needed.
Jud made a few changes to Africa and mid summer asked me to do a race with him to check out the changes. Jud won the race easily and afterwards asked if I would do the PHRF NE Championship regatta with him. I appreciated the offer, however since I was not sailing regularly on the boat and Tom Drechsler had already asked me to sail with him on his Sabre Spirit so I declined.
I week before the race Jud and Cindy called me and said Jud needed to sail in a Farr 40 regatta in Chicago the same weekend as the PHRF Championships. They assured me I would have a very good crew and the sails and boat were totally up to speed. Jud prepares his boats very well and has always attracted great crew; I so agreed to fill in Jud’s shoes.
The Wednesday before the regatta, I went out with Africa to do that night race. Most of the PHRF Regatta crew was on board. Katabatic, a well-sailed IMX 40 was there and she would be in our class for the PHRF’s, so I knew that would be a good measurement of our performance. We got a good start and lead our class around the windward mark and won the race. It was good to be back on Africa and reconfirm what a good boat she is and how well Jud prepares her. Fifty percent of your race is won or lost before you ever show up for the starting line. Preparation is huge in yacht racing.
Friday was our first race. Jud was on the way to the airport, while we discussed tactics for the day. Jud said look for shifts to the right; so just get a good start and cover. I always thought the tactic of getting out front early and then extend your lead was a good tactic. When I told Jud that, I’m not sure if he knew I was trying to be funny.
The wind was 11 o 13 knots out of the east with a lumpy sea. I like lumpy since anyone can steer in flat water. I got a good start and soon after that tacked to the right. I protected the right side of the course and finally tacked about five degrees low of the starboard tack lay line. Like magic we got lifted up to the mark rounding right behind Scherherzade who owes us time. When right works up wind, right should work downwind, so again we protected that side of the course. Second upwind leg again protect right and downhill stick to our plan. We finished right behind Scherherzade and Katabatic who both owe us time so we finished first in our first race.
The second race Friday was very similar. I did decide to be a little less aggressive starting so I did not get in a possible protest situation. In these races there can be no throw outs, so an over early or protest can ruin the whole regatta. Again I protected the right and again the right paid. I was starting to wonder why the fleet was allowing me to get the right all the time. Fortunately we had the same results with a second win. We now were the boat to beat.
The third race on Friday we got forced a little left, however a small shift enabled us to get back right without any loss. Downwind I noticed Claddagh, a Nelson Merek 41, coming on fast. She must have figured out her angles since she gained and we owe her time. We battled Claddagh upwind, but she gave us the right and again I tacked five degrees short of the mark and got lift right up to it. We did not hold off Claddagh downwind this time and she beat us, but we did hold second.
Saturdays racing was canceled due to bad weather. This gave me and extra day to be nervous. Sunday we were out on the water again. Before the first start Craig our jib and spinnaker trimmer fell down and looked hurt. I told him to suck it up and take some pills for the pain. He did and did a great job all day. I saw him a couple of days latter with a big brace on his leg, he had broken his kneecap.
I talked to Jud on the cell phone Sunday morning, and we agreed to look for shifts to the left since the wind was south and the sea breeze would threaten to come in. Both races I got good starts and protected the left. Claddagh went after us, we jibbed away and maintained a clean position. She won the first race with us second so we had to beat her the second race. Again her downwind speed was better than ours. The second race we held her off and even though Katabatic won we were second. That was good enough to win our class.
The overall trophy is determined by the closest racing of a class. The top four boats are compared to see closest racing, therefore meaning the best competition. Our class had the tightest finishing times, so we were awarded the best overall performance of the regatta.
I want to thank Jud and Cindy for providing this opportunity to sail their well-prepared and crewed Taylor 41. Everyone on the crew got along together and gave it their best effort. The sailing gods smiled on us for this regatta and I can only hope my luck continues.
Please mail comments to me at Bump@newwaveyachts.com
Bump Wilcox
Bump's World - October 2009
October 12, 2009
2009 PHRF NE CHAMPIONSHIPS
The economic situation this summer had me focusing on business with not as much time to sail, as I would like. Therefore I did not have a sailboat of my own use this summer. I also thought this could be a good time to sail with customers and friends. Last year I sailed al lot on Africa the Taylor 41 I sold to Jud and Cindy Smith. This year Lindsey Smith, their daughter, wanted to sail more with her friends on Africa so I wasn’t needed.
Jud made a few changes to Africa and mid summer asked me to do a race with him to check out the changes. Jud won the race easily and afterwards asked if I would do the PHRF NE Championship regatta with him. I appreciated the offer, however since I was not sailing regularly on the boat and Tom Drechsler had already asked me to sail with him on his Sabre Spirit so I declined.
I week before the race Jud and Cindy called me and said Jud needed to sail in a Farr 40 regatta in Chicago the same weekend as the PHRF Championships. They assured me I would have a very good crew and the sails and boat were totally up to speed. Jud prepares his boats very well and has always attracted great crew; I so agreed to fill in Jud’s shoes.
The Wednesday before the regatta, I went out with Africa to do that night race. Most of the PHRF Regatta crew was on board. Katabatic, a well-sailed IMX 40 was there and she would be in our class for the PHRF’s, so I knew that would be a good measurement of our performance. We got a good start and lead our class around the windward mark and won the race. It was good to be back on Africa and reconfirm what a good boat she is and how well Jud prepares her. Fifty percent of your race is won or lost before you ever show up for the starting line. Preparation is huge in yacht racing.
Friday was our first race. Jud was on the way to the airport, while we discussed tactics for the day. Jud said look for shifts to the right; so just get a good start and cover. I always thought the tactic of getting out front early and then extend your lead was a good tactic. When I told Jud that, I’m not sure if he knew I was trying to be funny.
The wind was 11 o 13 knots out of the east with a lumpy sea. I like lumpy since anyone can steer in flat water. I got a good start and soon after that tacked to the right. I protected the right side of the course and finally tacked about five degrees low of the starboard tack lay line. Like magic we got lifted up to the mark rounding right behind Scherherzade who owes us time. When right works up wind, right should work downwind, so again we protected that side of the course. Second upwind leg again protect right and downhill stick to our plan. We finished right behind Scherherzade and Katabatic who both owe us time so we finished first in our first race.
The second race Friday was very similar. I did decide to be a little less aggressive starting so I did not get in a possible protest situation. In these races there can be no throw outs, so an over early or protest can ruin the whole regatta. Again I protected the right and again the right paid. I was starting to wonder why the fleet was allowing me to get the right all the time. Fortunately we had the same results with a second win. We now were the boat to beat.
The third race on Friday we got forced a little left, however a small shift enabled us to get back right without any loss. Downwind I noticed Claddagh, a Nelson Merek 41, coming on fast. She must have figured out her angles since she gained and we owe her time. We battled Claddagh upwind, but she gave us the right and again I tacked five degrees short of the mark and got lift right up to it. We did not hold off Claddagh downwind this time and she beat us, but we did hold second.
Saturdays racing was canceled due to bad weather. This gave me and extra day to be nervous. Sunday we were out on the water again. Before the first start Craig our jib and spinnaker trimmer fell down and looked hurt. I told him to suck it up and take some pills for the pain. He did and did a great job all day. I saw him a couple of days latter with a big brace on his leg, he had broken his kneecap.
I talked to Jud on the cell phone Sunday morning, and we agreed to look for shifts to the left since the wind was south and the sea breeze would threaten to come in. Both races I got good starts and protected the left. Claddagh went after us, we jibbed away and maintained a clean position. She won the first race with us second so we had to beat her the second race. Again her downwind speed was better than ours. The second race we held her off and even though Katabatic won we were second. That was good enough to win our class.
The overall trophy is determined by the closest racing of a class. The top four boats are compared to see closest racing, therefore meaning the best competition. Our class had the tightest finishing times, so we were awarded the best overall performance of the regatta.
I want to thank Jud and Cindy for providing this opportunity to sail their well-prepared and crewed Taylor 41. Everyone on the crew got along together and gave it their best effort. The sailing gods smiled on us for this regatta and I can only hope my luck continues.
Please mail comments to me at Bump@newwaveyachts.com
Bump Wilcox