Road To The Cup – Week 7

Road To The Cup – Week 7

Top 10 as of 7/10/22

Eleven teams showed up on Thursday night excited to race in a little pressure, and they were rewarded with SE 10-15, a stiff current and modest surfing conditions. Several teams made their Twilight debuts, most noteworthy of whom was John Casler, who finally made it out, sailing with daughter Liz Casler. Finally, John Casler is back. Balance in the universe has been restored. This week’s report is again from Steve Uhl.

“The course was a run to Greys Rock, a beat to the harbor can, a reach to Fort Sewell nun and then the finish. That required mark roundings of starboard, starboard and port respectively, which amazingly, all 11 boats did properly. First appearances included Joe Fava and son Ben Fava, and John Casler with daughter Liz Casler, and Jocelyn Cook. Walter Colsman was out racing of course, this time without crew OR backstay. Anne Marije Veenland led at the first mark but the other 10 boats arrived at the first mark more or less simultaneously, and everyone did their best to avoid a multi-boat pileup – mostly successfully. Wish I had drone video. Team Lane got right first, as did Team Martini, and the right paid at least in part by staying out of ebb tide, leaving the rest of us to fight for crumbs. In the end it was Lane, Martini, Uhl, Fava and Casler.”

Thanks Steve. No need to recap those finishes, other than to say congratulations to all. Here is a shot, courtesy of Mike Lane, of post-race dinner at CYC.

And with that, Series 1 is in the books. You may recall that it was a six-race series but two were wash-outs, so we sailed only four. And because it takes five races to get a throw-out, the scores below reflect all races sailed (no throw-outs). Congratulations to Steve Uhl, who took 1^st with a line of 2-1-1-3 for 7 points. Well done. Finishing 2^nd on a tiebreaker was Team Lane, who rolled a 6 (DNC)-6 (DNC)-2-1 for 15 points, and taking 3^rd was Walter Colsman with a line of 1-3-5-6, also for 15 points. Honorable mentions go to Team Martini in 4^th with a 6 (DNC)-2-6-2 for 16 points, and Jay Wager in 5^th with a line of 4-5-10-7 for 26 points. Congratulations to all. Below are the final results for Series 1.

Before we move on from Twilights, Jocelyn Cook & Anne Marije Veenland wrote in with a rules question pertaining to a mark-rounding incident in Thursday’s race. I share it here purely as a learning opportunity, as there is always room for each of us to better understand the rules.

I’d summarize the situation this way. Two boats were close hauled on starboard approaching the mark (harbor can) preparing to tack and round that mark, leaving it to starboard. Several port tack boats were converging on that same mark. One or more of the port tackers hailed no room and slammed the door, forcing starboard to alter course to avoid contact. Who had rights here and what is the applicable rule?

This is actually an easy one, but to be sure, we took it to Judge Jason Mayer, who you may recall served as lead judge for our recent ECs. With the disclaimer that he was basing his comments on only one side of the facts, here is what he said. “Based solely on this version of events, any discussion of room, overlap, inside/outside, goes out the window because of 18.1a (as Kim mentioned) ‘rule 18 does not apply when boats are on opposite tacks on a beat to windward.’ These boats seem to be approaching a windward Mark all close hauled and on opposite tacks. So 18 does not apply and rule 10 does apply . ‘Port shall keep clear of starboard.’”

Thanks Jason. So it would appear, again based on this version of the facts, that one or more port tackers fouled at least one of the starboard tackers. Live and learn, right? Aside from being awesome beer can racing, due to the unusual courses, downwind starts and variability of mark-roundings, the Twilights seem to be an endless source of learning opportunities. Thanks to Jocelyn and Anne Marije for bringing it up.

Out on the MRA line, mother nature treated us to an A+ day, replete with sun, sparkling water, comfortable temps and an 8-10 knot southeasterly. 17 boats made it out for the day, which is a respectable turnout. MRA debuts included Team Ehrhardt, Team Nobel and Tim McCaffrey. Nice to see them out there. Also out for her debut was Ashley Hoguet, sailing with her dad Ramsay Hoguet. Unfortunately, they seem not to have registered for MRA yet (which hopefully they will do) so she wasn’t scored. A long-time favorite of mine, Ashley has been gracing our line since before she could see over the dashboard, and this year is Commodore of Pleon. How time flies.

The RC got in three races, though shortened Race 3 to an A-course in deference to the hour and dying breeze. Current was a factor, particularly in the first couple of races, running hard right to left as you looked up the course. That, of course, made for an adventurous weather mark rounding, forcing a lot of conservative overstanding, even by those approaching in the zone on port. Only one boat we know of (that I happened to be sailing on) messed that one up, but it’s hard to believe there weren’t others. Despite the forecast of a progressively clocking breeze, left seemed to pay in the first two races and right paid in the one-lap race 3.

So taking first on the day with a 3-3-1 for 7 points was Joe Fava, who is lights-out fast, getting good starts and doing a good job of positioning himself on the track. Just an outstanding day – well done. Finishing 2^nd was Team Taylor, who put up a 1-2-6 for 9 points, and is continuing to make the case for a RW win. And taking 3^rd was Team Lane / Heffernan, who rolled a 7-1-2 for 10 points, capping off an outstanding 11-point week for Mike. Honorable mentions go to Team Frisch / Hourihan in 4^th with a 9-6-3 for 18 points, and to Team Roberts / Remeika, who took 5^th on a tiebreaker with a 2-4-DNC (13) for 19 points. Congratulations to all.

So, in Cup competition, big changes this week as Team Lane surges from 5^th to 1^st on the strength of an 11-point week, bumping Team Frisch / Hourihan into 2^nd. The top 10 are listed below.

Week 8 racing will include Twilight 2-1 on Thursday night and the 2-3 races of MRA Series 2-4 this Saturday.

Other News, Notices & Miscellaneous Scuttlebutt

Please Register for Race Week – The Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series (formerly NOOD) will be Thursday through Sunday, July 28-31. You must register for the event and can do that here.

Race Week Party – This year’s Race Week party will be on Thursday evening July 28^th, generously hosted – again – by Jennifer & Steve Uhl at their home on Front Street.

Support Lindsay Smith – Please help support Lindsay. Make your check payable to “Fast Mermaid Fund” and mail it to Alan McKinnon, 21 Robert Rd, Marblehead, MA 01945.

Register for Nationals – It’s time to register for the 2022 R19 National Championships! The event will be held in Chicago from August 15^th through the 19^th, hosted by the fine folks of the Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club. So far, seven Fleet 5 teams have signed up and we hear that one more is chartering, which will get us up to eight. We can do better. Register today.

Nationals Eligibility – Another quick reminder – the class maintains eligibility requirements for participating in Nationals that are intended to keep the pros from parachuting into our regattas. If you’re planning to go to Chicago but haven’t sailed much this year, suggest you review Article XII in the Rule Book. If you have any questions, contact her eminence Elise Nash, who as fleet captain, is the arbiter of all Fleet 5 members’ eligibility.

If You Spin, Send It In – We know of only one spin this week, turned in by Team Pandapas, who hit the weather mark (because they should have ducked instead of tacking inside).

Pictures of the Week – The first shot sent in by Mike Lane is of Rob Ferro’s ingenious quick fix of Jay Wager’s broken tiller extension. The second is one I caught of a kayak towing a Townie. Vote for your favorite at kpandapas@comcast.net.

Mail Bag

Aside from the rules question, no mail this week.

–kp (kpandapas@comcast.net)