The idea was to get an early start today because most people were leaving in the afternoon. In the end, we only made it on the water half an hour earlier. The first drill was one I haven't done before - heeling on the whistle. Michael had us heeling to windward and leeward, upwind and downwind. The point is that we are all lazy about keeping the boat flat at times and this drill really demonstrated how slow that is. The heel affected the steering which resulted in more rudder which slowed the boat. On the downwind, I was reminded of how much heel helps with a gybe. Heel to windward going into it turns the boat, then flatten for the pump, then heel to windward again to straighten up.
On the gybes, I was steering too violently today, but slowed it down later on. As with tacks, I am better at gybing onto port than onto starboard. I need to work on being symmetrical.
Michael has been yelling at me to be more energized in the boat, like a coiled spring, like an explosion for two days. Maddy also commented at the end of the day that I'm quite static in the boat, not responding as much as the others. Last summer I had a similar comment from Noah, when he pointed out that I should be more aggresive with the boat like Braden. I have at times been more dynamic. I think this is mostly a mood thing. Being cold and feeling cautious about falling in probably results in slower movement in the boat. Come to think of it, I had advice from Peter last year to move more in the boat - fore and aft as well is in and out.
I'm having trouble with static starts. When we line up in irons on the line, I have trouble getting the boat to roll to leeward. Often when I flatten, I don't get a lot of power - mostly because the boat is pointed too high after spending too long trying to roll. It works better if I stand up, but I need to smooth it out and figure out the timing so that I'm not late or early off the start.
Today I was feeling frustrated with the number of people that screwed up the starts by trying to squeeze in where there was no room, or rolling in front of people on the line. I need to watch out for that more and be aggressive about defending my spot. The trouble with practice is that you don't protest as there are no consequences and the kids seem to push the rules as a result. Even in a race it is difficult to enforce the rules at the start because there is so much going on that it is often difficult to know what actually happened. It is difficult to focus on lining up and defending at the same time. I need to refresh my memory on the details of the rules at the start.
In the afternoon I was the only non-skiff sailor so I went in the coach boat and watched the 49er, I14, and 29ers for a while. Same principles as the Laser, with the added fun of a jib and a spinnaker. At the end of the afternoon, I hopped in the 49er with Liam Law. Liam very calmly and patiently showed me the ropes, both as crew and as skipper. It was a fun ride - I wouldn't mind doing it again sometime. I do realize that it wouldn't be as fun in less than ideal wind conditions as capsizing in the skiffs can be quite an event.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Less wind - is it possible?
This morning the water could be described as polished glass. The good news is that the sun was shining. Still, the decision was to go back to the gym in the morning. Blah. Now all of my muscles are sore. I think I would rather have gone running.
The afternoon was good. Enough wind to hike at times. We started with the sausage drill to improve our mark roundings. I think I got more out of it today. Then tacking and gybing on the whistle. I got stuck in bad air at the beginning and fell behind on the upwind. When we turned downwind, I was sailing well and people didn't catch up so the gap widened. I did a couple of roll tacks with what felt like good timing. I need to work on reproducing that every time. I think it would be easier to learn in warm water! It is amazing how much the fear of falling in screws me up. I managed to keep the boat upright today.
We did a few starts and stops. It is important to heel the boat over while sheeting in and also to head the boat in the right direction while leveling. After that we did a long tack out towards Trial Island. Some interesting currents on the way there. A few sailors actually hit rocks. The only damage was Robin's centreboard. He hit a rock hard and the top of the board split off.
The afternoon was good. Enough wind to hike at times. We started with the sausage drill to improve our mark roundings. I think I got more out of it today. Then tacking and gybing on the whistle. I got stuck in bad air at the beginning and fell behind on the upwind. When we turned downwind, I was sailing well and people didn't catch up so the gap widened. I did a couple of roll tacks with what felt like good timing. I need to work on reproducing that every time. I think it would be easier to learn in warm water! It is amazing how much the fear of falling in screws me up. I managed to keep the boat upright today.
We did a few starts and stops. It is important to heel the boat over while sheeting in and also to head the boat in the right direction while leveling. After that we did a long tack out towards Trial Island. Some interesting currents on the way there. A few sailors actually hit rocks. The only damage was Robin's centreboard. He hit a rock hard and the top of the board split off.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
To Sail or Not to Sail
Cadboro Bay was so glassy this morning that the reflections of the houses on the far shore could be seen in the water. And then it started to rain. With no sign of wind coming, the decision was made to send us to the gym.
I'm still not a big fan of gyms. The idea of trudging along on a machine when you could be outside exploring is not at all inspiring. I'm also not a believer that an intense weight workout is a good idea in the midst of an intense camp. I was mildly sore from yesterday and thought a little recovery time would be a good idea. The forecast was for 10 knots in the afternoon, so I wanted to save a bit for that. Maybe that's not intense enough. I'm still chicken about falling in and want all the energy I can get to prevent that. To keep the intensity up without wearing us out, I wish the coaches would do more instruction on race tactics and strategy. I know boat handling is the priority and without that we can't win a race. I think it would be helpful to learn tactics and strategy at the same time, in depth.
I'm also thinking that next winter, if I want to sail, I should go somewhere warmer. Then I won't be afraid of falling in, my toes won't get cold, and I might be able to convince some friends to come along.
In the afternoon the wind picked up and we sailed long enough to complete one drill - sausage drill - before the wind died completely. The drill was about mark rounding, but the course was a reach both ways. I would have preferred to work on a windward/leeward course. I did not do well at rounding close to the mark. I did fairly well at easing the sheet before rounding and keeping speed through the turns.
I'm still not a big fan of gyms. The idea of trudging along on a machine when you could be outside exploring is not at all inspiring. I'm also not a believer that an intense weight workout is a good idea in the midst of an intense camp. I was mildly sore from yesterday and thought a little recovery time would be a good idea. The forecast was for 10 knots in the afternoon, so I wanted to save a bit for that. Maybe that's not intense enough. I'm still chicken about falling in and want all the energy I can get to prevent that. To keep the intensity up without wearing us out, I wish the coaches would do more instruction on race tactics and strategy. I know boat handling is the priority and without that we can't win a race. I think it would be helpful to learn tactics and strategy at the same time, in depth.
I'm also thinking that next winter, if I want to sail, I should go somewhere warmer. Then I won't be afraid of falling in, my toes won't get cold, and I might be able to convince some friends to come along.
In the afternoon the wind picked up and we sailed long enough to complete one drill - sausage drill - before the wind died completely. The drill was about mark rounding, but the course was a reach both ways. I would have preferred to work on a windward/leeward course. I did not do well at rounding close to the mark. I did fairly well at easing the sheet before rounding and keeping speed through the turns.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
A New Season Begins - With Light Winds
I'm back in Victoria for another training camp. Winds <15 km/hr, cloudy and 7 degrees. I'm warm enough on the water except for my toes.
I worked on roll tacking a lot today. Michael pointed out that I'm better at tacking onto port tack than onto Starboard. It has to do with how I'm balancing and anchoring my weight in the boat when I roll. Steve recommended tucking my toes under the toe rail and using the hiking strap as I throw my shoulders out. I've been a bit chicken about doing this because I'm afraid I won't get back in and under the boom fast enough. I was the first one to fall in today as a result of trying. It also highlights the need for new booties. I was planning to look for some here anyway. The neoprene socks/ water shoes combination isn't working for warmth or grip under the toe rail. Hopefully I can get to Bosun's before close Friday night or check out the selection at MEC.
We also worked at stopping and starting a lot today. News to me was that you should have the sail set when starting to maximize the power from the roll. With the vang off, some of the power spills off the leach.
We sailed in the bay for a couple hours in the morning. In the afternoon, the coaches towed us out to find wind. Lesson learned - it isn't good to be too close behind the tow boat. Water funnelled up through the centreboard slot and swamped the cockpit faster than the bailer could drain. Not a big problem except for the fact that the water is COLD. That was a big reason for my frozen toes in the afternoon. We sailed almost to Trial Island and then back to somewhere off Willows and were towed back in from there.
I worked on roll tacking a lot today. Michael pointed out that I'm better at tacking onto port tack than onto Starboard. It has to do with how I'm balancing and anchoring my weight in the boat when I roll. Steve recommended tucking my toes under the toe rail and using the hiking strap as I throw my shoulders out. I've been a bit chicken about doing this because I'm afraid I won't get back in and under the boom fast enough. I was the first one to fall in today as a result of trying. It also highlights the need for new booties. I was planning to look for some here anyway. The neoprene socks/ water shoes combination isn't working for warmth or grip under the toe rail. Hopefully I can get to Bosun's before close Friday night or check out the selection at MEC.
We also worked at stopping and starting a lot today. News to me was that you should have the sail set when starting to maximize the power from the roll. With the vang off, some of the power spills off the leach.
We sailed in the bay for a couple hours in the morning. In the afternoon, the coaches towed us out to find wind. Lesson learned - it isn't good to be too close behind the tow boat. Water funnelled up through the centreboard slot and swamped the cockpit faster than the bailer could drain. Not a big problem except for the fact that the water is COLD. That was a big reason for my frozen toes in the afternoon. We sailed almost to Trial Island and then back to somewhere off Willows and were towed back in from there.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Arrgh! Beaten by the Commodore!
We are talking about seriously light winds here folks. In the first race, I fell behind on the first upwind leg. Staying ahead of Cameron only because he bumped my boat and had to do a penalty turn. He had been blanketing me and hindering my attempt to catch up with Kevin. I roared past Kevin on the downwind leg by paying attention to the shifts and being very still in my boat. On the last leg, from #2 to the finish line, it got interesting with random puffs that found some sailors and not others. Kevin gained back some ground as I gybed in vain, trying to keep up with the shifts. So it was neck in neck to the finish line. I had the inside position and made sure I headed Kevin up. He didn't take evasive action early and was pushed outside so I made it over the line a few boat lengths ahead. I don't recall exactly where the boats were at the two boat length circle, but I should remember that at the finish, a boat can ask for buoy room. In this case, it wasn't asked for and I think it was because Kevin was too far upwind for it to matter.
In the second race, the barge end was highly favoured at the start (the line was parallel to the wind direction). I got there a little too early, slowed down, and then couldn't get the boat going again for the start. It was a short race to #1 and back so there was no opportunity to make up for lost time.
In the third race, Kevin and I were neck in neck most of the way. He beat me to the upwind mark as he had the windward position for that leg. I passed him on the downwind and was headed to a win by several boat lengths at the finish. I looked back and saw Kevin heading up to windward instead of directly to the line. I knew he was going there because that was where the wind puffs seemed to begin. I thought about heading up also, but decided the extra distance might not be worth it if a puff didn't materialize. Wrong, wrong, wrong. A strong puff came in, hit Kevin first and by the time it reached me, we were crossing the line with Kevin inches ahead. Ouch.
Today was mostly about tactics and strategy. There was also a fair bit of luck involved for all of us. Finally, it seems that Kevin has a bit of an edge in upwind boat speed in the light air. I need to work on that.
s Dropped from Series.
abc Dropped from A,B,or C scoring group.
In the second race, the barge end was highly favoured at the start (the line was parallel to the wind direction). I got there a little too early, slowed down, and then couldn't get the boat going again for the start. It was a short race to #1 and back so there was no opportunity to make up for lost time.
In the third race, Kevin and I were neck in neck most of the way. He beat me to the upwind mark as he had the windward position for that leg. I passed him on the downwind and was headed to a win by several boat lengths at the finish. I looked back and saw Kevin heading up to windward instead of directly to the line. I knew he was going there because that was where the wind puffs seemed to begin. I thought about heading up also, but decided the extra distance might not be worth it if a puff didn't materialize. Wrong, wrong, wrong. A strong puff came in, hit Kevin first and by the time it reached me, we were crossing the line with Kevin inches ahead. Ouch.
Today was mostly about tactics and strategy. There was also a fair bit of luck involved for all of us. Finally, it seems that Kevin has a bit of an edge in upwind boat speed in the light air. I need to work on that.
*Dropped from Regatta.Glenmore Sailing Club
Back to Regatta
Regattas 2007
Mid-Summer - Laser Radial
Laser Radial Fleet Summary (no drops)
Points Place Boat 4 1 98117 Kevin Brown 5 2 184626 Kate Easton 10 3 157871 Cameron Bellavie Race #1 Wind: 0 knots
Ordinal Points Boat 1 1 184626 Kate Easton 2 2 98117 Kevin Brown DNF 4 157871 Cameron Bellavie Race #2 Wind: 0 knots
Ordinal Points Boat 1 1 98117 Kevin Brown 2 2 184626 Kate Easton DNS 3 157871 Cameron Bellavie Race #3 Wind: 0 knots
Ordinal Points Boat 1 1 98117 Kevin Brown 2 2 184626 Kate Easton DNS 3 157871 Cameron Bellavie
s Dropped from Series.
abc Dropped from A,B,or C scoring group.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
I am not the Wabajinx!
Bill Plaxton and I arrived on Thursday night hoping to catch some coaching with Lawrence Lemieux on Friday. The birds woke us at 5am Friday to announce that there was no wind. Lawrence didn't come. Peter hosted a great discussion on what the others had learned from Lawrence on Wednesday and Thursday. Shooting the mark, sailing in waves, and luffing rights were amongst the points discussed.
As I was complaining about the lack of wind EVERY time I come to Wabamun, James Brown pointed out that maybe I'm the jinx. Thankfully, the wind picked up in the afternoon, proving that I am not the jinx. We got in a good training sessionwith Mark Bugiak, paused for dinner and trained some more with Zach Grove. Saturday had me wondering again if I was the jinx. Enough wind for a race and a bit in the morning (course shortened on Race 2). The afternoon was spent reading at the clubhouse. After a wonderful and filling steak dinner, the wind picked up and a bunch of us dragged our full bellies out on the water. On Sunday, I would have abandoned had I been race committee. I think others thought the same, as most of us were late to the start line for Race 3.
Wabamun Sailing Club 2007 Sailweek Regatta
Results are final as of 20:31 on July 23, 2007
Overall
Race 1
Wind strength: Force 2-3
Race 2
Wind strength:0-1
Race 3
Wind Strength: 0-1
Race 4
Wind Strength: 0-1
As I was complaining about the lack of wind EVERY time I come to Wabamun, James Brown pointed out that maybe I'm the jinx. Thankfully, the wind picked up in the afternoon, proving that I am not the jinx. We got in a good training sessionwith Mark Bugiak, paused for dinner and trained some more with Zach Grove. Saturday had me wondering again if I was the jinx. Enough wind for a race and a bit in the morning (course shortened on Race 2). The afternoon was spent reading at the clubhouse. After a wonderful and filling steak dinner, the wind picked up and a bunch of us dragged our full bellies out on the water. On Sunday, I would have abandoned had I been race committee. I think others thought the same, as most of us were late to the start line for Race 3.
Wabamun Sailing Club 2007 Sailweek Regatta
Results are final as of 20:31 on July 23, 2007
Overall
Race 1Wind strength: Force 2-3
Race 2Wind strength:0-1
Race 3Wind Strength: 0-1
Race 4Wind Strength: 0-1
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Wabamun
My first time sailing on Wabamun was supposed to be Saturday. A few drifts of wind brought our hopes up early Saturday morning; however, they had disappeared completely by 10am, the official start time. Red and White stripes up all day. I was informed that Wabamun translates to "looking glass". Why didn't someone tell me this before we drove up? Wabamun was certainly living up to its name. Baking hot all day with glassy water. Of course, a tantalizing breeze came up just as we began to eat lunch and disappeared just as we finished lunch.
Day 2: Up awfully early in hope of catching the morning thermals. The thermals slept in. Shortly after 9am, they began to drift in and we drifted out onto the lake. We all had one race, with the Radials and Bytes the last to start. The wind lasted long enough for us to do the first sausage of the course and then it died. As we drifted towards the reach mark, a boat appeared flying our class flags and the white flag with blue square: shortened course. I finished 9th, inches behind the 8th place boat and perhaps a boat length behind 7th place. I had a very good start. I was out in front and pulling ahead. The trick was that I couldn't tack And then I didn't tack. It seems the others found a slightly more favourable drift of wind. I need to work on the reach. I think with a few small adjustments, I could have caught at least one boat.
2007 Wabamun Sailing Club Open
Day 2: Up awfully early in hope of catching the morning thermals. The thermals slept in. Shortly after 9am, they began to drift in and we drifted out onto the lake. We all had one race, with the Radials and Bytes the last to start. The wind lasted long enough for us to do the first sausage of the course and then it died. As we drifted towards the reach mark, a boat appeared flying our class flags and the white flag with blue square: shortened course. I finished 9th, inches behind the 8th place boat and perhaps a boat length behind 7th place. I had a very good start. I was out in front and pulling ahead. The trick was that I couldn't tack And then I didn't tack. It seems the others found a slightly more favourable drift of wind. I need to work on the reach. I think with a few small adjustments, I could have caught at least one boat.
2007 Wabamun Sailing Club Open
Laser Radial
Sail no skipper 1 Total
1 182382 Sarah Hornett 1 1.0
2 1 Melanie Grell 2 2.0
3 185505 Robin Stubbs 3 3.0
4 187867 Elisha Allen 4 4.0
5 188901 Alexa Kenny 5 5.0
6 178562 Zoe Lewis 6 6.0
7 189805 Liam Quinlan 7 7.0
8 187302 Dominque Grell 8 8.0
9 184626 Kate Easton 9 9.0
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