As you read this we will have completed all the Island Series races except Hope Island on the thirteenth. This type of point-to-point racing is different from buoy racing and very worth experiencing. These races let you add, hone, and display sailing skills that are not as much used in buoy racing. Navigation skills, like using a chart and tide/current tables and sailing a compass course, that are useful cruising.
If you have not been out, do not despair. Besides the Hope Island Race, there is still the Inlet Series to get your feet wet, both figuratively and literally. There is also the Southern Sound Series: a series of four point-to-point races all over the south Sound put on by different clubs. It includes our Toliva Shoal Race. For more information see our Series Rep’s report in this S-t-S.
Notice to all sailors: boats competing in the races mentioned above need pick up crew for one or more of the races. So if you have stopped sailing your dinghy or Star for the winter, call Don Waterhouse and find you a ride.
If you do not want to race, but would like to cruise to or from Tacoma, Des Moines, or Gig Harbor inquire about delivering a boat to a race, or taking one back to Olympia.
You will need a plan to manage your over all approach to the race, a strategy. Your strategy guides your decisions on the course. Your tactics should be judged by whether they help accomplish your plan. For example, you are meeting a boat on the opposite tack, do you tack and gas them or duck? If you think you are going the right way, that is to the side of the course you planned to sail on, your plan dictates ducking. Should you choose to tack on the other boat, you will then be going the wrong way, to the side of the course you do not want to be on.. If your dirty air slows the other boat, she may tack away. Then you would have forced her to go the right way, to the side of the course you wanted..
Enjoy the holiday season and, as always, sail fast.
Clark McPerson, McSwoosh
Michelle Merlitti was the first person to win one of the new Crew Award patches. It is an embroidered patch that is easily attached to the winners jacket, or hat, or ... where ever they want to display proof of this accomplishment.
She will not be the only one to win such a patch. Clark McPherson, our RC Chair, has more patches ready for future Crew Award winners.
How do you win a Crew Award? When a boat takes first in class in a SSSS PHRF series, her skipper wins the right to nominate someone for a Crew Award. To win the award that person needs to show up at the next Meeting to claim it.
After the October Meeting there were nine open RC boat assignments. So I asked my wife Jayne to draw, at random, from the list of racers without an assignment and gave them the next open race. This was repeated until all races were taken. The winners are:
Touchrain, Herron Island Race 11/15/08
Goldielocks, Squaxin Island Race 11/22/08
Joie de Vivre, Maclean Memorial Race short course stake boat, 5/30/09
Raven, First Wednesday Series Race 2, 6/10/09
Gayle Force, Second Wednesday Series Race 3, 7/15/09
Wizard, Second Wednesday Series Race 4, 7/22/09
Jody V, Secretary’s Series Race 3, 8/12/09
Fjord, Secretary’s Series Race 4, 8/19/09
Flasher, Single-handed Races, 8/29/08
Nirvana, back up. This is the first contact for any boat unable to fulfill her commitment.
All RC assignments will be posted in the RC Office on our web site.
Thanks to all.
Sail fast,
Clark McPerson, McSwoosh