E1, bring on the heat!

Today was a scorcher under the Okanagan sun. With temperatures in the low 30's and a blazing sky it was the first Sunday race day of the E series. The turnout was somewhat light which may have had something to do with the 3 to 5 knot breeze that never quite filled in for today's race. They posted course SDXDAF but I dont think too many people actually believed that we would finish. There was such a huge pin end favor to the line that it was actually impossible to start on Starboard. The options were to attempt a pin end start on port or approach on starboard and tack into a hole crossing on port. If awards were given for beautiful starts then the crew of WOO HOO would certainly be taking home the silverware. They demonstrated a perfect pin end port tack full speed start and it sure was pretty to watch. The first beat was an exercise in patience and little else. Most of the fleet tried desperately to stick to shore and capture any breeze they could. Woo Hoo, Pinstripe and Pentameter rounded the D mark first and locked into better pressure for the spinnaker ride South just as the breeze totally died around the top mark. The rest of the fleet floated for what felt like an eternity before rounding and could only watch as the top 3 boats sailed off into the distance. From there on it was a pretty uneventful Sunday that may have been the last scorcher of the summer.

D5, 2011

There was a solid forecast for wind tonight with breeze up to 30 knots expected throughout the evening hours.  What actually turned up for racing was closer to 10 knots but powered the fleet up and provided exciting yet predictable sailing conditions for tonight.  The race course was SCBXBACF, a long varied course with lot's of different sailing angles to keep things interesting.  There was a huge pin favor to the line for the start but surprisingly we did not see anyone pushed out or over early.  We managed a perfect start right on the line with good speed and managed to hold on to a good position all the way to A mark.  We popped the kite and held reaching angles with building breeze all the way to C.  It was a jib reach to B, X, B and back up to A.  Another great spinnaker run all the way to C and a close reach back to the finish.  It was a rare combination of flat water and steady wind tonight that provided exceptional sailing conditions.  Do not forget the early 6pm start for next Wednesday night. 

Commodores Cup, Day 1

With nothing but sunny skies and light to non existent winds, Saturday's racing was all but a wash.  I am told that the RC manage to get one race off throughout the day.  Let's hope for more wind on Sunday.

D4, 2011 Holy Crap!!

Wow, the skies were certainly angry.  This was undoubtedly the most chaotic night of sailing yet this season.  What started off as a nice hot summer evening ended up in a race abandonment with the fleet desperately seeking shelter from a raging thunderstorm.   The first start for A fleet caused a general recall and things quickly got worse from there.  We dropped sails and just about headed back into the marina during the prestart but decided to stick it with the rest of the fleet.  The course was SCAXCF and would be a reaching course.  We totally missed the starting sequence and found ourselves at the back of the fleet on the line.  We had good speed and in between glances back watching for lightening we climbed up near top of the fleet in no time.  After several very close lightening strikes on the lake the RC finally abandoned the race.  Afterward I heard several stories from other boats of skippers feeling shocks through the wet tillers and even one who claimed to have seen an electrical spark when he let go of the tiller.  Everyone seemed to make it home in one piece and scramble madly to the club house to share death defying stories over a few of our favorite beverages.

D3, 2011

Marking the half way point in E series and with only 3 more Wednesday night races we had a beautiful night for a relaxed yacht race.  All the chaos of August long weekend was behind us and it was once again safe to head out on the water.  Winds were out of the North at a steady 5 to 8 knots.  The race course for this evening was SDBXCAF, the same as last weeks.  Everyone managed to get off a clean start on the first attempt and the fleet was off.  Our strategy was rule number one, stick to the shore.  I think it paid off in most instances tonight.  The real challenge for this idea was to resist the temptation to head for the direct route on the leg from D to B and instead stick to the Kelowna side of the shore for most of the way back South before cutting across towards the Bluff.  We were able to stick with most of the symmetrical spinnaker boats who traditionally do better in light downwind conditions.  Everyone was able to continue to carry their kites as they rounded B mark to port and doused in a reasonably uneventful fashion at A mark.  The committee boat sounded the course shortening alert and finished tonight's race at the X mark due to dying breeze.  Out front it looked like the line winner might have been the Olson 30 followed closely by the J29, Woo Hoo and the Martin 244.  We shall see when the results are posted.