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Thread: 2020 Singlehanded Farallones - Your excuses here:

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Posts
    3,485

    Default 2020 Singlehanded Farallones - Your excuses here:

    Dura Mater and I got wet motoring over to the start, then the slugs fell out of the mast slot when I tried to shake out the reef at the start. Got out the gate well enough, and turned the wrong way. Floated around out there, couldn't tack to starboard because, as Bob said, that would have meant sailing to Half Moon Bay.

    So back we came and I stood in front of the Golden Gate Yacht Club with Tom Boussie and Steve Saul watching all the spinnaker wraps. ALL the spinnaker wraps. Clearly people have not read Andrew Evans' recommendations closely enough:

    "After singlehanded broaching lots and lots and lots of times, I’ve learned a few lessons that I thought I’d pass along. You can download my paper here: https://www.sugarsync.com/pf/D7718709_68878570_6221527 "

    I have a short iphone video of each of you crossing the finish line. Even Daniel after midnight. While I cogitate about the appropriate music, and in the meantime, here's a photo of the most recent version of a Singlehanded Sailing Society Race Deck, thanks to Tom's ingenuity and classic vehicle. I love this club.

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    photo by Tom
    Last edited by Philpott; 06-28-2020 at 02:05 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Fremont, CA
    Posts
    157

    Default

    Jackie- You made it farther than I did.

    On Waterwings I ramp launched, rigged, and made the start in time, which seems like a lot, but getting better. I put the reef in the main before the start, probably not necessary, as the wind was <15, I think, no wind instrument, and the float was not submerged completely on the reach to the start. We started port tack about a minute late, still won the start, as Raven headed for A off St Francis for the start rather than X off GGYC, ended up tracking back to X, and Wingit was a few minutes sailing time east of the line at the start. Inside of a few minutes, all three were on port tack making good progress for GG bridge.

    The leech of the mainsail on Waterwings was flapping, and I saw there was a 8 inch tear extending forward, several feet above the reef, most likely from over tensioning while putting in the reef. This was the type of tear that seemed like it could easily extend way farther forward, so I dropped the main and retired less than 5 minutes into the race.

    Fortunately, Marchal sailmakers was in the loft, outside of regular business hours, and I brought the main to him. He said that he is now busier than average, even though most of business was down previously. This may be related to your spinnaker wrapping observation.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Location
    South Bay
    Posts
    14

    Default

    I have a few:
    * Only 2/3 of my deck is painted. As a result:
    * My new jib & genoa tracks are not yet securely bolted to the deck
    * Nearly all of the rest of my deck hardware is in an undisclosed secure location
    * My new windows have not yet been fabricated, nor installed
    * I'm undecided on footwear - my Ronstan zip boots aren't very grippy anymore. I haven't decided if I want another set of dinghy boots, or some sort of water shoes yet. Or maybe vans?
    * The last time I raced single handed was at a Naval Academy regatta in a Laser, more than 20 years ago.

    That said, I'm the new owner of the boat formerly known as Tainted Love. It completed the SHTP in 2000. I feel that I owe it to the boat to try to participate in an SSS even this year. All of the above will be addressed as quickly as reasonably possible. Rectifying the final point is the entire purpose of purchasing the boat.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    37.205346,-121.963398
    Posts
    788

    Default

    My excuse for a truly stupid start: I opted to make a software change to the autopilot just prior to the start. I pulled away from the dock and realized I had loaded the wrong version. A quick 180, back to ggyc dock, pull it all apart, reload, and out to bend the sails on. With a few minutes to go I was making way to the line at the wrong end. Started at the wrong end, but managed to get moving in the direction of the Bridge.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Posts
    3,688

    Default

    I believed the forecast and set up for a port set. I could have pulled the sheets around but decided I'd set first and then jibe. The inevitable snafu delayed things just enough that the WylieCat (yep) jibed inside of me and slipped ahead. While I was trimming all the way back, Don was probably finishing a novel. He beat me by about a minute and a half after 11 hours on the course.

    (Edit) I just thought of a better excuse: I didn't have the bottom cleaned. (No, I really didn't!) I think Philpott noticed when she stopped by on Friday, but she was gracious and didn't say anything.
    .
    Last edited by BobJ; 06-28-2020 at 08:30 PM.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    224

    Default

    I left something at home in the Delta that's very important for keeping warm and dry during a race. And it was cold and wet at 0700 at RYC. Has it always been that cold?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Posts
    75

    Default

    I left the #1 on the dock. Started with the 4 and later tee'd up the 2 but thought better and went with the 3. Then went to the 2. All slowish/sloppy changes. Forgot to rig forward netting and dragged 2 head sails. Believed forecast and flew heavy kite all the way back.
    After the final jibe inside the bridge got greedy and released the kite too early from the sock and laid it over hard. Broaching was highly likely if you kept your kite up trying to lay the finish. Wind angle/speed/shifts and gusts were impressive. Thank you South Tower Demon, may I have another! The smart kid in the class on a blue Alerion doused at the North tower and glided in under white, er, black sails.

    The spin sock was crucial.
    I pulled off the final hairy gybe with its help (the previous 2 outside the gate went fine without socking).
    After broaching it allowed me to "douse" and reset without going forward or re- rigging. Further, had it been rigged on the Starboard side I could have recovered quicker by simply socking it.
    I finished under reefed kite (1/2 sock) without worry of further mishap. Not sexy but safe.
    A fine day. Thank you Tom and all the rest that make these days possible.
    Chris Jordan
    The Pork Chop Express

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Posts
    3,485

    Default Video of Finishes in order of appearance and dishevelment

    I took 65 short little videos, small enough to send over email. Then I realized that I would have to send out emails to a lot of people, all of you, and that would require a lot of cutting and pasting. Instead I threw them onto Movie Maker.

    Then, instead of attaching some poached Kinks songs (I was thinking of 'Superman' and 'So Tired (of waiting for you)', I left intact the noise of the wind off the city front last evening. And there was some wind. Here you are, in all your glory:

    https://youtu.be/GF1QvoUT9jM
    Last edited by Philpott; 06-29-2020 at 02:20 PM. Reason: first youtube, thanks, Bob

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2018
    Posts
    4

    Default

    Thanks for posting this Jackie! I almost caught Nina there at the end - maybe if the race had been 1/4 mile longer. Hats off to Robert though, that was quite the competitive spirit.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    37.205346,-121.963398
    Posts
    788

    Default

    Pretty nice Jackie. Next year I will film your finish.

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