Center of Effort

Warriors of Winter

2012-01-26T14:17:00.000-08:00

Team Chris Palmieri and Judith Krimski lead the fleet to the windward mark in Saturday frostbiting.

Thanks to David Gordon for his fantastic photos.

It's a Wednesday night in the middle of January. After a mild beginning to winter, we've had our first bit of snow and the blustery temps—much to my chagrin—are finally settling in. I'm sitting at a local dinner spot with a couple of girlfriends in the midst of the "weekend plans" conversation. Tina is selling her cactus look-a-like pots at an art fair. Amy's doing yoga and shopping online for post holiday bargains. They ask me, "What are you doing this weekend?" I pause, anticipating their confused reactions…"I'm going frostbiting." Incredulous looks cross their faces. "Frostbiting? What the hell is frostbiting?" I smile. It's sailboat racing on Boston Harbor.

I guess you could say I'm one of Boston’s version of "The 300". The Spartans of sailing. The warriors of winter. Plying the frigid inlets of Boston Harbor in Rhodes 19s, J24s, Inter-clubs and Lasers in winter. While our attire is nothing like the sparse six-pack baring accoutrements of the aforementioned Greeks, we count among our ranks the cream of the crop of New England sailors including; all-american college racers, coaches and former Olympic laser sailors. The talent is deep, especially in the Rhodes 19 fleet housed at Courageous Sailing Center in Charlestown, MA.

For the past 12 years Courageous has hosted its Saturday frostbiting and exceptional sailors just keep on coming. Great competition aside—what makes this well-worn fleet of 24 Rhodes 19s so attractive that diehard racers come year after year? I asked Matt Marston, fleet captain, now in his seventh season. “Good competition, easy sailing, boats are all the same and on the dock. The fleet is getting better so if you don’t get better you’re effectively getting worse.” Another regular competitor quips, “The Rhodes are sort of like racing minivans, not the fastest and a little clunky. You just try to get them around the course.” Besides easy to rig boats that are fun to sail in all conditions, the recipe for great racing includes shifty winds and heavy current that challenge even the best sailors, short course racing in which teams have to work every second to win the day, and finally some of the best race management around.

Layered dressing and dry gear
are the watchword of the day.

For race committe veteran Rosemarie Lyons the unpredictable winter conditions, among other factors, play into whether it’s a good or tough day. “It’s really shifty, especially when it’s coming out of the NW.” declares Rosemarie. “You have a good fleet so you want to make sure you have a good course. It’s cold out so you need to keep racing going. With winds sometimes shifting dramatically it’s frustrating for RC and the sailors. But in general, we’ve gotten really good at picking the best spot and making sure everyone is happy.”

As the harbor empties out for the winter and the sightseeing boats and pleasure vessels go into hibernation, Courageous pulls all their Rhodes out of the water— not for winter storage—to gear them up for frostbiting. Bottoms are sanded and painted, lines are checked and rigs tuned. For Courageous, a non-profit community sailing center known for its summer youth sailing programs, winter sailing has become part of the life-blood of this thriving harborside fixture. “Frostbiting is always an exciting time of year for Courageous,” says Executive Director, Dave Dilorenzo. “It’s a time to see faces we don’t see in the summer, many of the whom have been participating in frostbiting since we started the series.”

There’s no denying that winter sailing on the harbor can be a cold experience but that is overidden by the fun of sharing the day with comrades who are willing to weather the often harsh conditions. Many of the boats are filled by teams of sailors who alternate sailing each Saturday. Mark Lindsey, owner of MJM yachts and a mentor to many sailors in the fleet started just this way. “In the fall of 2006 I joined a group of sailors from my hometown of Gloucester who drove down to Courageous Sailing every Saturday to race in Rhodes 19's. More than a decade before that I had rebuilt a number of Rhodes 19's into race winners with fast new rudders, keels, deck hardware and internal structure. Suddenly I was confronted with a boat that couldn't be altered in any way. The winning was purely up to sailing skill. We had eight people on our team so we rotated teams each week and skipper and crew positions each race. Since most of my 505 experience was the crew in my own boat, I knew how to win races as a crew, and my first highly coveted race win at Courageous was doing sail trim and tactics for Eben Moulton. We were both thrilled!”

The fleet sets up for a start.

On a typical Saturday morning, dockside is all hustle and bustle as teams arrive, get geared up and head down to the dock to rig and perform a ritual bottom scrubbing, and just as likely—shoveling snow out of the boat’s cockpit using the perfect tool, a dustpan and hand broom for getting in those hard-to-reach corners. Ben Richardson, 2011 World Laser Master Champion sums it up, “Frostbiting is an interesting beast. On the coldest of days you try to spend as little time as possible being around prior to launching and racing, so it's really important to have consistent crew who know the entire drill.”

Leaving the cacophony of the pier to set sail, one immediately notices the peacefulness inherent in a winter harbor. A bright sun glints off the grey and silver winter sea while the city stands as a sparkling sentinel in the crisp cold air. The only sounds are sails luffing and water slipping along the hull of the boat. If you're lucky you might spy a local harbor seal frolicking nearby. Besides the occasional tugboat or fuel tanker, Boston Harbor is pretty much the exclusive winter playground of the two frostbiting fleets; the Boston Sailing Center taking up the outer harbor and Courageous the inner harbor.

Rhodes racing starts promptly at 12:00 noon with 24 boats on the line. Courses are short windward/leeward legs. On good days races will last no more than 20 minutes. The key to being successful in this highly competitive fleet? Sail the boat like a dinghy and learn the conditions. Because of the juxtaposition of Boston’s skyline to harbor, wind bends at angles up to 45 degrees from its original direction. Fortunately you can read most of the puffs on the water so be sure to take along a crewmate who’s good at calling lifts and headers. Current is also a major factor. With both the Charles and the Mystic Rivers converging, current typically runs out of the harbor, even on a flood tide. Newbies to the fleet invariably end up stuck on the windward mark because they don’t judge the current properly. It’s a right of passage in this competitive fleet.

So if you’re sitting around the house come February. Football is over and the NBA just isn’t cutting it, think about taking a trip to Courageous Sailing Center. Ben Richardson puts the experience into perspective, “Quite often it is pretty nice out— and if you're dressed properly, 30 degrees and sunny can be pretty damn nice—so it’s really just a pleasure to be out there. There is no question there's a measure of comraderie that develops from knowing that you and fifty other sailors just spent the afternoon out there in the winter no matter what the conditions were.”

If we have a boat available (mind there is a long waiting list) join us for some frostbiting and if the racing doesn’t pull you in the beauty of the harbor will. “Over the years we've had a lot of adventures,” say Mark Lindsey, “from frozen icy sheets to a masthead in the water when the jib didn't come out of the cleat while tacking in a 25+ knot blast. I still love sailing in light air when the snowflakes show you the wind direction as they fall silently into the gray water.”

Despite predictions of global warming, frostbiting remains a cold proposition so dress warmly. Bring an extra pair of gloves and a wooly hat. We’ll provide the foot warmers. A weekend on the water in the winter is not only a rewarding and challenging activity it makes for great water cooler or Twitter material.

Frostbiting anyone!
There are several options for getting out on the harbor in the winter. If you want a ready-made fleet join Courageous Sailing and its fleet of Rhodes 19s. Looking to get your foredeck fix? The Boston Sailing Center floats a fleet of J24s. Both ply the Boston Harbor waters on Saturdays. If you favor the "church" of sailing try the Cottage Park Yacht Club in Winthrop, MA, on Sundays. They sport a fleet of Inter-clubs and lasers, all privately owned. For a modest fee you can keep your boat on the dock and enjoy aprés sailing food, drink and camaraderie at the cozy bar at the yacht club.

Links to the clubs:
Courageous Sailing

Boston Sailing Center

Cottage Park Frostbite Sailing

Clay Johnson: America Laser Sailor on a Journey to Win Gold

2011-11-23T09:41:00.001-08:00

After three years of campaigning, over 240,000 miles traveled(9 times around the world) Clay Johnson (now in Perth Australia training forthe final Olympic qualifying regatta) is in the home stretch of his quest torepresent the United States as the sole male laser sailor in the 2012 Olympics.Currently ranked 12th in World Cup standings, Clay is solidly atop the leaderboard of Americans in that category. But his challenges aren’t over - Clayneeds to beat Brad Funk by at least 5 points at the upcoming Perth 2011 ISAF Worldsto earn the berth of Olympic laser sailor.

When you first meet Clay you see a tall, handsome andconfident young man. One who looks you in the eye and is immediately interestedin who you are. But what has it been like for the young man who is the quintessentialAmerican kid?

Growing up on the shores of New Jersey, Clay started his loveaffair with sailing at age five when his dad taught him how to sail a TomsRiver Pram. From that point on it was all sailing. Clay counts among hisaccomplishments international competition in the optimist and laser radialbefore moving into the laser Full rig. In 2000 he was the youngest person tocompete in the Olympic trials—where he finished 19th. Clay started his mostrecent Olympic campaign in 2009.

JK: You have tremendous family support. What is the strengthof having your family involved in this process.

CJ: The great thing abouthaving my family is they’re sailors to begin with. They know what it entails.When I came to them in September of 08 and said “Heh, I feel like I have someunfinished business here. I want to stop working and start sailing.” At firstthey were a little reluctant. After I convinced them it was what I wanted theywere 100 percent on board and supported me to the fullest. They don’t want meto look back at this when I’m 50 and say “Wow I really could have done that.”Now is the only time I have the opportunity to do this. I’m not getting anyyounger or in better shape. They understood now’s the time for me.

JK: It’s been a long road for you.What are you thinking leading up to Perth?

CJ: It’s kind ofbittersweet because it’s been a long time. Some days I wake up and I’m ready todo the trials and Olympics and get moving on. Some days I wish I could keepgoing cause it’s so much fun. The campaign’s only been two 1/2 years but I’vebeen sailing lasers since 1998. I’m only 27 but I’ve been in the class for 13years. I’m anxious to get to Australia and finish the trials process andhopefully have a great regatta. If I qualify a lot of the pressure will beremoved and I can enjoy the next eight months, train even harder and focus onthe Olympics.

JK: How do you keep yourselfmotivated?

CJ: It’s definitelytough. There are days when you wake up and you don’t want to go to the gym.You’ve sailed for six days in a row and you’re exhausted. I think training withpartners is key—we motivate each other. You have to think about keeping youreye on the prize the whole time because somewhere else in the world otherpeople are doing this and if I want to be competitive I have to work just as hard and harder.

Putting all the time, money and energy into this I have to get upand have a good day. I always try to do something everyday to better mycampaign. Even on my days off I’m doing logistics or planning or something so Ican look back and say “today was a good day” and my campaign is in a betterplace than yesterday.

JK: What surprised you about doingan Olympic campaign?

CJ: US Sailing TeamAlphagraphics has really changed its layout over the past few years. They usedto give you some money, say good luck this year, and report back and tell ushow you do. Now it’s a different machine altogether. There’s so many coachesand support. The biggest thing that really surprised me was how much on-shorelogistical work there is. At first I thought you’re just sailing and workingout but I have a boat in Europe, a boat here and a boat in Australia. I have toplan for the season in advance as to how I’m going to move it all around, whatregattas I’ll do, where I’ll live, how I get to each venue. It’s a lot to wrapyour head around. There are so many good people in US Sailing who can helppoint you in the right direction. That’s a big part of the campaign that peopleoverlook. With the training, logistics and sailing it’s a full-time job.

JK: What’s the drug testing like?

CJ: I’ve been drug testedfive times. As part of being on the US Sailing team we have to completeanti-doping forms and we have to tell them were we’re going to be every minuteof the day. If I decide I’m going to the movies or spend a day with mygirlfriend I have to fill out a “Change in Whereabouts” form. I have to accountfor every single day and every hour and I have to do it three months in advancetoo. If I don’t know where I’m going to be I’ll give them a schedule and whenthe time approaches revise the form. Anytime of the day they can show up atyour door. If you’re not there you have an hour to get there. If you don’t showup you have a failed test. I missed one test in 2009 because I changed myschedule to train in Canada one extra day. So that was the day they showed upat my house. Since I wasn’t there I failed the test. You’re allowed threemissed tests in 18 months. If you fail three tests your out of your sport for2-4 years.

JK: What does it entail to be anelite sailor?

CJ: As far as trainingand fitness there’s no substitute for sailing the boat. I also cycle a lot andgo to the gym 4-5 times a week. I’ve been fortunate that I haven’t had anymajor issues or back pain, which is pretty common. A lot of other sailors takewhey protein or muscle milk to help with their body maintenance to make surethey’re at the right weight. I’m pretty fortunate that I’m at the right weightand height.

JK: Do you have any weird physicalchanges like “mainsheet thumb”?

CJ: All the hair on theback of my legs is ripped off from the side of the cockpit and I have a boottan that I can’t get rid of.

JK: As you travel around the world representing the UnitedStates what does that mean to you?

CJ: It’s a huge honor torepresent the United States. You see a lot of other competitors who can justbasically go to the Olympics. They’re the top guy from their country and theydon’t have any competitors. For us we have to compete against other Americansand work hard. The first part of our work is just winning the trials. It’s abig hurdle we have to get over. Going to the Olympics for America is what youwant to do. You’ve represented them your whole life. It’s a great country andyou’ve got a lot of support from the US Sailing Team Alphagraphics. It justmeans that much more going to the Olympics representing the United States thanfor any other country.

JK: What were the challenges ofthe Skandia Sail for Gold and the Olympic sailing site in Weymouth?

CJ: Personally I startedout the regatta pretty well, followed by a rough stretch. I was too worriedabout the other US competitors. In the laser fleet where everyone is super goodyou can’t be thinking about where’s Brad Funk or where’s Rob Crane. As much asyou want to race your own race if you see them going right and you want to goleft you’re going to think twice about going right. I thought a bit more nowabout how I can mentally prepare for sailing against the other Americans sohopefully for Perth I can make some changes.

Weymouth is a great sailing venue but it’s also very difficultvenue. It takes a toll on you. It’s freezing cold—60 degrees all the time. It’sspitting rain all the time. The harbor is huge so you sail an hour just to getout of the harbor then you sail 2 more miles until you get to the course. Soit’s about one 1/2 hour sail out to the course. It’s windy and wavy and therace committee has the radials and full rigs on one course so you’re alwaysfreezing and waiting around.

JK: Do you spend much time withyour competition?

CJ: It’s been a bitinteresting with Brad. He started campaigning in 09 with me, had a rough yearand decided to take some time away from sailing so we didn’t see him for awhile. In 2011 he started to get back on the circuit but he wasn’t on US SailingTeam Alphagraphics so he did his own program. I’ve trained with Rob for thelast three years. He’s on USSTAG and we share the same coach - Mike Kalin. Isail with Rob all the time. It’s a difficult thing because everyone wants to goto the Olympics. It’s a tough sport. You’re expected to live and train withyour competitors and work with them closely. At the end if the day only one ofyou is going on to the Olympics.

JK: What’s your starting regimenlike?

CJ: It’s all aboutefficiency for me. I like to be out about 1/2 hour before the first race. I’llsail upwind for a while to shake-it-out and hike at 70%. I like to do splittacks and some speed testing. Five-ten minutes before the start I’ll startlooking at the line trying to pinpoint the favored end. Usually they do areally good job of setting the line so it’s pretty square. If that’s the caseI’ll spend a lot of time in the middle of the line between 5-3 minutes to tryand decide which side is favored. I can easily get to either side from the middle.The hardest thing about starting in the laser fleet is everyone is so fast. Youhave to win your start with the 3-5 boats around you. You’ll see 75 boats gooff the line with about 10 boats punching out. Then after a little while yousee 5 boats punch out from those spots. You have to be really confident in yourgame plan. After the start your head is down the whole time hiking as hard asyou can just trying to beat those 2-3 boats around you.

JK: Are there any marshmallows inthe fleet?

CJ: Starting in the laserfleet is one of the toughest things to do and also one of the biggest hurdlesthat newcomers have to face when they come to the fleet.

Most of the time I don’t look at who I’m starting next too. Ifthere’s a big hole or a tight hole and I see Tom Slingsby (AUS) or PaulGoodison (GBR) lining up there I’ll think twice about it. Besides those guys Ijust try to get the best hole I can and try to win that zone. You have to havea really good game plan because there’s not time to change it up once the racestarts.

Do you remember your first big regatta when you were set upnext to a laser legend. What was that like?

CJ: I did a WorldChampionship in 2001. I was 16 years old at the time. I didn’t know who anyonewas. Early on in the regatta I set up next to Robert Scheidt (4-time Olympicmedalist) and it didn’t go well. He rolled me in two seconds and I tacked out.Afterwards I was like “Who the hell was that guy?” My coach told me that wasRobert Scheidt - the greatest laser sailor ever. I got a lesson pretty quicklyto avoid him.

It happens all the time now. You’ll line up next to someone andyou’ll get rolled or you’ll roll them. It happens to everyone. You see TomSlingsby or Goodison get rolled. It’s just a testament to how good the laserfleet has become that everyone is so fast. There are no marshmallows out there.

JK: There’s no guy from Country Xthat you want to set up next too?

CJ: Exactly. And if thereis you don’t want to set up next to him cause he’s so unpredictable. At 150boat regatta, and that’s what they always are—there’s five to eight guys whoaren’t that great and you don’t want to set up next to them because theirunpredictable. The other 145 are all the same speed and all really good.

JK: You can never rest.

CJ: Yah. Never. It’s full on the whole time.

JK: When you have a tough moment in a race like the collisionyou had a Skandia Sail for Gold how do you overcome those moments?

CJ: You need to have areally short memory. You have to say “That race is done, there’s nothing I cando about it.” And just try to get back on track as quickly as you can. It’shard do, especially when you only have a three race day and your first race wasbad. It’s something that we can all do a lot better at. We just started workingwith our coach Mike Kalin in January and he’s been a big help in thepsychological end.

There aren’t too many coaches who are going to come in and changeyour technique in the laser and make you faster all of the sudden. Leading intothe games you need a guy who can talk you down when you’re having a rough dayand keep you focused when things are going well. Someone who can help manageyou mentally. Helping you learn, stay on track and have fun - that what a greatcoach does.

JK: How do they interact with youduring race day. Do they get to coach you?

CJ: Absolutely. We startour day meeting down at the venue and we discuss weather and what’s going onfor the day. The coach can drive around the course and take observations andupdate us on weather changes. It’s super important to have a coach out on thewater because the days are so long. To give us food, advice and someone tobounce ideas off. We’re out for 8-10 hours sometimes so the coach boat isvital.

JK: What’s your advice for youthsailors?

CJ: The best thing I’dsay is that if you want to see big improvement early on emulate the top guys.There’s a reason why people are setting up the boat and sailing one way. Theway you’ll see marked improvement from the beginning is to start doing that.That being said, once you get to the level where you’re feeling fast and seeingimprovement don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Watch someone like Brad Funk who is great in any boat. Andone of the things he does really well is he’s totally willing to try differentstuff. He’ll say “let’s standup in our boats downwind, or try sailingbackwards.” He’s so good atfeeling how the boat goes fast and understanding its capabilities. That’s onething I’ve preached to the kids I’ve coached. Don’t be afraid to make changesand try new things.

JK: Any thoughts of America’s cup or pro-sailing after all this?

CJ: I’m pretty sure this will be my last campaign. I could see myself doing the trials again. I definitely want to sail the Melges 32s and E-scow sailing—that’s been in my family for a while. I kinda just want to settle down for a little bit and not live out of my suitcase.

THANK YOU CLAY for your insights into the world of Olympic lasersailing. Good luck at the ISAF worlds.

Clay will be competing at this Year’s ISAF Worlds startingDecember 12 along with fellow America sailors Rob Crane (WR #26) and Brad Funk(WR #66). Follow all the action at http://www.perth2011.com/

To learn more about Clay Johnson go to www.claysails.com/

Boston Sailors Championship 2011: A Day to Remember

2011-11-08T06:33:00.000-08:00

(Left-right: Judith Krimski and Chris Palmieri sail to victory; Russell Robinson and Stan Kostka were top competitors until an untimely capsize took them out of the competition;
righting a capsized Mercury.

After the first attempt at this year’s Boston Sailors Championship was cancelled due to high winds (Mercury sailboats and high winds aren’t on friendly terms) I headed down to Community Boating on the Charles River for "BSC Take II". As I crossed the Storrow Drive foot bridge and gazed down at the “Chuck” (as the locals call it) I was hopeful that the Nor’easter forecast for later that day would delay so racing could commence. BSC, now in its third year, is a favorite of mine. Not just because I’ve been on the winning team two years running, but it’s a unique opportunity to compete against the top sailors from nine local community sailing centers and yacht clubs. This year Community Boating on the Charles River, now in it’s 65 year of providing community sailing, kindly hosted the regatta. While anyone who’s sailed the Charles River knows it’s an immense challenge, the regatta was made doubly challenging because of the boats we were to sail—Mercurys.

CBI hosts a yearly 4th of July party for its members.

The Mercury, a tubby 15 ft sloop rigged boat is the mainstay of the CBI fleet. There are many things about the Mercury; ease of rigging, simple sail plan and setup, deep roomy cockpit, that make it an ideal boat for learn-to-sail. For the racing sailor who’s looking for speed, efficient sail trim control and maneuverability it’s anything but. In truth the boat is hell on a centerboard. It’s tippy—my rough guesstimate is that CBI rights on average 1000 capsized mercurys per season with approximately 2000 sailors rescued. Despite the guesstimate it's worth noting that with the yearly membership totals over 5000 youth, disabled and adult sailors; CBI has a VERY loyal following and the Mercury is one of the most popular vessels on the Boston waterfront.

After a quick skippers meeting, PRO Jenn Bodde sent the fleet out to the race course. The breeze had manifested into a gusty 0-8 knots. With the course shoved up close against the Longfellow bridge (CBI shares river space with Harvard and MIT, each holding their own regattas) teams were faced with breeze pushing through and bending around the bridge. As we sailed downwind the first data point we noted was a significant pressure differential course right, with a big hole just downwind and to the right of the windward mark. Our strategy was to start close to the RC with room to tack onto port in the first header. We got a great start on the first race and felt good being bow out and inside the rest of the fleet. Very quickly the first header hit in the form of an auto-tack. Unfortunately, auto-tacks turned out to be the hallmark of the day but we had success reading the shifts. Because of the Mercury’s tippiness auto-tacks can be especially wet— the jib backs and before you know it you are having intimate knowledge of the Charles River.

Due to the shifty breeze, competition for top places proved to be tough with frequent position changes on the upwind legs. Boats that went right made out on the bottom leg of the beat but were severely headed as they sailed into the hole at the top. Boats sailing up the middle were subjected to frequent auto tacks cause by competing left and right breezes. Top contenders included Bryan/Lockman: Boston Sailing Center, Robinson/Kostka: South Boston Yacht Club and Lopez/Walters: CBI. Chris and I: Courageous Sailing, had success implementing our strategy to go right and play the shifts. We finished the morning’s races in first place with a 2-1-3.

Competitors round the windward mark.

After a quick lunch and change of boats we headed back out to the race course. Breeze had increased to 10-15 knots with a steady rain falling. As a result of morning capsizes a number of teams decided to call it a day, reducing the fleet from 20 to 11 boats and finally to seven. The call for the afternoon proved to be “Stay Upright.” Unfortunately that wasn’t always the case as two top competitors capsized. Chris and I worked on sailing clean and staying mobile in our boat. Downwind we felt fast so focused on maintaining the inside overlap and sailing upright. We knew we were one of the fastest boats upwind and although we may have rounded in third or forth we were able to make up a couple of boats on the last beat. The fleet ran 3 more races for the day and sailed in feeling happy to have finished a very challenging regatta.

Top finishers were: in 3rd—18 pts: Dave Bryan and Wil Lockman, representing Boston Sailing Center, in 2nd— 12 pts: Manlio Lopez and Sonya Walters, representing CBI, in 1st—10 pts: Chris Palmieri and Judith Krimski. Props to our competitors for some really competitive racing!

Another win for team Courageous Sailing! it's a great feeling.

I've participated three years in this regatta I can’t say enough about the quality of the racing and sportsmanship exhibited by competitors. In three years of racing we’ve never had a protest. I hope more clubs around the country will use this as an example and start their own Inter-club regattas. The benefits of getting clubs together to share resources and spread the wealth of sailing knowledge, whether for a more formal regatta such as the BSC or just some fun sailing, are endless. If you get to know your neighbors you'll have a better neighborhood - that's obvious. And if sailing is to survive, clubs like those in Boston, need to continue to foster a climate of cooperation.

For more information on the host club Community Boating Inc, go to their website:
http://www.community-boating.org/about-us

Thank you Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T04:29:00.000-07:00

I got my first Apple computer in 1990. It was a 2 Si and I loved it. Since that time I have built a successful graphic design business relying on a succession of Apple computers and products to help me grow my business. For me Apple went from "the little engine that could" to an innovational juggernaut transforming the way we see and interact with each other in profound ways.

For me the vision of Steve Jobs—a brilliant man who started not just a business but a movement that changed the world forever—became my vision. Apple products became my alters, helping me everyday to achieve my vision. Macs aren't just computers. Their friends, they have personalities and they speak to us. And thankfully my macs have never turned into the errant Hal of 2001 Space Odyssey.

As I write this post (on my Macbook) and listen to Steve's words as I watch the morning news I am reminded of the shortness of this life we live. Steve said, "Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life." If we all lived like we'll die soon maybe the world would be a better place. Maybe we'd take better care of each other and ourselves.

Steve Jobs didn't think outside the box. For him there was no box. And like Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein and Henry Ford, Steve Jobs and Apple will have an everlasting effect on our world. And as far as I'm concerned we are all better for it.

Thank you Steve. RIP.

Steve's Stanford University 2005 commencement speech:

I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I've ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That's it. No big deal. Just three stories.

The first story is about connecting the dots.

I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out?

It started before I was born. My biological mother was a young, unwed college graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife. Except that when I popped out they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl. So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking: "We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?" They said: "Of course." My biological mother later found out that my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school. She refused to sign the final adoption papers. She only relented a few months later when my parents promised that I would someday go to college.

And 17 years later I did go to college. But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents' savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn't see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was spending all of the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting.

It wasn't all romantic. I didn't have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends' rooms, I returned coke bottles for the 5¢ deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it. And much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on. Let me give you one example:

Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country. Throughout the campus every poster, every label on every drawer, was beautifully hand calligraphed. Because I had dropped out and didn't have to take the normal classes, I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this. I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can't capture, and I found it fascinating.

None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, it's likely that no personal computer would have them. If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on this calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do. Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later.

Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.

My second story is about love and loss.

I was lucky — I found what I loved to do early in life. Woz and I started Apple in my parents garage when I was 20. We worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4000 employees. We had just released our finest creation — the Macintosh — a year earlier, and I had just turned 30. And then I got fired. How can you get fired from a company you started? Well, as Apple grew we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me, and for the first year or so things went well. But then our visions of the future began to diverge and eventually we had a falling out. When we did, our Board of Directors sided with him. So at 30 I was out. And very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating.

I really didn't know what to do for a few months. I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down - that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me. I met with David Packard and Bob Noyce and tried to apologize for screwing up so badly. I was a very public failure, and I even thought about running away from the valley. But something slowly began to dawn on me — I still loved what I did. The turn of events at Apple had not changed that one bit. I had been rejected, but I was still in love. And so I decided to start over.

I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.

During the next five years, I started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar, and fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar went on to create the worlds first computer animated feature film, Toy Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world. In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, I returned to Apple, and the technology we developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple's current renaissance. And Laurene and I have a wonderful family together.

I'm pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn't been fired from Apple. It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle.

My third story is about death.

When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning, and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas. I didn't even know what a pancreas was. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor's code for prepare to die. It means to try to tell your kids everything you thought you'd have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months. It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family. It means to say your goodbyes.

I lived with that diagnosis all day. Later that evening I had a biopsy, where they stuck an endoscope down my throat, through my stomach and into my intestines, put a needle into my pancreas and got a few cells from the tumor. I was sedated, but my wife, who was there, told me that when they viewed the cells under a microscope the doctors started crying because it turned out to be a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that is curable with surgery. I had the surgery and I'm fine now.

This was the closest I've been to facing death, and I hope it's the closest I get for a few more decades. Having lived through it, I can now say this to you with a bit more certainty than when death was a useful but purely intellectual concept:

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation. It was created by a fellow named Stewart Brand not far from here in Menlo Park, and he brought it to life with his poetic touch. This was in the late 1960's, before personal computers and desktop publishing, so it was all made with typewriters, scissors, and polaroid cameras. It was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along: it was idealistic, and overflowing with neat tools and great notions.

Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then when it had run its course, they put out a final issue. It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish." It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

Thank you all very much.

Boston Harbor Frostbite Sailing Primer

2011-10-03T16:49:00.000-07:00

Frostbiting on Boston Harbor is about to commence. With the coming of winter the harbor goes to sleep and becomes the frostbite sailor’s playground. Imagine a crystal clear day with brisk winds playing across your face. As you head out on the water the first thing that strikes you is the peace. No motor boats. No water taxis. No oversized booze ships blaring the worst of the 80s hit parade. It’s just you, your competitors and the occasional tanker vessel. The city glistens in the winter sun, a silent giant smiling down on the fleet.

Frostbite season IS the best time of the year for the dedicated racing sailor, especially for the Courageous Sailing Center’s fleet which comprises some of the best local sailors to hit the water including 210 and Rhodes 19 national champions to name a few. So if you’re new to the fleet you’ll want to come well prepared for the conditions and the fleet.

The Boat:

Because of the unique conditions inherent in Boston Harbor new competitors can be their own worst enemies. Knowledge of the Rhodes 19 gives you a leg up. The good thing about the boat is it’s pretty simple to rig and has only a few basic trim controls. The challenge of the boat is that it’s a keelboat that acts a like a dinghy. It’s underpowered and is sensitive to minor trim adjustments. Despite it’s tubby aspect I believe it’s a finesse boat with a small groove. You either get it or you don’t but once your do it’s a really fun boat to sail.

The Conditions:

Conditions on Boston Harbor can be very challenging for newbies, especially if you aren’t used to shifty puffy winds. The three main wind directions; southwest, northwest and northeast all have unique characteristics dictated by the wind’s own personality and how it interacts with the city’s geography. Wind that bumps up against the city or has to travel through it can do some weird things. The tough part is it’s a challenge to figure out. The rewarding part is that once you do the knowledge is gold.

When you head out on the water for the day ask yourself a few questions:

Which direction is the wind blowing from?
Where is the predominant breeze coming from as it relates to the race course?
Is it the same all over the race course?
What effect are buildings and other geography having on the breeze?
Does one side of the course have more breeze than the other. Is it consistent or does it oscillate? If so what is the timing of the oscillations?

Remember: Every direction has it’s unique characteristics.

Current Affairs:

Sailing on Boston Harbor is the sailor’s ultimate version of multi-tasking. While your busy getting to know the boat and the various wind characteristics you also need to pay attention to what’s going on below the waterline.

Current, that force of nature that’s pushing you over the starting line or into the windward mark is a constant force on Boston Harbor. It’s a force you will hopefully learn to love but never neglect. I am reminded of a recent regatta series I participated in. It had been a week of heavy rains so the Charles was letting out. Combined with the flow from the Mystic River, current was running a swift but foul (current and wind in the same direction downwind “Current Affairs, Center of Effort, February 15, 2010) 2 knots. Wind was light from the north approx. 3-5 knots with a right (boat) favored oscillation. Sailors that read only the wind (setting up to sail the starboard lay line) and not the current, set up too far off the line and were pushed back by the current. The natural reaction was to pinch, pushing them further from the starting line. The smart competitor set up high, using the breeze and current to come in with speed right under the committee boat where there was always space.

Checking for current:

Is there water moving by the marks of the course? Upwind or downwind?
When you park yourself on the starting line (use the RC as a reference) which way is the boat going? Time yourself for 30 seconds. Where do you end up?
Which has more effect on your speed: current or wind?
Where is the current flowing the swiftest?
Is the anchored RC boat facing in a different direction to the wind?

Remember: The moral of the story is stay current on current.

Now that you’ve had a primer on what to expect from frostbiting on Boston Harbor get out there and have fun. The challenge is well worth it, you’ll meet some really great people and experience a singular venue at a time of year that few others get to enjoy.

For more tips including boathandling the Rhodes 19 and indepth discussions on racing on Boston Harbor take the time to look through Center of Effort. You won’t be dissapointed.

See you on the Harbor!

Does line management take all the fun out of laser sailing?

2011-07-23T13:26:00.000-07:00

Mainsheet tangles, like death and taxes, are a way of life for the avid laser sailor.

HECK NO!

Line management, especially on a laser is always a chore. You're busy on the race course, focused on getting to the windward mark, and before you know it you try to ease your mainsheet BUT by some sick "twist" of fate your line has a mess of a tangles. Before you can say "gybe ho" three boats sail by while you're frantically working to untangle that darn line.

What's up with all the tangles?
Knots, or in nautical terms (which I learned from a fat guy with a Mount Gay Rum hat) "knuckles" come when braided line—your mainsheet—becomes twisted. While you'll never completely solve the twist problem, with a little bit of housekeeping and learning to multi-task under sail, you can alleviate tangles to a large extent.

Management before and in-between racing:

Twists naturally happen because most of us coil our lines like cowboys (minus the hat of course). But one person's "GIDDY-UP" is a laser sailor's "GET STUCK". So before leaving the dock take a few moments to run the line through your hands and work the kinks out.
If you coil your line in the boat don't twist it at the top of the coil. Instead let it fall in natural loop. That way it's not tangling.
"Wash" the line between races. Throw the extra that's in your cockpit into the water and let it trail behind you for several seconds. When you retrieve it do a proper coil to avoid re-twisting.

Management while racing:

Always have one spot where you keep your line. Mine is the starboard front corner of the cockpit. Try to keep it there while racing upwind - just kick it up there between tacks and DON"T let the line get tangled around your feet.
Try, as much as possible, to keep water out of the cockpit. If you have more than a normal amount of water your line floats around and gets tangled.
Clear some line before you tack. I have perfected the "Run and Flip" (anyone who can come up with a sexier name gets $10.00). Just run a length of line through your hand and flip an equal amount forward of the cockpit. It usually lands in a nice loop next to the centerboard. Then when you tack you'll have a nice untangly bit to pass back to your new mainsheet hand.
Learn to manage under sail. Especially on the last couple of tacks to the windward leg. One thing you can do is hold the mainsheet and tiller in your back hand while your front hand checks the line. Use the Run and Flip to free-up your line.

Have fun - sail fast - keep untangling. And as Confucius says, "He who untangles line on dock gets more bullets on the water."

The Extreme 40’s Series on Boston Harbor: SIX ways to make better US Sailing Events

2011-07-08T15:36:00.000-07:00

While the Extreme 40s Series is albeit an extreme version of sailing, there are still aspects of it which yacht clubs and other US sailing organizations can use to improve events and drive membership. Obviously most clubs can’t equal the extravagance and level of activities the Extremes provide but we can go beyond a few t-shirts and hats. Here's how.

NUMBER ONE: More hunky guys in tight UV protective t-shirts. Even if they don’t sail just get them doing the dock walk or hanging out on the bow of boats. Oh, and they need to have that day-old beard thing going on and slightly sea salt mangy smell.

NUMBER TWO: Colorful sails. White sails are so 90’s. Clubs that invest in bright colored sails with cool logos plastered all over them will surely see a rise in membership.

NUMBER THREE: Get an EXTREME hotdog. The hotdog is definitely the path to success. It's black. It's big. It's EXTREME. Supplement the vibe by labeling other stuff EXTREME; EXTREME bathrooms, EXTREME fenders, EXTREME club launch. You get the picture.

NUMBER FOUR: Dudes with weird accents. Every club or event needs an Australian or South African commentator walking around the venue calling the plays on the water. Even if no one is out sailing it’s still a big crowd pleaser. “OOH MAHN, THESE GEUYS ARHHH RALLY GOING AAAT IT OUWT THEARE!”

NUMBER FIVE: Red Bull VIP tent. Just put one up. Hand out a cool looking bracelet to so-called celebrity guests and tweet liberally about it. Folks will flock to your venue.

NUMBER SIX: Parachutists and/or aliens perusing the venue. Either one will work. Better yet, get the parachutists to land on a boat sailed by the aliens. It's a winning combination.

American Yacht clubs and sailing centers—Take my advice. Follow the suggestions above and just add water, or beer or whatever liquid beverage you prefer. At the very least you'll get an influx of cougars wanting to join the club. Just watch that they don't monopolize the Extreme hot dog.

Extreme 40s Race Series, Boston MA Day Two Racing Goes from Little Steam to Extreme

2011-07-02T08:18:00.000-07:00

Although the day started out with a whiff of breeze; Boston Harbor—true to it’s history of showing international events a good time—did not disappoint its sailing visitors. After a flurry of events including a daily Red Bull parachuter, an outbound tanker and demo races featuring youth laser sailors from Courageous Sailing Center, racing got underway promptly at 2:00 pm. The hallmark of Extreme 40s race organizers; start on time no matter what the breeze is doing.

Courageous lasers meet Extreme 40s

Conditions on the course where light and shifty with a westerly gradient fighting off the forecasted sea breeze. PRO Phil Lawrence elected to make the best of a tricky situation and set up a race course which featured a downwind start right off the Fan Pier site. The course was short, about 300 meters, so boats would stay in close-quarters. When the breeze doesn’t cooperate the call of the day is to keep racing going but keep it tight. Although the boats aren’t sailing at mind bending speeds, spectators get a treat from watching close boat-on-boat action.

For the first race views from the bow of the RC boat showed just how frenetic this type of racing is. Cats set up to the right of the RC and with 30 seconds to go hit the gas pedal. Even in the light breeze they accelerated, hitting the start line at 10+ knots and forcing RC to “hit the deck” when Oman Air barged and was forced into the bow of the committee boat. Fortunately there weren’t any injuries but Oman Air had a heck of a time getting off and running again. Several races were run with downwind starts. The only adjustment to the starting line was when PRO Phil skewed the line so more boats would start on the Fan Pier side. Again, making sure that spectators got the best view of the action.

RC preparing for the start.

Finally, as race three got underway the sea breeze kicked in, filling the harbor with 12+ knots of breeze and making for fast and furious racing. These cat’s apparent wind enables them to reach speeds more than twice the true wind speed. Race legs on the short course were as quick as 1 min. 30 seconds. Race organizers have perfected this “stadium style” racing which brings extreme action within close reach of spectators. They are constantly looking to push the excitement envelope. At one point the fan pier crowd was treated to cats Artemis and Luna Rossa screaming at speeds over 20 knots to a downwind finish not 30 yards from shore. While the course on Boston Harbor is small Extremes have raced in smaller venues. “We ran a series in Amsterdam’s grand canal a few years back,” states Phil Lawrence, PRO. “It didn’t go well.” When asked to illuminate he replied, “Let’s just say someone’s mast ended up in someone’s bedroom.” Now that’s close quarters sailing!

Team Artemis and The Wave Muscat continued to sail smart, finishing the day in first (114 pts) and second place (107 pts). But with up to 20 more races to go it’s still anyone’s game. Only 13 pts separate the top 4 teams. Racing continues today through the 4th of July.

To learn more about this action packed race event go to http://www.extremesailingseries.com/

Extreme 40's Racing Takes off on Boston Harbor

2011-07-01T07:07:00.000-07:00

Extremes round the windward mark and prepare to set their gennakers.

Day One of the Act Four: Extreme 40s Regatta greeted race teams with typical Boston Harbor conditions; puffy shifty winds that challenged teams sailing and tactical abilities to the utmost. The race course, situated on the south side of the harbor nestled against Fan Pier, featured strong breeze going hard right on the bottom section and becoming increasingly puffy with 90 degree shifts and dead spots at the windward mark and finish area. Winds during the first day varied from 5 to 15 knots and the sea state was light chop.

Race Organizers took good full advantage of Boston’s deep harbor, setting their race course within 30 meters of Fan Pier so spectators could easily watch all the action. According the Gilles Chiorri, Sailing Event Director the focus is on creating an exciting, accessible event. “This event is 30% spectator, 30% racing and 30% sponsor participation.” Based on the excitement of the many viewers and buzz in the race village the Nascar style event formula works.

Fan Pier proved to be an ideal spot to view the action.

The first day started with a thrilling jump by a pair of Red Bull sky divers. Despite the gusty winds crowds were wowed when the divers sailed through the air and landed with pinpoint precision on the Fan Pier dock between the water and 20 ft pylons.

The day’s seven races showcased exciting mark roundings and numerous lead changes. The varying wind speeds exposed exactly what these cats can and can’t do. The first noticeable characteristic was a lack of ability to carry any speed through a tack or when pinching. While this feature was used to advantage to hold position on the starting line, boats attempting to pinch around the windward mark were quickly overtaken by competitors with more speed. The cats high aspect rigs cause an enormous wind shadow and can effectively stop another boat dead. Blanketing coupled with the outgoing current usually resulted in a competitor getting hung up on the mark or completely stalling out while boats that rounded above took off on the downwind leg.

When the pressure increased and boats took off on one pontoon it was obvious how exciting this type of racing can be. In the blink of an eye their speed doubled although sailing on one pontoon is a precarious position. At any moment the leeward pontoon could dig its bow into the water causing a death role. To prevent this crews had all the work they could do to keep sails trimmed and weight placement in sync.

Rounding the leeward mark is where the danger of death rolling is most evident. As the boat bears away and the gennaker is unfurled the boat “scoots” out and accelerates to turbo speed. To counteract the forward momentum, which will most certainly drive the leeward pontoon underwater, the crew launches themselves to the back of the boat. Imagine running at breakneck speed across a moving netted platform all the while having to concentrate on proper sail trim.

Team Artemis Racing, lead by the only american skipper Terry Hutchinson, took the first day’s racing by one point. “It’s nice to come off today in this position but you know the racing is only going to get harder not easier and we’re mindful that we’ve got probably another 25-28 races to go. It is intense and full on the entire time,” said Terry. “Boston is such an awesome city to sail in and provided a great race track today.” In second place with 59 points was The Wave Muscat, an Omani boat helmed by British sailor Leigh Mac Millan who came away with three bullets for the day.

With more fine weather in store and a nice sea breeze forecast, Day Two promises to bring more exciting racing. The series continues through the 4th of July with the Extreme 40s competing everyday from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm.

For more info on the series go to http://www.extremesailingseries.com

Leeward Mark Roundings: Slow Down to Get Ahead

2011-06-17T07:26:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: This article is written from a laser sailing perspective but generally applies to other dinghies and small to medium one design vessels using jib, main and spinnaker.

Leeward mark roundings, especially in a crowd are probably the most challenging for a variety of reasons. The ability to perform a good “proper course” rounding; simultaneously turning the boat close to the mark, trimming in to close-hauled, and gaining height on other sailors while maintaining good speed can frustrate even the best of competitors.

Step One: Assess the situation

Are you alone rounding the mark or the inside boat in a crowd? OR - maybe you are inside and slightly ahead of the crowd. Assessing your position relative to the fleet before you enter the circle allows you to make important tactical decisions about the best way to round the mark AND encourage your competitors to have less than enviable roundings.

REMEMBER: If you are the inside boat you have some control over the rounding of competitors

Step Two: Set up for the rounding

Make sure your boat is set up properly for the beat. Put the blade down and vang on. The centerboard gives you a pivot point for rounding the mark and the vang tightens the leech of the sail. Set the cunningham and outhaul for the beat. As you tighten your vang you are shortening the sail’s luff - hence cunningham tension (depending on wind speed) may be necessary. If you are ahead of the crowd then perform these tasks just before the circle. That way you can concentrate on a good rounding.

Boats B & C do not anticipate Boat A slowing down to round the mark.
While A performs a picture perfect rounding B & C are caught in the pinwheel.

Step Three: The rounding

Once you’ve set up your boat you are ready to implement your rounding strategy. If you are alone (two or more boatlengths) it’s easy; just trim in to 45 degrees prior to the mark (Also for gybing) and round. You can either do a wide and tight rounding or an apex rounding. Either way focus on rolling the boat to windward and getting efficient trim. Keep your eyes focused forward (no fumbling with tiller and main sheet!) and flatten the boat as you come up on close-hauled.

Rounding as the inside boat in a crowd. This is where the fun starts.

If you are just ahead and inside your competitors you have a couple of choices. You can keep sailing fast to the mark and focus on a good rounding. In this case your next closest competitor will probably be savvy enough to get on your transom and also have a good rounding. The other choice is to slow down to get ahead. In this case you need to control your boat speed in order to engineer the dreaded pinwheel. Trim your main in to slow the boat as you enter the circle. Your competitors are probably still sailing fast so won’t anticipate your maneuver. Instead of getting on your transom to round they’ll end up outside you. The combination of bad mark roundings and disturbed air will leave them cursing and you sailing away (Evil laugh).

Choices for outside boats rounding the mark.

You have several options as the outside boat. You can do nothing and round in a pinwheel fashion or you can make a good tactical rounding. If you anticipate the inside boat's tactics you'll slow down to get on her transom. Often times she'll be paying more attention to you than her close-hauled line which gives you the opportunity to have a better rounding. The key to gaining height in the rounding is healing the boat slightly to leeward, efficient sail trim, keeping eyes forward and finally flattening (don't over-flatten) to keep the boat tracking upwind.

In this scenario Boat B does a good job of anticipating A's maneuvers, positions herself on
A's transom and ends up with more height inside of A. Unfortunately C has not been so vigilant and
ends up on the outside of the pinwheel.

Boathandling for a good rounding:

If you are sailing with a jib and main it’s key to coordinate your trim. Trim the main to 45 degrees before initiating the mark rounding. As you initiate your turn the center-of-effort will move back and drive the bow up into the wind. Take advantage of the curve of the boat by rolling the boat slightly to windward. A key ingredient to a good rounding is jib trim. DON”T crank the jib in to close-hauled. This will force the bow down and slow the boat. Instead, keep the bow moving toward close-hauled by matching the jib trim to the main. A jib that is trimmed smoothly through all points of sail will help turn the boat upwind and and accelerate through the turn. Finally - flatten the boat and check all your trim settings one more time.

Practice: Get to know your boat

Races are won and lost because of bad leeward mark roundings so it's important to develop solid skills. A key ingredient is knowing how to slow down your boat when you are sailing dead downwind. Put a mark out or find a bouy to use for practice. Sail downwind towards the buoy and trim the main in to slow the boat. Round the mark. Then go back and do the same thing but with a gybe inserted. If you can get a partner boat out to practice with, all the better. Take turns being the inside boat. You'll quickly learn how to control your boat. Your reward will be great roundings and the tactical advantage over your competitors.

Most important - Learn and have fun! See you on the water!

Women's Racing Clinics: Why they Work

2011-06-07T13:36:00.000-07:00

On a particular Sunday morning in late May I sat facing a group of eager women dressed in foul weather gear— less than flattering clothing. They didn’t care because they were focused on the activities ahead and ready to go sailing in the first of the season's women’s racing clinics sponsored by the folks at the Boston Sailing Center.

Women are now a majority in the workforce, more women are going to college than men and they have more independence, disposable income, and a renewed confidence. This has manifested itself in pursuit of activities like sailing, a sport historically dominated by men (just take a look at any sailing magazine and count the pictures with men vs. women). In the past the women who were relegated to foredeck or rail candy are taking control of the tiller and not just commuting around the course, they’re ready to compete on an equal playing field with the men.

Sailing centers have started to recognize the need for women-centered activities and are answering the call by expanding opportunities for women to learn and compete in a supportive peer atmosphere. Women who may have been embarrassed to fail or look silly in front of their male counterparts thrive in all-female environments. So why not give them what they need?

What makes women centered clinics successful:

They are more comfortable trying new things and making mistakes
They focus better on learning
They meet other women and broaden their sailing network
They identify better with each other’s challenges
Similar physical strength allows them to identify with the physical challenges
Ultimately they will join co-ed fleets with a high level of confidence in skills and racing abilities

The women hit the water in teams of three to sail Solings, a 28 ft. classic one design keelboat. Initial focus for the sailing session was on starts. Because they combining close quarters boathandling, points of sail, and require good team communication and timing, starts are the foundation of racing.

Sailors were encouraged to use the starting checklist: check site lines, favored end, starboard laylines, and to time the starting line. Also pay close attention to the sailing characteristics of the Soling, a big heavy boat that takes time to get up to speed. Sailors quickly learned that, unlike a smaller keeboat or dinghy, tacking under the fleet and trying to accelerate up to the line with 30 seconds to go wasn’t enough time to get the boat up to speed. More likely they’d be buried in the second row.

As starts improved we moved on to short course races with the focus on good upwind boatspeed and more communication. With three people in the boat the skipper was encouraged to keep her eyes “glued” to the jib telltales so they were consistently streaming back. In the meantime crews communicated information about the race course; wind direction and velocity—”more pressure on the right”—and positioning of competitors—”there are two boats to starboard and they are pointing lower but sailing faster”. As a coach, my philosophy is everyone on a boat has a job and no one—especially with a three person crew—should be silent. As teams work together shared and individual strengths will reveal themselves and the team will subsequently improve.

As the racing progressed coaches—myself and Grant from BSC— were able to get into boats with the women. This up-close-and-personal approach allowed us to observe for ourselves how the women were sailing the boat and more clearly articulate areas that needed improvement.

The day finished off with a debrief session at the club. The women were invited to articulate things they did well and areas they need to work on. They were encouraged to set goals for themselves and keep a log of their time on the water. The group also discussed the importance of learning the rules and taking a proactive approach to staying out of “the room”, meaning don’t get into sticky situations—barging for example—then try to use the rules to wiggle out of them.

There’s no more satisfying experience than coaching a group that responds proactively to instruction and improves before your eyes. At the end of the day the women got off the water having shared a great learning experience and sporting big smiles. Oh - and they were ready for more.

For more information on Women's Sailing Programs, including the Monday night women's racing series at BSC go to: http://www.bostonsailingcenter.com/

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2010-11-02T12:22:00.000-07:00

At the start of the school year Staples runs and ad featuring a dad dancing around the store to the tune “it’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”. For me this is the case, and not because my teenager is off to another year of high school (although that is a pretty great thing). I’m excited because frostbiting season is about to begin - YAAAH!

Remember back when you were a kid out in your backyard playing an awesome game of touch football with all your friends. Afterward you’d top off the fun with hot chocolate and your mom’s chocolate chip cookies. Replace the back yard with Boston Harbor, the football with boats, and the sustenance with beer and chicken wings. That’s frostbiting.

Racing on Boston Harbor, whatever time of year, has always been one of my favorite ways to spend a Saturday and every year the Courageous frostbiting fleet becomes more competitive. We are blessed to have some of the best sailors in New England. For the newcomers this year - expect to be tested in all respects from boathandling, to strategy and rules, to understanding the unique wind and water conditions that make Boston Harbor such a fun, challenging place to sail.

If you’re new to the fleet, whether you’ve raced Rhodes 19 or not, make sure you come prepared wearing proper attire and with the tools to set your boat up for maximum sailing enjoyment (and safety!).

Boat preparation in the winter

Scrubbing the bottom is essential cause even in the winter “Growth happens”. Get yourself a good brush with a telescoping handle so you can scrub ALL the foils.
There will be days when you’ll have to chip ice and shovel snow off the boat. DO NOT let ice or snow live on your boat or you are likely to take a winter swim. For those days get a good multi-tool ice scraper and a dust pan and broom. Make sure they’re sturdy!
Everyone needs a good tool kit. Yours' should include: electrical tape, sharpie markers, extra line, telltales, a rigging knife, and a rule book.


Clockwise from left: Atlas Nitrile gloves, Harken Black Magic gloves, Sperry Ventus boot, Landsend Trekker boot

Personal gear to keep you warm and safe

Now in my eighth year of frostbiting I’ve experienced pretty much every weather condition and I’ve been both well and ill prepared. Getting wet and cold because you aren’t wearing the proper gear is not fun, it's dangerous. The average time spent on the water is 4 hours and not all of that is racing time. There will be days when racing is delayed due to commercial shipping traffic. When you’re racing you’ll work up a sweat but when you have to sit a while you’ll start to feel the chill.

Wear layers with a waterproof (NOT water-resistant) outer layer cause on windy days you’ll get spray. Remember you can always take it off but you can’t put it on if you don’t have it.
Footwear needs to be both warm and waterproof but you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg. I recommend the Snow Trekker boots from Landsend for $49.50. If you’re not into boots they also make these in a shoe for $39.50. If price is not an object check out Sperry’s Ventus boot for $180.00
Gloves! I am a glove fanatic and will typically bring at least three pairs of gloves with me. On windy day gloves get wet, especially when handling the jib sheets. My favorite pair for most conditions are Gill Black Magic full-fingered gloves. They are the right combination of comfort and flexibility with a nice grippy palm and they will keep hands warm in temps above 30 degrees, even when wet. For days when it’s not so cold but you still want some protection and a good grip try Atlas Nitrile Tough gloves. Order these online for a substantial discount. Some people like ski gloves but I find them to be too bulky. That said I carry a pair to wear between races or during race delays.
Hats. I usually have a couple of hats but my favorite for cold weather is a knitted one with flaps and a chin tie.
Sunscreen. You can still get sun damage in the winter - especially on a windy day. I keep a Nutrogena sunscreen stick in my pfd. It works great for the face and lips too.

One more thing. If you’re new to the fleet please make the effort to introduce yourself to your fellow sailors. We are a very friendly group and we’d like to be able to yell at you by name out on the race course (HAH HAH!). And if you have any questions the Courageous staff is always very helpful or come find me. I’m usually wearing something pink.

See you on the water!

Boston Sailor's Championship: The Best in Community Sailing

2010-10-29T14:17:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the able work of Grant Matthews, PRO from the BSC, races went off without a hitch—
well except for the occasional container ship.

Boston Sailors Championship takes interclub sailing to a competitive level

One might say Boston is rife with community sailing centers, both public and private. Spanning from Jamaica Pond along the revered Olmsted Greenway to the Charles River Basin, to Boston Harbor. All told at any one time on a mid-summer evening there are no less than 400 sailboats plying Boston’s waterways. In the past the myriad sailing centers have stayed clear of each other with everyone competing for sailing memberships. But in recent years a metamorphosis has taken place. Clubs such as Courageous Sailing in Charlestown and Community Boating on the Charles, recognizing that each club has its unique strengths, have begun to collaborate and cross-pollinate members.

A notable course change in relations among sailing centers has been commencement of the Boston Sailor’s Championship, also known as the Inter-club Regatta (not to be confused with the Interclub dinghy). The BSC, now in it’s second year, is a yearly opportunity for clubs to test their best sailors in vessels that they may not necessarily be familiar or comfortable with. This year the regatta was hosted by the BSC - Boston Sailing Center (funny huh?). Teams from six clubs; MIT, Courageous, Boston Harbor Sailing Club, Cottage Park Yacht Club, and of course, the Boston Sailing Center, and CBI raced in the Sailing Center's fleet of Solings. Unlike last year’s boat, the Rhodes 19, the Soling features multiple rig adjustments which can stymie even the most experienced sailor. But with a bit of time trying out various lines and liberal use of a fresh sharpie, the boat can be mastered and is a joy to sail.

Wade Edwards, Director of the Boston Sailing Center, and his capable staff rose to the challenge, hosting a fun, competitive regatta. Four races were completed in light shifty winds. Afterwards the club hosted barbecue and awards on the top deck of their clubhouse. This racer was especially happy to get home for the second half of the Patriots game (which she mostly snoozed through).

Winning Team Courageous beaming after placing first for the day.
From left: Judith Krimski, Scott Sheffer, and skipper John Murphy.

Whichever club decides to host next year's event (hint hint CBI) I expect it will be even bigger and better. I hope more clubs will use this as an example and start their own Inter-club regattas. The benefits of getting clubs together to share resources and spread the wealth of sailing knowledge, whether for a more formal regatta such as the BSC or just some fun sailing, are endless. If you get to know your neighbors you'll have a better neighborhood - that's obvious. And if sailing is to survive clubs like those in Boston need to continue to foster a climate of cooperation.

Want to learn more about the clubs involved in this event? Check out the links below:

On Boston Harbor:
Boston Sailing Center
Boston Harbor Sailing Club
Courageous Sailing Center

On the Charles River:
MIT Sailing Pavilion
Community Boating

Yacht clubs:
Cottage Park yacht Club

Why Community Sailing Centers Matter

2010-08-17T04:12:00.000-07:00

Rhodes 19s rigged and ready for an evening sail on Boston Harbor.

Courageous Sailing, our beloved sailing center located in Charlestown, MA, at the edge of Boston Harbor, will be going through some big changes in the next few months. We recently learned that our Executive Director, John Maconga, is leaving after 2+ years at the helm. Good luck to John who starts his new position in September.

As I have been involved in all things Courageous for the past seven years, first as an occasional frostbite sailor and later as adult instructor and racing coach, the imminent change in leadership compels me to use this forum and share my views on the state of community sailing and where sailing centers such as Courageous should focus their energy in the years to come.

For 25 years+ Courageous has been a leader in youth sailing, instructing children from Boston and the burbs through their FREE sailing programs. Not only have thousands of youth "sailed" through Courageous, our kids have gone on to join college teams and become youth and adult instructors. In recent years Courageous' adult program has taken off and become a hallmark of US Sailing instruction. Members also enjoy popular racing and cruising programs. On the face of it, everything Courageous is hunky dory, although the waters are still a bit stormy for the center's future direction. Some seem to think Courageous should focus exclusively on youth sailing and youth development while others think that to best serve our community and sailing-at-large youth and adult programs are equally vital. I am of the latter belief.

Why community sailing centers (CSC's) are important:

CSC's provide an affordable option for those who want to learning to sail but can't afford to own a boat and they open access to the waterfront for everyone to enjoy equally.
CSC's promote multi-generational participation and a strong sense of community. Children can teach adults and vice versa.
CSC's create an environment that encourage people to get out and interact with nature while learning a life-long skill. In this world of electronic media and multi-tasking, sports like sailing get people outdoors and require them to focus on the task at hand. As I like to say “there's no texting when sailing”.

Adult sailing programs can have a profound and positive impact on the youth programs including:

Adult racing programs at Courageous have fostered an environment where high school/college level sailors participate for FREE, competing against top New England adult sailors. Boston is blessed to have some of the very best college sailing programs in the country. Last summer Courageous hired sailors from 6 different colleges. This has a great impact on youth sailors, fostering a climate of mentorship and excellence and sending a message to youth sailors that there is achievement in sailing beyond the youth level.
As kids age-out of the youth program they move into the adult program. Many youth program participants have gone on to work as adult program instructors and in administrative positions helping to develop new programs. When asked why participation in the adult program is important former ‘Courageous kids’ will collectively say that Courageous is like a “second home”. They couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. For Courageous youth who go on to college and beyond Courageous has given them a safe and nurturing arena to spread their wings, learn what it’s like to be out in the real world, meeting all sorts of different people, while benefiting from a mentoring environment.
Adults who participate in Courageous programs become invested in Courageous and buy into an climate where philanthropy and volunteerism are endemic to their Courageous experience. I would have never become a youth racing coach if I hadn't first participated in the adult program.

CSC's need to focus on programs that strengthen membership, foster interaction between youth and adult membership groups, and encourage volunteerism such as:

Create family-based programs encompassing learn-to-sail, navigation, and environmental programs.
Encourage parents of youth program participants to "close the sailing circle", actively participating with their children in family sailing and volunteer days as well as discounted learn-to-sail programs for parents.
Foster closer relationships with Boston Pilots, Coast Guard, and other local commercial entities so youth programs have a better understanding of those working on the harbor.
Leverage staff's world-wide knowledge of sailing to create a tourism branch that simultaneously opens up opportunities for youth sailors to experience the world beyond their sailing center’s environs.
Create a “Connect to” program that links new sailors with experienced, encourages participation in special programs, and volunteer opportunities. Also use corporate events as a conduit for a variety of interactions such as volunteer opportunities.

Most sailor's I meet have the same story; we learned from a great coach, parent, or friend, eventually becoming the teacher and passing our skills along to the next person. What makes sailing so different from other sports is that adults and children can do it together. Just think, while your neighbor is sitting on the sidelines watching his kid play soccer you are enjoying a sail with your child. And who doesn’t want that?

Whether you enjoy cruising the Harbor Islands or racing around the buoys there's no age limit to who's in the boat. What I call the ‘Sailing Continuum’—the concept that the students become the teachers and so forth—is in play at Community Sailing Centers. If our sport is to survive we need to insist that sailing centers like Courageous continue to grow in the spirit of the Sailing Continuum by encouraging member participation at all levels and developing programs with a multi-generational focus.

Want to learn to sail? Already sail but not sure which CSC is best for you? Boston has numerous opportunities for youth and adult sailing. To learn more check out the links below.

Boston Harbor sites:

Courageous Sailing, Charlestown http://www.courageoussailing.org/

Piers Park Sailing Center, East Boston http://piersparksailing.org/

Charles River sites:

MIT Boathouse, Cambridge http://sailing.mit.edu/
Community Boating, Boston http://www.community-boating.org/

Flip Flop Revisited - A huge success!

2010-08-16T13:22:00.000-07:00

The finish of the Flip Flop.

If you want to know the recipe for the perfect sailboat race look at this past weekend's 8th Annual Flip Flop Regatta. The sun was out, winds started light but built from the east as the race progressed. Those who were on Boston Harbor near the finish line were treated to a multi-colored panorama of sailboats from 22 - 70 ft flying spinnakers. One could say that the Flip Flop regatta is surely blessed and has been for the eight years it's been held. They definitely have one cool angel named Ally looking after them.

A beam reach at the start? Heh, it makes for great photos!

For my part I was privileged to spend the day captaining a Flagship Adventures RIB inflatable, driving the nautical photographer Leighton O' Connor around the race course as he photographed the fleet. Some of his beautiful photos can be seen in this post. I thoroughly enjoyed my day with Leighton and envy him his profession. But then again he has worked really hard to get where he's at. Kudos to you Leighton.

Be sure to check out the Flip Flop photos and all of leighton's great work on his website http://www.leightonphoto.com.

A nod to all my Courageous Sailing friends who raced. It was so exciting to show up at the dock and see all the students and instructors (many former Courageous kids) readying their boats to compete in the J22 fleet. To me this is what it's all about -you teach all these kids to sail and then they go kick the adult's butts! Congrats to Will Manning, Karan Singha, Tim McGuirk, and Jack Flaherty for winning the youth trophy. Also Congrats to instructors Rob Breslin and crew Reed and Zach, for winning their class - you guys were fast! And finally a big congrats to Miguel Cortis, Courageous Director of Sailing, and his awesome crew of Kate, Rosemary, Amanda, Karen, Dave, and John for winning in Bantry. Three trophies for team Courageous—not too shabby!

Courageous crew on Bantry sails towards victory.

Finally I am happy to report that my picture of spinnaker'd boats on Boston Harbor sold for $700 in the silent auction. I have heard a rumor that it will hang in the offices of the Ally Foundation which would be a real honor for me.

HEH - YOU CAN STILL PARTICIPATE!!
If you didn't make it to Flip Flop or even if you don't wear flip flops (I hear they're bad for your feet) you can still contribute to the Ally Foundation. For more information on this amazing organization AND to contribute go to http://www.theallyfoundation.org/

Flip Flop Regatta 2010

2010-08-12T05:22:00.000-07:00

The Ally Foundation's annual Flip Flop Regatta, a pursuit race which is sailed around the Boston Harbor Islands and finishing in Boston Harbor, takes place this Saturday, August 14. This regatta has become a huge favorite and boasts it is the largest regatta on Boston Harbor. I have no reason to dispute this.

The ALLY Foundation was established in memory of Alexandra Nicole Zapp who was murdered by a repeat sex offender on July 18, 2002. The Foundation, founded and run by Ally’s mother and stepfather, has a mission to prevent opportunities for violent sex offenses, to educate the public and advocate for necessary changes in culture, attitude and policy It strives to celebrate Alexandra’s memory with the same charitable and compassionate spirit that guided her throughout her short life.

If you aren't familiar with this important organization check out their website: http://www.theallyfoundation.org/philosophy.html

I was asked to create a sailing inspired artwork for the fundraising portion of the Flip Flop. This piece will be auctioned off on Saturday night at the post-race party. I had great fun creating this artwork. For those of you who aren't familiar with my illustration style I make collages from paper I hand-paint and then layer in a variety of textures, colors, and creative shapes. The challenge of this type of medium is to simplify the images down to cut paper while attempting to keep the essence of the image.

I am especially excited about this piece for several reason: I get to contribute to a great organization, I get to have fun with art, and I get to share my work and love for Boston Harbor with others. This piece was quite a challenge because it is the biggest (13 x 18) and most complicated work to date. Also I had to make sure I used the correct signal flags to spell "Flip Flop 2010" because once I glue it down I can't change it.

If you are going to Flip Flop be sure to bring your checkbook - bid high and bid often. If you aren't going you can contribute to the Ally Foundation through their website. Either way have a fantastic weekend and GO SAILING!

Valencia RC44 Cup - 28 Jul 2010 - Katusha man overboard

2010-08-03T04:45:00.000-07:00

I really like this boat - Go RC44!

Summer Sailing on Boston Harbor: What's it all about Windy?

2010-08-01T17:58:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: I started this post back in early June but unfortunately life got in the way. The good news is there is still plenty of time to enjoy what's left of the season. So go get out on boat and have a sail.

It summer so take your doggie for a sail!

I love when summer finally comes. I get to see all my laser sailing friends as I travel around New England to various regattas and I get to experience evening racing on Boston Harbor. If you haven't yet tried racing on the Harbor you can pretty much find a fleet most weeknights. If you're into women only racing (sorry no fellas) head on over to the Boston Sailing Center on Monday night (go to www.bostonsailingcenter.com/ for more info on all their programs). Tuesdays and Wednesday nights are busy with fleets from all three sailing clubs and PHRF. But if you're new to racing, join the thursday night instructional fleet out of Courageous Sailing. Since I am an instructor and coach at Courageous I have joined the Tuesday night Rhodes 19 fleet (go to www.courageoussailing.org for more info on all their programs). While the boats are the same ones we frostbite in the breeze conditions can stymie even the most knowledgeable racer.

Winter vs. summer wind

It's worth noting that Boston Harbor is a long skinny "L" shape (the foot of the L facing N/S, the body facing E/W) flanked by Logan Airport on it's northeast end and the city skyline on the southwest. These features have a huge effect on the breeze and as you get closer to the city the breeze becomes more shifty and puffy.

Winter wind patterns are determined by whatever weather is coming through the area. Since we are sailing during the day conditions are more consistent and predictable. Summer, however, is an entirely different issue. Factors like sea breeze fighting with gradient breeze combined with evening sailing have a dramatic effect on conditions. I've been racing on the harbor for seven years now and here's some of what I've observed.

Southwesterly flow: This breeze travels through the city before it reaches the harbor. Look for the wind to land in big puffs and bend perpendicular to the shoreline as it hits the harbor. Sailing south from Constitution Marina, located in the Charles River basin (the innermost edge of the harbor) expect the breeze to "back" from west to southwest as you move to the outer harbor.

Sea Breeze: On hot day with a weak gradient the sea breeze is likely to fill in by late morning. Since it follows the shape of the harbor and there aren't many buildings to interfer the seabreeze will stay fairly consistent. Note that as you are sailing south towards the Hyatt the breeze bends a bit left and there is a bit more velocity.

Evening Breeze: Usually around 6:00 pm the existing breeze will start to change. If it's a seabreeze it will gradually diminish while the gradient breeze will attempt to reassert itself. This produces shifty/unpredictable puffs that cause endless frustration for racing sailors. If you find yourself in this situation look for the gradient breeze to take charge as the evening goes on. Just keep saying to yourself, "I love sailing on Boston Harbor!" By the end of the summer you may actually believe it. I know I do!

The good news about Harbor breeze is that like lake sailing the pressure is easy to see. If you are used to sailing in more consistent conditions you will learn a lot about looking up course for pressure, what's a lift or a header, and oscillating breeze. You will fine tune your sailing skills in a small but very competitive venue and probably go back to your yacht club ready to kick some butt! So welcome to Boston Harbor - the summer of sailing will beat you up and spit you out but in the end you'll thank us for it.

Even though the next America’s Cup is several years away you can still get your AC34 groove on.
In preparation for the upcoming 34th America’s Cup, hopefully to be held in San Francisco (sorry Newport) Larry Ellison and team are already working hard to make sure the next cup is the most exciting TV sailing event ever. With on-board cameras mounted at every conceivable angle the TV team has been conducting tests on both RC44s and X40 cats. After watching much of the footage I prefer the RC44. The action is more condensed and you can see what each crew member is doing. To view the video clips and give your feedback go to

http://www.acmediaevaluation.com/

The Devil's in the details...or NOT!

2010-03-09T04:57:00.000-08:00

DISCLAIMER:
If you have to spend a lot of time at the Laundromat pick one with comfortable chairs!

As I was sitting in the Laundromat this afternoon waiting for my clothes to dry (the home dryer is broken – but that’s a story for another blog) I started thinking about some things; the meaning of life, wars in foreign lands, what’s really up with Brangelina, and lint. Yes, some of us have time in our lives to actually contemplate lint. So, as I was sitting there in the yellow plastic chair, fidgeting a bit, (the chairs at the Laundromat are akin to individual torture chambers) my mind wandered into the realm of conjecture… if I collected all the lint from all the years of drying clothes for a family of three, would it reach to the moon and back? Good question, right? I think so. But, before you could say “Hot-Diggidy-Dog!” I was on to the next pondering: inches. Inches specifically related to sailboat racing. Quite the segue, but this is a normal occurrence in my life – most everything eventually leads to sailing in some form.

In so many ways sailboat racing is a matter of inches. The devil’s in the details, so to speak. Ease or trim an inch, point or foot an inch. Inches, or lack thereof, hugely affect performance. Most racing sailors will go that extra mile to make sure they stay on top of those inches. What I’d like to put out there to all my sailor friends is—VALIDATION— certainly inches matter (I know, I’m a woman). But that doesn’t mean you should lose sight of the big picture—which from my perspective means implementing your strategic plan to win the race without letting tactics, or lack thereof, get in the way.

Strategy vs. Tactics:
Because there’s so much to say about this subject I’ve broken it into two parts. This first part covers the race start through the windward mark rounding. I’m not going to cover details such as boatspeed etc. Refer to the footnotes for more information on these topics.

As you sail around the course there will be moments of solo sailing and moments of interaction with other boats. How you balance these moments of strategy: your plan for getting around the course in the absence of other boats, with tactics: boat-on-boat maneuvers, will hugely affect your race finishes.

In this figure the red boat takes advantage of the foul current. She sees that the blue boats are being pushed down off the line and with speed, tacks into the open lane. Purple boat also takes advantage of the situation and 'dip starts'. By coming in from above with the current in his favor he has more speed and maneuverability than any other boat on the line.

Starts – Using tactics to implement strategy:
Starts can be chaotic if you don’t have a strategy for sailing the first leg. Once you’ve determined this strategy you need to plan your starting strategy. Do you want to “win the pin” or take advantage of mid-line sag? Be prepared to engage in tactical maneuvers— negotiating a confused jumble of vessels jockeying for position—while carving out your spot on a crowded line. And be sure to keep your head out of the boat and pay attention to what the rest of the fleet is doing. Be ready to change it up if you see an opportunity. For example: The current is running hard. You realize that a good portion of the fleet has misjudged its strength and is sliding to leeward. If you think fast (maybe a couple of quick tacks towards the line) you can be boatlengths ahead at the start. For these moments you’ll need great boat handling skills enhanced by equal parts aggression and tactical smarts. Oh, and a good knowledge of the rules too. (1)

First Windward leg – Stay with your strategy:
Once you’re heading up the first leg concentrate on putting your strategy into effect. Let’s say you’ve decided that the right is favored – there’s more pressure on that side with dark clouds coming in that clue you into a freshening breeze. You started on starboard but quickly found a lane and tacked over to port, implementing the first phase of your strategy. All of a sudden a starboard tacker comes along. In the heat of the moment aggression takes over. The devil in you whispers “Lee bow that sucker!” and BOOM before you can say “Hollywood Hunksters” (it is Oscar season after all) you’ve flipped over onto starboard tack. Whether you’re successful or not isn’t the issue. It’s the fact that you just threw your strategy out the window, sailing towards the left side of the course, maybe trapped by the windward boat. You just lost focus of the big picture and put your fate in the hands of another boat. So what was the prudent move? In this situation you weren’t able to cross so ducking was the best option. REMEMBER—you were going right.

Conversely starboard tackers need to consider a similar scenario. Its super easy to fall into the trap of the “starboard” hail and muscle your way up the course. While you may win the battle you could lose the war. Keep your strategy in the forefront and use tactics to support it, negotiate your way through the fleet, and don’t let other vessels dictate the path you take; at least for the first leg of the race. If that ugly little devil rears his head kick him into the cuddy cabin for the time being (you may need him later).

In this figure the blue boat recognizes that there may be carnage at the windward mark. She decides to over stand and sail in with clear air and speed. Consequently she becomes well placed to make some headway on the downwind leg.

Windward mark roundings – Inside the best? Maybe not.
Mark roundings are another tricky situation. Everybody and their mother is fighting for that inside overlap, but is it really that precious? I suggest that rounding the mark cleanly and with speed is preferable. I have never known anyone to win a race because they got that inside overlap at the windward mark. The winners are the ones who work hard every minute of the race, focusing on boat speed (remember those inches), tactics and strategy. If you are rounding in a group of boats there is bound to be some carnage on the inside, innermost boats get blanketed and slow down. Get a clean rounding by going outside; you’ll have clear air, and more speed.

Remember when it comes to sailboat racing, those inches are important. But make sure you can still see the forest through the trees. Oh, and wear clean underwear.

(1) Starting Success #1 and #2

As always – try new stuff, have fun, don’t hit anything, don’t break anything. Be safe.

I welcome you comments and suggestions for topics!
Look for new postings to “Center-of-Effort” every couple of weeks. Topics include aspects of racing tactics and strategy, boathandling, and interviews with some of our best Boston area racers. As always I enjoy hearing your comments and topic ideas.

Starting Success Part 2

2010-02-22T14:01:00.000-08:00

DISCLAIMER
I wrote my very first Center-of-Effort post entitled Starting Success, back in November 2009. If you’re reading this post but haven’t read the first I suggest you do.

Starts can look like a confused mess until the final minute
but it's really all for a purpose - get a good start!

Elements of a good start – my order of importance:

A clear lane with bow out – the Rhodes is a tubby boat which is also underpowered so if you are in “the zone of death” you will get rolled;
Full speed when hitting the line – this will help you pull away from the fleet;
Ability to tack out – on our race course there is always a wind shift which you will need to tack on;
At or close to the favored end – most people think this should be higher on the list but I would rather go for any of the other 3 than fight a crowd at the favored end. Only a couple of boats will win this battle, most will not, and the consequences include getting stuck under other boats, sliding to leeward in a successive header, and going slow.

This diagram shows the "Umbrella of Terror" as team racers call it.
I call it the "Zone of Death". The yellow shaded area illustrates respective wind shadows of the 3 blue boats. All I can say to this is "GET OUTA THERE!!!

What rules do and don’t apply during the starting sequence?
Prior to the start of the race proper course doesn’t exist. Therefore boats can weave their way down the line as long as they are observing the rules detailed in PART 2, SECTION A – WHEN BOATS MEET and SECTION B – GENERAL LIMITATIONS. Below are a few of the rules and clarifications as they apply to the starting sequence:

Rule 11: On the same course, overlapped: You are the windward boat (B) sailing down the line. A leeward boat (A) wants to luff-up, you must keep clear by putting your helm up if reasonably possible. Obviously if there are boats to windward you will have to wait for them to react. If you are the only windward boat then you must react quickly to stay clear of A.
Rule 12: On the same tack, not overlapped: The leeward boat (A) not overlapped with windward boat (B) has no rights UNTIL A establishes the overlap. Until that time B doesn’t have to anticipate A’s course.
Rule 15: Acquiring right of way: Boat A just established an overlap to leeward of boat B therefore she must initially give B room to keep clear. She cannot sail so close to B so that if B turned up, her transom would hit A. In this instance A didn’t give B enough room to keep clear.
Rule 16: Changing course: Boat A wants to luff up to spill time. She must give boat B room to keep clear. But because A is the ROW boat B must also luff up to keep clear.
Rule 17: On the same tack; proper course—Remember there’s no proper course prior to the starting signal so Rule 17 doesn’t apply. That means boat A which has established an overlap from astern can luff boat B, provided she gives B room to keep clear. Only once the starting signal sounds does A have to sail her proper (close-hauled) course.

Signal Flags and what to do if you are called over:

X FLAG: Indicates an individual recall. Our starting lines are crowded and sometimes it’s difficult for a boat that is over early to get back to restart. I’ve noticed the tendency is to keep sailing, and while you are within your rights (although it seems silly since you’ll just have to go back), you’d be better off luffing head to wind and waiting until there is room to turn downwind.
Point-of fact: Once you turn back towards the line you have no rights and must keep clear of other boats.
I FLAG: If any part of a boat is On Course Side (OCS) during the last minute of the starting sequence she must sail “round the ends” to start. It’s important to note that if you are a windward boat you can still be pushed over the starting line by a leeward boat. If this happens you must sail to windward of the starting line and round the RC (RC to starboard) or the pin end (pin to port) of the line before starting.

As always – try new stuff, have fun, don’t hit anything, don’t break anything. Be safe. And one more - Follow the rules!

I welcome you comments and suggestions for topics!
Look for new postings to “Center-of-Effort” every couple of weeks. Topics include aspects of racing tactics and strategy, boathandling, and interviews with some of our best Boston area racers. As always I enjoy hearing your comments and topic ideas.

Current Affairs

2010-02-15T07:56:00.000-08:00

DISCLAIMER:
Call me crazy (you won’t be the first). I have come to enjoy the challenges of current. If your sailing on Boston Harbor it’s impossible to avoid current so if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!

We have an abundance of current in Boston Harbor. Our tides average 10 ft. and there are 2 rivers—the Charles and the Mystic River,—that manifest outgoing current much of the time. The Charles, especially when the locks are open, creates its own strong current. Just try to land a boat on the Courageous dock to see how swift the current is moving. The bottom line is that those who race in Boston Harbor must always take the current into account. But what might initially be a frustrating element of the racing environment can become an exciting and useful tool for getting around the course. That is if you know what to look for and boathandling techniques to make the most (or least) of current effects.

Types of current:
•    Fair: Water moving in opposition to the wind
•    Foul: Water moving in the same direction as the wind
•    Cross: Water moving at an angle to the wind
•    Steady: Water is moving at same speed across the course
•    Variable: Water is moving at different speeds across the course

Identifying current:

Anchored objects: Watch for water flow around the objects (Mooring balls, aids to navigation, anchored objects)
Anchored boats: If they are positioned at an angle different from the wind they are most likely being affected by current
Water surface: If the water is choppier than the wind indicates current is FAIR;
if water is smoother current is FOUL
Turbulence: Swirls (eddies) and conflicting chop around obstacles and points of land
While sailing: Boat will be pushed in one direction or another, boat may seem slugglish when sailing into current, with a variable current across the course boats will exhibit different speeds and angles of sailing(1)

Leeway: How a boat’s sailing angle is affected by current
Most of you have experienced the frustration of sailing to the windward layline, tacking to starboard, then struggling to round the mark as your boat slides to leeward in the current. The more you pinch, the slower you go, and the further the leeway. Pretty soon your boat stops dead or worse, and much to your chagrin you get stuck on the mark.

For our venue—short-course racing—it’s not really practical to calculate the set and drift of the current and its affect on your vessel but there are simple tests you can do to get an approximate calculation.

Estimate leeway: As you’re sailing on a close-hauled course observe your wake as it streams back from the weather quarter. The angle it forms is leeway, which is most pronounced when close-hauled.
Now that you’ve estimated your leeway sail to the layline of the weather mark (or if it’s not set use a mooring buoy or landmark in the general area). Give yourself approx. 5 boatlengths to reach the mark. Sail on a close-hauled course (don’t pinch!) towards the mark. Where do you end up? Most likely if the current is running Foul you will not make the mark.

Boathandling tips to minimize the effects of current

Boat speed trumps pointing. If your boat isn’t up to speed and you try to point you’ll just go slower and slide further to leeward.
A flat boat is a happy boat. The Rhodes is best sailed with a slight heel or when powered up—sailed flat. The foils work more efficiently and the keel digs in. Excessive heel is not only slow it causes the boat to slide to leeward. So commit to the mantra “Ease-hike-trim”.
Center your weight over the keel. When the skipper is sitting too far back the stern sinks, there is more wetted surface—equaling a slower boat and increased leeway.

My final word on current: Accept the challenge and learn to love it cause it’s here to stay.
As always – try new stuff, have fun, don’t hit anything, don’t break anything. Be safe.

(1) Dellenbaugh, Dave, Speed and Smarts, September/October 2009, www.speedandsmarts.com

I welcome you comments and suggestions for topics!
Look for new postings to “Center-of-Effort” every couple of weeks. Topics include aspects of racing tactics and strategy, boathandling, and interviews with some of our best Boston area racers. As always I enjoy hearing your comments and topic ideas.

Valentines Day Regatta

2010-02-14T11:15:00.000-08:00

DISCLAIMER:
I have attempted a number of times to read Stewart Walker’s book “The Sailor’s Wind” but I just can’t get beyond the “blocks of wind”. I keep looking up in the sky for “blocks of wind” and all I see are clouds and sky. What am I missing – or better yet what was Stewart smoking when he wrote the book?

Saturday, February 13th was another interesting day on Boston Harbor. Since we won the day (Or is it winn-ded the day?) I thought it would be fun to write about our observations and how we sailed. The key to our success? It might have been the massive quantity of Sweethearts (I love the new “Tweet Me!” cotton candy flavor) we ate—it was a Valentines Day Regatta after all—or maybe our skill. I vote for the Sweethearts myself!

Conditions:
Wind – NW, 3-10 knots with gust to 13 knots. Breeze characteristics: The wind was very puffy and predominantly from the NW (course right) although there was a persistent shift of approx 45 degrees with the breeze backing west for (my estimate) 3-5 minutes, then veering back to it’s main NW heading. Current was outgoing at approximately 1 knot. Water was flat.

Boat set-up – this is a good power setup for lighter breeze and current:
Jib: Halyard was eased slightly so scallops where visible through the lower mid-section. Jib leads were set up mid-track.
Main: Halyard was eased about 1 inch; outhaul was eased so the foot had a slight belly. It’s worth noting that we had some discussion about tightening the outhaul more because of the lack of any appreciable chop. We did this for one race but felt like the boat wasn’t getting up to speed – maybe due to adverse current upwind. We went back to an eased position and saw an immediate improvement in the boat’s ability to get up to speed. The vang was set tight enough to take the slack out and so the boom would stay parallel to the water when eased.
Backstay – loose enough to get about 2 feet of rotation.

Strategy:
•    Starts: Get a clear lane with the option to tack over. If we saw that one side was predominantly favored we would try for that side. But it was more important for us to be able to get bow out and tack out if necessary.
•    Upwind leg: The strategy for the day was to play the favored side wind-wise, go for pressure, and play the shifts. We did a good job in races 1-4 of playing the right-hand shift. While the left looked good just prior to the start the breeze consistently went back right. We were able to tack out, get to the right into great pressure, and extend on most of the fleet. I think it’s important to use patience sailing upwind in these puffy/shifty conditions. You have to be able to distinguish a velocity header (wind lessens and apparent wind moves forward making it feel like a header, the problem is if you tack on it you’ll be headed on the new tack) from an actual header.
•    Windward mark rounding: The current was strong (setting boats to leeward approximately 1 boat-length for every five sailed, NOTE: This is my estimate based on experience) and the breeze was heading you as you approached the mark on starboard. Our philosophy is that it’s always preferable to get around the mark cleanly and win the downwind battle.
•    Downwind: Just prior to rounding the offset, ease the jib halyard an inch to give a bit more power to the sail. Don’t forget to tighten it back up before you round the leeward mark). Our strategy is to play the shifts and stay powered up. This means heating it up when the breeze lessens, not sailing-by-the-lee (if your jib is collapsing up top you are BTL), and when gybing don’t go from one wing-on-wing to another, instead heat it up a bit until you have good boat speed then go back to WOW. Crew position is key: Skipper should be as far forward as possible to keep the stern from sinking. Hike out to heel when WOW.
•    Last leg: Go for the favored side (which you should determine before you round the leeward mark) and favored gate (unless you are behind a bunch of boats who just rounded it). Yesterday the breeze was consistently course right with more velocity and consistency. Tactics come much more into play as we work around the course. For example: On the last leg do we need to cover boats behind or try to make a move on boats rounding ahead of us? There’s never a dull moment (nor should there be!) until you cross that finish line.

BTW- Kudos to the race committee for the new finish line setup. It condensed the fleet and made the last upwind much more fun!

As always – try new stuff, have fun, don’t hit anything, don’t break anything. Be safe.

I welcome you comments and suggestions for topics!
Look for new postings to “Center-of-Effort” every couple of weeks. Topics include aspects of racing tactics and strategy, boathandling, and interviews with some of our best Boston area racers. As always I enjoy hearing your comments and topic ideas.

Wishing You a Swimmingly Wonderful New Year!

2009-12-31T11:29:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

To all my family, friends, and colleagues:
This new illustration is called "Sea of Tranquility" and is my vision of an undersea New Year's celebration. As always I am inspired by beautifully curved lines, decorative elements, and rich textures.

While you're busy making New Year's resolutions (my first resolution is less texting and more conversation) and fixing up your 2010 date book (if you still use a date book) take some time out to enjoy the world around you.

Wishing everyone a fantastic New Year and beginning to the next decade.

Santa loves sailboat racing too!

2009-12-06T06:07:00.000-08:00

He sprang to his BOAT, to his team gave a whistle,

ALL CLEAR! did he shout,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere they sailed out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night."

I'd like to wish a very MERRY CHRISTMAS to all my friends (sailors and otherwise), family, and colleagues. It's been a tough year for many, we've all had to face our personal and professional challenges. I know I have! But in the face of it all I have deepened relationships, made great new friends, found my coaching voice, and I think I've had a positive impact on the world - at least my little part of it here in Beantown.

I look forward to having a really great 2010 and I wish the best for all of you.

Sail fast, sail hard, sail fair!

Keep tuning in to Center of Effort! As always, I appreciate your feedback and ideas for new posts.

2009-12-06T05:52:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer: Some people like crossword puzzles. I love rules quizzes – so there.

Protest Scenario #1:
Boat A is approaching the leeward mark with Boat B following behind. Boat A ascertains that B won't gain an overlap before the zone so they don’t bother to hail. As A enters the zone they trim in to round the mark and A’s boat slows down. All of the sudden Boat B (with more speed) has gained an inside overlap and is calling for room. A is certain they did not establish the overlap before the zone, but B is really yelling a lot! A protests (RRS 18), more yelling ensues, and B ends up taking the inside lane at the mark beating A to the finish. Despite A’s protest hail B doesn’t do their penalty turns. So what's a sailor to do? Take it to the room of course!

"Take it to the room."
This is a comment I have used on occasion. Unfortunately too many sailors are hesitant to follow through with protests. Maybe they aren't 100 percent sure of the rules or there's a perception that protests are time consuming. Fortunately since our Rhodes 19 fleet has added Carl Zimba, President, Massachusetts Bay League High School Sailing, as RC he’s implemented 5 minute justice. Protests are dispatched before you can “superkagigfragi…” whatever it is.

Protests are inevitable so take preventative measures:
The RRS requires only 2 hails: “Room to tack” (RRS 19), and “Protest” (RRS 61.1) but in scenario #1 it would have behooved Boat A to use a “protection hail” such as “No Room” or “No Overlap” before they entered the zone. Most likely B would have rounded behind A as they were meant to do. If not A’s hail helped to establish their case for protesting B.

How to prepare for and handle the protest:

Have a plan before you go out on the water. Protests are like wind shifts. They are inevitable so be prepared.
Familiarize yourself with RRS 2009-2012 (especially Part 2, When Boats Meet) and carry a rules book with you on the boat. They're not hard to learn and there are tons of on-line resources to assist you in understanding the more complicated rules. If you are involved in a protest refer to the rules book to clarify which rules were broken. Going into a protest knowing numbers and rules is a plus on your side but you aren’t required to know every rule that was broken (RRS 64.1). Merely state the facts if you're not sure. Most race committees don't expect you to quote the rules chapter-and-verse but you should have a general idea.
Get all the facts. Which race was it; wind direction; which tack were you on; what happened prior to the infraction; how many boat lengths were you from the mark or other boat when the infraction occurred? Designate a crew member to keep track of boats nearby so you can call witnesses to corroborate your story. It’s customary for one person (usually the skipper) to speak so make sure she is armed with all the information. Be concise. Stumbling through an explanation won't win you any points with the RC.
Draw a clear picture of the incident as soon afterwards as possible. A waterproof notebook and pencil are great additions to your ditty bag.

Why it’s important to follow through with protests:
The sport of sailboat racing is self-policing. For the most part the onus is a competitor who fouled to do his turn. I would argue there are two sides to this protest coin in that those of you who have been fouled have an equal obligation to follow through for several important reasons:

Everyone will learn the rules. Most fleets combine regulars along with newcomers each season. It behooves us to hold each other accountable and elevate the whole fleet to the highest standards of practice. Respect for the rules means respect for each other and the fleet. Although protests are sometimes contentious they are also a great way to put a face to the name. People are less likely to press the rules if they’re familiar with and respect their competitors.
Fouls not protested have a viral effect. Two years ago we had a rash of starboard tackers tacking too close. While there was a lot of grumbling no one actually protested so the incidents increased until the RC had to put an umpire on the water. Maybe if those first few had protested and made an example the action wouldn't have become so prevalent.
We are all obligated to follow the rules and if you decide to hail "Protest" than you should follow through.
Protested boats are more likely to do their circles the next time. It only takes one time being DSQ'd to teach someone it's better to take the smaller lump than the big kick.

As always – try new stuff, have fun, don’t hit anything, don’t break anything. Be safe and remember: It’s just a game.

I welcome your comments and suggestions for topics!
Look for new postings to “Center-of-Effort” every couple of weeks. Topics include aspects of racing tactics and strategy, boathandling, and interviews with some of our best Boston area racers. As always I enjoy hearing your comments and topic ideas.

Starting Success!

2009-11-06T10:10:00.000-08:00

DISCLAIMER:

At this point in my sailing career I spend more time watching boats start than actually starting myself so do what I say, NOT what I do.

As most racing sailors know a good start is a huge key to success on the race course, especially in Boston Harbor where the courses are so short. It’s much nicer to get bow out on the fleet than to have to fight your way out of the second row. Especially if you’re skippering in a Rhodes 19. The shape of the boat (think Lazyboy recliner) and the fact that it’s somewhat underpowered causes all sorts of problems for Mister Second Row Skipper. Believe you-me, I’ve been in this position and it’s no fun.

So what’s a skipper to do? You want to be in the first row – DUH. As I say to my youth racers, “You’ll never get to the start if you aren’t on the starting line.” Sort of a sad attempt at a “Yogi-Bearism” but I try. The bottom line is, don’t be shy! Get up there in the mix and be aggressive! Every successful racer is over the line once in a while and you will be too. But you’ll never develop good timing if you don’t put yourself in a position to be successful.

Start and stop on a dime

The correlation between boat handling and good starts is obvious, but which skills are most effective. First of all you need to be able to stall your boat to defend your position on the line without going into irons or inadvertently tacking. Envision yourself sailing up to within a boat length of the line. Techniques to stall the boat include luffing the jib and main and if need be briefly backing the mainsail. Once the boat is stalled how do you protect your position? The jib trimmer should be ready to back the jib, this effectively turns the bow off the wind. I’m not a big fan of sculling (jerking the tiller toward you and back to centerline. It’s a bad habit to get into when backing the jib is much more effective (and easier on the equipment!). Your movement while stalled will be akin to a seesaw effect; driving up into the no-go zone, and then slightly off the breeze. Give yourself enough room to leeward of the starting line because you will move forward slightly and if you’re on a crowded line you most likely won’t have much leeway. If you’re too close to the starting line you’ll be in danger of being over early.

Know the performance characteristics of your boat

You should know how long it takes to start and stop your boat. What is the glide distance in various conditions? How long will it take you to get the boat moving again? What happens in clear air, or dirty air? When to power-up for the start: 20 seconds, 10 seconds? Some boats power-up relatively quickly, the Rhodes 19 doesn’t.

Note the conditions before you start

• When is high/low tide?

• What is the current doing? Because we have two large rivers, the Mystic and the Charles, that empty out into Boston Harbor, current becomes a huge factor. The Rhodes 19 is especially susceptible to current and if you learn the boat’s behavior in current you can use it to your advantage.

• Which side of the line is favored? In Boston Harbor (and no offence to our crack Courageous race committee) a square line is about as rare as an honest politician. You name it, we’ve got it: strong currents, shifty wind, and overenthusiastic ferry operators. After all we are in the midst of a huge city. All these conditions make for challenging starts.

• Where is the pressure? “Reading” the breeze is a skill that every sailor—racing or not—should know. Due to the narrowness of the harbor and the city’s geography, wind conditions can be especially challenging. I won’t go through every iteration (I have to keep a few secrets) but remember that breeze tends to turn perpendicular to the shoreline and depending on where the race course is situated the breeze can actually “split”. Alternately it may be one direction on windward leg and another direction on the downwind.

The diagram (below) illustrates a typical Harbor scenario. The prevailing breeze is NW but as it shoots down into the race area it is affected by the land configuration and begins to bend. The net is two breeze directions with a lot of turbulence in middle. Blue boat starts at the pin and goes left. He gets a header about 3/4's of the way up the course, tacks and is lifted to the mark. Red boat goes right into a successive header. He bangs the corner, tacks and also gets a lift up to the mark. Poor Mister green makes the mistake of tacking to early and sailing into the middle of the course. He is stuck in turbulent air, tacks on repeated headers but doesn't seem to get anywhere. My advice: Stay out of the middle of the course!

PRACTICE:

A great way to learn the characteristics of your boat is to find a mooring or put out a mark and sail up next to it. Stop the boat (note the glide distance) and try to hold it next to the mark for 30 seconds. Experiment with sail trim. For example: trim in the main and luff the jib and vice versa. Note how the boat reacts. Trim in to accelerate and note how long it takes to get back up to full speed.

Every time you go out for a sail you should be trying to read the breeze. Learn the different (most common on the harbor are NE, SE, SW/with a bit of W, NW) directions and how they behave in relation to the geography. Pick an upwind spot and sail to it keeping a closehauled course at all times. Go left, go right, go up the middle and note what happens. Do the same thing sailing downwind. By sailing in different breeze directions you will start to learn their characteristics and pretty soon you’ll be sailing smarter, and faster.

As always – try new stuff, have fun, don’t hit anything, don’t break anything. Be safe.

I welcome you comments and suggestions for topics!

Look for new postings to “Center-of-Effort” every couple of weeks. Topics include aspects of racing tactics and strategy, boathandling, and interviews with some of our best Boston area racers. As always I enjoy hearing your comments and topic ideas.

Sailing with your sails or CE/CLR

2009-10-13T12:02:00.000-07:00

Before I start with the main topic of this article I need to insert a small disclaimer.

DISCLAIMER:
I am not an MIT trained physicist (nor do I play one on TV) and, despite what my mother thinks, my math skills border on 9th grade level. Well, maybe not that bad, but I don’t anticipate being awarded any genius math prizes in the near future.

Since the business part of this post is complete we can get to the nitty-gritty fun stuff.

It’s no small secret that I love to race sailboats and if you’re reading this you probably do too. I consider myself an intuitive boathandler. I’m constantly tuning into the feel of the boat as it moves through the water, is it sluggish or is it rising up beneath me? I’m feeling the sheet in my hand and the pressure on the tiller. Every sailor has a different perspective on boat handling and approaches to tuning, tactics and strategy are equally varied. Most racers enjoy trying out different stuff and sharing it with fellow sailors. That’s a big part of what makes this sport so satisfying. I call it the “Sailing Continuum” (NOTE: initial caps means muy importante). It’s a perpetual cycle of learning and mentorship that is a natural part of the sport we love. I mention this because I have been a beneficiary—learning from great sailors—and lately a contributor through my coaching of youth sailors.

But I digress; on to our main topic: CE/CLR. No, it’s not some crazy physics thing (actually it sort of is) but it is real. Here’s the definition according to Dave Acree* (smart dude from the web). “The Center of Effort (CE) is the geometric center where the wind pressure on the sails exerts its total heeling effect. The Center of Lateral Resistance (CLR) is the geometrical center of the yacht while in the water.” All I can say is, “WHUUH!”, muy importante stuff.

So what does this all mean is layman’s terms? Basically, there are forces acting on a boat above the water; the wind flows on either side of the sail, causing lift. The lift force is countered by lateral resistance created by the keel. The balanced combination of the two forces causes a sailboat to move forward in a relatively straight line. If the sail is trimmed properly, for example: trimmed in over the centerline of the boat on a close-hauled course, the boat will feel balanced, exhibiting neutral helm.

Let’s say you are sailing along in one of our Courageous Rhodes 19s, on a close-hauled course, at a 45 degree angle to the wind (Remember, we’re talking a Rhodes 19 here). You see a puff of breeze coming. The water is pretty dark and rippled so it’s probably a good size puff. All of a sudden it hits and WHUMPF! Your weather helm increases dramatically, the boat heels A LOT, and you round up into the wind. What just happened? For one thing when the puff hit the CE shifted from a balanced position—closer to the mast, in the center of maximum draft—to an unbalanced position—towards the leech of the mainsail moving the draft “abaft the beam” (love those nautical terms) as if the Incredible Hulk’s fist just pushed really hard on the back of your sail. Why did this happen? When the puff hit, the apparent wind increased. Therefore, the angle of the breeze shifted backwards. You just experienced a super sized lift. The boat rounded up because you didn’t ease your sail (or drop the traveler) when the puff hit.

FUN RHODES FACT #67: In the puffs: EASE-HIKE-TRIM
Some boats you can “feather-up” in a puff (steer towards the puff and gain height). The Soling is a good example of a boat that feathers well. The Rhodes 19 isn’t. The moment you get her up past a minimal heel she’ll start to slide sideways (tubby keel, rounded bottom). At that point you’ve negated CLR. So what’s a sailor to do?

The key to sailing efficiently upwind is:

EASE in a puff to keep CE in it’s proper location
HIKE your butt off to get the keel as straight down in the water as possible
TRIM and harden-up once the boat flattens to gain speed and height

Now that you hopefully understand the mechanics of CE/CLR how can you take advantage of them on the race course? Most importantly, you'll stay in control of your vessel, which is essential in a crowd of boats. A boat that is in danger of rounding-up can cause havoc and damage to surrounding vessels. Learning how to shift CE forward or backward will improve boathandling skills. For example: use it to maneuver into and maintain position on the starting line. A trimmed main and luffing jib moves CE backwards and drives the bow up into the wind. An eased main and backed jib moves CE forward, driving the bow down. Another great use is when rounding marks. Ever try steering around a windward mark on a breezy day with just the rudder? You quickly learn that the boat resists your efforts, especially the Rhodes 19. The windier it gets the less effective the rudder is, but if you quickly ease your main and follow it with the jib the boat will turn on a dime. CE has moved forward and the boat turns downwind. Conversely you should start to trim your main before you’re about to round the leeward mark. CE will move back, the boat will round up, and you’ll have a tighter rounding. BTW-rather than cranking the jib in tight trim it through each point of sail ‘til you are on your close-hauled course. Trimming in too soon causes a bow down effect.

PRACTICE:
Go out on a puffy day (we get a lot of those in Boston harbor this time of year) and play. Sail on a close-hauled course, when a puff hits, do the ease-hike-trim thing. Don’t be afraid to experiment with timing, angle of heel, and sail trim. If you’re heeling substantially take note of the boat’s slide to leeward. As you EHT note how the weather-helm (pressure on the rudder) releases, the boat resets to a straight-line course and you are able to drive up into the puff. Look up at the mainsail and try to pick out the effects of the puff. Can you see the draft moving backwards?

Put out a couple of marks and practice rounding them (mooring balls work too). Try to round a windward mark without easing and look back at your wake. Then do it again while easing the mainsail. Do the same thing with a leeward mark: round without trimming in and check your wake. Then do it again. When you are about a boat length from the mark start trimming (about 1/2 way). As you round trim in completely and look back at your wake. I guarantee you'll "sea" a difference. Keep in mind that while the principals are the same your boat will behave differently in different wind and sea conditions.

Most of all – try new stuff, have fun, don’t hit anything, don’t break anything. Be safe.

I welcome you comments and suggestions for topics!
Look for new postings to Center of Effort every couple of weeks. Topics include aspects of racing tactics and strategy, boathandling, and interviews with some of our best Boston area racers. As always I enjoy hearing your comments and topic ideas.