Chalk Talk – June 12, 2018

[MattAdministrator]

• Wind: 14-20 kts from SW.
• 2 Races: W1 and W2.
• 14 boats.

Vixen had her regular middle crew, John, but a guest bow crew, Alex. Alex is from Spain and since I had trouble communicating sailing’s technical jargon in Spanish, we wanted to avoid any panic maneuvering as much as possible. We were sailing with about 575 lbs crew weight that evening. It was relatively windy for the first race, so just before the start, we tightened the lower shrouds 4 whole turns each. Most of the boats seemed to favor the boat end at the start of each race, but Vixen started both races closer to the pin end, but on the line at full speed and in clear air with a very clear lane. Vixen sailed to the left side, almost to the layline in each race, and rounded the 1st mark with clear leads in each race. Part of that course choice was dictated by the rest of the fleet preventing us from tacking any earlier, but it further demonstrates to me that the left side almost always pays-off in that wind direction on that part of Casco Bay. It also was an example of what so often happens when just getting a lead further springs the lead boat, while the rest of the fleet maneuvers and jockeys for position. Vixen‘s boat speed was unusually good that night, attributable to achieving a neutral helm with constant adjustments to mainsail settings and shape, and mast bend with the ram and backstay.

[Author]

Posts