Big conditions

Andy Beadsworth reports on another frustrating day at the Star class Western Hemisphere regatta

In 18-22 knots with a 3-4ft swell, we decided to stick with the new heavy air mainsail XM3 today even though we had not had great success with it yesterday. We modified our set-up a bit after talking to some of the other more experience North users.

In the first race we started in the middle of the line. There was a huge amount of sag that we took advantage of. Some boats must have been 2-3 lengths off the line. Our speed seemed okay and we hit the first few shifts.

We were third or fourth up the first beat the we were the most leeward of the leading bunch and bow forward coming in just below the layline. If the breeze went right we would probably cross ahead of all of them. If it went left we would be fifth or sixth. We rounded sixth.

Our speed downwind was very on-off. Sometimes we made big gains then we would lose more. Overall we were losing. This was unusual as normally I would expect to be better than average in windy, big wave sailing conditions in most boats. We had a poor second beat generally worse on port than starboard, similar to yesterday, finding it difficult to point.

On the last run we managed to pick up a few places to finish eighth just surfing past Reynolds and John Macausland on the finish line.

Andy Horton Sailed a great race to win coming from a poor start and taking the lead on a right hander on the second beat.

Results:
1. Andy Horton
2. Paul Cayard
3. John Dane
4. Ross McDonald
5. Rick Merriman (& Steve Mitchell)
6. Mark Mendalblatt
7. Beadwsorth Carr
8. Macausland
9. Mark Reynolds
10. Howie Scheibler

In the second race we had a poor start. The lower check stay was uncleated and when we sheeted on the mast was way over bent and we had lee helm. Not ideal for a narrow lane. It was not long before we were squeezed and then rolled. The only consolation was that Cayard was worse off to leeward of us. We tacked out right. At the time it felt bad as we were high off the line. However it was a constant trend and the right paid off. Unfortunately we got bounced a couple of times and dropped back. Cayard had a clear run not being affected by anyone and led around the windward mark while we were late teens. I'm sure he was also a little quicker than us.

Downwind we failed to impress, if anything losing again. However the second beat brought more joy and we got ourselves up to about 9th. This was not to last as we dropped five boats on the final run to the finish.

Results:
1. John Dane
2. Paul Cayard
3. Howie Sheibler
4. Ross MacDonald
5. Mark Mendalblatt
6. Andy Horton
7. MacClausland
8. George Szabo
9. Mark Reynolds
10. Bainton
11. Merriman
12. Diaz
13. Kelly
14. Beadsworth Carr

So overall the event is being lead by a Master who I think is over 50 while it's been blowing 20 knots all day on an over two mile beat course.

Overall results:
1. John Dane -4
2. Paul Cayard - 4
3. Andy Horton - 7
4. Ross MacDonald -8
5. Mark Mendelblatt - 12
6. Howie Sheibler - 14
7. George Szabo - 14
8. Rick Merriman - 16
9. MacClausland -16
10. Mark Reynolds -19
11. Beadsworth - 22
12. Bainton - 23
13. Diaz - 24
14. Cramer - 29
15. Kelly - 33
16. Whipple - 35
17. O'Connell - 35

Overall we were pretty disappointed. Our speed was not great but consistently worse on port tack and our downwind performance was poor. We have taken our rig down and checked everything is symmetrical but then felt a bit daft when Sheibler took his rig down and it was completely bent. He was going just fine!!! (There were a few bent mast today, mostly from dipping the poles in on the run when rolling to windward.) We did find some minor differences in intermediates and spreader angles but nothing glaring.

I guess it's new conditions again and we are expecting a lot to be the best. It is so frustrating not being able to convert opportunities.

More practice and experience required!

Conditions for tomorrow are similar, maybe a little lighter.

Cheers.

Andy and Freddie.