Summer Race #6

Winds from the SSE 10-15 dropping to 4-8 from the SW.  Current was ebbing.  Course for A and B was from H to K and back, twice around.  C sailed from H to K to G and back.

We were race committee tonight.  We left the dock at 17:10 and headed straight to H.  We saw a healthy SSE breeze from 170 and decided to anchor so that H bore 80 degrees from us.  It took three tries to get the anchor to finally stick.  The first try failed due to hooking a rather large rock.  The second failed for unknown reasons and the third time worked like a charm.

We thought the line to be very square and announced the courses.  With about 4 minutes to go before the start of the A&B fleets, we saw a change in the breeze.  It went right about 40 degrees and got lighter.  Now our line was skewed and I was wishing we had just let it drag since it would have been square if we fell north 200 yards or so.  Since the wind was also getting lighter, we stuck with the original course fearing that 22 was too far for this dying breeze.  At least with the A and B course, we could always shorten them to one lap should the breeze die.  We were not too worried about C as the current would push them upwind and then they would reach out of the current by going to G. 

So everyone started on a starboard end favored line and had a skewed beat up to K.  Most boats had to tack during this beat, so I felt a little better about the course.  In the end, everyone that attempted to finish the race did so with time to spare.  I also like that the entire fleet finished around the same time.  This is always a goal of mine when race committee and is not always possible. 

Once the racers were off, we ate some ribs and had a few beers.  It was a great night to be on the water and we enjoyed the hour between the start and the first finisher.  All boats were done racing by 20:12, so there was no risk of anyone not finishing in time.  We then hurried in to the dock and I went over to pizza night at Minisceongo Yacht Club.

Here is my analysis of our night as Race Committee.

Good

1.  We went out early surveyed the conditions and set the line.

2.  Being out early allowed us to set the line three times without delaying the race.

3.  Wrote down scores on three sheets to make sure a typo did not skew the results.  One sheet did not match the others in one case and it was nice to have the other two agree.

4.  Had a special sheet to help us remember to make the proper moves at the proper times.

5.  Set courses that allowed the fleets to finish around the same time.

Possible Improvements

1.  We could have delayed the start to allow the dying breeze to settle in.

2.  We could have changed the line to be more square in the new wind.

3.  We needed more ribs.

As far as delaying the start to set a better course after the wind changed, I decided against it since I did not want to have everything push back too late.  It was pizza night and sending boats to 22 could have caused an issue with a delayed start.  Boats could have been drifting until the time limit which probably would have extended to 20:45 or later.  I was also thinking that the lull could be temporary and all the changes would be for nothing.  

I am on the fence as to whether or not it was worth it to reset the line.  Hindsight is 20/20, but on this issue, the decision is still not clear to me.  I would welcome any comments on the matter as it could help with future races.