Pics from Lyons Imaging

Notes from Albert T Simpson Regatta

Tactics
Current upwind and breeze downwind.

Racing was held right about the time ebb switched to flood. As Jeff has said, there really is no slack water in the bay, just a change. And it changes along the shore first. So the move was to go out to catch the end of the ebb on the upwind leg, until the flood took over and then you needed to short tack the city front.

Once the breeze picked up to planing conditions, it seemed to work best to worry about the breeze and discount the current. Bones made up a ton of time on one downwind leg were three leaders went down the city front and Bones went out into the Bay. They planed the whole leg and more than made up for the current.

Competitors
Southern Cross made their bay debut, along with Jam Jam, and Bones. Jam Jam was working through crew issues and blew up two kites in Race 1. Bones sailed at least part of the regatta with only three.

Boat Issues
Spin halyard continues to slip despite a fresh water dunking of the cleat and chubbying up the line. Grey cockpit pocket has torn and needs replacing.

Tuning Comments
Boat felt pretty balanced and we were definitely flatter than SCross. Jam Jam was flogging their main and still had a bit more speed over us, seemed like our point was on par or better than both. Checked the tune and uppers seem to have stretched. still within tolerance though, base at 28 up from 22 prior to the Worlds.

Crew Comments
Crew on Saturday was Greg, Mike, Lance, Jen. Sunday was Doug, Josh, Mike, Blake.

Memorable Moments/Quotes
Sending Jen up the rig on Saturday morning to sort the lost main halyard. Getting screwed by JJ on first downwind leg of race 5, on starboard and Neil apparently not looking out and crash jibing nearly right in front of us.

Main Halyard Specs. From Jeff.

The Melges main halyard in 492's mast is 5/16 inch diameter Vectran. The line has no cover except for the last two feet at the top where it goes through the sheave and ties to the headboard. The other end has a spliced eye that the halyard tail and the purchase system with cleat can both connect to. The length from the end of the splice loop to the end of the halyard is 9.9 meters. The halyard tail would want to be 11 meters long of 3/16 diameter standard type Dacron line as this line only pulls the sail up and does not take any load once the adjustment system is connected.

Spring Laser, Day 2
Conditions started off with a brisk 15-18, but by time of the first start was down into the 12-15 range, with lulls of 6-10. Typical 1-2 minute interval of breeze. Tactic seemed to be stbd tack towards the new breeze in the lulls, tack on the breeze.

Outhaul Replacement
From SailingAnarchy.com forums today.
"I just replaced the lines in our boom - not very user friendly. To replace all of the lines you will have to drill out the rivets holding the forward end plate of the boom. The tail you pull is a 2:1 that pulls on the end of a 3:1 which pulls on the wire that comes out of the boom (at least on hull 344). I do not remember the line lengths and we did not replace the wire. If you only want to replace the wire portion coming out of the aft end of the boom, attach a pilot line to the end of the control line (the one you pull to adjust the outhaul) and pull the 3:1 casade out of the end of the boom. You should be able to replace the wire and then pull the whole thing back into the boom."