The A-Team Returns - Zack Marks

More from Marblehead and in some big breeze (check out 5:22):

So last Monday I finally got to use the asymmetrical in some real breeze, with lots of rain and big seas (by East Coast standards). Several instructors and I set out in the 505 and two RIB’s. It’s always good to have some protection. Before we left I made sure to give the pole lots of pre-bend. As soon as we cleared the rocks and had some water to work with we hoisted. What a ride! We were blasting and sometimes just hanging on. Eventually we heeled up a bit too much and Pete just fell on top of me.

Once I emerged from the water, we got the boat back up. The kite was a mess, the main was falling down a bit, and when I pulled on more outhaul I had too much line left over. Not quite ready to call it a day we sorted the kite, lowered the main, lashed the outhaul, raised the main and headed back out to sea. Despite the major tangle with the kite it was still super easy to sort out. Pete had decided to wear gloves designed for an infant and after trimming the kite and raising the main, was bleeding quite a bit from the hands.

So Geoff stepped in as skipper and I swapped to crewing. I tried to think heavy, but I don’t think it worked. With the jib barber-hauled out to the rail and the main luffing at full rake back we decided that downwind would be much more fun. So we set off to hoist. I told Geoff that we had to get a gybe on video. He agreed and so we went for it. Unfortunately as I unhooked in the gybe we slammed into a wave. The kite didn’t feel like stopping and decided to pull the mast to leeward with it. We thought that we might be able to bend it back the other way by gybing, but no dice. I think that the gybe would have been awesome if the guy in the back of the boat hadn’t decided to wrap the bridle around the tiller extension. What a muppet! So we just enjoyed the ride, doused, and headed back to the harbor.

Overall one of the most memorable sailing days I have ever had. The A-sail worked great and it was awesome not having to worry about any pole situations. I do think that for an a-sail the lead for the spinnaker sheets could be put further forward, almost to the jib sheet. This would make the gybe hand switch sort of like a tack. I found it hard to gybe with the spin sheets behind me when crossing. I also think that you could have a crew hoist and douse. Leaving the skipper to focus on his primary job, steering the boat. All in all a great day on the water!

Parker-hulled Lindsay Restoration

Read it here: Stern Scoop - Zero to 505 in Five Weekends

2011 East Coast Championship - Drew Buttner

The 2011 505 US East Coast Championship saw a little bit of everything over the course of three days of racing. Big wind, light wind, a broken rudder, and many broken egos. In the end, Tyler Moore and Geoff Ewenson were just better than the fleet and won the event going away (although their ego is one of the ones broken).

The Championship was held as part of the Buzzards Bay Regatta. 15 505’s joined over 400 other boats at one of the biggest regattas around. 150 420’s went home wanting to race 505’s ... 10 tons of keelboats went home wanting to race 505’s ... and the 15 505’s went home glad they race 505’s!

Day 1 started with a light northerly. Half the fleet was in denial and didn't leave the beach in time and missed the first race (they were the smart ones). Those that did race were treated to a healthy dose of "eating vang" and a four lap parade before the breeze completely shut off. Everyone waited for the famous sea breeze, but a strong northerly gradient kept the southerly from filling in. At three o'clock the southerly finally arrived, and although moderate at 8-10 knots, it did manage to provide the fleet with two decent light air races. Tyler/Geoff escaped trouble all day and scored a series of bullets. The rest of the fleet found themselves tied for second as everyone had a good race, a bad race, and a terrible race.

Day 2 was one of those days that put a smile on everyone's face, 12-15 knots all day long. The racing was tight and the fleet started to sort itself out. Tyler/Geoff continued their winning ways going just fast enough to lead everyone around the course, increasing their lead at each mark and finishing each race about 100 yards in front. Ramsay/Drew started the day with a pair of seconds, trying to put a dent in Tyler/Geoff's armor, but unable to do so. Ted/Jesse came on at the end of the day as the breeze backed off a bit to 12 knots. The day was not as fun for the Watsons who broke their rudder blade and had to get towed in. Komar/Russell suffered a broken topping lift shackle, which somehow lead them to a full shrimp of their kite. Whit/Chris broke their forestay control, ripped their jib in half, and limped home to lick their wounds.

The forecast for Day 3 was not great: heavy rain and heavy wind. Arriving at the club we found the weathermen right. Breeze was forecasted to peak in the upper 20's, but the rain squalls were not supposed to contain lightning. The race committee cancelled the 420's and sent the 505's to the inner circle. Out we went. It turned out to be a San Francisco day. Race 1 got under way and Macy/Parry, Ramsay/Drew, and Tyler/Geoff quickly separated themselves from the pack. A drag race to the left and all three stayed even. Macy/Parry tacked first, ducked, and headed right ... bad move.

Ramsay/Drew and Tyler/Geoff continued for another minute until Tyler/Geoff tacked right. Ramsay/Drew would follow 30 seconds later and close to the port layline. At the top mark Ramsay/Drew were able to tack inside of Tyler/Geoff and lead the race around the top mark. Tyler/Geoff proceeded to flip on the set. Oops! Ramsay/Drew held on, trying to keep the boat upright, nailed the jibe, and managed to survive the next lap to win. Tyler/Geoff tried to get back into the race, but couldn't catch Macy/Parry.

Race 2 got underway with about half the fleet. Ted/Jesse won the start, but just didn't have the speed to stay in front. Tyler/Geoff proved too much and were determined to make up for their first race blunders. They crossed Ramsay/Drew at the top and lead the fleet around the top mark. The breeze was reportedly hitting 30 knots by this time. Tyler/Geoff and Ramsay/Drew stayed next to each other for both laps, neither making a big mistake. Tyler/Geoff were faster downwind; Ramsay/Drew were faster upwind. Rounding the last leeward mark, Tyler/Geoff had a 20 length lead. They headed right and went deep into the corner under the lee of the shore. Ramsay/Drew tacked out toward the bay. When they came back together, Ramsay/Drew had a 5 length lead. They tacked to make the finish, Tyler/Geoff tried to punch through to leeward while Ramsay/Drew tried to get the boat moving again ... Tyler/Geoff just couldn't make it through and Ramsay/Drew went on to win the race (then managed to pitch pole on the sail in!).

A nice downpour with horizontal rain while we packed up the boats was a great end to the day. Time for a nap!!

Congratulation again to Tyler Moore and Geoff Ewenson for winning the 2011 US East Coast Championship!!!

Editor's note - all photos courtesy of Spectrum Photo - Full Gallery

Results

What Was?

Twin strings on a 1975 Parker

Kings of the Bay - Aaron Ross

Editor's Note - Read up and learn about the venue for the 2012 NA's.

Nine teams turned out last weekend for the Kings of the Bay Regatta, hosted by the San Francisco Yacht Club in beautiful Belvedere, California. Saturday's racing was held on Southampton Shoals, which is a little to the north of the Berkeley Circle. Being in the lee of Angel Island, there's a little less breeze and a fair bit less chop. This course can also be shiftedto get just the right amount of breeze. The race committee nailed the location, and we had 3 perfect races in 15-18+. Race 1 was a triangle sausage, 2 and 3 were sausage triangle sausages. All the races were gate starts and downwind finishes, so racing time was maximized. The longer courses were only 35 minutes long, so even though there was a lot of corner banging, there was no time to get bored. Mike and Carl won the day with a 1,1,1. Howard and Andy scored a 2,2,2, Jeff and Pat a 3,3,3. Ted with Steve Kleha got a 4,4,4, and Aaron and Rob recorded a 5,5,5. Tim and Garth got a 6,7,6, with Geoff and Reeve breaking the trend with a 6 in race 2. While preparing to be the pathfinder for race 3, Geoff decided now would be a good time to break a rudder gudgeon.

Back on shore, the club wheeled out a dock cart full of beer on ice and a barbecue with all the trimmings. A comprehensive debrief followed.

Since the 2012 North Americans will be at SFYC, the fleet and the race committee took the opportunity to try a new race course on Sunday. We sailed the Knox course, very close to the club between Angel Island and the Marin headlands. With 8-14 knots of breeze, 4 knots of current and geographically shifty breeze, the results were not a repeat of Saturday. Jeff and Pat won the day with a 1,3,2. Howard and Andy would have won the day, but they were outsmarted and outmaneuvered at the finish of race 4 by the incredibly handsome team of Aaron and Rob. Mike and Carl scored a 2,2,3, enough to hold onto the regatta win. There was much place changing between fourth and seventh in each race. So even though the conditions were not as exciting as Saturday, there was never a dull moment.

Back on shore, the club wheeled out another cart full of beer and presented trophies, engraved hot toddy sized thermoses for the top three helms and crews.

A big thank you is due to the San Francisco Yacht Club staff and volunteers, including the local 505 team of Mark Dowdy and Jason Bright. You can always count on the club to put on a great regatta with excellent on shore facilities, race management and logistics. Plus it's always sunny and warm on the club's deck, it's the best place to be after a day on the Bay. God would live in Belvedere if he could afford it. The 2012 North Americans at SFYC is a regatta not to be missed. And unlike the Saint Francis, you can leave your hat on...

Results