A few weeks (months?) back, I wrote about the need to suck it up and learn new things. This past Friday, I had a chance to really put that into practice. With a couple of big regattas planned this Summer in potentially very windy venues, I was getting a bit worried about my ability to gybe the Megabyte (recently named "Feraligatr" by my son) in a blow and recover from the inevitable capsize once in a while. Well, I studied up on Laser gybing techniques online and in books, visualized the movements in the Megabyte, and then went out for some practice. I hit the Carquinez straits in about 12 to 15 knots, sailed up wind for a while, turned around, and repeatedly gybed back and forth about 20 times (until I eventually ran aground!)
After a bit, the wind started to build, and I headed out across the straits. Got some great practice sitting well aft and getting the feel for helm and trim balance as I surfed past a couple of Hobie trimaran thingies like they were standing still. Then, with my new found gybing confidence, I started throwing a few down eventually crashing when I missed a behind the back tiller hand-off. OK, then, time to start the capsize recovery practice! No problem. Back in the boat and going in a minute or so. I returned to the marina and then repeatedly capsized in front of the dock practicing various maneuvers for getting the thing back up. I feel much better now. A few more practice sessions, and I'll be ready to push the boat in whatever Whiskeytown Lake throws at us.
If that wasn't enough, the Fleet 76 crowd started showing up an hour or so later. Turns out Marcel needed crew; so, it was back out on the water for some more learnin'. It was great to observe Marcel's focus and approach on the race course. He's always looking for the wind advantage, always tuned in to what's happening around him, and always seeking that last bit of speed even when he's got the race won. Great stuff. I'll put some of that to use the next time I'm out racing.
About this blog
Well, this blog started out as a chronicle of the restoration, and adventures aboard, the O'Day Mariner, Mothra. But since then, and thanks to Mothra rekindling my love of sailing, it's often taken over with other sailing content. So be it. I'm having so much fun with the new Megabyte, I gotta share that, too.
2 comments:
I keep thinking I could use some high-wind gybing practice in the Vanguard. It's nice to have that confidence there so you know can pull some maneuvers off.
In basketball it's called having good court-vision. I think Marcel has good course-vision. I never had it in basketball -- guess that's something to practice while sailing: really paying attention to what's happening outside the boat. That's where having you on the Vanguard is so helpful.
Dean
yeah and I forgot to mention, in the race that Marcel let me drive I made three "course-vision" mistakes: 1) not paying attention at the start, I let Jamie into the lee position and squeeze me off at the pin, 2) frustrated by being gassed by Jamie on the first beat, I tacked away early even when I knew the advantage was to follow him to the left, and 3) when gybing, I was too focused in the boat and lost track of where I was pointing the boat causing me to oversteer. Bit by bit we learn and get better. I guess that's why we keep doing it!
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