July 12, 2005
NACR Day 1
The tuning seems to be working. Before the race we reduced the mast bend by one peg and got ready to sail. Had a good first beat in the first race. Our start was decent and for a short, glorious moment we were for a short time in the top 10. I had this odd feeling, like when you first learn to ride a bicycle. you're going along and you realize you're riding the bike with no help, no training wheels, and you get so excited that you wipe out. That's sort of what happened this time. I felt like the boat was going great and then I thought about it too much and Blooey!! Things went from bad to worse, and we ended up near last, and were 5th of 6th in our fleet. We found ourselves being blanketed, caught on the outside of pinwheels at roundings. You name it, we made the mistake. One thing we were told was that we needed to keep the boat flatter. Really flat. Zero degrees flat. Pancake flat.
"But the helm feels awful when we do that!" I protested.
"It's supposed to." came the reply. That nice tug on the helm feels good, but it's not as fast as that sick, dead feeling in your hand. "If you let go of the helm, the boat - should - very - very - slowly - move - up - in - to - the - wind - over - a - long - long - time." (20 - 30 seconds or so)
A light came on in my head.
The second race was worse, however. We were possibly over early. I don’t know if we really were, but I decided we were and no one was going to change my mind, not even my wife. That ruined our race. We ended up near last again. But somehow had a 4th in our fleet. I was a bit bummed sailing that race and had mentally thrown in the towel. Another mistake.
So, here are the lesson I've (Re)-learned today:
1. If I think I'm over early, keep going. We're not really here to win anything, and it's better to compete with the fleet than to be the last straggler, sailing alone. We can sail alone any time.
2. Repeat to yourself: "Never give up, never surrender". (Makesure you say it like the alien in the movie "Galaxy Quest" to help lighten up the mood a bit.)
3. Keep the boat flat, look for that awful feeling in the helm.
4. Remember it's supposed to be fun and the main thing is to learn!
The players seen here form left to right:
1076: Deryck and David Clay
14007: Greg Adams and Peter Reynaud
2967: Jim fisher and Gary Ogden
1256: Chuck and Rick Wilson
? Red sail numbers
(white hull boat)?: Dean Iwahashi and Jeri Gildersleeve
11750: Bob and Kathy Hunkins
black sail numbers: ?
3440: John Neiswanger and Kenton Hendricks
152: Tom and John Haines
Yellow hull(156) Len Fiock and Matt Petersen
2970(black numbers) Bill and Chris Fiock
2543: Phill and Brian Root
(black letters) 13162: Eduardo and Lucy Grisetti
316: Dave Keran and Janette Zeman
If you didn't go, this is what you missed. I pity you. :-)
(click for a LARGER image (900 kb))
From left to right:
1076: Deryck and David Clay
316: Dave Kerna and Janette Zeman
Starboard tack; blue deck, white hull : Jim Fisher and Gary Ogden (2967)
3440: John Neiswanger and Kenton Hendricks
14051: Jim and Pat Skeen
Starboard Tack; green deck, white hull: Dana and Teresa McClish (1525)
4000: Dan McDonald & Jennifer Leupo
2543: Phill and Brian Root
Starboard tack, just behind 2543, yellow hull : 156: Len Fiock and Matt Petersen
Red boat on starboard behind 2970: 178, Shel Onstead and Rob Fiock
2970: Bill Fiock and Chris Fiock
I only post this one because we're in it and there's so few. :-)
The players in the background are:
13162: The Grisetti's
10761: Richard and Karen Clay
3018: Kevin Williams and Gail Condon
2967: Jim Fisher and Gary Ogden
1076: Deryck and David Clay
11750: Bob and Kathy Hunkins
152: Tom and John Haines
Finally this picture, which says it all:
* * *
We had the annual meeting tonight and I am now the Past President. Its was a good experience, and I hope that Michael M. will have as positive experience as I did. I recommend it for anyone who wants to get to know people in the Association, and to try to make a difference or help out. Its a great excuse to use when planning your vacations... "I have to go to the North Americans, I'm the class association President. Other fun things happen too, like people put crowns on your head and address you by such ephitaphs as "A wheel", "The Big Cheese" or as "His Pubescence"... I'm still trying to figure that last one out.