GBCA Discussion Forum

OK Everyone, take two steps back.

It looks like I helped start this s**t fight and it's High Time it stopped!

Thomas, no offense taken.  As I said, it's unfortunate you misinterpreted my post as being hostile and critical.  My intent was exactly what (in the end) happened - spark your interest to learn.  A questioning mind is fertile.  Get a "jones" to learn about weather and soak up everything you can.  Read, read, read...  Use the internet as a learning resource.  Talk with the local sailors (those that are still speaking to you - LOL) and pick their brains.  Also consider that this is NOT Sailing Anarchy - 'nuff said.

If everyone wants to continue this thread and continue bashing, you run the risk of having this thread deleted - you've been warned three times now.

Absolutely good words Bee.  I think all of us learned to sail at the elbow of a mentor (or two or three, or twelve).  The key is that you got out and did it - you went sailing and were willing to learn over time.  Those of us who got the bug and wanted to learn more spent our time reading some of the books you mentioned (and others...).  We were (and are) hungry to learn.  We seek out sources of knowledge that will expand our skill set and perfect those skills / knowledge through practical application.  Whether it is weather or sailing, any area of expertise we've chosen to become more skilled in took time, learning, observation, and lots of practice.

Thomas, it's unfortunate that you've chosen to take my post so negatively.  I would hope that you might find some sources that will expand your general knowledge of weather as well as the experience and practice of learning our local conditions.  Web sites are great for seeing what's happening now, knowledge and experience will tell you what will likely happen once you've made that long drive down to the water for the specific area (Clear Lake, Red Fish, Morgans Point, Galveston - they'll all be different!!!).

As a suggestion on a very related topic...  Knowing the local weather patterns are one thing, but getting good at reading the microconditions of shifts and gusts and what geographic features modify the local wind and how it will be modified is something most good sailors can do almost instinctively once they've sailed in a local area for an extended period.  One thing we all learn when we go to a different venue to race is to spend some time talking with a local sailor to get their knowledge of the local secrets.  The Red Bluff Shift, the Wednesday Night Point on Clear Lake, when the sea breeze fills and how to tell when and where - these are a few of the major micro"features" of our local conditions. 

Relax and enjoy the fact that sailing is an activity that involves so many disciplines that we can spend our lifetimes learning.  We should always strive to be experts, but we will have to accept that we will never be more than amateurs:-)

Recommend that you order a few extra shear pins.  Hard lessons have taught me to have a few of those in the spare parts box.  It really sucks to be stuck with a working motor but a prop that won't spin.

Why is it that folks feel entitled to be spoon fed answers rather than actually doing the work to gain knowledge and apply it?

Here's a solution for you - do what we've done for years around here.  Go outside, look at ths sky, pay attention to what the temperature, wind, clouds, etc. are doing.  Repeat every day (more often if you are awake and sober).
Read a book on weather.  Read a number of books on weather.  Study the past weather data and understand how it works.  Visit with a local meteorologist out of the NWS office in League City and ask his opinion on the weather - go back and talk with him a week/month later.  Talk with local sailors and try and understand what they have to say about the weather.  In other words - take the time and effort to LEARN.  You should quickly learn that the weather is not about what it's like outside now, it's about what's it like outside in 4 hours (or 12 hours, or 3 days...).

You won't learn anything about the weather by looking up the answers for the current conditions.  You will learn about weather by putting in some time and effort to learn the theory and local history / patterns.  It's kind of like sailing - reading a book just won't do it, TOT (time on the tiller) will.

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outboard/accessories

Quote from: Curmudgeon on June 15, 2010, 04:39:23 PM
Can you at least post just the finish times you have?

Did you happen to get the times and sail numbers of the 4 boats that finished behind you?

Wow!  I don't think I've ever made so much pasta that was good enough that someone would actually want to PAY for it!!!  Now, if we're talking about the Caldwell's culinary contributions - I'd pay for those in a heartbeat!

...because you need to be smote a few more times

Time to sign-up folks!

http://www.regattanetwork.com/clubs/gbca.html

The presentations start at 9:00 and will cover some of the basics of sailboat racing:
-  Anatomy of a sailboat race
-  Basic Rules
-  Starting and Race Committee process (flags and stuff)
-  Getting around the course (strategy and tactics)

The presentation should run through lunch and we'll have a Q&A at the end.  Afterward, we'll all adjourn and head out to sail in the first Rum Race of the 2010 season.

Here's a question for everyone - What topics would you like to see covered?  I'll try and include as many requests as I can work in.

Quote from: Danelaw on April 23, 2010, 08:49:28 AM


I myself wonder about why the olympic (traingle windward leeward ) courses went away. This course selection would certainly make it easier on the larger boats who can't manouver like a J 22. Would any of the clubs be willing to employ this tried and true course layout for a major regatta?

Roy

I think that the HYC Olympic Circle went away because it was too costly (both $s and time) to maintain.  Vandals frequently took / damaged the marks, shrimpers snagged them too.

From the stories I've heard, it was by-far the most fun and popular set-up around.  I think if HYC thought about resurecting it, they'd have to jump through so many government hoops to get approvals to set up permanent structures that it would prove impractical. 

I think he meant 86 rather than 68 years

Bee is one of our classics and a very talented sailor.  He's forgotten more about sailing than most of us have learned.  Take the time to cultivate his friendship.  Once he starts calling you an old phart, you've finally made the grade.

Quote from: thomas on April 21, 2010, 12:50:24 PM
Thank you ma'am.

Bee careful who you call "ma'am".  HE'S a crotchety old guy who will rip you a new sphincter two-ways-to-Sunday without breaking a sweat

After a bit of time observing, it seems that there a few distinct groups of sailors/racers (in absolutely no particular order):
1)  A group of hard-core one-design racers that want nothing more than to mix it up with their own kind.  They seem to prefer windward / leeward courses, fairly short (1.5nm or less) and a duration of less than 1 hour 15 minutes.
2)  One design racers who enjoy the "knife fight" of duking it out with identical boats, but who are also agreeable to sail in a larger fleet with more boats if that is what it takes.  These boats are agreeable to fit into a PHRF fleet as long as the fleet balances out in a fairly equitable fashion as far as the handicaps go.  They seem to prefer windward / leeward courses, but are satisfied with 1.5nm courses and races that last a bit longer.
3)  Those very competitive spinnaker racers that are not one-designs, but crave the racing environment.  These folks have the faster one-off (not one-design) boats that the love to race and are willing to spend the time and $'s to make them as fast as possible.  These are usually the PHRF A types who like windward / leewards and are usually satisfied with courses long enough to test them (1.25nm) but not so long as to make it a parade (1.25 hours or so)
4)  PHRF B type boats.  These folks normally have boats with higher handicaps, but still want to mix it up with competive spinnaker sailing.  Again, they prefer their own kind - those boats with similar handicaps where everyone can stay in touch with each other during a race with nobody extending (or trailing) too far.  1.5nm and 1.25 - 1.5 hours seems the right length for these folks.
5)  Serious non-spinnaker racers.  Prefer to not race with a chute - whether because they don't have one, don't want one, or don't have the crew or perceived experience to race spinnaker.  This is not a small group of sailors - a very large minority.  These racer's first choice is also windward / leeward, but they will often be happy with courses with free legs (fixed marks).  Over a weekend, they would like 2-3 races on Saturday and 2 on Sunday.  They're out there to race and are willing to work hard to go racing. 
6)  New racers and "relaxed" non-spinnaker racers.  These are folks who love being on the water and sailing from point to point with a goal and an incentive to do well.  These boats are typically happy sailing whatever course is set for them.  Fixed marks are just fine for this group.
7)  Those sailors who bring their boat out infrequently and don't worry about things like ratings or handicaps.  These folks just enjoy the activity of sailing and being around other sailors.  Sometimes they need some mentoring / coaching.  But, for the most part, they are enthusiastic and accommodating.
  SOS.  Single and Double Handers are another group that must be considered.  Some of them are highly competive and talented sailors and they take their racing seriously.  This group has carved out their own niche in our racing community and continue to be popular.  Fixed marks and/or longish legs seem to be their preference.
9)  Only-Want-To-Race-One-Regatta-A-Year - There a large number of folks who we only see in events like the Harvest Moon.  Never see them racing on the Bay.  Almost never see them on any event except for their exceptional turnout for the HMR.  LYC has a challenge in handling these one-a-year racers (and I don't envy them their job).
10)  Sportsboats!  What an ignored group in this area!  Vipers, Melges, SBs, Lasers, even J/80s.  We've never figured out how to handle these planing rockets.  When one (or a small fleet) shows up, they end up getting shoehorned into our other handicap classes. 
11)  Small keel / centerboarders.  Ensigns, Lightnings, Sonars, Solings, Etchells, Flying Scots - who else am I forgetting.  Occasionally these sailors appear, but they seem to gravitate to TCYC and some to HYC.  0.5 - 0.75nm courses of 45min or 1hr in length.  Similar requirements to the sportboats.
12)  Dinghys.  Lasers, 29ers, 420s etc.  Rarely seen on Galveston Bay except for Seabrook Sailing Club and TSA Youth Circuit.  You've got no idea how much fun these events can be!
13)  Speaking ouf Youth events...  HYC, TCYC, and LYC all have active youth programs.  If we want to grow, we absolutely need to grow this area!!!  Kids who are 8-15 have their own circuit.  Youth 15-18 can still compete in Lasers, 29ers and 420s.  But, other than the minimal collegiate programs, where do older youth and young adults go to continue their competitive racing?

I'm sure there are more groups, and I'm sure more folks who are smarter than I will re-classify and create other groups.  What is important is that there a large number of diverse groups that ALL must be acommodated and encouraged to participate.  Trying to satisfy such a large number of sailors who have such diverse requirements, is always a challenge.  Events that are targeted toward specific groups tend to alienate a large group of sailors.  Events that try to be all-inclusive can be challenging in trying to satisfy everybody.  For everyone out there who is, and has been, a racer - take some time to get involved in organizing and running these events.  It's fun and rewarding.

Bottom line - WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET MORE BOATS / SAILORS ON THE WATER?

Quote from: ChrisK on April 21, 2010, 10:41:11 AM
Locally, I know HYC has a relationship with Rice University. I haven't heard much lately
http://sailing.rice.edu/

I'll let someone from HYC respond to the Rice sailing team.  I've seen them up there often.

Don't undersell the sailing team out of A&M Galveston.  Those "kids" run on a shoestring and do everything themselves and they have a great and active program.  I'll always have fond memories of doing RC for a Team Race event in at the A&M Galveston facility and firing off 85 races in a single day.  No kidding - 85 races in one day!!! 

In the immediate area we have Rice and A&M Galveston who have active sailing programs.  With a little work I'm sure we could get the the UT team, and perhaps UH and SHSU might be able to scare up some sailors.  With a little work, Galveston Bay could host a pretty hairy College Regatta.

Quote from: KevinBednar on April 20, 2010, 09:46:48 PM
Great race Dwight. 

And great racing Larry and company, good job on the big Parrot.

Thanks Stinger for getting the Parrot Tales crew to wake up and re-hoist the chute for the last 2 miles.  You guy managed to motor (er..., sail) right up on us at 5A because we were flying the Code 0 when we should have had up the kite.  Larry B. managed to get the crew roused to do the sail change.  Although we crossed the finish a boat length ahead of you, you reeled us in from a mile or so astern on that last leg.

Well done Stinger and CREW!  Great sail!!!