Bee,
As you know it's been quite a while since I visited. So I have enjoyed seeing this discussion, but saddened by the reduction in the fleet entries, And I well remember the Santana 30 and you and Bondi Tram at the start line having this similar discussion.Bondi was brought from the Left Coast as a MORC Maxi from the 90's and then spent 4 months in the yard getting optimized for Galveston Bay. Rating went from 105 (had that for 10 years nationally) to 93. But that was probably due to a carbon fiber revolution that went on for the rudder, tiller, spin pole, sails, etc. Eventually, went to 96. But in conditions under 12 knots, it would horizon the A fleet on upwind legs. And if under 5 knots, as some remember in a TORC, it would just walk away from the 44's and high end 38's (Always thought those kids from A&M should have been boat of the day for last 2 days, but that is another story). And wen locked in and balanced, you could just let go of the tiller in flat water let the boat sail itself. And what most never found out was that the boat (a 30' footer) drew 7' with a bulb on the keel and a 6' offset rudder. Damn thing drove like a semi though, lol.
And boat prep always was for the best running rigging, bottom prep (600 wet dry), and all carbon blocks.
Objective was, "if you are going to make the rating against the big boys, you better be ready to take advantage of every minute performance advantage.
For background the boat is a one-off Andrews 30 that was purpose built for upwind angle and speed and needed 12 -15 downwind for deep and by the lee angles to reduce distance against the A fleet speed based on length. We would just sail by the lee and got a bit of a reputation for pole-less spin take-downs to work the inside at the mark and be on upwind earlier than the A guys. (you can do that with college sailors, so invite the Galveston sailors, they were always great to have on the boat).
Had our share of 1, 2, & 3's, and the best an all A&M at Galveston Team 1rst in an Ellisa Regatta (with a busted traveler), with me just following in a power boat taking pictures. But something happened, due to the college sailors, and great group of friends, Andrew McInnis (of Banks Sails at the time), John Maudlin and son, and Scott Tuma, the sailing excellence on the course became paramount. Not our overall position in the final results. We became our biggest critics.
Many people wondered why the boats crew did not make the after race parties at the respective clubs. Simple, Mrs. Tammy our boat manager and woman extraordinaire would have a dock party set up for us when we arrived and demanded a breakdown of the race. And that is where the magic happened...... we just loved the experience of sailing together and sailing the suicide machine the best that we could.
Oh, and a tight race for best racing experience....John Maudlin getting 2 seconds on day one of the NOOD and his son, Nick, getting 3 firsts the next 2 days for our class win. (We fired John.....lol). And Nick and Dad at LYC, together, accepting the first place prize. First time Nick had driven a keel boat, and first time with Dad in the back. First time Marla got to see husband and son on the podium together.
It's tough to compete in the A class, "if it was easy everybody could do it". And most of the time the conditions won't favor the smaller boats. But somewhere in our 8 years racing together, we found something above the results......
And if I could turn back the clock...I would do it all over, just the same way.
Don't sweat the results.....there is something about racing a boat to it's potential that has its own value, and I a damn glad that, Doug, Bruce, Tammy, Chris, James, Peter, Dan, Scott, Andrew, John (the homeless duded on the dock), Nick, Marla, Greg, the whole Texas A&M at Galveston sailors, Christina and the women's regatta team members had the patience to put up with the bunch at the back in fantasy land.
Boat is just taking up space at the dock now...I am done...But if there is a group with a vision out there, that would put in the work, and would like to sail on the edge......I just might be willing to give her to you....
Clark Hull
As you know it's been quite a while since I visited. So I have enjoyed seeing this discussion, but saddened by the reduction in the fleet entries, And I well remember the Santana 30 and you and Bondi Tram at the start line having this similar discussion.Bondi was brought from the Left Coast as a MORC Maxi from the 90's and then spent 4 months in the yard getting optimized for Galveston Bay. Rating went from 105 (had that for 10 years nationally) to 93. But that was probably due to a carbon fiber revolution that went on for the rudder, tiller, spin pole, sails, etc. Eventually, went to 96. But in conditions under 12 knots, it would horizon the A fleet on upwind legs. And if under 5 knots, as some remember in a TORC, it would just walk away from the 44's and high end 38's (Always thought those kids from A&M should have been boat of the day for last 2 days, but that is another story). And wen locked in and balanced, you could just let go of the tiller in flat water let the boat sail itself. And what most never found out was that the boat (a 30' footer) drew 7' with a bulb on the keel and a 6' offset rudder. Damn thing drove like a semi though, lol.
And boat prep always was for the best running rigging, bottom prep (600 wet dry), and all carbon blocks.
Objective was, "if you are going to make the rating against the big boys, you better be ready to take advantage of every minute performance advantage.
For background the boat is a one-off Andrews 30 that was purpose built for upwind angle and speed and needed 12 -15 downwind for deep and by the lee angles to reduce distance against the A fleet speed based on length. We would just sail by the lee and got a bit of a reputation for pole-less spin take-downs to work the inside at the mark and be on upwind earlier than the A guys. (you can do that with college sailors, so invite the Galveston sailors, they were always great to have on the boat).
Had our share of 1, 2, & 3's, and the best an all A&M at Galveston Team 1rst in an Ellisa Regatta (with a busted traveler), with me just following in a power boat taking pictures. But something happened, due to the college sailors, and great group of friends, Andrew McInnis (of Banks Sails at the time), John Maudlin and son, and Scott Tuma, the sailing excellence on the course became paramount. Not our overall position in the final results. We became our biggest critics.
Many people wondered why the boats crew did not make the after race parties at the respective clubs. Simple, Mrs. Tammy our boat manager and woman extraordinaire would have a dock party set up for us when we arrived and demanded a breakdown of the race. And that is where the magic happened...... we just loved the experience of sailing together and sailing the suicide machine the best that we could.
Oh, and a tight race for best racing experience....John Maudlin getting 2 seconds on day one of the NOOD and his son, Nick, getting 3 firsts the next 2 days for our class win. (We fired John.....lol). And Nick and Dad at LYC, together, accepting the first place prize. First time Nick had driven a keel boat, and first time with Dad in the back. First time Marla got to see husband and son on the podium together.
It's tough to compete in the A class, "if it was easy everybody could do it". And most of the time the conditions won't favor the smaller boats. But somewhere in our 8 years racing together, we found something above the results......
And if I could turn back the clock...I would do it all over, just the same way.
Don't sweat the results.....there is something about racing a boat to it's potential that has its own value, and I a damn glad that, Doug, Bruce, Tammy, Chris, James, Peter, Dan, Scott, Andrew, John (the homeless duded on the dock), Nick, Marla, Greg, the whole Texas A&M at Galveston sailors, Christina and the women's regatta team members had the patience to put up with the bunch at the back in fantasy land.
Boat is just taking up space at the dock now...I am done...But if there is a group with a vision out there, that would put in the work, and would like to sail on the edge......I just might be willing to give her to you....
Clark Hull