The "Crew Race" at National is a great tradition. It occurs after the regular season. The race provides an opportunity for a crew member (someone who doesn't normally helm) to have a chance on helm for a race. Over the past three years, I have rotated my choice as the "crew skipper" and this year it was Charles' turn.
We also had a few replacements in other positions. So in addition to Charles taking my spot; Adrian replaced Chris and David/I replaced Charles/Janet. We had a bit of discussion about who would portray whom. Who was it that would do a 'Janet'? Well since Janet did a 'Janet' when she was foredeck; it was up to Adrian to reprise the maneuver!
The winds were light from the south south west. The RC used "0" as the windward mark; there was no offset. The start line was set appropriately. It was a very competitive race with placings changing several times throughout the race between Jack Rabbit, Candlelight and us. The crew performed very well. I stepped back to handle tactics, and let Charles helm and David handle the sheets. We had good tacks and good mark roundings. I was pleased with the crew's performance. We ended up behind Candlelight but ahead of Jack Rabbit. It was a very enjoyable race.
After dinner the PRO, when the results are announced, is supposed to use the skipper's name rather than the boat name. Unfortunately this didn't happen so Charles didn't get the recognition he deserved.
Tuesday, 9 September 2008
Ship of State
I have just finished reading Zakaria's book The Future of Freedom. The book posits that too much democracy is counterproductive. That demagoguery and populism, although they can be very democratic, if left unchecked will lead to tyranny. There has to be some check on democracy in order for democracy to be sustainable. An example used is the unelected court system which has the power to curtail laws that are democratically made but that are anti-democratic. Zakaria believes that referenda are recipes for disaster. A referendum leaves longterm decisions susceptible to short term manipulation of public opinion. In the short term you can create a mob; in the longterm that mob will be self-destructive.
Doesn't sailing provide an excellent example of liberal authoritarianism? I believe that on any boat there is only one skipper and if you are not happy with that then don't sail on that boat! The boat owner is the skipper, that is easy. When I am on a friend's boat, they are the skipper (and when they are on my boat I am the skipper). It's easy for boat owners to accept this. However for non boat owners and for club boats it is more problematic. When I am on Dragon Lady, the club mark boat, Allan is the skipper and I am crew. 'Fair' or 'nice' is irrelevant.
Of course Captain Bligh was not a successful skipper. The successful skipper must be liberal. Everyone must be treated with respect. Each individual must be able to voice their concerns. The skipper should know what the skill level of the crew is. The skipper should know how much a crew member wants to be challenged. The skipper would know not to go out in 20 knots and try to fly the spinnaker with a novice crew. You should not teach people how to sail during a race. A skipper should always be attuned to the needs of the crew and be able to react to those needs in a positive way (but not necessarily in the way the crew member desires). A successful skipper knows that a successful boat means a happy crew. Bad skippers don't go sailing as crews mutiny by simply not going on the boat. (By the way I think that good skippers are able to 'avoid' certain crew! Oh I guess you can not do that with society at large.)
Edmund Bourke believed that a Member of Parliament was elected to provide reasoned judgment. He was not there to parrot the views of his constituents. In a sense when a crew member joins a boat they are 'electing' a skipper. They are willing to allow the skipper to make reasonable judgments about navigating. One skipper per boat proves that there is merit to having a liberal authoritarian!
Doesn't sailing provide an excellent example of liberal authoritarianism? I believe that on any boat there is only one skipper and if you are not happy with that then don't sail on that boat! The boat owner is the skipper, that is easy. When I am on a friend's boat, they are the skipper (and when they are on my boat I am the skipper). It's easy for boat owners to accept this. However for non boat owners and for club boats it is more problematic. When I am on Dragon Lady, the club mark boat, Allan is the skipper and I am crew. 'Fair' or 'nice' is irrelevant.
Of course Captain Bligh was not a successful skipper. The successful skipper must be liberal. Everyone must be treated with respect. Each individual must be able to voice their concerns. The skipper should know what the skill level of the crew is. The skipper should know how much a crew member wants to be challenged. The skipper would know not to go out in 20 knots and try to fly the spinnaker with a novice crew. You should not teach people how to sail during a race. A skipper should always be attuned to the needs of the crew and be able to react to those needs in a positive way (but not necessarily in the way the crew member desires). A successful skipper knows that a successful boat means a happy crew. Bad skippers don't go sailing as crews mutiny by simply not going on the boat. (By the way I think that good skippers are able to 'avoid' certain crew! Oh I guess you can not do that with society at large.)
Edmund Bourke believed that a Member of Parliament was elected to provide reasoned judgment. He was not there to parrot the views of his constituents. In a sense when a crew member joins a boat they are 'electing' a skipper. They are willing to allow the skipper to make reasonable judgments about navigating. One skipper per boat proves that there is merit to having a liberal authoritarian!
Friday, 5 September 2008
Save the best for the last (Summer series race)
There was some indecision with sail selection. Uri generously advised from the sidelines that we should go with the jib. I am not a wimp and did not want to leave the dock without the gennie. Chris didn't want to change sails without ample time pre start. We sailed out with the gennie and after a few tacks switched to the jib. That was until we saw Jack Rabbit with a genie. We had more than enough time to switch back. Chris was OK with the switch back as clearly we needed to be competitive with Jack Rabbit.
The course was more or less due east. However the windward mark was skewed enough that you were almost on the port tack layline from the start line. Candlelight was below us and was our only problem. We seemed to sail higher and so were able to get clear air. As we approached the windward mark there was a slight lift. As a result there was absolutely no reason to tack before getting to the windward mark layline. Jack Rabbit was slightly windward and had to duck starboard tackers (including us!) on the windward mark layline. At the windward mark we were clear ahead of the our fleet. We had a good mark rounding and chute hoist.
The leeward leg was strickly on starboard gybe. There was a good leeward mark rounding. We got the pole down; the chute was free flown; the genie was hoisted; the chute was windward douse; we rounded up on port right at the mark. Everyone did their job well and worked quickly to get us in good position for the upward leg. We were now well ahead of both the PHRF IV and V fleets.
At the windward mark Jack Rabbit forced Candlelight up. Jack Rabbit was able to consolidate their second place finish. It also meant they would be well behind the first place finishers!
What a great race. The crew has really improved over the past three years, especially in working as part of a team. This was the last race of the summer series. The official results have not been updated. However, I am almost certain we have won the summer series and the overall season. A great race is a great way to finish the season.
The course was more or less due east. However the windward mark was skewed enough that you were almost on the port tack layline from the start line. Candlelight was below us and was our only problem. We seemed to sail higher and so were able to get clear air. As we approached the windward mark there was a slight lift. As a result there was absolutely no reason to tack before getting to the windward mark layline. Jack Rabbit was slightly windward and had to duck starboard tackers (including us!) on the windward mark layline. At the windward mark we were clear ahead of the our fleet. We had a good mark rounding and chute hoist.
The leeward leg was strickly on starboard gybe. There was a good leeward mark rounding. We got the pole down; the chute was free flown; the genie was hoisted; the chute was windward douse; we rounded up on port right at the mark. Everyone did their job well and worked quickly to get us in good position for the upward leg. We were now well ahead of both the PHRF IV and V fleets.
At the windward mark Jack Rabbit forced Candlelight up. Jack Rabbit was able to consolidate their second place finish. It also meant they would be well behind the first place finishers!
What a great race. The crew has really improved over the past three years, especially in working as part of a team. This was the last race of the summer series. The official results have not been updated. However, I am almost certain we have won the summer series and the overall season. A great race is a great way to finish the season.
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
Getting it right
The first problem for the Wednesday night race was to get the RC boat to settle down. The winds were very light; so light that we didn't unpack the sails pending the anticipated N A signal. The RC was determined to find wind and eventually they were able to find enough to start. The wind was about 5 knots with a bearing of 113. At the start I did my usual starboard tack sitting just below the RC Boat. It is amazing to me that the fleet still has not learned about barging. One boat that wasn't barging was Belle Folie. I tried to head them up. They seemed to be confused by the starting sequence. We heard someone say: "We aren't starting so bear away". Actually you were. I kept heading them up. I eventually touched their port side. Protest? I decided not to. They seemed confused and I didn't want to be bothered. We still had a good start. The fleet was windward but well behind. Jack Rabbit took a lower angle. We both headed towards the Island and stayed on Starboard tack. Once it was clear that we could clear the fleet we tacked over onto Port. We cleared Victory Dance by about a boat length. Jack Rabbit had clear air and was well to windward. We seemed to be staying parallel to Jack Rabbit but they were about 10 boat lengths to windward. On Port tack we got lifted. There was a discussion about whether or not to tack or go to the layline. It was decided to go to the layline (actually we went well beyond the layline as I wanted to be sure that we could make the mark). Jack Rabbit was clear ahead after rounding the windward mark. The downwind leg was very slow. My objective was to keep the spinnaker filled. We were on a slightly hotter angle than Jack Rabbit and this meant we had better boat speed. Jack Rabbit started having problems keeping their chute filled. We moved whenever we needed to to keep the chute working. There were a couple of gybes. It paid off as we were able to work our way around Jack Rabbit. At the leeward mark we did a windward douse. The crew did a good job of getting things organized for the gybe around the mark. On the upwind leg the main concept was to stay ahead. Jack Rabbit tacked but we waited. Eventually we did tack over. The RC boat had moved for a finish at the windward mark. The finish line looked skewed and I did not want to go to the layline. It would be risky, especially given the light winds. We made sure we could make the mark even though this meant that our line was well to windward of Jack Rabbit's. This was a good call as Jack Rabbit couldn't finish without tacking a couple of more times. We finished well ahead of the fleet and had a great light wind race. It clearly showed that the crew is working well!
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