Race Report, May 30

Shields report from 145

Race 4, 5/30/07 In Race 4 of the Spring Series we on 145 followed Andy Burton … and this time it paid off.

Before the race we were thinking that we had to get into Fort Adams and engage in the inevitable tacking duel that would ensue up the shoreline. The tide was flooding and the wind seemed solid on the shore. So we started in the pin end half of the line. To leeward was 107, 202, 226 and a bunch of others while 217 and 224 were to windward. We approached the harbor in good shape but then fell into a little hole and lost a lot of height, which meant we couldn’t tack and cross 217. Worse, it gave the group to leeward some leverage so that when they tacked they’d all cross us. So we bailed outta there early.

Now we were mixed up in the tacking duel up the beach. We called for water once or twice and had others call it on us once or twice. We felt we were going well and making gains but, in hindsight, we made the best gains offshore, outside of everyone. We should’ve been more aware.

We kept the tacking game going but it didn’t pay well for us and we rounded the windward mark somewhere around 15th-17th. Not good. On the first run we headed offshore and made some nice gains riding the current downwind. There also was clean pressure. We moved up to around 10-12 at the leeward gate and then banged the right side. Hard. It worked for 201, 166 and 188 on the first leg, who led the fleet of nearly 30 around the first mark. So we reasoned it could work for us on the second uphill. And it did. Nicely.

We rode port until 107, who we were following about 6-8 lengths behind, tacked to starboard. We followed suit and rode that tack all the way back to the shoreline where we met up with 217, who promptly tacked on us. Again. We rounded the 2nd windward mark in fifth, just behind 217, and then jibed offshore after setting.

Once again, we were in slightly more current out there and clean pressure and we got to the gate in fourth, ahead of 74 and 217. Up the final, short beat there wasn’t much going on and we held our position for a very satisfying comeback. Sure, it was a flier, but they’re deeply satisfying when they work. And there was no sense in following the clump up the shoreline.

But why does that strategy work? It seemed last week that there was better pressure over there, and it was slightly right of the starting line and left shoreline, which seems to negate the adverse current that was running. That certainly was the case for us on the second upwind. Also, you’re not tacking as much. As we all know, Shields hate to be maneuvered. But keep ‘em in a straight line and they move along nicely. So the combo of better pressure, better angle and fewer maneuvers helped move us up. And special thanks to Andy for leading the right way.

Respectfully submitted,

145