Transcript Vic-Maui Tactics

Vic-Maui Tactics
RVYC, February 23, 2002
9am start
30 minutes including questions
Presented by:
David Shore
[email protected]
This presentation is available for download
from www.davidshore.com/VicMaui/VicMauiTactics.ppt
Copyright protected, Galvin Enterprises, Inc. Reproduction forbidden without permission.
Vic-Maui Tactics
Topics
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.
Race Prep
Start and Strait
Polar Speeds
Where to Enter Trades
Tatoosh to Feeder Trades
Feeder Trades and Trade Winds
Finish
Resources
Questions
Vic-Maui Tactics
Race Prep
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Topics
Race Prep
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Start and
Strait
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Polars
Enter
Trades?
Tatoosh to
Feeders
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Feeders
and Trades
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Finish
Resources
Questions
.
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Ensure all drivers know your boat’s downwind polars for 5 to 25 knots
Watch weather trends in the months before the race, consider
downloading historical data from the NOAA Archive
Consider starting race diet and sleep rotations the day before the race
Get to the starting area early – it can take 45 minutes from harbour –
do some sail handling to shake out the jitters
Back down on the start to clear any kelp and check the tide
Take VHF weather from Sherringham Point and Race Rocks and add to
your log
Determine wind at Race Rocks, might need to look for Port Angeles
smoke stacks
Vic-Maui Tactics
Start and Strait
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Go for the Sea Q trophy for best start!
Flood tide often parallels the start line – if winds are light, beware of
the downstream end
Windward side of the line is usually favoured
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Shortly after the start, check speed and cover closest competition
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Topics
Race Prep
Start and
Strait
Polars
Enter
Trades?
Tatoosh to
Feeders
Feeders
and Trades
Finish
Resources
Questions
.
Vic-Maui Tactics
Start and Strait
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Topics
Race Prep
Start and
Strait
Wind
Start
West wind
usually
follows
geographic
bend:
starboard lifts
near William
Head
Polars
Enter
Trades?
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Tatoosh to
Feeders
Lifts
Feeders
and Trades
Finish
Resources
Questions
.
Eddies
Go through
Race Rocks
and look for
back eddies
between
Church Pt
and Beachy
Hd.
Vic-Maui Tactics
Start and Strait
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Topics
Race Prep
Start and
Strait
Wind
Start
Polars
Enter
Trades?
Tatoosh to
Feeders
Light
Feeders
and Trades
Finish
Resources
Questions
.
Eddies
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East wind
usually rises
over William
Head leaving
light patches
Go through
Race Rocks
unless flood
is strong.
Look for back
eddies
between
Church Pt
and Beachy
Hd.
Vic-Maui Tactics
Start and Strait
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Topics
Race Prep
Floods stronger
Start and
Strait
Usually best to
go to US side,
but you will
initially lose
pace to
Canadian side
boats
Polars
Enter
Trades?
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Tatoosh to
Feeders
Feeders
and Trades
Finish
Resources
Questions
.
Light wind,
Kelp
Ebbs stronger
Stay away
from Pillar
Point and from
within one mile
of US shore,
especially at
night
Vic-Maui Tactics
Start and Strait
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Topics
Race Prep
Start and
Strait
Polars
Enter
Trades?
Tatoosh to
Feeders
Feeders
and Trades
Finish
Resources
Questions
.
Winds often
get light at
night, stay
more than a
mile from
shore, cover
right side
Vic-Maui Tactics
Polar Speeds
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Topics
Race Prep
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Start and
Strait
Polars
Enter
Trades?
Tatoosh to
Feeders
Feeders
and Trades
Finish
Resources
Questions
.
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Polar Diagrams are derived from
a VPP for each boat. They help
to determine the trade-off
between speed and distance.
Downwind polars help
navigators estimate the
optimum wind angle in a variety
of wind speeds
Masthead boats can generally
sail deeper downwind angles
Polars are available from US
Sailing and can be programmed
into your instruments
Vic-Maui Tactics
Where To Enter Trades
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30N
High
Topics
Race Prep
Start and
Strait
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Polars
Enter
Trades?
Tatoosh to
Feeders
Feeders
and Trades
Finish
Lay lines
Polar Angles
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Trade Winds
Resources
Questions
140W
.
Work
backward
from Maui to
determine
best point to
enter trades
Keep from
the laylines
to maintain
options
Trade winds
usually form
at 30N
Vic-Maui Tactics
Tatoosh to Feeder Trades
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45N
Sail to the point
where you want
to enter the
trades (around
30N)
Topics
Race Prep
Start and
Strait
Enter
Trades?
Tatoosh to
Feeders
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High
Polars
30N
Feeders
and Trades
Finish
Resources
Questions
.
Trade Winds
Winds between
Tatoosh and the
feeder trades will
be light and
variable. Boat
speed is usually
more important
than direction
(which will
probably take you
south)
Vic-Maui Tactics
Feeder Trades and Trade Winds
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45N
Sail downwind
polars, avoid
heating up for
speed records
Topics
Race Prep
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Start and
Strait
High
Polars
Enter
Trades?
Tatoosh to
Feeders
30N
Feeders
and Trades
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Finish
Resources
Questions
.
Trade Winds
Plot the high
twice a day
and watch for
trends
A compact
high makes the
shortest route
tempting…
Vic-Maui Tactics
Feeder Trades and Trade Winds
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45N
Topics
Race Prep
Start and
Strait
Polars
Enter
Trades?
Tatoosh to
Feeders
30N
High
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Feeders
and Trades
Finish
Resources
Questions
.
Trade Winds
…But if you
get stuck
inside when
the high
expands or
moves east,
eastern boats
will pass with
more wind.
And if it does
get lighter,
your polars will
tempt you to
heat up,
further into the
high
Vic-Maui Tactics
Finish
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Topics
Keep an eye
on the GPS
rather than
landmarks; the
tide will push
you west
Race Prep
Start and
Strait
Polars
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Enter
Trades?
Tide
Tatoosh to
Feeders
Feeders
and Trades
Finish
Resources
Questions
.
Finish
X
Wind in the
channel is twice
the trades,
except dawn,
when quite light
in lee of island
Vic-Maui Tactics
Resources
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Topics
Race Prep
Start and
Strait
Polars
Enter
Trades?
Tatoosh to
Feeders
Feeders
and Trades
Finish
Resources
Questions
.
Weather links: www.davidshore.com/weather
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Includes Stan Honey, WeatherGuy, DS articles, 2000 Roll Call
Logs and this presentation.
Vic-Maui Tactics
Questions?
Topics
Race Prep
Start and
Strait
Polars
Enter
Trades?
Tatoosh to
Feeders
Feeders
and Trades
Finish
Resources
Questions
.
Have a safe, fun and fast trip!