April 28, 2025
by Earl Thomas #5121
Commodore & Fleet 62 Captain
Commodore & Fleet 62 Captain
It was a great day of practice sailing on Sunday but it started with the challenging beginning of setting the line and marks, because of the swirling wind. There were overcast skies and temps in the high 50’s to low 60’s. Though no rain or even sprinkles. We had plenty of wind and changing direction every few minutes. The wind initially was coming from the west which was unusual.
Stephen and Wendy Lord were in their Lido. Suli and me in my Lido. Simon Booth and Don Jedlovec in Simon’s newish old Lido #233. Adrian in his Hobie Island (trimaran). Tony Su was in his El Toro. Though he had a tough time sailing amongst the giants. The shadows are very long near the Lidos.
Roy was kind enough to do RC today and got things going after a puzzlement as to where to set the line and marks with a constantly changing wind. Thank you Roy. He called out some just practice starts and then quick postponements. With the comment of “That needs some improvement by all of you. So let’s do it again”. Roy encouraged us to be aggressive at the start and rounding the marks and discuss it after each race. We took full advantage of the over early several times by everyone. Which balances out the very late starts on the other times, right? We got get better on the timing of the starts some were perfect but some were so late as to suck.
The starting line was an upwind start then a downwind start because of the 180 degree wind changes. Roy just changes the direction of starts, with the wind, and we were fine. We did maybe 15 quick starts and course #1 races. Some only took us 3 minutes to complete. We setup a very short course with the marks only 40 yards away from the start line. The many starts helped us to hone our skills, so watch out next Sunday.
Simon brought out his Lido project boat for its maiden voyage which he has been feverishly working on until the last minute. He was hoping some of the varnish would dry completely on the drive to the lake from Livermore. His Lido looks great with new paint and fittings everywhere. Still more work to be done but that’s what this week is for before opening day on May 4th. Check out the photos attached. Simon and Don worked for a while in the parking lot to install the last minute line replacements before they got on the water. I think Don received a good course in Lido rigging. Don is a new club member as of today.
Tony Su did well today and got some good starts and was turning on a dime. But we had him in a Lido sandwich once as Stephen to port and we were to starboard of him. He thought 'this is not good' but we played well with others and just kept going. Though a good size piece of El Toro in-between two slices of Lido sounds tasty.
I remember hearing a few good hails at the marks as to “room" and "you are inside boat”. John has taught us well. There were close turnings with only inches between us but everything went well with no contact and no protests. I lost a clevis pin and ringding on my jib connection to the forward boat fitting on the last race and jury-rigged a temporary lashing that held for us until we got back to the docks. I need to double check and tape those ringdings next time. I forgot a few items for the RC boat but this is what a practice race is for. Next time it will be 100%.
Stephen and I battled it out for Lido supremacy. I took a couple of races and he took a couple. But the overall lead was his. Those starts are critical and good starts equals good finishes, it’s basic math. My saving grace was my whisker pole and down wind speed. But his mark turnings kicked my butt. Suli did very well as my crew and kept up with the ever changing conditions. Adrian cruised around with us and enjoyed his view of the craziness of our racing. I think everyone enjoyed themselves and we got a little better at the starts.
There was a Boys and Girls Scout sailing lesson today at the Lake. Lots of kids in kayaks all over the place but they did keep to the right side of the lake. Also some sailing instruction for the public was going on with slow Capri’s bobbing about without jibs.
We missed a few of you guys and hope to see you next Sunday when it get’s real and they start keeping track of the blunders and strokes of good luck. The countdown is on for our first races of the season next Sunday May 4th. Remember it’s 'May the forth be with you day' and wearing an appropriate StarWars costume or bringing a Kyber crystal gift will be appreciated. But no lightsabers, and especially no Ewoks will be allowed, and no droids, “Hey! We don’t sail with their kind here". Blasters are always OK of course.
Stephen and Wendy Lord were in their Lido. Suli and me in my Lido. Simon Booth and Don Jedlovec in Simon’s newish old Lido #233. Adrian in his Hobie Island (trimaran). Tony Su was in his El Toro. Though he had a tough time sailing amongst the giants. The shadows are very long near the Lidos.
Roy was kind enough to do RC today and got things going after a puzzlement as to where to set the line and marks with a constantly changing wind. Thank you Roy. He called out some just practice starts and then quick postponements. With the comment of “That needs some improvement by all of you. So let’s do it again”. Roy encouraged us to be aggressive at the start and rounding the marks and discuss it after each race. We took full advantage of the over early several times by everyone. Which balances out the very late starts on the other times, right? We got get better on the timing of the starts some were perfect but some were so late as to suck.
The starting line was an upwind start then a downwind start because of the 180 degree wind changes. Roy just changes the direction of starts, with the wind, and we were fine. We did maybe 15 quick starts and course #1 races. Some only took us 3 minutes to complete. We setup a very short course with the marks only 40 yards away from the start line. The many starts helped us to hone our skills, so watch out next Sunday.
Simon brought out his Lido project boat for its maiden voyage which he has been feverishly working on until the last minute. He was hoping some of the varnish would dry completely on the drive to the lake from Livermore. His Lido looks great with new paint and fittings everywhere. Still more work to be done but that’s what this week is for before opening day on May 4th. Check out the photos attached. Simon and Don worked for a while in the parking lot to install the last minute line replacements before they got on the water. I think Don received a good course in Lido rigging. Don is a new club member as of today.
Tony Su did well today and got some good starts and was turning on a dime. But we had him in a Lido sandwich once as Stephen to port and we were to starboard of him. He thought 'this is not good' but we played well with others and just kept going. Though a good size piece of El Toro in-between two slices of Lido sounds tasty.
I remember hearing a few good hails at the marks as to “room" and "you are inside boat”. John has taught us well. There were close turnings with only inches between us but everything went well with no contact and no protests. I lost a clevis pin and ringding on my jib connection to the forward boat fitting on the last race and jury-rigged a temporary lashing that held for us until we got back to the docks. I need to double check and tape those ringdings next time. I forgot a few items for the RC boat but this is what a practice race is for. Next time it will be 100%.
Stephen and I battled it out for Lido supremacy. I took a couple of races and he took a couple. But the overall lead was his. Those starts are critical and good starts equals good finishes, it’s basic math. My saving grace was my whisker pole and down wind speed. But his mark turnings kicked my butt. Suli did very well as my crew and kept up with the ever changing conditions. Adrian cruised around with us and enjoyed his view of the craziness of our racing. I think everyone enjoyed themselves and we got a little better at the starts.
There was a Boys and Girls Scout sailing lesson today at the Lake. Lots of kids in kayaks all over the place but they did keep to the right side of the lake. Also some sailing instruction for the public was going on with slow Capri’s bobbing about without jibs.
We missed a few of you guys and hope to see you next Sunday when it get’s real and they start keeping track of the blunders and strokes of good luck. The countdown is on for our first races of the season next Sunday May 4th. Remember it’s 'May the forth be with you day' and wearing an appropriate StarWars costume or bringing a Kyber crystal gift will be appreciated. But no lightsabers, and especially no Ewoks will be allowed, and no droids, “Hey! We don’t sail with their kind here". Blasters are always OK of course.