[Rhodes22-list] To Bob Weber: What Happened In The Race

Roger Pihlaja rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org
Tue, 10 Sep 2002 14:14:11 -0400


Bob,

As long as you put the move on him before he had an overlap on you & outside
of the 2 boat length radius circle around the windward mark, it's legal.
You should probably study the racing rules a little more.  You're right, you
want to be certain you're not violating the rules before you put a move on
another boat.  The most critical places to be certain of the rules are at
the start & around the turning marks because that's where the traffic is
usually most congested.  If someone does protest you, then you want to be
able to cite the applicable rule & your interpretation of it as it applied
to the protest situation.

Look on page 1008 of the 2002 WEST Marine Master Catalog.  The style of jam
cleats on your traveller are called "Clamcleats".  I have "Vertical"
Clamcleats on Dynamic Equilibrium's traveller (WEST Marine Cat #: 115642).
However, you should measure the jam cleats on your traveller & match them up
to the available selections.

Unhook the leeward traveller control line & just use the windward control
line.  In very light air like last Saturday's race, you might have to push
the traveller car down the track to leeward.  Usually, wind pressure on the
mainsail will pull the traveller car to leeward in any sort of reasonable
wind & the windward control line is used to pull the car back up to
windward.  Don't forget to switch traveller control lines when you tack.  On
Dynamic Equilibrium, switching the traveller control lines is part of the
helmsman's job during a tack.

I've heard that GBI can't supply standard mainsails anymore.  You will have
to go to a sail loft.  Don't send the sail loft your old blown out mainsail
to use for measurements.  If they have a pattern on file for a Rhodes 22
mainsail, then that will probably be OK.  Otherwise, have the sail loft send
you their measurement form.  The required measurements are not difficult to
make & you'll be more certain to get a mainsail that will really fit your
boat.  You'll get the best prices if you order your new sail in the fall,
2002 for a spring, 2003 delivery.  If your mainsail is not too badly blown
out & the sailcloth has not completely lost it, then a sail loft might be
able to give it a "facelift" for a lot less money than a new mainsail.

In order of decreasing bang for the buck with regards to racing, I would
purchase new sails in the following order:

spinnaker + pole (tri-radials are fastest, asymetrical spinnakers are easier
to fly)
genoa (consider getting a modern roller furler with independant top & bottom
swivels)
mainsail (fully battened mainsails are fastest)

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Weber" <ruba1811@hotmail.com>
To: <rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2002 10:57 AM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] To Bob Weber: What Happened In The Race


> Roger, It was an olympic type course.  Triangluar.  Due to the slow
> conditions it was shortened mid race to eliminate the final windward
Leeward
> leg.  I have an 84 hull with standard rig. a 155 genny.  an old main that
is
> as easy to shape as whores' drawers.  The traveller is the pole between
the
> spreaders with badly worn jam cleats(didnt stan say he is in the spare
parts
> business?).  The thing I dont like about the traveller is having to adjust
> both sides.  A while back I heard mention of a single cleat system for the
> traveller.  I was not sure of the legallity of the starboard tack so I
didnt
> do it.  We were both on a port tack, pinching to the mark, and he was
> overtaking on the port side.  I would have actually put myself off course
by
> tacking and thought this might be a foul.  It bought back the days of
racing
> in a Force 5.  That boat had an infinatly adjustable sail shape and
handled
> as good as the rhodes.  I have a genoa track that starts about the
doghouse
> and continues aft to the transom.  Im still fiddling with the fairlead
> visually noting the shape change.  Some lititurature on this adjustment
> would be a help.  I wont be able to get my revenge until October.  Every
> weekend in Sept is already booked.  O'well there is always the spring
> series.  Thanks for your interest and advise.
> Bob Weber
>
>
> >From: "Roger Pihlaja" <cen09402@centurytel.net>
> >Reply-To: rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org
> >To: <rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
> >Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] To Bob Weber: What Happened In The Race
> >Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2002 06:44:32 -0400
> >
> >Bob,
> >
> >4th place overall in a 9 boat field on your first time out isn't so bad.
> >Don't be so hard on yourself.  That guy Danielson in his Catalina 25
seems
> >to be really hot, 1st place in the first two races in the Fall series.
> >Although, he didn't do so well in the Spring series.  Congratulations on
> >taking the start.
> >
> >OK, I see it was a really light air race, 0 - 5 knots.  What kind of
course
> >is the "Short Course".  5 nm of what?  Windward - leeward probably, but
how
> >many legs?
> >
> >Tell me about your boat.  What year is it?  Is your mainsail traveller
the
> >old cable style or the newer style with the rod on the backstays?  Do you
> >have the genoa tracks for adjusting the lead position?  What condition
are
> >your bottom, centerboard, & rudder blade in?
> >
> >Hey, tacking in front of people is all part of sailboat racing.  Any move
> >which you can successfully execute, is not forbidden under the rules, &
is
> >to your advantage is, by definition: "A tactically smart move."  If you
> >don't make it; then, you have, by definition:  "Made a tactical mistake."
> >Your opponents will thank you.  With only 100 feet to go to the 1st
> >windward
> >mark, if you'd starboard tacked that guy, you probably would have stopped
> >him dead in the water, maybe even have made it impossible for him to
fetch
> >the mark!  Gosh, your opponent's boat dead in the water, blocking the
rest
> >of the fleet only 3 - 4 boat lengths from the windward mark with you in
> >clear air in front - what fun!  Bet he'd never try something like that on
> >you again.  This is called: "Covering your opponent."  In general, on the
> >windward leg, you want to try to stay between your opponent & the next
mark
> >and give him the dirtiest air you possibly can.
> >
> >Without a spinnaker, life on the downwind legs is going to be tough for
> >you.
> >But, there are still some things you can do.  The next time a similar
sized
> >boat passes you on the downwind leg, park right on that guy's windward
hip.
> >Use your masthead wind indicator to aim your wind shadow right at his
rig.
> >Your rig's wind shadow extends about 10 boat lengths out, but the closer
> >the
> >better as far the effectiveness goes.  You'll know your aim is good when
> >you
> >see his spinnaker collapse & mainsail start slatting.  Of course, he
> >probably going to start a gibing duel to try & scrape you off his
transom.
> >But, with your standard rig, if you can't gibe faster than a spinnaker
> >rigged boat, then you need sail handling practice.  With his rig crippled
> >by
> >your wind shadow, you should be able to easily keep up.  But, don't try
to
> >pass him, just sit there slowing him down just enough to keep up until
you
> >get about 4 boat lengths from the leeward mark.  When it's time for the
> >kill, move in as close as you dare, totally smother his rig with your
wind
> >shadow, & he'll just about stop dead in the water.  With any luck, he'll
> >get
> >a spinnaker wrap from your dirty air or make some other mistake.  While
> >he's
> >dead in the water, pass him on the inside, & round the leeward mark in
> >front!
> >
> >Roger Pihlaja
> >S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Bob Weber" <ruba1811@hotmail.com>
> >To: <rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
> >Sent: Monday, September 09, 2002 11:52 AM
> >Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] To Bob Weber: What Happened In The Race
> >
> >
> > > Roger, The rusults can be seen at http://www.geocities.com/boulderyc/
I
> >was
> > > assigned a 296 - asked for a 274 ???.  Came in forth overall and forth
> > > corrected. I suspect some handicap funny business especially by the
2nd
> > > place guy who flew his spinnaker.  I was first off the start and lead
> >till
> > > about 100' shy of the first mark.  I was overtaken on the port on a
port
> > > tack.  I considered tacking infront of him but didnt want to peeve
> >anyone
> > > one my first race - also it would only have delayed my fate.  My
> >downwind
> > > preformance was abismal.  Watched 2 other boats blanket than pass me.
> >My
> > > desire for a spinnaker has growen considerably (even more so after
> >seeing
> > > the bueatiful pictures of Raven).  I got good information of Poling
> > > proceedures and that will be my short-term stop gap. I gained gound on
> >the
> > > leaders on the next windward leg but not enough.  It was fun.  I
havent
> > > raced in 17 years and almost forgot that sailing can be exciting and
> >hard
> > > work.  While I am thinking about it I need a better traveller
> >arrangement -
> > > hopefully someone at K-Lake has worked out a better solution.  Thanks
> >for
> > > asking I think I am hooked again.  Hold on the the wallet.
> > > Bob Weber
> > > SV Ruba
> > >
> > > >From: "Roger Pihlaja" <cen09402@centurytel.net>
> > > >Reply-To: rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org
> > > >To: <rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
> > > >Subject: [Rhodes22-list] To Bob Weber:  What Happened In The Race
> > > >Date: Mon, 9 Sep 2002 08:21:17 -0400
> > > >
> > > >Dear Bob,
> > > >
> > > >So what PHRF rating did the race committee assign to your Rhodes 22?
> >How
> > > >did you do in the weekend races?  We need details man!  Inquiring
minds
> > > >want to know!
> > > >
> > > >Roger Pihlaja
> > > >S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
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>
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