Junior Sailing on August 9, 2005

With vacation, football and hockey occupying some of the sailors, the field for racing was three boats - but what a great job the sailors did.

Cara Scovill won Race 2 and improved her upwind sailing significantly.

Our emphasis was on staying close for the start of races and better upwind sailing. All the sailors improved in each area.

Grant Messerschmidt was the winner of Race 4.

This nine picture sequence highlights how important it is to sail fast - and how easy it is to be slow at times.

In this first picture Doug appears to lead the group. Notice how much further out Cara's sail is than the other two boats. Her boat will speed up if she pulls the sail in a little bit.

Lasers are faster than Sunfish - but not too by much. Here Coach Messerschmidt keeps his sail full and zooms past all three boats. Doug and Grant have their sails in tight - but are sailing further away from the wind than they need to - and are also slower because of this. Cara has her sail in more now and is sailing a good angle to the wind. Her speed is good.

Doug tacks. He will be on port tack - so he must stay clear of the other boats who are on starboard tack.

Doug is able to cross in front of Grant - but passes behind Cara. Grant is now sailing too close to the wind, his sail is beginning to luff and he is slowing down.

Grant seems to be looking at the other boats and may be distracted - slowing him further. Doug has to go behind Cara - so he is sailing further way from the wind and is going fast. Cara has her sail full and is fast too.

Grant is now in irons and it will take a while to recover.

Cara has tacked and is in good position above Doug. However, notice that her sail is luffing and the direction of her tiller indicates that the situation will be getting worse. This will mean the boat will slow down -just when she wants full speed. Doug is luffing too - not a good sign.

Doug has turned his boat a little and the sail is full again. Cara is going slower because the sail is luffing.

Cara now has her sail full - but Doug is able to take full advantage of his speed at the end of the race.

Doug checks for traffic after the last race as he turns for the beach.