Top Mark, 2005 Schock 35
Nationals, 10 boats going for the mark (click on photo for larger
image)
Top Mark Spinnaker Set on 'Perfect Circle"
The following sequence shows Perfect Circle, rounding a top mark
during the 2004 Nationals in Marina Del Rey, California. Click on each picture
to see a larger version and get a better view of what is happening at each
stage of this rounding.
Click on the image for a larger view.
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The air is light, and the boat has begun turning around the
top mark. The chute has been prefed and hoisted to the masthead, but has not
yet filled. This chute was packed properly allowing it to be easily
controlled. |
| We are continuing our turn downwind. You can see the pole
coming back on a starboard jibe. The Chute has not yet started to fill, but you
can see it will fill nicely since it is not at all twisted. The Jib has been
let out to the lifelines to allow the chute to feed nicely out of the hatch
bag, and to be inboard of the lifelines for the Jib drop. |
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In this frame, the boat is still turning, the chute is
beginning to fill, and the trimmers are bringing the pole back and sheeting in.
The air is light, so we are turning to a heading that will give us close to the
proper wind angle. We will then sail our polars. |
| As our chute continues to fill, you can see the bow of our
arch-rival "Powerplay" approaching the weather mark. Note their chute has
already been prefed and is starting to go up, earlier than ours was. They are
very good sailors. with a good top mark rounding with a good set a boat can
pick up a boat length or two on the fleet. |
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Now, as our chute is full and drawing, we are on starboard
jibe several boat lengths in front of "Powerplay". You can see that "Powerplay"
has prefed their chute, and it is at about mid hoist. You can also see
Sparkle's pony tail floating out of his hat. You can almost hear him say "Oh
Crap! how did Perfect Circle get in front of us!" Read'um and weep
Sparkle. |
| Here, we are just completing a jibe onto Port. You can see
the pole moving into position, and the chute being trimmed. We have fraculated
by this point, which moves the top of the mast forward. This moves the center
of lift forward and help to pull the bow out of the water. keeping the weight
out of the bow is important in order to achieve your best downwind boat
speed. |
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This is a nice shot of us after we have completed our jibe.
We are concentrating on boat speed as Lorenzo cleans up the bow. You can almost
hear him say "it doesn't need to be pretty, we can clean it up later." If you
look closely, you can see our good friend Sal in 'Xylocaine' behind us going
upwind on Port Tack. One of the benefits of one design racing, all the boats
are together, adding several elements to both tactics and strategy, as well as
knowing the racing rules, and being able to maneuver your boat in a crowded
fleet. |
| Still on port jibe, we are headed for the leeward gate with
Santa Monica in the distance. Even though the wind is light, we are able to
keep our sails full and are sailing a bit over 6 knots in this picture. Notice
the main is not all the way out, it is still working as an airfoil and needs to
be trimmed similarly to sailing upwind. We are sailing about 142 degrees off
the wind for maximum VMG (Velocity Made Good). |
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The building on the left is the old GTE building on the
corner of Wilshire and Ocean ave. in Santa Monica. The ocean off of Marina Del
Rey is a great place to sail. Cal Race Week, held every year the beginning of
June is a great regatta, and one in which all good racers should participate.
Cal Yacht Club puts on a great event. It is well organized, they have an
excellent race committee who sets good start lines and calls good courses, and
they have excellent parties. |
