Just completed a great sailing trifecta -- sailing ISHTAR three straight days, with a day off today, Wednesday, prior to our next race tomorrow.
SUNDAY 7/13: An absolutely beautiful, sunny summer Sunday in Seattle, with wonderful steady northerly winds from 10-15 knots inspired this leisurely pleasure sail with Anh and Ed -- Anh sailing for the first time ever and Ed for the second. They made a great crew and were pleasantly surprised with the experience -- a peaceful sail around Elliot Bay with just the main sail, a swing by Alki and a return home to the marina. Wine and cheese and sunshine -- nice to be on the water.
MONDAY 7/14: With an injured left calf muscle my usual Monday night soccer match wasn't an option, and with Graeme out of town on business, the normal Monday night crew needed a captain, so ducking out early from work I managed to meet Scott and Brad at Shilshole Marina for the 2nd race in the 2nd Monday night Ballard cup series.
An absolutely beautiful, sunny summer Monday evening in Seattle, with wonderful steady northerly winds from 10-15 knots, Scott and Brad were kind enough to pick ISHTAR up at her Elliot Bay berth and bring her around the point for the race, and we had plenty of time to prepare for the start. Unfortunately, we couldn't quite figure out which start was ours, and ended up conducting a bit of 'starting practice' essentially crossing the starting line three times for different horns before finally just going for it.
The first leg of the race took us upwind to the north for a short two-tack leg to the first buoy, which we rounded well and set spinnaker for a long leg to the southern buoy. We performed well on this leg, actually taking a few boats 'from behind' as is our MO, with Scott handily manning the spinnaker sheet and pushing out an attack from the rear from a quicker vessel. The second buoy rounding, however, proved our downfall as we were unable to get the jib fully set and the spinnaker down for the return upwind leg until well after we had rounded the buoy and most of the fleet had passed us by -- spinnaker top refused to come down -- a bit touchy. Upon getting her to cooperate, and the jib fully set, the wind promptly quit on us and left us drifting among the rest of the race fleet. After fending off a fellow racer a couple times as we drifted alongside them, somehow we drifted backward as the rest of the fleet seemed to find a forward drift (damn seaweed on the bottom hull), a few boats began to start their motors as the race committee boat packed it in for the race before most boats could finish. ah well, summer racing. We, along with all the other boats in our class, received a DNC/DNF sans one, who actually finished and took the prize.
With a little trouble starting the motor following the race, we decided guest moorage at Shilshole and the proximity of our yacht club was our best option. We took comfort in our beers and fried fish at the Sloop as we reviewed the race results, and discussed the American penal (criminal - get your mind out of the gutter) system.
TUESDAY 7/15: An absolutely beautiful, sunny summer Tuesday evening in Seattle, with wonderful steady northerly winds from 15-20 knots (is this starting to sound familiar? I love Seattle in the summertime!) provided perfect conditions for a return sail of ISHTAR from her guest moorage at Shilshole back to her home berth in Elliot Bay. Another novice crew joined me for the summer sail -- Aaron, Brian (first time on a sailboat) and Ed (now a seasoned veteran of the ISHTAR). With such amazing weather and wind conditions, we literally only needed to make one tack to complete the return voyage -- sailing on a starboard tack from Shilshole out to the middle of the channel toward bainbridge, and then making our one tack to sail all the way back into Elliot Bay to the marina on a port tack. Absolutely wonderful. The only thing that may have made it better was if we actually had set the spinnaker -- being a truely novice crew -- I decided it was better to just set the jib sail and use it in a spinnaker-like fashion, then risk attempting the dreaded spinnaker pole and set, which a much more seasoned crew had enough difficutly with the previous night, the thought of complete novices setting that sail in 20 knot winds seemed a bit aggressive. The jib and main performed admirably downwind -- keeping the boat at steady speed over water between 5-6 knots the entire way -- wonderful sail with the almost full moon rising above the pink slopes of mt rainier in the light of the setting sun, topped off with a few session beers, pbr and the obligatory fried fish feed at the Sloop. Well done.
Engine performed well throughout -- so the difficult Graeme and crew experienced last week was hopefully a one-time event.
Jul 16, 2008
Jun 23, 2008
Round Vashon Race
Talk about a mixed bag! We were 300 yards from the line with 5 minutes to the start, and 400 yards from it at the start. Back eddy hell around the south end Vashon saw more backwards progress. Then a 10 mile 6 or 7 knot (over ground) run down Colvos passage. Followed by a really ugly mark rounding at the north end. Followed by a nice close reach to a shortened finish at Pt. Robinson. Nevermind that we were overtaken on the reach by a Cal 40 who owed us time, at least we were moving! We finished 15th out of 32 boats, but almost half of the boats that started didn't finish. So either we were tougher or dumber (or slower) than the majority of the fleet, depending on whether you look at the boats behind us or above us.
Schmid has some beautiful photos of the race at
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=4482e4r.2o6c2w37&x=0&y=577ow&localeid=en_US
Schmid has some beautiful photos of the race at
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=4482e4r.2o6c2w37&x=0&y=577ow&localeid=en_US
Jun 16, 2008
Expanding our Racing Options?
Just a note to say that there are a couple of races that we are considering. The first is a "Round Vashon Island" race that starts in Tacoma at 9AM on the 21st. Boat would need to go down to Tacoma on Friday, and come back up on Sunday. Any volunteers to be delivery crew on this one?
The other idea is that maybe Ishtar needs to go back to her roots, and attend Whidbey Island Race week. This is the week of July 20th-25th, Sunday through Friday, with a couple of races a day. Boat would need to go up on Sat. the 19th and return home on Sunday the 26th. My idea is that there are enough of us that if everyone could get 3 days off, we would be able to sail in every race. This would take some very committed people. Do we have enough of these on team Ishtar? Please let me know if you are interested, and how many/which days that you could take off.
Jun 12, 2008
Tri-Island Series 'Grande Finale'
Well, good news and bad news from this past Saturday's finale of the SYC's Tri-Island Series -- first, the bad news -- we didn't finish. that's pretty bad. now, the good news -- nobody else in our class finished either! all boats either DNF, DNC or DNS -- which means, yup, you guessed it, for our first 'try' at the Tri-Island Series, we came a respectable 3rd place overall, and probably won some award at the awards ceremony afterwards (which we didn't finish at, either). so, overall, excellent results.
for those who missed all the excitement on saturday, race day summary follows:
the course was a fairly simple one -- Shilshole around Blake Island (east or west) and back -- which was good news for us considering we couldn't even figure out how to get the boat started at the dock without giving Graeme a call, who, lucky for us, was still awake and barely sober enough in Australia to 'remind' us of the power switch under the cabin seats, and it being my first time at the helm, the simpler the course the better. Unfortunately, none of us was exactly sure where Blake Island was -- even after careful study of the charts. But with the race about to begin, small details such as which island we were actually supposed to round seemed distant irritations to focusing on 1) starting at the right time and 2) not running into any of our competitors.
Graeme's thoughtful advice for the race was straight forward enough -- follow Starbird -- which proved valuable advice for the beginning of the race, which was actually quite enjoyable. We managed the start well -- crossing the starting line promptly (if not immediately) following the starting gun hot on the heels of both Starbird, Airloom and Jiminy -- and with a spinnaker set nonetheless as soon as we crossed the line. The race looked promising, we held a course between Starbird, which was heading more directly out to the main channel to sooner catch the now incoming tidal currents, and Airloom, which was making a more direct course for the point buoy and Blake Is, wherever the the island may be. We were tracking both well and not losing much ground to either - which is good for Ishtar downwind. Eventually, Starbird and Airloom crossed paths, Airloom crossing the main channel to follow a course tight along the western edge of the sound, and Starbird staying more within the main channel and tacking slightly to the SE to maintain proper heading for the winds. We stayed on Starbird's heels, again keeping good pace and watched as Airloom fell far behind us both, apparently caught with no wind and no current alongside the shore -- we were very pleased. The northerlies were a variable 5-10 knots, but we were managing 4-5 knots boat speed and we were happy with that. We cracked our first celebratory PBR around 10am.
Here's us setting the spinnaker right after crossing the starting line, with Airloom, Jimney and Starbird directly ahead --
Then it all fell apart.
Starbird held her SE course well out into the middle channel before tacking to a SE course directed at the eastern shore of Blake Is. Unfortunately, at the time what was actually the eastern shore of Blake Island we thought to be the eastern shore of an outcropping from the peninsula mainland, and that Black Is. was the land mass further to the south (which, as we later discovered, was actually the northern point of Vashon Is.). Thinking we had a better route than Starbird, we tacked off to the SE well prior to the point at which Starbird tacked, and promptly found ourselves in the middle of a bermuda triangle for wind (i.e. no wind, dead calm, the doldrums, etc.). We sat there for quite a while, hopelessly searching for any small breeze, while watching Starbird sail away to the south, and Jiminy, another vessel and, yes, Airloom pass us to the west -- it was extremely painful. As we SLOWLY glided by a pleasure vessel out for an afternoon sail complete with deck chairs, and they politely asked us if we were in the race, it was decided we needed more beer, and we all cracked a PBR (except Scott - who apparently has both the brains and the willpower to avoid the hops and barley until shore).
FINALLY, we were able to drift idly from our bermuda triangle of no wind and resume the race, with our main competitors still in our sights and the knowledge that this long southward spinnaker set would soon be a distant memory once we rounded Blake and were able to tack and jibe our way to victory on the northward leg. It is about this time in the race when we discovered that we were sailing to the wrong island. What we though to be Blake, as mentioned above, we realized was Vashon, and that small outcropping from the mainland was actually Blake. Now, since we had decided at the outset of the race to round Black to the west (keeping her shores on our port side), in order to take full advantage of a rising tide and inbound current, we now found ourselves approaching her from the east and -- rather than adjusting our planned route and rounding her to the east (as Starbird and a few other had decided to do), we promptly set off to the west to correct our course and follow Airloom (who had decided, and planned her course, around rounding Blake from the west). This cost us another few legs.
Once we reached the nw point of Blake, and started into the narrow gap, we had steady speed, better spirits and could spot Airloom sitting idly in the waters ahead as if she had quit the race and started a BBQ. What the hell is she doing, we thought -- and soon realized. dead calm. again. it's hard to imagine how they call some sailboat races 'races'. racing turtles could be more exciting than watching a fleet of fine vessels battle it out in dead clam waters. and frustrating. and, at this point, concerning -- as it was already past 1pm at this point, the race course not even half way completed, but already over half the time alloted for the race expired. Questions began to arise as to whether or not we would even finish, indeed, if anyone would finish the race within the alloted 6 hours. Once Eli told me that pumping the rudder was, in fact, illegal -- which was at the time our only means of movement -- it was again time for more PBR.
Here's an action shot -- I thought I spotted some wind up ahead and Eli is looking to confirm --
Eventually floating on the tide and fighting through several spinnaker and jib sets desperately trying to catch what little, fickle breezes we could to get us from behind the island, we reached the southern tip of Blake -- neck and neck with the dreaded Airloom, and Magician, and so thinking that we were actually not in a bad spot after all -- as the northward leg would certainly prove to be our strong suit heading into the wind. Although we had crossed paths with Starbird, and a decidedly unfriendly hello from one of her crew (perhaps it was all the empty PBR cans littering our decks that raised their nostrils), while paddling through the dolldrums on the backside of Blake -- we were assured to see her on the final leg north and chase her to the finish. Passing by Airloom for what we were certain to be the last time, one of her crew shouted out a question as to the actual cut-off time for the race -- if it was 6 or 9 hours -- apparently they had concern as well as to the likelihood of this race ever finishing.
Rounding Blake and prepared for a high speed home leg into the wind, we were initially shocked and disappointed to realize that the winds had shifted, and were now coming more from a SE'ly direction -- we held a tack the the main headsail for as long as we could before realizing that we should have to again set the spinnaker and sail a spinnaker set all the way back to Shilshole. It really didn't seem fair. Kind of like having to walk uphill in the snow both to and from school - its just not right. Fortunately, at least in hindsight, the wind then promptly died, again, for the third and last time. It was now almost 3pm, and we were still south of Elliot Bay, much less closing in on Shilshole. Starbird and Jiminy were well out of sight, and Airloom and Magician were again hugging the western shore, and actually a little behind us. But them, like us, were going nowhere -- fast. This race was over.
We cracked the very last PBR we had on board and started the motor just as the rain started, and motored safely home to our slip at Elliot Bay. Cold and wet, tired and hungry, we fell into a booth at Maggie Bluffs and ordered up a happy hour feast and fresh grog.
Checking the SYC race website today, it turns out nobody else finished the race in our class (no surprise there) and we did, in fact, complete the series in 3rd place -- congratulations all around for an excellent finish in our first tri-island competition.
and now we all know how to start the boat... ;)
In fact, on the southern end of Blake, as we passed within a few yards of Airloom on opposite tacks, they asked us if we knew if it was a 6 hour or 9 hour race, as there was similar concern and confusion on their side as to whether or not this race was going to finish within the required time. We told them emphatically it was a 6 hour race, as at this point we had lost all confidence of sailing without wind and were rather hoping that noboby finished this slug marathon -- ensuring us of at least a 3rd place
for those who missed all the excitement on saturday, race day summary follows:
the course was a fairly simple one -- Shilshole around Blake Island (east or west) and back -- which was good news for us considering we couldn't even figure out how to get the boat started at the dock without giving Graeme a call, who, lucky for us, was still awake and barely sober enough in Australia to 'remind' us of the power switch under the cabin seats, and it being my first time at the helm, the simpler the course the better. Unfortunately, none of us was exactly sure where Blake Island was -- even after careful study of the charts. But with the race about to begin, small details such as which island we were actually supposed to round seemed distant irritations to focusing on 1) starting at the right time and 2) not running into any of our competitors.
Graeme's thoughtful advice for the race was straight forward enough -- follow Starbird -- which proved valuable advice for the beginning of the race, which was actually quite enjoyable. We managed the start well -- crossing the starting line promptly (if not immediately) following the starting gun hot on the heels of both Starbird, Airloom and Jiminy -- and with a spinnaker set nonetheless as soon as we crossed the line. The race looked promising, we held a course between Starbird, which was heading more directly out to the main channel to sooner catch the now incoming tidal currents, and Airloom, which was making a more direct course for the point buoy and Blake Is, wherever the the island may be. We were tracking both well and not losing much ground to either - which is good for Ishtar downwind. Eventually, Starbird and Airloom crossed paths, Airloom crossing the main channel to follow a course tight along the western edge of the sound, and Starbird staying more within the main channel and tacking slightly to the SE to maintain proper heading for the winds. We stayed on Starbird's heels, again keeping good pace and watched as Airloom fell far behind us both, apparently caught with no wind and no current alongside the shore -- we were very pleased. The northerlies were a variable 5-10 knots, but we were managing 4-5 knots boat speed and we were happy with that. We cracked our first celebratory PBR around 10am.
Here's us setting the spinnaker right after crossing the starting line, with Airloom, Jimney and Starbird directly ahead --
Then it all fell apart.
Starbird held her SE course well out into the middle channel before tacking to a SE course directed at the eastern shore of Blake Is. Unfortunately, at the time what was actually the eastern shore of Blake Island we thought to be the eastern shore of an outcropping from the peninsula mainland, and that Black Is. was the land mass further to the south (which, as we later discovered, was actually the northern point of Vashon Is.). Thinking we had a better route than Starbird, we tacked off to the SE well prior to the point at which Starbird tacked, and promptly found ourselves in the middle of a bermuda triangle for wind (i.e. no wind, dead calm, the doldrums, etc.). We sat there for quite a while, hopelessly searching for any small breeze, while watching Starbird sail away to the south, and Jiminy, another vessel and, yes, Airloom pass us to the west -- it was extremely painful. As we SLOWLY glided by a pleasure vessel out for an afternoon sail complete with deck chairs, and they politely asked us if we were in the race, it was decided we needed more beer, and we all cracked a PBR (except Scott - who apparently has both the brains and the willpower to avoid the hops and barley until shore).
FINALLY, we were able to drift idly from our bermuda triangle of no wind and resume the race, with our main competitors still in our sights and the knowledge that this long southward spinnaker set would soon be a distant memory once we rounded Blake and were able to tack and jibe our way to victory on the northward leg. It is about this time in the race when we discovered that we were sailing to the wrong island. What we though to be Blake, as mentioned above, we realized was Vashon, and that small outcropping from the mainland was actually Blake. Now, since we had decided at the outset of the race to round Black to the west (keeping her shores on our port side), in order to take full advantage of a rising tide and inbound current, we now found ourselves approaching her from the east and -- rather than adjusting our planned route and rounding her to the east (as Starbird and a few other had decided to do), we promptly set off to the west to correct our course and follow Airloom (who had decided, and planned her course, around rounding Blake from the west). This cost us another few legs.
Once we reached the nw point of Blake, and started into the narrow gap, we had steady speed, better spirits and could spot Airloom sitting idly in the waters ahead as if she had quit the race and started a BBQ. What the hell is she doing, we thought -- and soon realized. dead calm. again. it's hard to imagine how they call some sailboat races 'races'. racing turtles could be more exciting than watching a fleet of fine vessels battle it out in dead clam waters. and frustrating. and, at this point, concerning -- as it was already past 1pm at this point, the race course not even half way completed, but already over half the time alloted for the race expired. Questions began to arise as to whether or not we would even finish, indeed, if anyone would finish the race within the alloted 6 hours. Once Eli told me that pumping the rudder was, in fact, illegal -- which was at the time our only means of movement -- it was again time for more PBR.
Here's an action shot -- I thought I spotted some wind up ahead and Eli is looking to confirm --
Eventually floating on the tide and fighting through several spinnaker and jib sets desperately trying to catch what little, fickle breezes we could to get us from behind the island, we reached the southern tip of Blake -- neck and neck with the dreaded Airloom, and Magician, and so thinking that we were actually not in a bad spot after all -- as the northward leg would certainly prove to be our strong suit heading into the wind. Although we had crossed paths with Starbird, and a decidedly unfriendly hello from one of her crew (perhaps it was all the empty PBR cans littering our decks that raised their nostrils), while paddling through the dolldrums on the backside of Blake -- we were assured to see her on the final leg north and chase her to the finish. Passing by Airloom for what we were certain to be the last time, one of her crew shouted out a question as to the actual cut-off time for the race -- if it was 6 or 9 hours -- apparently they had concern as well as to the likelihood of this race ever finishing.
Rounding Blake and prepared for a high speed home leg into the wind, we were initially shocked and disappointed to realize that the winds had shifted, and were now coming more from a SE'ly direction -- we held a tack the the main headsail for as long as we could before realizing that we should have to again set the spinnaker and sail a spinnaker set all the way back to Shilshole. It really didn't seem fair. Kind of like having to walk uphill in the snow both to and from school - its just not right. Fortunately, at least in hindsight, the wind then promptly died, again, for the third and last time. It was now almost 3pm, and we were still south of Elliot Bay, much less closing in on Shilshole. Starbird and Jiminy were well out of sight, and Airloom and Magician were again hugging the western shore, and actually a little behind us. But them, like us, were going nowhere -- fast. This race was over.
We cracked the very last PBR we had on board and started the motor just as the rain started, and motored safely home to our slip at Elliot Bay. Cold and wet, tired and hungry, we fell into a booth at Maggie Bluffs and ordered up a happy hour feast and fresh grog.
Checking the SYC race website today, it turns out nobody else finished the race in our class (no surprise there) and we did, in fact, complete the series in 3rd place -- congratulations all around for an excellent finish in our first tri-island competition.
and now we all know how to start the boat... ;)
In fact, on the southern end of Blake, as we passed within a few yards of Airloom on opposite tacks, they asked us if we knew if it was a 6 hour or 9 hour race, as there was similar concern and confusion on their side as to whether or not this race was going to finish within the required time. We told them emphatically it was a 6 hour race, as at this point we had lost all confidence of sailing without wind and were rather hoping that noboby finished this slug marathon -- ensuring us of at least a 3rd place
Slipping slowly sideways in Seattle
Another shot of Ishtar, working quietly to stay ahead of the competition. Not enough wind to keep the spinnaker full though, and it made for a long flat float against the tide.
Passing the Declaration of Independence
A quick shot from the Leukemia Cup regatta. This is Ishtar, taking it to the PNW #1 boat the last 2 years on an inside mark rounding. She got us back on the upwind leg, but what the heck. We were living in the moment.
May 13, 2008
The Racing season is on!
Recent race finishes:
Monday 5/12 10th out of fourteen. Ouch! No wind and unfavorable tide overcame good teamwork and otherwise mistake free boat handling.
Saturday, 5/10 Tri-Island #2 (Vashon). 3rd out of 15. Crew of 4 kept the boat moving well, handled the sail changes and spinnaker jibes, and managed to hold onto 3rd place in the race, and for the series. One more to go.
Monday, 4/28 7th out of 14. Heavy weather sailing, never completely in control of the boat (or the sails). Still, did enough right to stay in the middle of the pack
Monday 4/21 6th out of 14. Ditto.
4/19 Tri-Island #1 Smith Island race. 4 guys, lots of rookie mistakes on the starting line had us second from last. When we finally got the chute up we started passing people, and ended up in a dogfight to the finish, which we won, barely, end end up as the 3rd boat accross the line, and 3rd overall. A coupld of weeks later the result changed to fourth, not sure why...
4/14 first Ballard cup race. 5th out of 14. Shorthanded crew did great just keeping the boat going round the bouys.
Monday 5/12 10th out of fourteen. Ouch! No wind and unfavorable tide overcame good teamwork and otherwise mistake free boat handling.
Saturday, 5/10 Tri-Island #2 (Vashon). 3rd out of 15. Crew of 4 kept the boat moving well, handled the sail changes and spinnaker jibes, and managed to hold onto 3rd place in the race, and for the series. One more to go.
Monday, 4/28 7th out of 14. Heavy weather sailing, never completely in control of the boat (or the sails). Still, did enough right to stay in the middle of the pack
Monday 4/21 6th out of 14. Ditto.
4/19 Tri-Island #1 Smith Island race. 4 guys, lots of rookie mistakes on the starting line had us second from last. When we finally got the chute up we started passing people, and ended up in a dogfight to the finish, which we won, barely, end end up as the 3rd boat accross the line, and 3rd overall. A coupld of weeks later the result changed to fourth, not sure why...
4/14 first Ballard cup race. 5th out of 14. Shorthanded crew did great just keeping the boat going round the bouys.
Apr 24, 2008
Launch of Ishtar Sailing Site
Welcome to the new home for the Team Ishtar Sailing, where the good folks who drive and ride our well seasoned lady post and blog about our racing experiences.
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