Frostbite Notes April 10 by Mark Kondracky
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		Racing on Saturday, March 17 brought demanding conditions for the race committee and racers.  With winds out of the Northwest (mostly) and huge shifts, the chase boats had to move the windward mark up and down the river several times.  It seemed like for most of the starts the classes favored the pin end.  In one of the Etchells start, a couple of boats were forced over early.  In one race Chuck Pointexter was forced over early, but went on to win the race.  In another there was a general recall, but most of the class continued to race apparently not seeing the recall flag. While only four JY's hit the water the racing was quite close.  In one race, I was ahead of Kevin Gillman at the leeward mark.  We both sailed off on port but were headed. Gillman tacked first, and was able to cross the line winning by half a boat length.  In another race Bob Bruno trailed me at the leeward mark.  We worked up toward the committee boat on port tack.  With 5 boat lengths to go it became apparent that I was not going to make the line.  Within inches of the Fair and Squares stern I tacked to starboard, luffed and shot the line.  Luckily I finished first, with rest of the class seconds behind.  After racing Bob Bruno and Steve Brooks discussed a tactical trick.  Bob rounded behind Steve at the leeward mark.  Bob luffed up tight to keep his air clear.  Steve glance over his shoulder and assumed Bob had tacked to starboard. Steve tacked to cover, and Bob drove bellow him on port.  In another race, Steve Brooks was on a close reach to the finish.  He was suffering from a cramp in his arm, and having difficulty keeping the boat flat. The excessive heeling was causing the boat to round up.  I was behind and slightly to windward of Steve.  Without a lane to windward, I dove down bellow him.  We were sailing flatter, and faster but there was only one problem.  He was on my hip and we had to tack to port to cross the line.  With not enough room to tack and clear, we had to duck behind him.
		There was a protest in the Etchells fleet.  A boat tacked on to starboard to avoid the shoals on the East side of the river.  She closed on a port tacker without seeing her until the last moment.  The port tacker thought she was going to clear, or that the starboard tacker could duck.  At the last  moment starboard did a crash tack to avoid T-boning the other boat.  Rule 10 states that port must keep clear of starboard.  Rule 14 states that a boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible. Also that a right of way boat need not act to avoid contact until it is clear that the other boat is not keeping clear.  The rule doesn't state how a right of way boat (tack or duck) to keep clear. Keep in mind that Etchells, and Jy's have small rudders, so putting the bow down to keep clear can result in a collision.  The result of the hearing was that port was disqualified. Remember to give plenty of room in windy conditions and to fly your flag ASAP. When in doubt do your penalty on the water.  Starting tip in strong current:  Dinghies will often luff up to kill time 30 seconds before the start.  If there is a strong current pulling you towards the line you may have difficulty putting the bow down to come up to speed.  This is because when you stall, water stops flowing over your rudder.  When you go to bear off your boat will react like a car without it's power steering.  To prevent this, keep some speed on, and turn your boat by pulling in the jib first. Photos from Saturday's racing will be posted later this week. See you next Saturday first gun one hour earlier at noon.