Write-Up

Seattle Frostbite #5 RECAP - Sunday February 24, 2019

Thanks to Dan Falk for providing this recap of Seattle Frostbite #5 this past Sunday;
We had great day of racing on Sunday. It was a relatively small fleet this weekend, with maybe 12 RS Aeros and 1 Laser (most of the Lasers were at mid-winter regattas in Florida or California). At the dock, it looked like a light wind day and many of us were pushing for the RS Aero 9 rigs. Mike Johnson advocated that we go with the 7 rigs, and, well, it’s generally a good idea to just go with what Mike Johnson says.

Andy and Dalton set a short starting line and short courses - I heard someone say that we were doing eight minute races. Those guys did a stellar job of running races, from standard windward/leeward, to triangles, and even a downwind start. The wind built from somewhere near 8 knots to somewhere in the 13 knot range, maybe a bit more because even this Clydesdale (ask a cyclist if you don’t know the reference) was hiking pretty hard on the beats. Mike Johnson’s call to race 7s for the day turned out to be spot on. I find the 7 rig to be a joy to sail once we’re in the hiking straps up wind, although the downwind fun starts (for the larger gentleman) with a RS Aero 7 when the breeze is somewhere in the upper teens.

One of the things I really appreciate in an RS Aero is the striking differences in upwind sailing modes that can work well. In one race, I found myself trying to stay above Scott Malone off of the start, sailing rather pinched to leeward of the fleet, then tacking away and sailing in that footing semi plaining mode to the weather mark. I’d say that a key to success in the RS Aero’s is learning to sail those modes effectively, enabling the ability to flexibly adapt to race situations. Kurt, who was on an RS Aero for the first time from his Laser, commented that he felt the boat is challenging to tack with a degree of grace. Turn quickly and risk your mainsheet-to-tiller hand exchange. Turn slowly and risk stopping the boat in a wave. We look forward to him perfecting those.

Following racing, JD Reddaway, with significant support from a couple of extraordinarily sympathetic women, fed us a Waldorf salad, cream of broccoli soup, and mini turkey or ham and cheese sandwiches.

It’s been a stellar winter for dinghy sailing in Seattle and I look forward to seeing you all on the water. Thank you, Dan.

NEXT & LAST SEATTLE FROSTBITE for this season: Frostbite #6 is on Sunday, March 17, 2019.

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