The Donkey left the dock early on Saturday to get a little practice
and boat tuning on our way out to the Treasure Island starting area. We
had some new faces on the boat so it was good to practice some maneuvers
By the time we started Race 1, it was probably already approaching 20
knots of wind. The weather leg was long and we were in a strong, late
flood. We really wanted the left side of the course to get into the
shallower water and maybe even some early South Bay ebb. The boat end of
the starting line was favored but given the length of the beat and the
left favor of the course we started just to leeward of the pack. We wanted
to protect our starboard tack lane for a long time. Our strategy paid off
and we won the left side and led Bessie Jay and Chimo into the weather
mark by a couple of boat lengths. Downwind was an adventure with the wind
picking up significantly. We had all sorts of problems with a new
spinnaker halyard that we installed that would not stay cleated. Others
seemed to have even bigger problems and we extended our lead on the run.
Despite further problems with our halyard on the next run, we hung on for
the win followed by the Deeds and Bessie Jay. The beat from the finish
line to the next start on the City Front was cold and wet. It was a
blustery day.

Collisions and breakdowns reduced the fleet size for Race 2. The
race got under way with a left favored line but right favored course due
to the building ebb. We chose to start on port tack at the pin end and
ducked the Deeds on the line but were ahead of the crowd at the boat. Left
shifts contributed to us and the Deeds having a nice lead at the weather
mark. I overestimated the wind on the run and was sailing conservatively
to keep the boat under control while the Deeds headed up and found a puff
and sailed right around us. We also chose the wrong gate mark and found
ourselves in a big deficit to the Deeds. On the final run, however, we
sailed aggressively and passed the Deeds after they had some spinnaker
problems. Bessie Jay was nipping on our heels and finished second.

Race 3 saw the return of Baffet. Our friends broke down on Saturday,
but we knew we would be in for a battle with them on Sunday. Again the
wind was up early and we started on the City Front with the #3 in strong
flood. As usual in a flood, it was a race to the shore. The boat end was
slightly favored but the pin end got you to the shore quickly. It was a
tough call so we started in the middle. We drag raced Bessie Jay all the
way to the breakwater and just pinched them off in time. Meanwhile the
boats that started at the pin including the Deeds could not cross us and
we were in the lead. There are not many passing lanes in the short tacking
up the city front so we were able to protect our lead around the race
course. Baffet made a charge at the end, but the Donkey was able to hold
them off on the final beat.

Race 4 was similar with a race to the shore, but this time Baffet
and Deeds who started towards the pin were able to make it to the shore
first and cross us. We got lucky and called the laylines well and took the
lead at the windward mark. For the rest of the race we traded positions
with Baffet before they took the lead for good at the last leeward mark
where we continued our spinnaker halyard problems. Those Baffet guys sure
sail well for a bunch of old men.

In the overall standings, there was a great battle behind us with
Bessie Jay, Deeds, Exocet, Chimo and others.

I do not think the Swamp Donkey had blazing speed or perfect
boathandling for the weekend but we were pretty consistent and were never
going slow and did not make a lot of mistakes. Here are a few tips of
things that the Donkey did in those conditions:


1) Practice Boathandling: Even though it was windy before the start,
we would aggressively practice jibes, sets, takedowns and tacks. When it
was time to race, we were not intimitated if the wind was gusting in the
upper 20s.


2) Heavy air settings: We try and depower the boat as much as
possible without luffing the sails. Here are a few simple things that we
do a) maximum backstay (main should be just about to invert) b) Vang
sheet the main. I used the traveller very little and would ease the sheet
on the puffs with a very tight vang. c) If the main is luffing, ease the
jib or move jib lead back until it stops. d) Sail at the weight limit. We
were 20 lbs light for this event which is the lightest we ever want to be.
If you are sailing 50 lbs under the weight limit, you will be giving up a
lot. e) Tighten the aft lowers 2 turns. We do not adjust our rig much,
but in heavier air this is the one change that we make. f) Move weight
fore and aft. In the choppy ebb, we shifted our weight back significantly
to get over the waves. In flat water, everyone was pressed forward.


3) Focus. I rely heavily on my crew for looking around and calling
the wind. In those conditions, I cannot afford to take my concentration
away from steering. If I miss one wave or heel over too much in one puff,
we will stall out. Everybody can go fast at times, the key is to minimize
the time that you spend going slow.

Thanks to the Donkey crew of Robert Brown (tactician and middle),
Tyler Doyler (trim), Jeff Condon (saturday), Geoff McDonald (sunday) and
Holt Condon (bow) for a great weekend. We will see you on the water.
EEEEEEE-AWWWWWWW.

Scott Sellers