Sunday, August 31, 2014

DELIVERY- Cape Town to Simonstown 31st August 2014

With very little racing planed at RC, it was decided to get Yolo to Simonstown early for the Spring regatta.
The chosen day turned out to be a perfect windless day.. clear skies, a great day in Cape Town, but no chance of sailing as there was nil wind. The delivery took place under engine. There was some chop and swell off Slangkop lessening later in the voyage. It was a sublime delivery. Departing CT at 7am arriving Simonstown around 3:40pm.
Yolo is now moored on her mooring in Simonstown.

Aboard Were: Ian and Sieger. Boat performed well.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Double Handed Race -23rd August 2014

It was good sailing conditions, if a bit gusty. with 14-22 knots at the start. After much debate and changing of the foresail, it was felt that the J4 would be suitable as we expected the winds to be in the upper teens low twenties for most of the race, we were light aboard with only two and we wanted to give the new J4 it's first proper test.
Unfortunately we were a bit late in the start, which meant that we could not set ourselves up for the part of the line that we wanted, with us starting to leeward of the big boats, which meant we immediately got rolled by the bigger boats... Not the best way to start, but after this we were able to hang on.. and keep the boat going well rounding Harken as out first mark. We already had the pole up at this point so we were first to go with a hoist... with us making good speeds downwind. We were not using the GPS so a bit of a "follow the fleet to the next mark. Problem is that the bigger boats were all sailing with Asymmetric. so that did not help much. So a bit of guessing.. as we were not bothered to do a spot of navigating. Eventually we sighted the righ mark.. and decided to do a weather drop. Problem is we started it was too early. We managed a good rounding and an efficient beat to Milnerton with a reach to Landfall. We debated aboard whether we should hoist the kite as the wind angle was 122 and we felt we could handle it. But as the rest of the fleet had not, we took the easy option. Number 2 was the next mark and then to the finish. On the beat we played a few shifts which helped us make up some time..

We won the race. It was good to be out sailing in a nice breeze and flat water. Boat performed well. Yolo is now leading the Double handed Series, However unlikely to finish the series as she plans to goto Simonstown for the Spring Regatta a bit earlier then usual and therefore will miss some of the races.
Aboard were: Ian and Dale

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

YOLO -Oxford Dictionary Catches up and wants in....


Yup, eventually the Oxford Dictionary has cottoned onto our sailing program and has officially made Yolo a word in the Dictionary..

Yolo now has the distinction of being an acronym and a proper noun.

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Definition of YOLO in English:

YOLO

Line breaks: YOLO
Pronunciation: /ˈjəʊləʊ/


ABBREVIATION

INFORMAL
You only live once (expressing the view that one should make the most of the present moment without worrying about the future, and often used as a rationale for impulsive or reckless behaviour):I just ordered £40 worth of Chinese food. But YOLO, right?the YOLO mentality has swept young adult generations

Origin

1980s: acronym.

Monday, August 18, 2014

CLUB RACING Saturday, 16 August 2014

With light winds on the bay, we already knew that Yolo could not be competitive.
Race 1 of the day: We positioned well for the start, but could not tack away immediately as we would have had larger boats "rolling" us, so we needed to push them further and they would then sail below us.. which they did. We managed a good slot at the first mark, a good hoist but the winds became fickle on the down wind.. with a little luck required, in our case dying just before the leeward mark.. we eventually got through this patch.. and sailed for the finish.. giving us a third on corrected... which we felt was good, given that it was very light for us.
Race 2: Again light breeze with it dying en route to the first mark and then coming back.. favoring the one side of the course... once on the downwind, initially looking good until it died.. and the winds clocked 180 degrees which meant first into the wind would be first on the podium etc..
The bridge then called a shortened course together with the flag and two hoots... shortly after this they announced a "new course amendment" We have protested as we felt if the shortened course would have been followed we would still have had a chance to be competitive. Protest has not yet been heard, but will advise. The rest of the race for us, was a drift.

Aboard were: dale, Ian, Sieger and guests Wayne and Kathy. No problems aboard.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

SUNDAY SAIL 10th August 2014

With good weather forecasted for the Sunday and commitments on the Saturday, for a change Yolo went sailing on the Sunday. With a 3pm departure planned. What a great day on the water, Warm SE winds between 12-14 knots, flat water.. It could not be any better.

This sail also proved to test a brand new sail to the inventory, made by Ullman Sails. We had opted for a J4 with carbon membrane with our usual one sides internal taffeta.. A system that has proven itself to last.

We were very pleased in the sail testing, it seems to have an incredible shape. We look forward to testing it on the race course.

During the sail we noted a floating raft which probably came out of the Salt River Mouth. We called Port Control to advise, as it was a large obstacle. They requested if possible if we could tow it back to port.. Which we obliged.. and thus ending our sailing...  We heard on the radio that NSRI was doing a search in the Salt River mouth area...
It would appear that there were 5 boys fishing off this raft, the raft was swept out of the river to see.. at which point the boys decided to swim for it.. 3 made the shore.. there is still a search on for the other two.

To connect the tow, Ian boarded the raft and set up the tow lines and then went back aboard Yolo, where the tow was handled. We managed the two keeping it at 2 knots, to keep enough maneuverability and so as not to risk the raft breaking up.. as we had not assessed it. Port Control was very obliging. We towed it to the Quay four Pen, where the NSRI team were waiting to take the Raft from us.

http://www.nsri.org.za/2014/08/search-for-two-missing-teenagers

The sun was starting to set, with us heading back to RCYC.. What a beautiful evening on the water.

Aboard were: Dale and Ian.  Boat performed well. No problems.

Monday, August 4, 2014

SAIL 2nd August 2014

No Racing at the club, but as usual, Team Yolo ready to sail. Conditions were fantastic with a 16knots NNE blowing.. slight chop on the water with a short swell... in short great sailing conditions. Yolo sailed from the club out of the harbour and then beat hard on the wind for Sunset Beach.. Tacked and a further short beat and a nice reach back to the harbour. The boat performed well.. Aboard we discussed positions of the new barbour hauler system that we plan to fit. Aboard were Ian, Sieger and Dale.