MORE IRC Regatta PICS-Courtesy Dave Mabin

IRC NATIONALS

IRC was a well organized event.. this time the location was out of the V&A as part of the VOR festivities.. it brought considerable public interest and put our sport int eh public domain. Prior to the event we did a lot of boat preparation..

Day 1:
Light conditions with two races being held.. We managed a first and a third.. We were quite pleased with this.. as the conditions were definitely

not ideal for a Sunfast 3200 which has a large wetted surface which drags with it's wide stern in the lighter conditions...

Day 2:
This was the double points medium distance race.. Conditions started off with twelve knots.. with nice starting conditions but by the time we got near the Sea Point Pavilion(after tacking up the shore line) the wind had died.. with little puffs coming once in a while.. Yolo lost some distance at this point, but caught a puff to round the bouy.. and sail back to the light.. after a while new breeze started to set in.. with the boats in front getting first and pulling away..  Towards the latter part of the race we caught up with the class leader but we did not cover.. allowing them to pull away again.. giving the race back to them.. and us scoring a second..

Day 3:
Due to time pressures and possinle wind shifts the course set was a short one... Yolo sailed a good first beat and started to pull nicely on the downwind.. with Just the J sailing faster.. however we ended up sailing into a "hole" and while the J sailed around it and the little boats were able to catch us on time in the new breeze... So a 4th place.. (to be our discard) The last race.. breeze had come through.. 25knots and counting. Yolo got a good start and although they should not have.. gave some room for the J at the committee boat..(could have pushed them out) First half of the beat was good.. but suffered on the starboard tack as the big boats came through to weather and dropped dirty airs.. between that and dodging kelp and plastic on that leg we fell back a bit.. With all that we did not focus on the downwind.. Round the mark.. Kite up.. and off we went.. 15plus knots of boat speed... boat was happy... but the gybe angle was coming up.. and the wind was gusting 38 where we were... so we decided the gybe was too risky, if we got it wrong, there would have been carnage, few boats had kites up, those that did some were in trouble.  We dropped and gybed..
In hind site we should have tried. Yolo got a 3rd in this race.

Overall before discards  15 points(winners had 17 points) after discards we were level on points with the winners, but the tie split determines the winner giving them a well deserved win..

Event was enjoyed by full crew, both abaord and ashore.. Well done to the organizers and the bridge..

Aboard were: Dale, Ian, Sieger, Hans, Shane, Mark, Ross, Daphne. (On the last day Ross was replaced by Mornay as Ross had fallen off his motor cycle.. Hope you get well soon Ross.)
Boat performed well.

Work progress Report

Boat has been antifouled. We have also had the standard decals removed in preparation of Xtra-Link decals.. so the boat will have a new look. top sides polished.. YOLO is starting to look quite "fresh" again. Xtra-Link decals to be applied on Monday and should be back in the water on Tuesday..

YOLO on Hard

Yolo was put on the hard for maintenance on Thursday, 30th October. She is having her bottom cleaned and resprayed to racing surface, anodes replaced, top sides polished and stripe removed. At the same time the Xtra-Link decal will be applied. Yolo is due to go back in the water on Tuesday, 4th November in time for Team training on Wed and IRC nationals.

WEDNESDAY Night Racing -29 October 2014

With a Nice NE type wind... around 12-14 knots.. Yolo took a conservative start as some of the Class one boats pushed over the line and were a bit menacing. This meant sailing in bad airs coming off the bigger boats for a while till the fleet stretched out. A nice, but somewhat bumpy first beat... Round the first mark and then a fetch to Landfall.. following a run to Number 8 which had the longer boats pulling on us from behind and ahead. Coming into Number 8 there was a certain J11.1 in the Class one spinnaker class reaching in at quite a speed with Assym up.. before the three boat lengths we hailed to them NO WATER.. at the three boat lengths we hailed again, but they persisted and as we were running in slowly and they were power reaching so they quickly got inside and we had to give room to them for fear of a collision.. This was disappointing as firstly this boat could easily have gone around the outside given their power and secondly this boat had aboard people who clearly knew their rules and just stone facedly set them aside to force the inside.. We did not bother to protest.. as for us it was a fun night out...But they certainly gave a new meaning to the word sportsmanship. I was particularity disappointing in this teams actions.. as their actions were not consistent to the manner they normally conduct themselves and frankly in a more fierce race would cost the owner a lot of money.
Following number 8 mark, a shy reach to the finish.
We came third overall.. but to qualify that, our fleet is particularity small so not really a notable accomplishment.
Aboard were: Ian, Dale, Sieger, Denise, Shane, Evan, Denis(nice to have back aboard), Guests Peter and Jan(from Israel)

SUNFAST 3200 - IRC boat of the year 2014(in France I think)

http://www.sunfast.fr/news/sun-fast-3200-irc-boat-of-the-year-2014.html

WEDNESDAY NIGHT RACE 22nd October 2014

Nice turnout on the water, with a light, fickle SW blowing. We positioned where we wanted to be on the start line, but the bridge called us over so we had to sail back and restart, we then needed to duck a few boats and got going. We quickly started to make gains in the shifts but then opted to sail what turned out to be a lifting tack, with us on the outside which means coming back on the header, which hurt us. The breeze all the while slowly softening, which allowed the faster guys to hold on their lead. the downwinds were mundane with us not being able to shake the L34's of which some caught right up with us. IN the end, not the greatest race for us.. but nice sailing was had. Boat performed well.  We are concerned aboard though that the class we have chosen has turned out to be very small. Aboard were: Dale, Ian, Sieger, Evan, Denise.

ROUND ROBBEN ISLAND RACE

With a Nice SW setting into the bay, the day was all set for a good sail.
Unfortunately there was confusion at the start.. as the Sailing office had issued new start times as per their notice that final times will be issued at 10am. However with less then 5 minutes to the start we figured out that some boats who should not have started had already started, we put this down to the bridge still using the previous start times.. we quickly got our jib up and made for the start area.. We got an OK start(Pursuit Race) Unfortunately there were still a few boats who were working to the new start times that lost out.
The first leg to the island was mundane with the longer waterline boats slowly catching up. Closing into the island we were the first to hoist out kite which helped hold off the longer boats until they hoisted. As we started to round the island the larger boats were breathing down our neck already.. With us going through the slower boats.  We were quickly overhauled by the Farr... who left all of us behind.. with us jostling with the Simonis 35's.. who had speed on us, with us just holding the inside track. We did an early drop as we rounded the leeward side of the island and Followed the first passing Simonis to the weather of an anchored fishing boat.. where we caught a clump of Kelp.. We immediately realized this, so we backwinded. By this time the other Simonis 35 had sailed through us.. and both dissaapeared int he distance as it was another waterline leg.
This was not the best race for Yolo with two medium wind fetch legs making up the majority of the race.. and with it being a Pursuit race, Race length based on rating differentials would have us completing in 100min.. (which was not the case) It is very difficult to be perfect for a pursuit race.
Fortunately we are not competing for the Club Championships this year(focusing on IRC) so it has no effect for us.. but does effect a number of other boats.
All in all, a great day on the water. Thanks to the generous sponsors.
Aboard were: Ian, Dale, Sieger, Shane, Evan, Michael(New Michael aboard)

WEDNESDAY Night Racing -15th October 2014

First Wednesday night race of the season.
Yolo is taking a more laid back approach.
Sea was flat with a SE on the water, ranging between 12-18 knots with light winds in the finish area.

Yolo opted to start down the line with clear breeze(as the breeze was still filling in) Good start with Yolo working the boat to get to the first mark first.. Something that she should not normally do with bigger and faster boats on the water. On the downwind Yolo tussled with Regardless to keep breeze clear.. which involved a chase away for the course. the fetch across the bay had Yolo a few boat lengths behind Regardless which she maintained and on the final beat caught up with a few tacks on shifts. just before the finish, there was a header in light breeze which allowed Regardless to beat Yolo by one second.
Yolo came third in her class.
We were dissapointed to see that we were sailing in the smallest class. this makes it less competition.. We will have to reconsider.
Aboard were: Dale, Ian, Siger, Shane, Even Smuts. Boat performed well.

IRC Nationals 2014 -Xtra-Link

Yolo will be racing under the banner of Xtra-Link for the the IRC Nationals which takes place between the 6-8 November 2014.

Xtra-Link is a specialist company which specializes in radio and Satellite communications systems and connectivity. They are linked to offices worldwide which is fed from their distribution centers in Europe and Dubai UAE.
In addition they have a technical support division.

The Company Motto is "NEVER BEYOND REACH"

The CEO, Hans Kuijt of Xtra-Link will be flying in to do the event as well as Clarence Hendricks from the Dubai Office. Both are accomplished sailors with many miles under their belts. Both campaigning regularly out of DOSC in the UAE.

More info on the IRC nationals at www.ircsa.co.za

RCYC Opening Cruise 2014

The Season has begun..
RCYC Opening took place in magnificent style starting at the club with the normal protocols followed by the club cannons being fired.. thereafter an official sailpast which took place in the V&A with the Chavonne battery firing off more cannons, marking the RCYC 111th Season.

Aboard were Dale, Sieger, Ian and the Kushner and Coward families.

Pics Credit: Trevor Wilkins

More Spring Regatta Pics.. Courtesy of Dave Mabin

More Spring Regatta Pics

Pic Credit: Denise White -Crew Aboard YOLO

DELIVERY Simonstown to Cape Town 20th September 2014

Departing Simonstown at around 8:20/30am... Full main and J4.. beating into the bay.. the chop gradually increased.. and the rain started falling non stop... winds were around 16 knots. Going further South the chop gave way to swell and the breeze decreased.. Eventually requiring around 30 minutes of motor Sailing... closing in at the point, the waves were quite steep with the odd one breaking.. Just before Cape Point the rains stopped, Once in line with Cape Point, the breeze immediately increased to 20-25 knots...
Yolo carried a tight course until sure it could clear SW reefs, then bore away to a fetch. Progress was fast.. with the deck awash in the big seas...
Once around SW reefs, Yolo bore away.. and sailed downwind down the coast Poling out the jib. Nice seas with allowed for nice sailing A gybe at Slankop.. Pole up again.. and eventually pole away... reaching in for cape Town. Wind died at Sea Point Pavilion.. but the wind line was ten minutes further... but opted to start the pack away.
Arrived at the breakwater.. with just under 8 hours of sailing, met at the jetty by Sieger who helped with the lines. Aboard were: Dale. Boat performed well. Thank to Sieger for the lifting.

More Spring Regatta Pics -Pic Credits: Dave Mabin

SPRING REGATTA 24th September Race 3, 4, 5.

With Day Two of racing being abandoned, there was lots of pressure on the bridge to ensure 5 races to allow for one discard. Racing started at 10am. Team Yolo met early and prepped the boat. Got going on the water early. There was a N or a Slight NE blowing. Forecast to swing to NW. Yolo did it's test beats and did the numbers.

Summary of Racing for the Day:
Yolo had reasonable starts, occasionally making the error of going wrong side of the course. Eventually finding some of the faster settings on the boat. Crew work was good with very few errors and those were quickly rectified. Occasionally a nice puff downwind made the sailing fun..

In short, it was a good regatta with YOLO coming second overall in IRC class 2, see results here:

http://fbyc.co.za/results/2014/IRC%20Div%202os.html


The crew have been exceptional. With everyone only meeting each other briefly for a 2 hour session a week before the regatta, the crew quickly bonded and got to understand the boat and each other in order to give of their best.

CREW:
Dale
Ian
Sieger
Howard
Daphne
Denise
Shane
David

Boat performed well, with no problems being experienced.

Pic Credit: Trevor Wilkins

Spring Regatta-FBYC 20/21/24 September 2014

Day One:
FBYC was on form and had mustered a good entry for the Spring Regatta. Yolo was relegated to IRC Class 2. Yolo with her Crew were at the Club on time. Prepared the boat and briefed all ready for a good day's racing.

Race One: 
Around 16-18knots of wind. Sea was quite choppy which did not help Yolo as she was racing against boats which had much longer waterlines, which made it easier in the chop and hence better average speeds Everyone was keen on pushing the start, with a lot of emphasis on the bridge boat. Yolo had a fair start and tacked soon after for clear winds.With a few tacks on shifts on the beat.  The weather mark was out of visual range and Yolo ended up over standing.  Once round, Kite up and Off she went, taking advantage of the mini swells to try and catch surf's. Our navigator called the lay and we Gybed. Next was a beat and a shorter weather mark with a Triangle with two reaches, then a finish. Yolo came in second overall in the race which we were happy with.

Race Two:
In this race Yolo tried to secure the bridge boat side of the line, but was squeezed out, forcing her to tack and gybe around and lose some distance and get caught in the bad airs.. A tack away and sailed to clean breeze. In this race the Weather mark had been moved to the right.. With Yolo banging the corner.. and getting a good approach to the weather mark. Breeze had increased somewhat. Good downwind speeds, stalled on the gybe but quick recovery. Next beat was just a matter of getting to the weather mark. On the final reach leg, the swell action and wind angle was too Yolo's liking with the breeze at 25 we had fun ont he final leg.

Day Two:
Racing was abandoned as the winds were blowing 30 plus knots.. probably reaching 40 in places.

Aboard were: Dale, Ian, Sieger, Denise, Daphne, Shane, David, Howard. Boat performed

Pic credits:
Pic 1, 2 and 3 Trevor Wilkins.
Pic 4 David Mabin

well.

Training for Spring Regatta -14 September 2014

With a new crew aboard, a training session was held in Simonstown aboard Yolo where we did a meet and greet and everyone got to meet each other.
Winds were SE 16-24, but away from the mountain a steady 20. Initially Yolo did a long stretch close to Millers Point with tacks on the way, a good hoist was had and a good many gybes all the way to Glencairn, rounded the mark and then a beat to Castor, another hoist and gybe sail to Glencairn and with a good rounding.. We had been training for over two hours... A good session, we proceeded back to the marina for a debrief and sort the boat out in preparation. Boat performed well. Crew work was good. The Crew for Sprng Regatta are currently: Dale, Ian, Sieger, Howard, Daphne, Shane, Denise.

Pic of boat at her Simonstown Marina.

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.

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

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.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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.

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 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.

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.