Kotuku Qualifies for the Dyneema Experience Challenge!

For those of you who haven't heard, Kotuku qualified for the Dyneema Experience Challenge.  According to the website, that means they will be sending us lots and lots of high-tech rope for the boat.

Interestingly, one other boat from Seattle qualified, Terremoto.  Scott and Susan Burbank also rallied their social network and earned themselves some new line.  A third boat, one of the Canadian 6 meters from Victoria also qualified.  Well done for the PNW!

for full details check out the site:  http://dyneemaexperience.com

We are still waiting for full details, but there is an additional prize of a trip for two to Alicante and some time aboard a really swoosh race boat (TBD) there.  When we know more, we'll post it here.

Thanks again everybody for your support.  We are looking at dates for a big salmon BBQ on Blake Island to say thank you to all our crew, aboard and online.  Couldn't have done it without you!

Center Sound Series Summary

Wanted to update folks who haven't been racing with us on the results so far.

Our class looked to be very interesting, but got even more interesting once they combined the J-109 one design fleet with the heavy displacement boats in class 4.  J-109 Tantivity is real competition, and the crew of Absolutely and Different Drummer are always going to be tough.  Shoot the Moon, the J-35 Tahlequah, and Illusionist have also proven to be a real challenge to beat.

So where are we after 2 of the 3 races?  4th of 14 in race 1, 7th of 14 in race 2. 5th of 14 overall, with 3 of the 4 J-109s behind us.  Not bad, not great.  Need some serious redemption in race 3.  Let's all hope for a big blow, shall we?

Race #1 was a bit of everything.  Light going really light following by big shifts and us being the winner of some, and the loser on others.  We sailed well, and scored OK against a tough fleet.  Zero to Hero to 4th, with tactics, luck, and light air work being the big keys to success.

Race #2 we measured in a new UK carbon tape drive main.  Battens weren't perfect, and we took a 6 sec/mile rating hit but the sail was a nice improvement in the light stuff.  Put a long, slow rip in the Russian kite when we couldn't keep it filled in a jibe and then put the prod through it when we sheeted on.  After grinding our way back to contact with the leaders, the wind piped up to 15-20 we struggled to change gears uphill and lost them again.  We finished overpowered in 20+ knots with the #1.  Nice problem to have, looking back at it.  The old main was really shy, and led us to carry the #1 longer than we should have.  Finished 2 minutes out of 2nd place. (Others would say we finished 7th).  Let's hope we can figure out a way to make up the difference in the last race, eh?

Toliva Shoal: Al's report

Brad and Al did the delivery down on Friday and had the boat tied up next to OYC by 1700 after a 6.5 hr motor down from Shilshole.  Not much wind and a little rain but not bad and the forecast was good for the next day.

The morning dawned clear and cold with a northwesterly breeze.  The decks particularly on the shady side of the boat were icy and many lines were frozen.  A little bucketing of salt water helped thaw things along with the rising temps.  The rest of the crew arrived early and ready to go with a car staged at TYC just in case...  With the fearless leader absent along with a number of other regulars we had to sort out some new roles for almost everyone.   Heading out for the start the assumption was 1 Heavy and it was teed up by the new foredeck crew of Matt, Katie and Kenyon.  While hanging around the starting area it became apparent the wind was rising as gusts were in the low 20's   After watching the cruising class start we decided to switch to the 3 and boy are we glad we did.  Start was definitely average with being late at the favored boat end but with clear air.  It didn't take long for Kotuku to assert herself sailing higher and faster than the competition we assumed the lead before reaching Boston Harbor.  With the ebb tide working against with the wind, now steady 20 knots a real steep chop built along Dana Passage but progress was good.  Rounding Johnson Point we were up into the class ahead of us and settled into a beam reach to the Nisqually daymark.  We stuck with the 3, although the A3 would have been better for sure.  We decided with the somewhat green bow hands not to test our luck or the sails trying a sail change.  Rounding the daymark set up a long beat to the Toliva Shoal mark.  This was the windiest and roughest part of the race with lots of lumps, bumps and spray.  The crew did well though and we arrived at the mark with none of our class in sight.  The tide just started flooding at the mark and we misjudged our layline and had to throw a couple more tacks in.  We took our time setting up the Rainbow kite and carried it down towards Eagle Island and the first wind convergence area.  Switching to the 1 carried us through to the other side passing a couple more boats by sticking very close to the Eagle Island shore.  We went to the A3 for the next run to the end of Drayton Passage.  Then it was back to the 1 for the close reach back to Johnson Point, before setting the Russian for the run home.  One jibe near Hartstene Island and then harden up for the beam reach after Dofflemyer Point to the finish and the gun for our class.  Crew worked well particularly Brad tending the main up hill working in sync with Al driving.  Stu kept us in good lanes with the tide and wind and then took over for the drive home.  The new kids on the bow did well with only a few glitches on one set and the gybe but pretty damn good for no practice.  Scott did his usual good job in the pit and Eli did most of the trimming up and down.  Eli also provided tons of good grub and OYC were great hosts for Brad and Al Friday night and Sat morning.

After finishing just after 1600 and a favorable tide setting up for a return, we scrambled first to find a fuel dock open and the nearest was Boston Harbor about 8 miles from Olympia.  A call confirmed they were open until 1800 we diecided to quickly drop the crew at the dock and have Eli and Al head off on a return trip.  They made it to the fuel dock and got 10 gallons to assure they had enough for the return.  15 minutes later they were off and made it to Shilshole at 2300 hitting nearly 12 knots at the Narrows and not hitting any flotsam on the trip.  It was a beautiful but cold trip with a nearly full moon.

Thanks Boss and crew for a memorable Saturday, Al

Editorial Comment:  Good boat, great crew, nice conservative tactics.  Sounds like a winning formula to me!

A Kotuku Kind of Day

A beautiful day in the South Sound, and a race result we can be proud of.  Who's the big guy driving in all the photos though?  Looks like he knows what he is doing!

  Scott will be providing a full write-up shortly.  Once again there was a nice write-up on pressure-drop, so here it is in the interim.  Thanks again to Ben and the folks at Pressure Drop for being the best source of race news in the PNW.

http://www.pressure-drop.us/forums/content.php?1136-Bluebird-Sailing-in-the-PNW-Toliva-Shoals-2011

Photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75869001@N00/sets/72157626098429374/show/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrm_olympia/sets/72157625970998029/show/

Kotuku is Accepted for the VanIsle 360

They cashed our check, so we are heading north for our biggest race yet.  Join us in Nanaimo on June 4th for the race round the Big Island, PNW style.  Plans are already forming up, so talk to the boss, get the time, and come join us for a great 2 weeks of stage racing around Vancouver Island.

More details here at:  www.vanisle360.com

 

Pressure Drop Write Up with some nice photos of us

Guess we were third in class, and 3rd overall.  Nice to be wrong!  Great write up from Ben Braden, who sailed on BZ.

http://www.pressure-drop.us/forums/content.php?1071-Iceberg-A-Bruce-Kinda-Day

Dyneema® Experience Team - Profile

Here is the contest link again, in case you missed it. (Crew, if you ain't "crew" what are you?) Come on, sign up!

Dyneema® Experience Team - Profile