|
Twain: Rocks and Races
By
Ralph Wuest
1989
Two
things the Bermuda Triangle and Stepping Stones Triangle have in common is that
they are not triangles and things can happen there. The consensus of opinion is
that if you stay out of the triangle found by the Stepping Stones lighthouse and
the two buoys, one by Kings Point Merchant Maxine Academy and the other just to
the east by Stepping Stones Park, you will sail safe from rocks.
But
you may leave your keel behind. Last spring I had a brief encounter with one of
two rocks, both out of the Triangle. A look at the navigation charts reveals
their location, but they are unmarked in the water. At very low tides, one of
them will show its ugly head, but the other remains around two or three feet
below the water line.
The
message is clear- look hard at a chart of Little Neck Bay, get a fix on those
rocks, and stay clear of that area.
Since
we're speaking of sailing, my son, Greg, and I just finished North Sails
"Smart Course," a sentiment on racing rules, strategy, and tactics. It
was given by two instructors, one of whom has crewed on the twelve meter boats
in the America's Cup trials, and the other who seems to do nothing else in life
but sell sails and race sailing boats.
Together
they demonstrated that it is not necessarily the fastest boat who wins, but the
one which takes best advantage of wind shifts, currents, and, most important,
awareness of everything else happening in the race. He showed us how to watch
for gusts showing up as ripples or how to look at other boats to see how much
they are heeling or in what direction they are pointing.
Other
seminars are offered on sail trim, for a fee of course. It's hard for an
uninitiated sailor to realize how much an older sail will stretch out and
therefore lose its ideal "airfoil" shape. A new sail, especially with
today's space-age materials of Mylar and Kevlar, will hold its design shape and
provide considerably more lift or driving force, which translates into boat
speed.
The
conclusion is clear: there is so much skill involved in racing well that just
being involved and matching yourself against others makes you a better-and
safer-sailor. Anyone with a sailboat of any size is invited to join the CCLNB
(Cruising Class of Little Neck Bay) and race each Thursday night at 7-15 p.m.
Small boat owners shouldn't be intimidated because it's a handicap race with
generally 10- 15 boats competing. Win or lose, it's a fare experience, and,
besides, sharpening one's sailing skills means there's always the next time.
Join up!
|
