2015 Chester Race Week - Perfect conditions on Day 3

by Michael Dunn on 15 Aug 2015 Good or bad, weather is always a factor at Chester Race Week. And, day three was no exception. Conditions were nearly perfect on all courses. Winds were steady between 12-15 knots, and courses were good and square with nice, tight races.

But, sailing in great conditions comes with its own set of challenges.

'Today we had the kind of world class conditions only Mahone Bay can deliver,' said Principal Race Officer, Liz Shaw. 'On great weather days, winning comes down to good sailing technique and keeping your head in the game. Nobody gets lucky on a day like today. Not to mention, being right on the start line is crucial; on a clear-air day, it's nearly impossible to shoot ahead.'

Good communications also play a key role, especially when weather is good and no one has the clear advantage.

'Good communications need to be efficient, professional, clear and concise. The best performing teams have their own internal language that only they understand,' said Shaw.

As for which boats in which classes will have the winning strategy on day four, that depends on personality says Shaw.

'Sailing is a game of inches. When you see opportunities, you have mere moments to act - you have to catch the wind shift at the right time, sail fast and have the right attitude. We have ultra risk takers and ultra conservatives. I can't say what will happen or who will choose what strategy, that's what is going to make day four so exciting to watch.'

According to Colin Guthrie, Ph.D., sailor, mental performance consultant who worked with Canada's Own the Podium initiative, and long-time Chester Race Week participant, good sailors are not always the ones winning.

'For experienced sailors, it's never about one single race,' says Guthrie. 'It's about being consistent and playing the law of averages. For experienced sailors, the goal on the last day of racing is to be within striking distance of winning.'

To novice sailors, Guthrie offers this advice. 'Don't get caught up in outcomes. Sailing is about continuous improvement. Take the opportunity to learn and improve as a team.'

Results

Alpha A1 (PHRF_ToT - Seven Boats)

1. Agincourt, N/M 43CR 42.9, Bob Cragg, Halifax, NS, CAN - 1 -1 -3 -1 -[4] ; 6
2. Team Ocean, Melges 32 31'10', John Roy, Halifax, NS, CAN - 2 -[5] -1 -5 -1 ; 9
3. Climax, 1D35 35, Nathan Reece / Emmanuel Comtois, Dartmouth, NS, CAN - [6] -2 -4 -3 -2 ; 11

Alpha A2 (PHRF_ToT - Eight Boats)

1. Deviation, J 120 40, Stu McCrea, Halifax, NS, CAN - 1 -1 -1 -1 -[5] ; 4
2. Wandrian, Taylor 41 41, Bill Tucker , Halifax, NS, CAN - 3 -2 -2 -[4] -2 ; 9
3. Brilliance, J 120 40, Richard Calder, Dartmouth, NS, CAN - 4 -3 -3 -[5] -1 ; 11

Alpha A3 (PHRF_ToT - Ten Boats)
1. Poohsticks, J 92 30, Colin Mann, Lunenburg, NS, CAN - 2 -1 -1 -[6] -3 ; 7
2. McMac, J 105 34.5, Rory Macdonald, Halifax, NS, CAN - [7] -3 -2 -3 -1 ; 9
3. J'ai Tu, J 35 35, Rodney Johnstone / Gary Bennett, Storrs, CT, USA - 3 -[7] -3 -2 -2 ; 10

Bravo B1 (PHRF_ToT - Thirteen Boats)
1. Paradigm Shift, J 29 29, Don Williams, Halifax, NS, CAN - 2 -3 -[10] -1 -1 ; 7
2. Rumblefish, J 29 FRIB 29.5, Scott Covey, Lunenburg, NS, CAN - 1 -1 -[14] -4 -4 ; 10
3. Head Games, J 29 FR OB 29.5, Terry Schnare, Chester Basin, NS, CAN - 4 -2 -1 -[5] -5 ; 12

Bravo B2 (PHRF_ToT - Ten Boats)
1. Flux, J 30 30, Jordan MacNeil, Halifax, NS, CAN - 2 -[6] -1 -1 -1 ; 5
2. Bazinga!, C&C 33 29, Donald K Walker , Dartmouth, NS, CAN - [8] -2 -2 -4 -6 ; 14
3. Highlander, DB1 33, Dan Pride, Halifax, NS, CAN - 6 -4.5 -[7] -2 -2 ; 14.5

Bravo B3 (PHRF_ToT - Eight Boats)
1. Spare Change, Kirby 25 25, Ryan Gallant, Tantallon, NS, CAN - [4] -1 -1 -3 -1 ; 6
2. Mayhem, C&C 29 Mark II 29, Richard Gerstenberger , Dartmouth, NS, CAN - 1 -[3] -3 -2 -2 ; 8
3. Hotspur, Santana 23 23, Tyson Hynes, Halifax, NS, CAN - 2 -2 -2 -4 -[5] ; 10

Bluenose (One Design – Twenty-three Boats)
1. Fish 'n Chips, Bluenose 20, Christian Luthi , Mahone Bay, NS, CAN - 7 -3 -1 -1 -2 -1 -2 -[24] ; 17
2. Shaken Knot Stirred, Bluenose 22, Malcolm Fraser , Halifax, NS, CAN - 1 -1 -4 -11 -4 -3 -[13] -4 ; 28
3. Dart, Bluenose 23, John Grantmyre , Halifax, NS, CAN - 6 -4 -3 -[9] -5 -4 -6 -3 ; 31

Classics (PHRF_ToT - Five Boats)
1. Seneca, Classic 48, David Creighton , Chester, NS, USA - 1 -4 -1 ; 6
2. Virginia, Universal Q 43.84, John W Wurts Jr. , Chester, NS, CAN - 2 -3 -2 ; 7
3. Rondo, Folkboat 25'2, Dayna Nelder , Mahone Bay, NS, CAN - 3 -1 -4 ; 8

Non-Spinnaker D1 (PHRF_ToT - Five Boats)
1. Pursuit, Peterson Custom 46 46, Bob Belliveau , Chester, NS, CAN - 1 -1 -1 ; 3
2. Akubra, J 44 44, Reginald Goodday , Halifax, NS, CAN - 2 -3 -2 ; 7
3. Mischief, C&C 40 40, Jeff Costwell , Head of St Margarets Bay, NS, CAN - 3 -2 -3 ; 8

Non-Spinnaker D2 (PHRF_ToT - Seven Boats)
1. SEABREAKER, cAND C 25, Bruce Nunn , Dartmouth, ns, CAN - 2 -2 -1 ; 5
2. Aspire II, Catalina 27 27, James Gaw , Eastern Passage, NS, CAN - 3 -3 -2 ; 8
3. Warp Drive, Sonar 23, Thomas Avery , Chester, NS, CAN - 5 -1 -3 ; 9
J 24 (One Design - Seven Boats)
1. Lightning McQueen, J 24 24, Ian Dawson , Bedford, NS, CAN - 1 -[3] -2 -1 -1 -1 -3 -1 -1 -1 -2 ; 14
2. HypeWave, J 24 24, Chris Veinot , Halifax, NS, CAN - [6] -1 -1 -2 -4 -3 -2 -3 -2 -2 -4 ; 24
3. Jamming, J 24 24, Nicholas Hamblin , Head St Margarets Bay, NS, CAN - 2 -2 -[5] -4 -5 -2 -1 -2 -3 -4 -1 ; 26

International One Design (One Design - Six Boats)
1. Mighty Mo, IOD 33, Richard Thompson, Chester, NS, CAN - 1 -3 -4 -1 -1 -4 -2 -[5] -1 -1 -3 ; 21
2. Squall, IOD 33, Peter Wickwire, Halifax, NS, CAN - 2 -1 -2 -[4] -4 -1 -1 -4 -3 -4 -2 ; 24
3. Elida, IOD 33, Jay Nadelson , Chester, NS, CAN - 3 -2 -3 -2 -3 -2 -3 -1 -[4] -2.5 -2.5 ; 24

Farr 30 (One Design - Six Boats)
1. Ramrod, Farr 30 30, Rodrick Jabin, Annapolis, MD, USA - [1] -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 ; 10
2. One More Time, Farr 30 30, Rob Gale, Halifax, NS, CAN - 3 -3 -2 -2 -3 -2 -3 -[4] -2 -2 -3 ; 25
3. Venturesome, Farr 30 30, Ben Maloney, Bedford, NS, CAN - [4] -4 -3 -3 -2 -3 -4 -3 -3 -3 -2 ; 30

Sonar (One Design - Ten Boats)
1. PING, Sonar 23, Andreas Josenhans, Lunenburg, NS, USA - 4 -1 -1 -[7] -1 -2 -4 -3 -1 -1 -4 ; 22
2. Bella Rena, Sonar 23, Henry Demone, Lunenburg, NS, CAN - 1 -3 -3 -4 -[5] -1 -1 -1 -4 -5 -2 ; 25
3. Echo, Sonar 23, John Whynacht, Mahone Bay, NS, CAN - 2 -2 -[6] -2 -2 -4 -3 -5 -2 -2 -3 ; 27