The winds were modest at best this year in the 2001 Santa Barbara to King Harbor yacht race held here in California. Bill Gibb's AFTERBURNER (52' LOA) was the first official entrant to cross the finish line at just after 7 PM completing the 81 kn. mile course with just over a 10 knot average VMG. Our total distance covered after tacking angles was 120 miles making our average speed much higher.
<br>
<br>The wind stayed in the 7-11 knot range almost all day although we did get a peak wind of about 13 knots for a few moments. Seas were dead flat and the skies were overcast.
<br>
<br>We got to sail the boat as a "beach cat" with basically no instruments except for a GPS and a hand held wind meter thanks to last minute problems with the recent mast repair (no repair problem, just no B&G instruments techs available).
<br>
<br>We were greeted by a standing ovation at King Harbor yacht club which has recently been infiltrated by a huge number of Multihuill enthusiasts including their commodore Mark Hansen. There were lots of hands to help at the dock and the club went all out in preparation for the incoming racers. Many thanks to both the Santa Barbara Yacht Club and King Harbor for all of their efforts in putting on a great race!
<br>
<br>With any wind this boat will beat the record easily and I look forward to trying to do so next year...
<br>
<br>Come join us if you have an ORCA class boat in next year's race!
<br>
<br>Mark Michaelsen
<br>www.sailingproshop.com<br><br>Mark Michaelsen
<br>www.sailingproshop.com
<br>(800) 354-7245

Did you guys finish before or after the unofficial Nacra 36 entry of Billy Bob Boyer? Is it the same club commodore who refused the Nacra to tie off at the docks to "avoid the appearance of the club supporting an official entry" (which hosed official entries)?
<br>
<br>see www.sailinganarchy.com and messages on the discussion board.
<br>
<br>just struggling for a clear multihull picture.
<br>
<br>s.<br><br>

Why was the Nacra 36 an unofficial entry? In order to take line honors you must be entered in the race.<br><br>

correction, the commodore said
<br>"avoid the appearance of the club supporting an UNofficial entry" (which hosed official entries)?
<br>
<br>sorry about that
<br>
<br>s.<br><br>

When you participate in a race you are competing with those who have chosen to outfit their boats with the required (Bloody heavy) equipment. Those choosing to participate without that gear are not racing.
<br>
<br>The owner of AFTERBURNER wanted to be the first boat to finish. To do so we carefully took note of the SUPER SLED "Magnitude"'s position on the course and could not be concerned with other boats not entered. We chose not to cover the rolland 36 as they were not in the race. By going all the way across Santa Monica Bay to cover the corner Magnitude was sailing to we likely gave up at least ten minutes of time which was more than enough to cover the Rolland's elapsed time.
<br>
<br>My hat is off to those guys on the rolland. They sailed FAST. Ed and the rest of my friend's on that boat are great guys and are to be applauded for showing up. They always add fun to the mix... I hope thay sail again next year!
<br>
<br>MM
<br>www.sailingproshop.com<br><br>Mark A. Michaelsen ~MM~
<br>1244 Pacific Coast Highway
<br>(562) 594-8749 Voice
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>

Serge:
<br>
<br>I just got done reading the article published on Sailing Anarchy. Where does this guy get his information? The length of the boat was wrong. The finish times he posted are WAY off. They beat us by just over 7 minutes. Where in the heck did he get an hour....? Magnitude was in within thirty minutes of them as well.
<br>
<br>Two of Ten was not entered in the race because it doesn't meat class rules, not because it's "too fast" (Gimme a break).
<br>
<br>Where do these guys get this stuff?
<br>
<br>MM
<br>Tactician-AFTERBURNER<br><br>Mark A. Michaelsen ~MM~
<br>1244 Pacific Coast Highway
<br>(562) 594-8749 Voice
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>

He pulls it out of his butt for the most part, but that leads to search and discovery of real information. That's the reason for my questions to you as participant.
<br>
<br>S.<br><br>

More information has now become available regarding the winds and conditions on the Santa Barbara to King Harbor race that shed some light on why the finish times were so close between AFTERBURNER and the rest of the fleet.
<br>
<br>As it turns out the boat's great speed kept it just ahead of the incoming wind line. Several boats on the course reported winds on 18-20 knots for several hours during the race. The most we saw was about 13 knots and that was only very briefly. The average wind speed we saw was around 9 knots.
<br>
<br>This helps explain how Magnitude and others were able stay within thirty minutes of AFTERBURNER.
<br>
<br>MM
<br>www.sailingproshop.com<br><br>Mark A. Michaelsen ~MM~
<br>1244 Pacific Coast Highway
<br>(562) 594-8749 Voice
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>