Two days under the tutelage of scow racing champion Kevin Caulfield gave local sailors lots to absorb and put to practice. With light air both days, Coach Caulfield emphasized heeling and the importance of heads-up crew work to keep the big boats moving.
Three I-20s and one M-16 participated Nov. 10-11 with sailors coming as far away as Hoboken New Jersey and Chautauqua New York.
Georgetown Sailing Team loaned a skiff for the event, giving Coach Caulfield maximum maneuverability as the big scows glided through the paces. A more extensive write up is coming shortly. Meanwhile…enjoy these pix from Day 2, which offered a soft south breeze filling the spinnakers to Haines Point.
We better heel it up for Coach Caulfield!
all heeled up and no wind to blow!
That kid learned to sail so fast it made my halyard spin.
Beautiful blue a-spin…
Captain Dave and crew heel up in light air
as if on ice, the big scow propels itself forward…
way off in the distance, a monument
Colorful spinnaker!
A 35 year old boat gets new legs…
Wow, that old boat sure moves well…
My butt got wet!
Why are they going so fast?!
Who is heeling harder?!
Coach Caulfield ha all kinds of suggestions for Dijon
the wind dies and the skiff gives a favor
Opening up the spinnaker sheet made all the difference!
the big scows opened chutes and began to battle
ready for a day on the water
Whistlebritches on a tear with Steve driving the crew hard!
A national champion scow sailor comes to the Washington Sailing Marina Nov. 10-11 to teach basics and finer points of making our boats go faster. Kevin Caulfield has won national championships in the I20 scow and its precursor, the M20 scow.
Meteorologists are calling for 60 degrees, partly cloudy skies and mild southern winds Saturday and Sunday.
Caulfield currently skippers A scows, the 38-foot speed monsters that can top 30+ knots. He is planning to share his knowledge over two days of sailing at Daingerfield Island/Washington Sailing Marina and will be staying with scow sailors on Capitol Hill with lots of opportunity for chalkboard talks.
This event is free to anyone who wishes to learn about scows, including the sailors of Potomac River Sailboat Association and the Daingerfield Island Sailing Club.
The clinic begins 10am Saturday and Sunday with shore lunches both days at 1pm. Afternoon sailing will continue as long as weather permits. Rain cancels.
This has to be one of the best descriptions of the dynamics at play in scow sailing and why many people find the boat to behave so, well, kindly at high speeds and fresh winds. The Melges 17 scow referenced here has many of the high tech innovations found in modern skiffs, but all scows enjoy the hull characteristics. Continue reading Scow stability explained→
