Stora Oset Race is a classic regatta that plays out in the Northern archipelago of Gothenburg, starting and ending at Björlanda Kile and arranged by the local sailing club BKSS.
It takes place early in the season. An inshore race spiced by a brief taste of open sea. Short enough to require constant attention and long enough to feel like a proper distance race. A great way to kick off the racing season.
This year, restrictions due to Covid19 forced the arranging body to cancel the event.
Desperate to get out and sail, a few yachts turned up for a training session based on the same course, with the purpose to tune up boats and crews for the coming races, once restrictions are dropped.
Winds were uncertain until the last minute. Then, a south-westerly slight breeze graced us and stayed quite constant for the rest of the morning. With it came a cold grey day…and lot of rain. No matter. Rain and cold does not bother us. Wind is what we care about.
We finally had a chance to try out our new genua. A blast. A real weapon.
Around the course
A perfect port start, thanks to Filip’s tactics, which put us immediately in the lead at full speed.
The first leg was a beam reach. The outboard leads which I have installed complimentary to inhaulers for the new headsails a few weeks ago (in detail here) worked very effectively. And we put immediately some distance from the rest of our starting group.
After the first rounding, we started a 1.5 hours close-hauled leg. Half of which, against the chop. Filip did a great job trimming actively all the time. And it paid off. We left more distance from our group and we kept fighting with the fleet of faster boats, which after 2 hours had caught up with us.
Farrgo, always beautifully sailed, gained fast on us, but fortunately for us, she tacked just before overlapping to windward and sailed the wrong course. Forced to sail back on course, she took a while to re-gain on us. But then we were sailing in open waters with little risk to be covered.
We sailed a few long tacks crossing La Primera, our big young sister Sun Fast 3600, a few times and lost just a boat length over a few miles. It felt good and it was clear that we were doing something right.
After rounding “Stora Pölsan”, the next target was “Stora Oset” and re-enter inshore waters. With a 7kts TWS and oscillating angles between 100 and 120 TWA we decided not to fly a kite. Some analysis from last year showed that even if we could carry our smallest spinnaker at such angle, we average a 15 degrees leeway, costing us more VMC than the increased speed. Once again, 130% genua + outboard leads were the answer. And it was time for lunch!
Finally our new kite went up. A light spinnaker may have been more effective, at times, however we realised that both J88.se and La Primera, ahead of us were not increasing their distance. We decided to sail safe, avoid cock-ups in the last 30 minutes and focus on sailing correct angles and play the shifts.
Beam reaching on the last leg again and with the wind picking up, it was a pleasure to blow across the finish line at full speed.
We had the best time adjusted for handicap. Which would mean a 1st place at Stora Oset Race, if there were places!
Are we surfing a winning wave?
Lesson learned
We played conservative and correct angles. We trusted numbers and it felt good.
Sailing conservatively means lesser risk to mess up. Particularly on a relatively short race against full-crew yachts.
Speed first has been the mantra throughout the race.