Mike Dobbs broke his crew, and another team may have, too. If you're in the San Diego area, and you can crew for him tomorrow and/or Sunday, give me a call at 626/536/2369, and I will put you in touch. (I don't feel right giving out Mike's cell number online.)

I'd do it myself if I didn't have prior commitments. (I crewed for Mike in the Nationals this week.)

--Glenn

Glenn, did you team up with Mike for the trials as well?

Ref: http://www.sdyc.org/raceinfo/results06/tornadoPreTrials_res.htm

Pics:
http://sdyc.org/gallery/TornadoOlympicPreTrials?page=1

Report:
http://www.sdyc.org/raceinfo/index.htm


Loved this picture of what I believe is Mike (and you) going downwind close to another boat. Clearly demonstrates the difference in spi shape (dont know if it is due to cut or setup/trim) and main trim.

Hi Rolf,

That is from Day1 Race2 of the Pre-Trials, and no, this is not Glenn in the crew position (the organizer's didn't update the team lists between events for some reason). That is Jonathan, my 140 pounder on his second race ever. We are in a close battle with Kelly & Ollie in that shot. Looking carefully at our spin, I see we're not fully hoisted (rookie error!) and I'm eased on the main, likely due to a puff hitting just before the shot was taken. We may be headed high to make the mark and I do sometimes ease the main in response to gusts when I don't need to go lower (yes, you can ease the main with the carbon stick without fear of snapping it!).
If you check the next 2 shots in the series, you will see USA 699 beat us to the gate.

It was someplace on the following windward where Jonathan got slammed against the gunwale and hurt his butt. He wanted to keep going and wanted to do race 3..Helm's trapline let loose at the 1st top mark layline in race 3...Ollie & Kelly had just tacked under us at the layline, we were set to try to drive onto their wind when I went in the water, boat heeled severely, tiller smashed to bits. She gracefully spun up the weather and came back down. We had to DNF that one. Jonathan could no longer contiune and was limping around the boatyard afterwards. Had to get two further crew for the remaining 2 days. But, at least we kept sailing.

Thanks Mike, hope you have time to do one of your usual reports to the TornadoCat list. You know, we are getting quite spoiled by you..

I noticed this image especially as the spi had so much draft and a loose luff (did not know that the halyard was slack due to rookie crew <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />) and the main was so twisted. Compared to the other boat, who had the crew in trapeze, you did not seem to have the same power. The angle the picture was taken in made it very easy to compare and see differences. Too bad you had a rookie crew for the trials.
You really should get a regulare crew to partner with, especially as you obviously want to do the Tornado well. After 6 years on the T with the same crew, I can tell you that bringing out a new crew can be frustrating and slow.

I found it odd that even during this race with winds in the 8-12 kts range, almost none of the other teams were trapping out down wind. I think USA 699 were doing it cause they are on the light side...but not by much compared to some of the other teams.

We were also running our spin blocks at the 3rd tramp hook, not the 4th as we did in the past. This closed up the leech some...though the photo is not showing this, likely due to the soft luff (not fully hoisted) and possibly an eased sheet.

This was Charlie's advice...#3 as the basic location, #4 for the high winds...and possibly #2 for real light stuff.

Check out the mark rounding order for Race2 of the US Nats...we were in 5th at the top mark, plummetting to 10th & 11th soon afterwards...this was repeated the next race as well. We kept trying to sail hot angles DW in the light!!! But, I'm surprised how well we did on the first weather leg in two races in row.
US Nats Race2 Mark Rounding