Fresh off a win at the Wawasee E Scow Regatta, Allan Terhune Jr. shares his thoughts from the weekend.
Last weekend was the Wawasee Spring E Scow Regatta, and what a weekend it was. Thirty-eight boats showed up, which was a huge turnout! This regatta embodied everything that E Scow sailing is about—fun both on and off the water. Not only was the racing great, with four races sailed in a wide range of conditions, but the shoreside experience was next level as well. The Wawasee team rolled out the red carpet and made sure everyone had a fantastic time.
This was my first time steering an E Scow in more than 25 years. It was a blast to get back in the boat and learn a few new tricks along the way.
Photos: Bill Crawford | Harbor Pictures Company
Here are a few takeaways from the event:
1. The E Scow is still all about teamwork.
The E Scow rewards teamwork and I was so lucky to have my buddies Will and George Demand with me. These two were constant in boat preparation, both off and on the water. While racing, they were constantly working the boat, so we had constant angle of heel and always going quick. They were very good at communicating with each other and me on puffs, trim, body weight, you name it. They key was it wasn't constant talk, but very clear, concise and accurate. It was much easier to make smart decisions when we were fast. It was also amazing that we had a strong team vibe on getting boat rigged, launched, rig tuned, etc. The best E programs are a total team game!
2. The New North Sails were a game-changer.
We used the AP Main and Jib along with the JB-2 Asymmetric kite, and the boat felt fantastic. The sails looked great right out of the bag and made the boat much more forgiving to sail.
3. Main trim was a major focus for me.
I really worked on accurate Main trim for the event. There were two keys to this: One, was making sure I adjusted enough to keep the boat on the right heel and also to keep the boat smooth. The second was ensuring that, especially in the breeze, I didn't over trim and cause the boat to trip over itself. When the boat was free and fast, we actually gained more height from our pace through the water .I used the location of the taper along the boom to give me a reference to look at to ensure I could repeat if needed and so I wasn't constantly looking at the sail. The goal is for me as a driver to be looking at heel angles and the wind on the water.
4. Boat prep matters.
Daily, constant checks over the boat are key. George was diligent about this for us and each day we found a few minor things to check, ensuring that when we were racing, we were racing and not doing boat work. One other key thing we did was wax the main halyard before putting the mast up. This allowed the main to move easily up and down and lock securely.
I can't wait for the rest of the season, and all the fun E Scow sailing ahead. Next year, I was told the Wawasee event will be the ILYA invite, which will make it even bigger!
The Melges team loves being on site at these events and helping however we can. We LOVE the E Scow class and want to do everything we can to help everyone have max fun and time on the water. Please let us know what we can do to help!