Orion Racing

11/03/2025

09/26/2021

Day 1 of US Sailing Offshore Championship, Mad Hatter crew on a Navy 44. With Bob Fleck, Lisa Fleck, David Puckett, Mark Crews, Sloan Burns, Chuck O'Malley, Rand Burgess and midshipman Cade Gelhar.

09/25/2021

Day 2. Waiting for the wind to show up.

09/24/2021

Excited to be racing for the Lloyd Phoenix Trophy at the US Sailing Offshore National Championship!

Go team Mad Hatter!

Event Details Date: September 24, 2021 – September 26, 2021 Location: Naval Academy Sailing Squadron Annapolis, Maryland Competing for: Lloyd Phoenix Trophy Thank You National Sponsors Results & Reports Regatta Documents Notice of Race NOR Amendment 1 NOR Amendment 2 Application for invitation Sai...

09/24/2021

Excited to be racing for the Lloyd Phoenix trophy at the US Sailing Offshore Championship this weekend!

Event Details Date: September 24, 2021 – September 26, 2021 Location: Naval Academy Sailing Squadron Annapolis, Maryland Competing for: Lloyd Phoenix Trophy Thank You National Sponsors Results & Reports Regatta Documents Notice of Race NOR Amendment 1 NOR Amendment 2 Application for invitation Sai...

06/09/2021

This is HUGE! One of the many techniques Mad Hatter uses to SAIR (sail above its rating). I've never hidden the fact that much of my knowledge over the years came from Sailing World magazine articles. This one will be added to my archive.

On Mad Hatter, we start getting the crew involved in puff calling by estimating time to pressure in their heads. Then when they feel comfortable calling puff in 5 or 10 sec., we encourage them to start calling it out loud. Changes in wind pressure require changes in boat trim. Boat trim is sail trim, crew position and helm. It requires everyone on the boat to be envolved. So when the entire crew is aware of an upcoming change they are primed for action when the pressure change effects the boat.

Soon it becomes a game, who can call the pressure accurately the longest time out. It takes practice and can only happen when you can get your head out of your boat and look around. The crew is not just meat on the rail. They're now "smart meat". Once timing gets better, they start guessing the direction changes by the shape of the pressure, how it will hit the boat, and most importantly, how it will change the direction of the boat.

On that note. It took a long time in this skippers development to realize that, going upwind, every increase in pressure should lift the bow towards the mark (It's math don't fight it). So, if you sail into increased wind, and the boat's compass course does not change, it is not, "same direction, just an increase in pressure", it is a header! Tack the boat. It will be a lift, with more pressure on the other board.

Lastly, a comment on seeing wind. Not all sunglasses are created equal. And not all work the same for everyone. Polarized sunglasses are required and the tint can also effect how well a person can see changes on the surface of the water. The Mad Hatter skipper's favorite is Hobie sunglasses with the amber tint. They were recommended to him years ago by S2 7.9 legend, Spike Boston, and when Spike talks, everyone should listen. They are not the cheapest(or most expensive) glasses, but US Sailing has been offering a 50% off Hobie's coupon code the last couple of years. Usually at the end August, just before Labor day weekend. I'll post if they do it again this year.

Be like the Hatter. Sail smarter. Sail faster.

The most important skill on a racing sailboat is observing the wind. Read how a pro looks for wind on the water

06/04/2021

Happy Birthday, Lisa!

06/01/2021

It was fast. Then it wasn't. End of report. This is what happens when you have a new sail you are really, really, REALLY want to see how the boat likes it. The wind is close to the designed wind range. Then the puffs come... It was unfortunate, but the data collected puts a smile on my face.

05/28/2021

Good luck to the Mad Hatter crew in the Down the Bay Race! Bob Fleck, David Puckett, Mark Crews.

10/09/2020