“Every Battle is Won before it is fought”. SUN TZU, Philosopher, CHINESE GENERAL and MILITARY STRATEGIST and in sailing that means develop a Pre-Race routine.
Success in sailboat racing is based on many factors – better mental and physical preparation, reliable equipment, making better decisions and having perfect execution.
Before Leaving The Beach or Mooring
- Get your mind, body, and boat ready to race.
- Check the notice board for any changes to SIs or start time.
- Check the weather forecast, and that includes expected wind velocity, direction and trends.
- Tune your rig for expected conditions.
- Pick the sails that will be most effective for the expected wind.
- Check your boat for common issues that you have experienced in the past.
- Warm up your body, using stretches that are necessary for the type of sailing you do.
- Organise a fellow competitor to line up with to do speed checks.
FREE CHAMPIONSHIP SAILING GLOVES
Heading Out To The Course
- Get out to the course at least 45 minutes prior to the start time.
- Check all on board systems again, tidy the boat and adjust things like swinging straps.
- Take note of the wind and wave conditions and set up accordingly.
- Get on to the course proper and note whether the wind is oscillating, there is a persistent shift or a combination of both.
- Work out whether there is a favoured side of the course, current and whether the course orientation will take you towards land or other obstacles that will influence the wind.
- Work out and record the mean wind on each tack.
- If you are sailing in waves, set the boat up on each tack according to the angle you will be striking them on each tack.
Plan A Race Strategy
- Work out a strategy for the first work
- Determine which end of the line and where on the line you would set up on.
- Think about the boats that you need to be aware of and plan accordingly.
SAILING TO WIN BOOK AND BONUSES
Relax and get Your Head in The Game
- Have a snack and a drink to get fully hydrated
- Stow all gear.
- Set the race timer and start observing how and where other boats are setting up.
- Check the wind direction often to make sure that nothing has changed and that your strategy does not need changing.
- Work on your time and distance and acceleration techniques in preparation for the start.
- If you don’t have the benefit of distance from the line instruments, establish transits so you will be right on the line at full speed when the gun goes.
- Visually locate the windward mark.
- Say either on the line or to windward of the line, all the time looking upwind for clues about what may happen at start time.
- With 2-3 minutes to the start, set all sail controls for the conditions you are experiencing.
