Changing gears and knowing when and how is essential if you want to compete at the pointy end of the fleet.
How many times have you crossed the finish line in 5 knots, having started in 15-20 knots and realised that your rig and boat are still at their original settings?
Constantly think about settings as the breeze fluctuates.
I think most of us are good at adjusting our settings and rig tensions as the breeze increases, but conversely are less diligent as the breeze drops. Powering up is essential as the wind velocity drops, and this is where big gains can be made against the rest of the fleet.
Being slow to react to a change in conditions can be really costly. If you suddenly find you are going slow, don’t have the height of the boats around you, or that lane you had has now disappeared, think about why.
You are on the wrong tack and are frantically searching for another lane to tack into. The reason you are in this predicament is that while you were preoccupied trying to find a better lane, you hadn’t changed gear.
Why the best sailors constantly win
The best sailors can change gear effortlessly. While they are steering the boat fast, they can reach in and pull a little Vang or Cunningham on, or move the centreboard up or down without affecting boatspeed.
Most of us are reluctant to reach in to adjust controls and change gear, as our steering suffers. This results in the boat heading up or down, losing speed, while our more competent competitors slowly ease away.
Practising making adjustments on the fly during training sessions is essential to improve that aspect of your racing.
Crews must continually communicate about the feel as adjustments are made. Ensure that you give the boat and team time to settle in to confirm that the adjustment has been effective.
Understand what effect each control has
Understand what each of the controls on your boat does and the effect they have on the sail shape and trim.
Depending on the class and type of boat you sail, some controls will be more effective than others at depowering or powering up the rig. Most classes have a sailmaker’s guide on the fastest settings for your type of boat. Use these as a guide or starting point.
In many cases, the guide is generic and doesn’t take into account your team’s weight, the brand of mast you are using (to name a few) or the sea conditions you are encountering on the day.
Sailing at different venues
Different venues with their associated conditions require different amounts of gear changing.
Speak with the locals at a new venue to see what to expect and plan accordingly. If the information is sparse and it is a multi-day regatta, arrive a day or so early and get out on the course to learn the conditions and plan accordingly.
Lake sailing is likely to be gusty with a large variation in wind velocity, requiring regular adjustment of the controls. If you are sailing at a venue with large headlands or high topography on one side of the course, plan for gusts and shifts.
Start by prioritising a couple of key controls to adjust. Often, it’s the Vang, Cunningham and outhaul, especially in a single hander like a Laser or Aero.
Work out what gives you the biggest “bang for your buck” in your boat and start with those.
Conclusion
Don’t try to gear change for every gust and lull. Not only will you quickly become exhausted, but you’ll be so busy with your head in the boat that you will lose sight of the bigger picture strategy.
The length of the gust or lull should determine whether to change gear or not.
