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Assessing a Regatta Venue and Big Fleet Strategy

Brett Bowden
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Assessing a Regatta Venue and Big Fleet Strategy
 

 

To get an insight into Assessing a Regatta Venue and Big Fleet Strategy, I spoke with Roger Blasse from Melbourne, Australia. Roger has won 11 National and 2 World championships in the OK dinghy and is also a front-running competitor in the International 14′ skiff, a very technical development class.

Brett: When you’re going to a regatta, how long before the racing starts do you arrive and get on the water?

 
I think you need to get there and at least get a couple of sails in.  A couple of sails before you go to the invite race. So, I’d suggest at least three days beforehand.

If there’s a pre-regatta see if you can do that. If you’ve got the time, you should maybe get there three days early. if there’s a pre-regatta try and get there earlier and do that. It’s important to just get knowledge of where you’re going to be sailing.


Do you have any secrets to preparing for a regatta? Is there anything that you do to prepare yourself mentally and prepare your boat?

The first thing I think you need to do is you need to decide whether you’re going to do the regatta or not.

And usually, I think like nine months out, you need to make that decision. And as that time gets closer I mean obviously the first things you’ve got to work on is what you got to take…practicing in sailing and working on your fitness. 

So speaking about the venue, how do you gather local knowledge regarding wind, currents and weather? Have you got a particular thing you do? Assessing a Regatta Venue and Big Fleet Strategy
 
The first step is to maybe have a chat with people who’ve been there before which is very important.

And obviously, even if they’re outside your class, have a look at the last Worlds. Who has been there, maybe get on the website and have a look at the report.

Have a look at the results and see where some of the Aussies went and just from the people that have been there you’ll understand whether they are a light or heavy crew and so forth.

I think the next thing is getting on the internet.
 
There are plenty of sites that you can have a look at and just check what the winds are going to be like during that period.

As we all know that sometimes the weather isn’t exactly what it’s meant to be. Go with the knowledge it will be what it will be. You have to adapt to what the wind strength will be and the conditions.

So it all comes back to preparation. So let’s talk a little bit about championship and regatta strategy. Do you have a plan to deal with other competitors or do you simply sail your own race?
 
 I try and sail my own race in general terms. I think it’s important, particularly in a larger fleet. There are going to be at least 10 people that are just as good or just as competitive as yourself.

If you start to hone in on a particular person then I think you’re risking the other nine boats. So it’s important to just sail your own race and use the strategies that you’ve got, you feel comfortable with and the knowledge that you’ve got, tactically and try and sail as well you can.

You do have to be mindful of the fleet during the course of the regatta and make sure that you are keeping them in the back of your mind. But in general sail your own race.

One of the problems we have is that at home we sail in much smaller fleets.When you do go away to a worlds, you have rarely sailed in fleets that big. You have to think about it beforehand, not just get out there and say now what do I do? Assessing a Regatta Venue and Big Fleet Strategy
 
It’s one of those things you don’t know until you’ve done it. Certainly, if you haven’t sailed in a big fleet before it can be quite daunting. Especially if it’s 20 knots and there are 80 boats reaching around before the start. 

If you’ve never been in that type of scenario and particularly if you’re in a 14 that’s travelling at 12 knots, it’s being mindful and looking out, boats can pop up out of nowhere.

Have you got any basic strategies for big fleets is there anything you plan before you go out for instance?

Well, I think when you got a big fleet you’ve got to be…before the start you got to have a look up the course and commit to your strategy uphill.

If you’ve committed to the strategy you then can concentrate on sailing the fleet a little bit.

One of the most important things is to make sure you have a clear air lane. So just after the start be mindful of where you’re going to go and how to maintain that clear air lane.

You might not be sailing always on the lift. If you’ve got a clear lane you probably got another half and knot split over everyone else. So that can take up an account for any loss whether you’re sailing on a knock or a lift.

It’s also worth noting that as the breeze rotates, you’re positioned in the right spot for that rotation. So don’t get the mentality where you’re always thinking I’ve got to cross that boat. I’ve got to cross that line of boats.

If it’s already knocked, don’t worry about crossing them just tack straight away to get a clear air lane. Then you can maintain that longer than the remainder of the fleet.

If you suddenly find you have dropped back in the fleet, what are some of the things you shouldn’t do? You may have dropped back unexpectedly, what shouldn’t you do?
 
Well, I think as I mentioned before, you shouldn’t panic.

You shouldn’t try and take the whole fleet in one flier. We’ve all found ourselves in that position and it’s very tempting to do that.

The other thing is to look outside of the boat and really start to look at what’s happening out on the course.

So don’t stress too much about where you are, try and just start afresh and have a look at what you can do to improve.

#sailingtowin #sail #yachtrace #sailingcoach #sailtowin #sailing #yacht

 

Winning Tips For Sailors

Brett Bowden
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Winning Tips For Sailors

 

 

 

I have copied below a couple of awesome tips written by my good mate Dave Dellenbaugh, sailing legend, coach and author of the Speed and Smarts Newsletter. Winning Tips For Sailors Competing Over The Holiday Season

I know you will find these tips very useful even if they are just to remind you of things that you already know but have forgotten.

MINIMISE RISK:

Don’t take unnecessary chances! If you want to finish consistently near the top of the fleet, you must follow a conservative game plan. 

That is, you should minimize risk, or exposure, by sticking to tactics and strategies that have a high probability of success.

Of course, there are situations when it’s all right (or even smart) to take a chance, but your general approach should be to avoid risky decisions, manoeuvres, tactics and strategies. 

13 ideas on how you can minimize risk

Here are 13 ideas on how you can minimize risk around the racecourse. If you implement as many of these as possible, your finishes should be more consistently near the top of the fleet.

Learn the racing rules.

Knowing the rules is the best way to avoid breaking any rules. So spend some time looking at the rulebook on a regular basis. Besides reducing your risk, it will put you in a much stronger position tactically and help you stay in control of your race. (Don’t forget your class rules, too.)

Study the notice of race and sailing instructions.

If you really want to minimize risk-taking, don’t ever sail a race without reading all the regatta rules first. This is an easy, foolproof way to avoid the kind of embarrassing mistakes that can cost you a regatta.

Work hard on boatspeed. 

Improving your boatspeed may be hard work, but it can give you a huge return with no risk at all. In addition, good boatspeed will help you recover from mistakes. It lets you take slightly bigger risks (in search of slightly bigger rewards) while reducing your downside.

Practice boat-handling maneuvers, especially in heavy air. 

When you’re racing, there is always at least a small risk whenever you perform a maneuver (e.g. heavy-air jibes). To minimize this risk, practice as much as possible, especially in stronger winds, and try to avoid high-risk maneuvers while racing.

Check over your boat and gear. 

Another easy way to lose a race or regatta is by having something break. Therefore, if you want to reduce your risk, be sure to check your boat carefully before every race. Pay special attention to areas of high wear like the boom vang, hiking stick, hiking straps, halyards and so on. 

Aim to finish in the top three or five, not first. 

If you try to win every race, you will probably take too many risks in order to beat all the other boats. A better idea is to aim for the top 5 or so instead. Just as you don’t need the best start to win a race, you don’t need first places to win a series.

Keep your head out of the boat. 

To avoid bumps in the road, keep your eyes on where you’re going. Anticipate, anticipate, anticipate. Keep the big picture firmly in mind so you won’t sail into a position where you are left with only high-risk options.

Avoid close encounters with other boats. 

If you foul another boat it can be very costly, especially if it’s early in a race. Therefore, in order to reduce risk, keep clear of other boats.

Be willing to take a penalty. 

No one likes to admit they broke a rule or do circles in the middle of a race, especially when they’re not sure they were actually wrong. However, when you go to a protest hearing you typically have a 50% chance of losing. So, if you really want to minimize risk, your best move is to take a penalty (720° or yellow flag) at the time of the incident.

Don’t take fliers. 

The greater your separation from other boats, the more you are at risk. Therefore, stay away from the corners and laylines of the course, and avoid sailing off by yourself.

Make a strategic plan and follow it. 

Much risk-taking results from decisions that are made on the spur of the moment. To avoid this, get out to the course area early, develop a race strategy and use this as your guide for decisions during the race. Of course, you should modify this as necessary during the race.

Sail the longer tack first.

In other words, stay on the tack where your bow is pointed closer to the next mark. This gives you the best chance of success because it will keep you closer to the middle of the course in a position where you can best play the wind shifts and handle other boats.

Cover the boats behind you.

When you want to stay ahead of the boats behind, cover them by positioning your boat between them and the next mark. This will minimize your risk of losing them.

POST-RACE CHECKLIST: 

It ain’t over when you finish! Crossing the finish line may be the end of the race, but it definitely doesn’t end your responsibilities under the rules, and it should mark the beginning of your preparations for the next race. Here is a checklist of things to think about just after you finish the race.

If you are protesting, inform the RC. 

This is not required by the rulebook, but many times the sailing instructions modify protest procedure and require you to tell the race committee (RC) at the finish if you intend to protest. Often you must hail the number of the boat you’re protesting (or tell them that you did a 720° turn penalty during the race). Make sure they acknowledge your hail before you leave.

Look for witnesses. 

If you might be involved in a protest, try to find any potential witnesses as soon as possible after you finish. This way you can talk to people before they scatter ashore and before they forget what happened in the race.

Hold a crew meeting to review the race. If you want to improve the overall performance of your boat and crew, it’s essential to spend time learning together. Right after you finish, when the race is still fresh in everyone’s minds, is the best time to pull everyone together in the cockpit to talk about speed, boat handling, communication, tactics and more. All crew are captive on the way in, so use this time wisely.

Make a list of boat things you need to fix. Ask one person to start a list of all the boat breakdowns and things that need to be fixed or improved. At your crew meeting, ask everyone to do a brainstorm for this list. For each item on your list, write down the name of one person who will be responsible for fixing that item. The list-maker has overall responsibility to make sure everything gets done.
Get ready for your next race. 

If you have to start another race soon after this one, I recommend preparing for the second race right after the finish. For example, overhaul your spinnaker gear and re-pack the chute. Sail upwind from the starting line to check your sail set-up and the wind. Then, if you still have time, you can take a break.

Keep clear of other boats still racing. 

Once you have finished and cleared the finishing line and marks, the rules require that you avoid any kind of interference with boats that are still racing. Don’t just cross the line and become oblivious to the world – you must keep your head out of the boat and stay clear.

Record your finish time and sail numbers of nearby boats. 

Recording all the finishers in proper order is one of the hardest jobs for any race committee. To be safe, assume the RC may miss your sail number at the finish, and make sure you can re-create your finish time or position if necessary.

Write in your racing notebook.

You can learn a lot by keeping a daily notebook of good moves, mistakes (i.e. things to improve), weather conditions, tactics and so on. When you’re done with your post-race crew debrief, find time to write in this log while everything is still fresh in your mind.

Say “thank you” to the race committee.

Usually, the race committee does a great job, but they don’t get enough appreciation from sailors. So after you cross the line, go by the RC boat, give them a friendly wave and shout, “Nice job.” Even if you feel they made mistakes, you can still appreciate all the time and effort they have volunteered for the job.

Compliment your competitors.

Another thing that’s not done often enough after the finish is saying “Good race” to your fellow sailors. In particular, compliment any of the top finishers who aren’t usually up there. Or compliment someone who didn’t finish near the top but made a nice comeback or another good move.

If you have found this information useful, have a look at Dave’s website – https://www.speedandsmarts.com there is a wealth of vital learnings there for competitors of all experience levels.

#sailingtowin #sailing #sail #yachtrace #sailingcoach #sailboatrace #sailtowin

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Keeping Your Offshore Crew Alert At Night

Brett Bowden
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Keeping Your Offshore Crew Alert At Night

With the end of the year offshore race season almost upon us, I have set out below a few tips for crews. Keeping Your Offshore Crew Alert At Night is probably the most important factor in your end result.

Keeping the whole team alert at night can be tough, especially on the first night of a long race. This is when our internal body clocks have not gotten into the rhythm of a watch system.

A couple of handy tips

  • Before the race starts, make sure that you get at least two good nights’ sleep.
  • Have a couple of designated crew members who can operate the stove. Get them to make coffee or hot drinks for the change of watch. This can also be done mid-watch when attention can tend to sag.
  • Make night watches shorter than day watches.
  • Watches that are rotation style seem to work best, where only one or a small number of crew switch each time rather than a 50% crew changeover. 
  • Encourage communication amongst the on-watch team as this ensures everyone keeps their head in the game. As a bonus, this helps prevent drowsiness.
  • Involve the on-watch team in tactical and trim discussion to stop talk from drifting off into other subjects which will move the team’s concentration away from the purpose of being on the racecourse.
  • If you are doing a job such as helming and you feel as though you are losing your edge, don’t be a hero, change positions. Even if you only do it for a short time to get refreshed.
  • Monitor your boat’s performance by keeping notes on your main competitor’s whereabouts. Note gains and losses and the reasons that these changes have happened.
  • When there is a change of watch, this is often the time when performance slips. Fully brief the oncoming crew about tactical and speed-related issues before or as they come on deck
  • Have one or two crew stay with the new watch until they are fully acclimatised to the setup and conditions.

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#sailintowin #sailing #sail #sailtowin #yachtrace #sailcoach #sailboatrace

Forecast The Weather For Better Racing Results

Brett Bowden
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Forecast The Weather For Better Racing Results

I have copied below a couple of questions with answers regarding weather and sailboat racing by two of my favourite sailing mentors. Dave Dellenbaugh of the Speed and Smart Newsletter https://www.speedandsmarts.com/ who asked the questions and Chelsea Carlson https://www.sea-tactics.com/ who has answered based on her knowledge as a qualified Meteorologist and successful sailor. Forecast The Weather For Better Racing Results.

If a racing sailor asked you for one weather tip that would be most helpful for their long-term racing success, what would you say?

Long-term success comes from continual learning. You can pick up some quick racing tips here and there, but my advice is to focus on learning concepts about the wind and weather. This will help you understand how the wind behaves wherever you go.

If I absolutely had to give one (and only one) word of advice, I’d probably say ‘Look up at the clouds!’ The clouds are full of good clues about the wind.

Is there any part of weather forecasting that sailors should not worry about so much? Forecast The Weather For Better Racing Results.

A lot of people rely too much on a favourite weather app on their phone. Technology and models will generally not give you much of a competitive edge (unless you are using custom tech at a high level).

An app can give you a big part of the weather picture (i.e. ‘the wind direction will slowly shift right all day’), but it won’t usually tell you the key, subtle information that makes the biggest difference in your race performance.

That info comes from your brain on the racecourse when you see clouds and all the other local clues that tell you what the wind is doing.

When you’re racing, how much time do you spend actually looking up at clouds?

Probably more than you’d think, but it depends a lot on my crew role. When I’m not driving, I am usually responsible for weather, strategy and keeping track of the compass numbers.

I make a conscious effort to be ‘head out of the boat’ (i.e. looking at the sky and wind) as much as possible. One of the best times to sky-scan and think about the weather is on the sail out to the course.

Then I continue this while we are tuning up, and I spend a solid five minutes watching the sky and clouds shortly before the start.

During the race I’ve also made it a habit to scan the sky every few minutes for changes.

What are some good clues about future changes in wind speed and direction? Forecast The Weather For Better Racing Results

Sometimes there are easy clues, sometimes not. The best indicators of changes in the wind are usually clouds, which are certainly the easiest to see.

If you understand how the wind works around clouds, it can be a game-changer.

For other clues you might ‘feel’ them rather than see them – like a change in air or water temperature, which may signal a potential change in the wind.

A good rule of thumb is that warming air indicates more ‘overturning’ in the atmosphere, which means a higher chance of shifts and puffs.

Cool air means the layers of air are more stable, so it’s less puffy and shifty.

#sailingtowin #sailing #sailboatracing #yachtrace #sail #sailingcoach #sailtowin

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Boatspeed and Strategy

Brett Bowden
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Boatspeed and Strategy

A great start is only part of the picture.

Strategy And Tactics

Boatspeed and Strategy are two things that you have sorted prior to the start of a race.

Strategy is the big picture game plan that you work out before the race starts and tactics are the decisions you make to execute the strategy.

Boatspeed

Without boatspeed your chances of success are limited and this is something that you must have worked on during training and practice and prior to starting in a race.

Considering all three elements in the heat of a race can be overwhelming, but simplifying the decision-making process helps us focus on what matters most in the moment.

To have any hope of winning we must make unemotional, repeatable, high-percentage decisions that, coupled with solid boatspeed, will get us consistent results.

Pre-Race Strategy

When working out your pre-race ­strategy, there are four basic considerations. The big-picture weather forecast, current, geographic effects and the wind in which you will be sailing.

Track the wind patterns before the start, work out how big the shifts are, how long they last and what happens when there are changes in wind strength.

If the wind is oscillating, the favoured end of the starting line becomes more important. Start in clear air near the favoured end, but the priority is to set up for a quick tack to the right.

As an example, we want to go right after the start and have set up at the windward part of the line. Due to circumstances beyond our control, it is no longer possible to be there, what we must now do, is work out where we can start in clear air but still have the ability to get to the right.

If the wind is steady and there’s no reason to sail to one side of the course, then line bias becomes the most important factor. If you don’t anticipate any major shifts, think of the favoured end as a head start.

Consider Your Relationship With Other Boats

Sailing in bad air toward the mark is often better than sailing in a clear lane in the wrong direction so constantly reassessing where you are in relation to all the boats that you are competing against.

If there aren’t likely to be major wind changes, limiting your tacks and sailing in clear lanes becomes a more important strategy.

Just say your strategy is wrong, and this happens a reasonable amount of the time even to the best strategists. Don’t get emotional, quickly think about why it was wrong and update your strategy.

If your strategy isn’t working, there’s nothing wrong with observing what the ­good teams in your fleet are doing and letting them help you ­figure it out.

If your strategy has proven to be flawed re-connect with the pack and look for trends in their ­decision-making.

Watch and learn boatspeed and strategy from those who have ­consistent success. 

#sailingtowin #sailing #sailtowin #yachtrace #sailingcoach #sail 

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Top Tips For Starting Next Time You Race

Brett Bowden
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Top Tips For Starting Next Time You Race

Top Tips For Starting Next Time You Race

Holding Station on the line –

  • Keep the boat flat to stop it from going sideways.
  • If you end up head to wind, release the kicker/boom vang to help regain steerage. 
  • If you wish to go sideways, lift the centreboard.
  • If you want to go backwards, sit your weight forward to stop the transom from digging in. 

Accelerate From a Holding Position When the Gun Goes –

  • Practice this, ideally with two other boats of similar ability by lining up with one boat length between boats and on a signal, accelerate up to speed.
  • It pays to set the boat up for slightly more power than you will need to go upwind so you can keep your height and not fall into the boat below.
  • Setting up for more power also assists to sail through the disturbed wind and water caused by the proximity of many boats in the starting area.

Hit The Line At Full Speed –

  • The boat will accelerate best when starting on a close reach before hardening up
  • You need to know your boat’s capabilities, especially in the confused seas and wind that will be present in the starting area.
  • In the pre-start, sail away from the line and then approach, taking note of the time it takes in the current conditions and the number of boats in close proximity.
  • Monitor the difference caused by gusts and lulls during your timed run to the line.
  • If you are not confident in getting a good start,, place yourself where you can guarantee the best chance of starting in clear air.

Protect Your Space – 

  • Keeping a gap to leeward is vital to give you options and to give you space to accelerate into.
  • Keep your bow off the wind with the boom out and the sails flapping and this closes the gap. If someone comes in below you, they have to give you room and time to keep clear.
  • To create a space or to make it larger, work the boat up to above close-hauled without sheeting the sails.
  • If you do use your space, look for another one straight away and don’t hesitate.

And finally, remember, the favoured end may not be on the favoured side of the course so make allowances for this in your starting strategy.

#Sailingtowin #sailtowin #sailing #yachtrace #sailingcoach #sail #yacht

 

 

 

Tips For Championship Sailing

Brett Bowden
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Tips For Championship Sailing

Tips For Championship Sailing

  • Watch your competition to get a quick understanding of your boat’s relative performance and once noted, do not wait to make changes.
  • When sailing to windward, bear off a degree or two and simultaneously ease your sails to increase speed.
  • Keep a constant note of the angle of heel. Too much windward helm indicates that you have too much heel and Lee helm indicates too little heel.
  • Heel is an important speed factor and this can be corrected by moving crew weight, changing sail shape or angle to the wind.
  • Always attempt to sail in clear air, disturbed wind and water have a dramatic effect on speed so always manoeuvre away as soon as possible.
  • In light winds and choppy water keep crew weight as low in the boat as possible.
  • Only carry out manoeuvres when the boat is moving as fast as possible for the given conditions.
  • When sailing downwind, the trimmer and helmsperson should communicate during every puff or lull.
  • Be the first boat to gybe in a lift.
  • Make sure you have the jib trimmed so that the telltales break evenly when you luff. On the mainsail, the top telltale should be just on the edge most of the time.
  • When making changes, make one at a time and let the boat settle down. Watch for speed differences before changing something else.
  • If you notice that you are slow, take immediate action.
  • When trimming sails, remember that the correct shape is more important than the projected sail area. Sails work at peak efficiency when the draft is 35 to 50 per cent aft of the luff.
  • n heavy air, carry the spinnaker pole a little forward of where you normally would and ease the sheet the same amount. This will make the boat more forgiving and less likely to broach.
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Make Sure Your Learning Is Quality Time

Brett Bowden
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Make Sure Your Learning Is Quality Time

 

How To Make Sure Your Learning Time On The Water Is Quality Time

It has been said by many who should know, that sailing success is probably 5% talent and 95% hard work.

I have set out below some approaches that will assist you in making the most out of the time that you are training and learning on the water.

Have Learning Objectives for every time you Train or Race – 
  • Work on boatspeed by making one adjustment at a time.
  • When starting, get out of your comfort zone and try different starting techniques.
  • As a helmsperson, if you spend your time with your eyes slavishly glued to the telltales, practice also getting your head out of the boat.
  • When out training, practice tacking or gybing on every shift. This will help with your understanding of shifts and sharpen up your boat-handling skills.

Build Training Events into your Season – How To Make Sure Your Learning Time On The Water Is Quality Time

  • Treat some events that you attend as training sessions and get beyond your ego by trying different things. Learn from the outcomes and don’t stress if you end up in a less than stellar result.
  • Many sailors race every week but hit a brick wall because they do the same thing race after race, they put in the hours but they don’t experiment and learn from mistakes.
  • When you do an event that you treat as a “win” event, you don’t need to experiment but simply apply the new things that you learned in earlier training events. 
Sail against Different People At Different Venues –
  • Techniques used in different classes and by different sailors can be adapted to your preferred class. Quite often we observe and learn from the sailors in our class and at our club, but sometimes the pool of knowledge can be quite shallow.
  • If you sail a Cat, don’t restrict your learning to that type of boat, sail in Monos, sport boats and keelboats and vice-versa.
  • There is something new you will learn from every experience and what you have learned you can employ in your chosen class.
Sail against the best sailors in high-standard fleets – 
  • Your learning will be accelerated by observing and talking to the best sailors. 
  • You will be surprised by how willing they are to pass on their knowledge. Great sailors realise that if the fleet improves, so do they.
  • You will always learn more and improve more quickly when you have to work hard to stay with the best in your fleet.
How To Consolidate Your Learning – How To Make Sure Your Learning Time On The Water Is Quality Time
  • After each race or event, make notes regarding observations, learnings and what worked and what didn’t.
  • If you sail in a crewed boat, have a team debriefing and talk through the race, getting each team member’s feedback.
  • If you sail a single-hander, go through the event in your head and make notes.
  • Before every race refer to your notes to refresh and remind you of previous learnings. 

#sailingtowin #sailing #sail #sailtowin #sailingcoach #yachtrace #yacht

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Four Different Types Of Race Starts

Brett Bowden
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Four Different Types Of Race Starts

How To Execute Four Different Types Of Race Starts

Reach in Reach Out – Four Different Types Of Race Starts

This is probably the most used starting technique because it is simple to execute and fairly straightforward. You take note of the time remaining and beam reach on port past the part of the line you want to start at.

Then you tack or gybe back when a little less than half the time remaining has elapsed, sailing back to the line on starboard tack. If you are a little early, you can luff a little to slow down or reach along the line until the gun goes. 

One downside of this strategy is if the whole fleet is doing the same thing you risk blocking each other’s air. This technique often works best when you are setting up for a midline start.

Port Tack Approach – Four Different Types Of Race Starts

This type of start offers a lot of flexibility in finding holes on the starting line but requires heads-up crew work with sharp boat and sail handling.

When there is two or three minutes left before the start, reach off on starboard tack away from the pin end and come back on port on a course parallel with the line, setting up two to three boat lengths below it. 

As you sail towards the fleet, keep an eye out for gaps and when you see one, tack on to starboard and aim for the weather end of the gap, leaving space to leeward should you need to foot off a little.

This strategy allows you to avoid big bunches of boats.

The Vanderbuilt Start – Four Different Types Of Race Starts

This type of start consists of reaching away from the line on port tack heading on the reciprocal of the starting starboard tack course.

It differs from the reach in- reach out start because you are sailing away from the line on a broad reach, rather than a beam reach and this takes you to leeward of the reach in reach out starters.

The advantage of this type of start is that there is little chance of being forced over early and you also have a great view of the boats to windward.

One disadvantage is the danger of messing up your timing and finding yourself to leeward of the competition and choking on their bad air.

Dinghy Start – Four Different Types Of Race Starts

This works best for boats that are quick to accelerate like centreboards, sports boats and catamarans.

With this type of start, you sail up to the starting line a few seconds early, luff up and park your boat in a good position.

Just before the gun, trim on, bow down to build up boatspeed and hit the line travelling fast.

The idea here is that, if you are not moving, you are not barging but you don’t have any rights either. Boats coming in from behind must give you time to get out of their way.

This works particularly well in large fleets where space on the starting line is at a premium, a word of warning though you must be particularly aware of boats coming from astern and to windward.

#sailingtowin #sailing #sail #yachtrace #sailingcoach #sailtowin

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What Will Improve Your Results?

Brett Bowden
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What Will Improve Your Results?

What Will Improve Your Results?

What Will See Your Results Improve The Most? Is it racing or practice?

To answer this question I spoke with Skip Lissiman who has sailed a myriad of different boats from Pelicans through to Maxi boats with perhaps his greatest achievement being a part of the Australia 2 crew which won the America’s Cup in 1983.

Brett: the first question I had here was how important is practice to improve your sailing rather than time racing?

Skip: Well, practice is essential to upskill your crew and yourself, to get to a point where you’re capable of being competitive at racing.

We used to have this saying on the 12 Meter, the six Ps, “Perfect Practice Prevents Piss Poor Performance.”

So, the sum of it is don’t practice bad skills when you go out practicing. So, make a list of all of your weaknesses and practice those and use the time on the water to tick them off as you improve.

And so you use the practice time to work on your weaknesses and to get your crew working and your crew’s skills up to a point where you’re competitive on the racetrack. It’s important to do it but racing is also important to just make sure your skills…and work out what your weaknesses are so you can go back out and do some practice.

But use your practice time wisely so you don’t waste time and don’t over-practice. So don’t say, “We’re practicing all day.” Go out and do a two-hour session, come back in, work out what you’ve done, have a debrief, then go back out and maybe do another two-hour session the same day or another day.

But more than two hours at a time, you almost…you’re tapering off. You’re never really quite getting the real benefit of your practice time.

Brett: Now you mentioned the Ps. What do you reckon makes an effective practice session and how long should it take  You mentioned two hours is there any point in going out for a shorter time or a long time? Are there any things that maybe you should do that take longer or shorter? What Will Improve The Most?

Skip: You know, the old rule of thumb. When you get in a match race event, you go off and do match racing.

This is…you’ve got a maximum of one hour on the water so you’ve really got to try and work on using your time as wisely as you can. So two hours is a pretty generous amount of time to go and use on the water.

Don’t…and start your practice as soon as you jump in the boat almost if you’re really tight on time. So whether it’s roll-tacking on the way out through the marina or whether it’s, practicing your tacking skills or whatever it is. But once you jump in the boat, effectively switch on and use the time wisely.

So if you’re out there for four or five hours, then it can be quite tedious and you’re not really maximizing the benefit that you could over a shorter period of time.

Brett: And how important do you think it is to sail in other classes? Most of us have a focus on one particular class or other. Maybe you’re sailing a one-man boat or a two-man boat. Is it important, to sail in boats other than your own class or maybe even mix it up and sail with other people…sail other people’s boats within your own class?

Skip: The more sailing you do with other people, particularly people who are better than you, the more you’ll learn. And the more classes you sail, the better you’ll get a feel for what makes a boat work.

So, you know, I’ve lost count of how many different types of boats over the years I’ve sailed, everything from, dinghies to ocean racing boats to one design to match racing and you never stop learning.

So the better feel you get is by sailing different types of boats and getting a feel for what makes a boat go. And sailing just the one type of boat you get very entrenched in that particular style of boat.

But you won’t get that general basic innate knowledge of what makes a boat go until you sail plenty of boats and sail with plenty of different people and just try and work out from all the different people you sail with, particularly people better than you, what their take on a particular thing is.

You don’t necessarily have to agree with them all the time and, you know, I’m the first to admit I’m not always right. And I think most people would probably…good sailors would say the same thing.

So the more boats you…types of boats you sail, I would really encourage that. Particularly when you’re younger.

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