Sailing To Win Blog!

Troubleshoot Your Sailing

Boat Speed and Handling

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17/08/2022

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When you are suffering in certain conditions follow some of the tips below to troubleshoot your sailing.

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Slow in waves or a chop:

In a chop or waves, your boat needs to be set up for power to push through the waves. Sails need to be fuller with a little more twist and steering should be less drastic. A degree or two further off the wind also assists with getting through the adverse conditions.

Other things to adjust depending on how your boat is set up or class allows is to straighten the mast which makes the mainsail deeper. Drop the traveller a little which gives you more drive and move your weight aft but most importantly, don’t pinch.

There needs to be constant action with the mainsheet trimming in and out depending on whether you are going up the wave or down the back.

Good pointing but Slow Boatspeed

A tight leech of the mainsail is probably the culprit, likewise, an over-sheeted jib may also be the cause. Another cause could be sails that are too full with a closed slot.

Things to check and remedy:

Ease the main and jib and after easing the main, you may need to pull the traveller up a bit so that the bottom of the main keeps working to maintain pointing.
Bend the mast to flatten the main which will open the slot. Pull on the Cunningham to move the main draft forward which also frees the leech.
Pull on the outhaul which flattens the lower sections of the mainsail.
Rake the mast a little and make sure that the mast is not bending sideways to leeward which also has the effect of closing the slot. More rig tension will remedy this.
Check the centreboard to make sure that it is not down too far or raked too far forward.
Move your jib leads outboard.

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Poor Pointing but Great Boat Speed:

The reverse of what is outlined above. The sails probably have too much twist and a really good indicator of this is observing the top leech telltales on your mainsail. In flat water, it should stall 50-60% of the time and in waves and chop, stalling 40% of the time is acceptable.

Things to check and remedy:

Check the mast to make sure that it is not overbending and straighten it by adding chocks or pulling down on the strut if you have one.
Increase rig tension to straighten the jib luff if it is sagging too much.
Make sure that you do not have too much sideways mast bend to weather. If you do change your spreader lengths and increase rig tension.
If your centreboard is not all the way down, put it down.
Move your Jib leads in board and ease the outhaul.

Upwind Low and Slow: Troubleshoot Your Sailing

When you have copped a double whammy of Low and Slow this is an indication that there are a number of things not right but it may just be as simple as weed or something else caught on your foils.

Is the slot gasket working properly or has it failed? Look around the boat and rig for anything else that may have broken or dislodged.

Is this a new occurrence and in the past in these conditions and against the same competitors, were you competitive? Make sure that all settings are the same as they were last time and if not reset and check again.

Is the issue the same on Port and Starboard tack? Systematically go through the boat and settings until you locate the cause of the problem.

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Downwind Slows: Troubleshoot Your Sailing

If you find that you are getting beaten off the wind there are a number of things that you can do to improve your speed.

Check that you are sitting far enough forward to get the large flat area at the back of the boat out of the water to reduce drag.
In most conditions, keep the boat flat but in light air, even a small heel either to windward or leeward will reduce wetted area and reduce drag.
If in doubt, let it out, ease sheets.
Make sure that the vang and Cunningham are eased off the appropriate amount for the conditions.
Have the rig raked forward but don’t overdo it, make sure the rake induced is relevant for the conditions.
If running deep, pull your centreboard up to reduce drag.
Constantly ease and trim the spinnaker as the heading changes and the wind speed increases and decreases.

Steering Fast

Brett Bowden

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10/08/2022

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Steering fast is a combination of mechanical skill and intuition. Being a fast helmsperson is something sailors acquire by spending a large amount of time on the water both practicing and racing.

Common traits of a good helmsperson are intense focus and heightened senses. Added to these, they also need clear visibility and be able to accept input on their performance.

Understanding changing tactical options is also a prerequisite for being successful.

Correct Posture

On a boat with a wheel, stand facing forward, preferably with both hands on the wheel.

Standing gives you more visibility, sitting limits visibility and means your head is turned which can cause soreness and result in fatigue.

When you are standing, your feet and hands are touching something, which means that your whole body acts as a sensor. Always steer from the windward side where you have better visibility and can feel the elements better.

With a tiller, keep your arms and legs parallel with the tiller or tiller extension being an extension of your arm.

An exception to being to windward is in light air where it might be helpful to sit to leeward to assist with the necessary heel of the boat.

Getting in the Groove

The optimal sailing angle to windward is dependent on wind strength and sea conditions. In a chop, you would not sail as high as you would in flat water.

The average sailor sails their boat too high and too slow. There is a fine line between being in or out of the groove. This often happens when you are nervous or anxious. The best strategy here is to put the bow down a few degrees and sail for speed.

To get in the groove, set your sails for the fastest shape in the conditions. Observe your performance against your competitors. Next, balance your helm by adjusting the sails and your crew weight.

If your boat is set up well, ideally you will feel a slight pull to windward. Once the boat feels right, start experimenting but only make one change at a time to learn what works.

Steering References

There are plenty of references to use when steering and you need to keep each in mind simultaneously.

The heel angle – compare this to the horizon and this tells you the force from the wind.
Trim of the sails – over-trimmed or under-trimmed sails give an indication that you are off course or the sails need adjustment.
Speed compared to other boats – this will show whether your steering and setup are correct for the conditions.
Water colour – look for darker patches of water which will indicate more breeze.
Masthead wind indicator – keep an eye on this as the wind changes at the masthead before it changes at deck level.
Sailing Instruments – Boat speed, if your class allows it. The goal is to maintain a steady speed by adjusting the course and sail settings. Apparent wind angle, If the wind shifts and the apparent wind angle remains the same, you’ll be sailing on a new course. Wind Direction, by monitoring your speed, sail trim and compass course it’s easy to detect changes in wind direction.
Turns of the wheel or angle of the tiller – this indicates how much pressure is being exerted by the sails.
Flags, smoke and other land references – use every source available to read the wind.
Telltales on the shrouds – use these to establish the apparent wind angle.
Compass – use the compass to give you a steady reference to keep track of your course. On a multi-crewed boat, a crew member should be allocated this job. The helmsperson should instruct that person on how they would like the information to be related and how often.

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Getting Into Sailing Shape

Fitness, Diet and Health

Brett Bowden

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03/08/2022

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Getting into sailing shape is essential if you want to compete at the front of your fleet. This is just as true for the young sailor trying to master an ILCA dinghy through to the round the cans keelboat sailor or long-distance ocean racer.

Getting Into Shape

The type of physical training needed depends on the boat you sail, your position on the boat and your age.

Sailing relies a lot on upper body and core strength for most repetitive moves. If you are racing, you need a far higher level of power and endurance than leisure sailors.

In a perfect world, we would sail ourselves into shape but because of the pressures of modern life, this is rarely possible. If you have the luxury of sailing yourself into shape, you exercise and build the exact muscles that you need to do your job.

In small boat sailing, body control, posture, stamina and balance are very important skills to have. Crewing on a keelboat, upper body strength and balance are two of the many required skills needed.

As a skipper, it’s important that your backbone is straight and perpendicular to the water. This keeps your head level with the horizon as you look straight ahead, from side to side or up at the sails.

Many sailors develop back problems because their stomach and back muscles are not sufficiently toned so they compensate by slumping.

Exercises for Sailors – Getting Into Sailing Shape

Engage a health professional who understands sailing or better still is a sailor themselves. Have them design a program for you based on the needs of your position on the boat that you sail.

An exercise that you can do ashore is bent knee situps as they can do wonders for your back and stomach muscles. I cannot stress enough though that an exercise professional should design your routines for you.

There is no need for gym memberships if that is not your bag and many exercises can be carried out at home with a minimum amount of equipment. Barbells, dumbells, a swiss ball and perhaps some resistance bands that can be purchased cheaply online.

How extensive the conditioning program you undertake is up to you.

Some types of Programs. Getting Into Sailing Shape

Do some running if your knees are up to it. Do arm exercises but always warm up first. Other programs might include swimming, and ball games such as squash, tennis or basketball.

The advantage of ball games is that they assist in developing reflexes, hand-eye coordination and body flexibility.

Stretching exercises are particularly beneficial and swimming is a great way to work on muscle extension. If you sail a dinghy, work on your neck muscles by turning your head from side to side to limber them up.

Cardio workouts are crucial for building your stamina and strengthening your heart and lungs. The better your aerobic fitness, the better your results will be on the water.

Effects of Sailing Fitness – Getting Into Sailing Shape

On the first windward leg, everyone is more or less equal and competitive. Where the champions streak ahead is the last time upwind where their fitness is the difference. They are working their boat as hard at the finish as they were when the start gun went.

SAILING TO WIN SHOP

Visual Clues For Reading The Wind

Weather, Wind, Waves and Current

Brett Bowden

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28/07/2022

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Looking for visual clues for reading the wind is a talent that all the most skilled sailors have in abundance.

One of the first things a new sailor is taught is that sailing revolves around the wind. The thing that they must study and become skilled at is knowing the direction of the wind and its strength.

This information is the cornerstone of our sport and dictates where the boat can sail and how fast you can go in a specific direction. It also dictates what sails you can put up, how you will set the boat up or whether you can go sailing at all.

When you are racing, being able to react to changes in the wind is the difference between winning and losing.

Whether you are sailing a short windward leg to a mark or a much longer leg in an ocean race, being able to predict what is going to happen during that leg is essential to give you an edge over the competition.

In an around the cans race, what worked on a previous windward leg may not be the same the next time you do that leg.

Keep Your Head Out Of The Boat

The ability to use your eyes to see the wind is a skill that all sailors need to develop.

Seeing the wind has been referred to as being able to see colours on the water. The lighter shades are caused by fewer ripples in areas with less wind. The darker shades are caused by more ripples which are an indication of more breeze.

The secret is to have someone with their head out of the boat looking for more pressure at all times. More colour means more pressure which means more speed.

Other Visual Clues

Other boats on your course whether they be in the same race or even a different class or size give excellent clues. Their angle of heel will indicate wind strength and of course, where they are pointing will indicate wind direction.

Be sure to consider the different attributes of the boats you are observing. Also, make sure that you are referencing racing boats and not boats that are out day sailing or cruising.

Look around for other clues such as flags, and smoke. If you are close to shore you can get clues from the way trees are being blown about or dust rising in the air.

In your quest for “seeing the wind,” practice makes perfect and even when you are out enjoying a sail with friends always be casting your eyes about to practice this skill.

When you are at a race venue, especially one that you have not sailed at before, travel to a high point and observe the wind pattern from there. The higher the vantage point, the easier it is to see the wind on the water.

There are cases in lake sailing where stronger wind from higher up will sink down to the surface. This makes a distinctive shape on the water called a cat’s paw. The wind direction on the left side of the cat’s paw will be a right shift compared to a boat on the right edge.

Clouds – Looking for visual clues for reading the wind

There are times when you can notice a consistent trend by watching the clouds and their position relative to you.

It pays to watch the sky at the same time as watching the water to build your race strategy.

The direction clouds are moving and the speed of that movement should always be factored into your course planning. The water’s surface always has the best clues though but don’t discount what is going on above.

Keep Your Plans fluid

Sometimes what you observed when you first got out on the course pre-race may not now be relevant.

As with all plans and strategies keep revising right up to and after the start gun.

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Prevent Sailing Breakdowns

Preparation and Planning

Brett Bowden

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20/07/2022

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Prevent Sailing Breakdowns – This very handy list was created by good mate David Dellenbaugh as part of his excellent Speed and Smarts collection. https://www.speedandsmarts.com/

Sailing fast and smart is hard enough when your boat stays in one piece. But when something breaks, it can upset your entire rhythm and kill your speed. Therefore, you must view breakdowns as your enemy.

Work hard on your boat in between races, and treat it with respect on the water. For example, when you have more than 15-20 knots of wind, don’t do unnecessary jibes and never let your sails flog unless it’s absolutely essential.

If you’re using vang tension upwind, be sure to ease it before you bear off to go downwind. And when you need more genoa luff tension, don’t grind the halyard up with the sail fully loaded.

Below is a checklist of areas on your boat where breakdowns are most likely. Inspect these each race morning before you rig your boat. Better yet, check them a day or a week before your race.

If you sail more than one race in a day, go over this list again in between races. When it comes to breakdowns, you can’t be too careful or too prepared.

Hiking straps.

On one-design boats, this is #1 on the list because it’s a common disaster. How many times have you seen or heard about someone going overboard because their hiking strap broke or came untied? Check all your straps for wear: especially inspect the attachment fittings, lines and knots.

Rubber hiking stick universal.

If you have a tiller with a rubber universal, check this regularly (especially in colder weather) for cracks. Use the type that has an internal wire in case the rubber cracks. In hot weather, put sunscreen on the universal to slow aging and drying due to the sun.

Sheets and guys.

Check over all running rigging to ensure no lines have worn spots where they might break. If possible, turn your sheets end for end every so often, like rotating tires on your car. On smaller boats, attach sheets by tying. If you use shackles, make sure these are working properly.

Halyards. Prevent Sailing Breakdowns

Broken halyards are another common failure. Check the full length of halyards for chafe marks, burrs, etc. Look especially at points where the hoisted halyard sits on the sheave and where it connects to the shackle. Put a two-block mark on each halyard so you won’t grind it into the sheave.

Boom vang.

The vang takes a lot of abuse, so check it frequently for wear and tear. Look for frayed line or wire, and problems at the attachment points on the mast or deck and boom

Spinnakers.

Even a small hole in a chute can turn into a blowout, so inspect your spinnakers carefully for holes, tears or bunched-up seam threads.

Turnbuckles and mast fittings.

In heavy air, the strain on your mast and shrouds is huge, so don’t risk failure here. Make sure all turnbuckles and pins are tight and secured. Tape tightly around all fittings and sharp edges to keep them in place and prevent tears and injuries.

Battens. Prevent Sailing Breakdowns

Check your mainsail and jib battens to be sure that a) they are not broken; b) the correct (more flexible) ends are inserted first; c) the inboard ends are centred in the elastic d) the pockets are securely closed at their outboard ends.

Rudder fittings.

Gudgeons and pintles are common heavy-air victims, so check to be sure these are secured tightly. Inspect each closely for stress cracks.

Outhaul.

Examine the wire and car/shackle assembly closely. If you don’t have a flattening reef for a backup, I recommend using a small piece of line as a safety.
Winches.

Clean and lubricate your winches on a regular basis, especially before sailing in heavy air. The last thing you need is to have one of your primaries seize up just after the start of a windy race.
Spare equipment.

One of the best and quickest ways to repair a breakdown is with a spare, so consider carrying extra essentials such as a winch handle, guy, running backstay and spinnaker pole (especially in heavy air when breakdowns are more likely and extra weight won’t hurt you so much).
Ditty bag. Check your ditty bag to make sure all essential tools and supplies are there.
First aid kit. Be sure you have all the necessary first aid supplies in case of human breakdown.

49 TIPS FROM SAILING LEGENDS

Overcome Emotions

Strategy and Tactics

Brett Bowden

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13/07/2022

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We all need help to overcome emotions when having a bad day. On occasion, all of us let a poor performance on the water affect the eventual outcome of a race or regatta. Your emotions in the heat of battle will determine your success.

How Do We Turn The Tide In Our Favour

If you are competing in a multiple-race regatta and after a few days of competition, you find yourself well down in the standings, it is hard to be optimistic about the final outcome.

What you and your team need to do is ask yourselves the question, what can we do to turn the tide in our favour? Don’t throw in the towel.

The first thing that you need to do is work past your emotions. Evaluate each race and note where mistakes were made. Be honest, sometimes one simple manoeuvre has set off a series of events that compounded that problem.

Once you have identified the issue, work out what you can do in the following races to make sure you don’t repeat it. Talk through with the crew what you are going to do differently when that situation occurs again.

Go Back To Basics – Overcome Emotions

When you are having poor results, don’t be too shy to go back to basics. Think back to past regattas where you enjoyed more success. You need to be consistent and not take major risks to try to salvage the event.

Reevaluate how you are steering, how your team are sheeting the sails, and how you are setting the rig. Often when having a bad regatta, many competitors make major changes, looking for the magic bullet.

In nearly all cases it’s been losing sight of the basics that has caused the issue.

Having a better second half of the regatta is the reward for regrouping and keeping emotions in check.

Chain Reaction – Overcome Emotions

Having a setback after starting a race series well is usually caused by abandoning your well-tried and tested routines.

Was it trying to cover both sides of the course at the same time or attempting to cover too many boats in shifty conditions?

There are a number of ways to improve your regatta if you have started out poorly.

For instance, try a more conservative start. When you try for the very best position on the line, you risk failure.
Sail more freely and put the bow down when appropriate. Don’t pinch to be the highest boat in the fleet. Sometimes when we are struggling in fleet races, we blame our lack of height for our poor results. Often the cause was not allowing the foils to have the requisite flow to get you the same height as everyone else.
When you are behind off the wind, there is a temptation to sail low to gain on the boats in front. A short sugar hit when looking forward at your initial angle soon turns to dismay when you reach the leeward mark having lost distance. This seldom works and you must maintain VMG in order to be competitive.
You must not believe that you are beaten and should sail enthusiastically and hard right to the finish. Because of the nature of our sport, there are always opportunities to improve your placing right up to crossing the line.
You can’t always make a comeback but you should work toward improving your sailing every day. If you separate your emotions and think about specifics you will always have a chance of improving your fleet position.

SAILING TO WIN – SHOP

Key Areas To Work On

Preparation and Planning

Brett Bowden

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06/07/2022

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Because Sailing is a complex sport, it’s easy to get obsessed with little things that don’t really matter. I have listed the key areas to work on that you should attend to, to ensure success.

Your Attitude

Self-confidence like most things in life is a major key to success. Listen to what others say but make sure that you map out your own plan.

You will find fellow competitors may try to psyche you out. Ignore those tactics and be confident in your own abilities and skills.

It is your effort on your boat that determines your results.

Manage Your Time

We all have interests outside sailing, but we must be careful to not let the myriad of things going on in our lives interfere with our thinking when we race.

Give yourself time to prepare for a race or regatta and don’t just attend to the details as and when you have a spare minute.

If you have a crew, divide those jobs up between the team and don’t try to shoulder the load on your own.

Use all your energy to work on the main things that will get the biggest result and then attend to the minor items when time permits.

Use a list, and set it up in order of priority. Set times that each task must be completed in order to keep yourself accountable and to keep an eye on progress towards your goal.

Equipment Preparation – Key Areas To Work On

In order to succeed, your boat and all its gear must be at least equal to that of your competitors. If you sail a dinghy, the hull finish must be smooth foils need knicks and gouges repaired and the slot gasket must be in good shape.

If you sail a keelboat the hull smoothness is also very important to reduce drag. All winches, cleats and turning blocks need to be serviced regularly.

A thorough check throughout the boat is essential and anything dodgy should be replaced immediately. Trying to get one more race or event out of a worn component could spell disaster.

At the end of the day’s sailing, repair anything that failed during the day.

Leaving it as a “to do” until the following week in many cases means it gets forgotten. This not completed task becomes a booby trap waiting to scuttle your next race.

Keep all your gear up to date and don’t dally when sails have outlived their best shape. Bite the bullet and buy new sails before the current ones are completely shot.

Feel

Predetermined settings are great for getting you in the zone but a great feel is often the last 5% you need to win.

Time on the water and time in the boat is what you need to develop a feel. That acquired feel will give you that final per cent.

Don’t wait until you are going slow to make changes to see their effect.

Even when you make a change and it slows you up, make a note. This is another lesson and helps with your list of things to do when you are looking for speed.

Boatspeed

Calibrate your boat and make notes in your notebook or electronic device of what works in which conditions. Refer back to these notes regularly and make additions and subtractions whenever you learn something new.

Before each race, scope the day’s forecast and look back at your notes. See what worked and what didn’t in similar conditions.

Cold Weather Sailing

Offshore

Brett Bowden

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29/06/2022

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It’s winter in the Southern Hemisphere so there is no better time than now to talk about cold weather sailing. For our friends in the Northern Hemisphere, even though I am jealous of your current temperatures, you too will again get to “enjoy” colder weather sailing in the future. What to wear in cold weather sailing.

I recently read an excellent article written by Quantum Sails and have copied below a couple of really interesting facts and tricks. Some are obvious and some are not so obvious but all are worth noting.

Keep Dry by Having Reliable Outer Gear – Dry = Warm

What to wear in cold weather sailing.

There is a lot of great gear available at a wide range of prices and styles. These include spray-tops, offshore jackets, waterproof bibs, dry-suits for dinghy sailing, and gear designed specifically for women.

Invest in outerwear that will not only keep you warm and dry but will last for more than one sailing season. Talk to sailors in your area to see what they recommend. Depending on where you are on the continent there will be different conditions to contend with.

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Base and Mid Layers

If you don’t have the right layers to keep you warm, you will also be miserable. Have merino wool or synthetic blend base layers, wool socks, insulating mid-layers, mittens, and maybe even a heavy layer.

A good wool sweater is warm – wet or dry – and cozier than a synthetic top. Because of the nature of wool, it has greater bulk and can retain more heat. It’s also moisture-wicking and can absorb a third of its weight before it feels wet.

Avoid cotton against the skin. Cotton is not moisture-wicking, so as you begin to sweat, you want to keep that moisture away from your skin.

Vests keep your core temps up and help your extremities stay warm. They’re a lightweight and incredibly packable option for a very warm mid-layer. They are also easily removed if you start to get hot.

Toe and Hand Warmers

Disposable hand warmers are available at your local hardware or sporting goods stores. Toe warmers have a sticky back so you can stick them in other areas like your neck or chest. A word of caution though stick them to your clothes, not bare skin.

For your hands, use commercial-grade insulated rubber gloves, 3mm neoprene dive gloves or leather utility gloves from the hardware store.

Neck and Face Guard

Neck gaiters such as the ones used in summer to protect from the sun are very effective. Another effective trick is to use a synthetic towel or chamois cloth like a scarf. When it gets wet, simply wring it out and tuck it back in.

Eye Protection

Cold air and wind make your eyes water. Sunglasses aren’t always enough and can sometimes be too dark on a bleak day. Ski goggles can work really well and the right coloured/polarised lenses can help you to see the wind on the water.

If coloured lenses are a hindrance, clear lenses are great for stopping your eyes from watering at night.

Avoid Large Meals.

Eat a lot of little snacks. A big meal takes more energy to digest, and this will make you colder. Keep your energy levels high with small snacks that are high in protein and are digested more slowly.

Discounted Book for Aussie Sailors

Sleep In Your Gear

The best way to get rid of the moisture is to leave your clothes on when you sleep. Remember, your body runs at 98 degrees – that is a great drying agent.

Remove your boots though and put on a pair of dry, warm socks when you go to sleep to help retain body heat.

Empty Your Bladder

Your body uses energy to keep the liquid in your bladder warm. Go when you have the urge, and it will help you stay warm.

Drink Warm Liquids To Stay Hydrated

Even if you’re not a coffee drinker, there are plenty of other options that are easy to make on the water. Grab a thermos and fill it with a hot beverage of your choice.

Stay Active

Whether you are cruising or racing, if you stay involved in the sailing and/or racing of the boat, it will help keep you warm. . Help your body stay warm by keeping your blood flowing.

Most times you get cold when you’re sitting around and not exerting any energy.

Cold Weather Sailing can be fun and really challenging but to thoroughly enjoy it you must stay warm and dry.

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Four Parts Of Preparation Before You Race

Drills, Training and Coaching

Brett Bowden

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22/06/2022

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Four Parts Of Preparation Before You Race

Sailing is a sport where lack of preparation in any one of the four main areas has the ability to ruin your race day. Below, you will find some (but by no means all) must-do preparation activities.

Training Preparation

Use training to change ingrained bad habits and to make sure that all manoeuvres become second nature. Repetition is your friend here.
Don’t always practice the things that are easy or fun. For instance, practice heavy air gybing even if you know you may end up in a tangle or worse, capsize.
In your keelboat, to prepare for an overnight or longer race, go out after dark and put a few hours carrying out different things like sail changes, gybes, tacking and watch systems.
Create a situation where something has gone wrong and then practice how to remedy it. As an example, in a dinghy, it may be a kite sheet under the boat or in a keelboat, it may be a wineglass around the forestay or a spinnaker that has ended up in the water.
Find a fixed mark and practice your time on distance. Use a starting sequence to make sure you are able to speed up or slow down at the appropriate times to get to the mark exactly on zero.
You will never win if you don’t put in the time training and practicing separately from racing.

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Equipment Preparation – Four Parts Of Preparation Before You Race

Prevent losing through equipment failures and carry spares such as short lengths of rope, Duct or electrical tape, spare shackles, sail repair tape, a multitool or assorted tools if space and weight are available.
Make sure everyone is aware of where the spares and tools are stored.
Mark all sheets, control lines, halyards and things like travellers and jib cars. After each race or training session, make notes on what worked and what didn’t.
Refer to your notes before every time you venture out on the water.
Before leaving the beach or dock, make sure every shackle and fastening is tight.
Check all sheets, halyards and control lines for wear and repair or replace where necessary

Mental Preparation

Being mentally prepared before a race is essential. Go over the upcoming event in your mind taking into consideration wind and wave conditions and the people that you will be sailing against.
Get to the boat early and get in the zone. Forget about work, the upcoming party or social event and just do a rough plan in your head about how you see the day unfolding.
Set your boat up early and then relax, don’t get too involved in the boat part banter and frivolity.
Stress in a race is your greatest opponent so if something goes wrong, do your best to take a chill pill, calm down and then reset.

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Physical Preparation – Four Parts Of Preparation Before You Race

For Dinghies, it is essential that you can hike for extended periods. You need to be able to do this without muscle pain or cramps and if can’t, you will lose concentration. Those competitors that are hiking as hard in the last 100 metres as they were at the start will beat you every time. Explain what you do in your boat so your trainer can develop a relevant training regime for you.
On Keelboats, the control lines and sheets have a far greater load than in a dinghy. You will need more emphasis on upper body strength in the shoulders and arms. If you don’t have the knowledge, find a good trainer and explain what it is that you do and get them to design a program for you. Longer offshore races require stamina. Before leaving the dock, make sure you are well-rested. As well, ensure you have appropriate food and drink available throughout the event. Keep fluids up throughout the race to aid concentration.

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How To Get Sailing Faster.

Boat Speed and Handling

Brett Bowden

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15/06/2022

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Some Information from Nick Craig’s brilliant book “Helming To Win” distributed by Fernhurst books from their SAIL TO WIN Series. https://www.fernhurstbooks.com

In most classes, boatspeed can be summed up as 5% static settings, 20% dynamic settings and 75% technique. When you hear talk around the boat park prior to leaving to race, nearly every discussion is about the static settings. Let’s talk about each and its effects.

Static Settings –

You set up these settings on shore such as mast rake, rig tension, spreader angle and poke. Some classes do have the ability to alter rake and tensions whilst sailing but these are the exception. In the case of these classes, you need to have marks or gauges that help you get to the correct settings for the right conditions.

For all other boats getting the settings wrong on the day means that you risk being slow. In most classes, class champs or the favoured sailmaker will be able to let you know what the settings are for each set of conditions. The alternative is a ponderous two-boat tuning exercise to get to the fast settings.

In short, it is best to copy the settings of the top boats and then focus on the 95% of things that contribute to boatspeed.

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Dynamic Settings

These are settings that you can change on the water. This is where changing gears fits into the boatspeed matrix.

Knowing when and how to implement these is very important. In most boats, the key dynamic levers are sheet tension, boom vang, cunningham, traveller, centreboard position (being rake or depth) and jib car position for those boats with headsails.

Every class is different though so once again, experimentation with two boat tuning and observing or speaking with the class front runners is essential to speed up your racing improvement. Trial and error during racing will lengthen the learning process and add to your frustration.

If you don’t have the luxury of two-boat tuning, you can learn a lot about your boat by experimenting. Start initially with a wide range and adjust one control at a time to see what effect it has.

When experimenting, make this change across a range of conditions because the effect will vary depending on the amount of wind or sea state.

Once you work out what makes your boat quick, keep notes and refer to them regularly until making fast adjustments becomes second nature.

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Technique

One of the main reasons that most champions seem to be able to sail fast in any class is a good technique.

Good technique means being able to sail the boat consistently flat and balanced as the wind speed, direction and sea state change with minimal use of the rudder.

To be in the groove your boat needs to be sailed flat. When training, and maintaining a flat boat initially you may find yourself to be slow because you will be concentrating on this rather than the telltales, waves or approaching gusts and lulls. Once sailing flat becomes a habit, it becomes a lifetime skill that will give you an edge over almost everyone in your class.

Tiller movement should match the pattern of the wind and waves on the day. When the waves are short and choppy and the wind is gusty, tiller movement can be more dynamic. If the water is flat and the wind is steady, tiller movements need to be minimal.

In waves, body movement is the key to maintaining the best speed. Most upwind body movement is through moving the upper body, forward and backwards in time with the waves. For really big waves you will need to move your whole body fore and aft matching the size and frequency of the waves.

Effective fore and aft body movement means that you need to steer less around waves which results in more speed and height.