1. Sailing the Course
Dave Beckett Fleet Captain Flying Scot Fleet 203

2. Bottom Line Up Front Keys to Success
Prepare
Start clean
Don’t be greedy – Sail the boat flat and don’t pinch
Don’t foul others
Avoid drama at gatherings (mark roundings)
Learn from mistakes

3. Preparation – On Shore
Read and understand NOR and Sailing Instructions
Review Racing Rules
Check wind and weather
Check tide and current
Check boat and rigging
Pay attention at competitors’ meeting

4. Homework – On the Water Arrive at race area early: 30-60 minutes
Identify location of starting line and all marks
(Anatomy of the course)
Sail to/toward the windward mark collecting data
Sail both tacks
Sail both sides of the course
Round all marks if time permits*
Be back in starting area for your warning signal

5. Homework Critical Information
Wind direction
Favored tack
Favored side of course
Favored end of the line
Current effects
At the start
At the windward mark
Is it a factor in determining favored side of course?
Geographic effects

6. Strategy
Quickest way around the course
absent other boats

7. Strategy Considerations
Course Layout
Wind
Current
Geography
Dynamic vs Static
Finding the sweet spot

8. Diagnosing the Course Pick a Side
Which tack points closer to the mark?
Where’s the wind?
Ok to follow the leader when in doubt
2015 ACC
Fleet Splits at 2015 ACC
2015 LNYC Fall 48

9. 2015 Spring II Day 2
Wind
Current
Sweet Spot

10. 2015 Spring II Day 3 – Race 1
Wind
Current
Sweet Spot

11. 2015 Spring II Day 3 – Race 3
Wind
Current
Sweet Spot

12. Lagoon Sailing Strategy
2016 Spring Series I & II
April 17 & 24
May 1
Light Southeast Winds
Left Side of Couse Favored
Shoals
Dead Area
Wind
Keel boat touched bottom at low water on 24 Apr

13. Tactics
Coping with other boats
while executing your strategy

14. Find Clear Lanes Plan ahead Look for clear air
Use tactics to execute your strategy
Foot off – sail fast
2015 ACC
2015 LNYC Fall 48

15. Backwind Effects In a large fleet you can’t always avoid Plan ahead
Try to minimize

16. Anticipate – Plan Ahead Environment, Other Boats – Other Fleets
Tacking Now
Holding Course

17. Start
Plan and Execute

18. A Good Start is Critical
You don’t win a race at the start, but you can lose a race at the start.

19. A Good Start
Clear Air
Full Speed
On Time
Room to Tack (if needed)

20. A Bad Start
Foul Air
Slow Speed
Late – Second Row
Forced to Tack

21. Starting – Make a Plan Anatomy of the starting area
Factor in your homework data
Timing – timed runs
Picking a place on the line (left, middle, left)
Avoid the crowd if possible

22. Starting – Execute the Plan
Approach (Port/Starboard tack)
Speed – slow/fast
Angle – shallow/steep
Watch out for changing environment
Current
Wind shift
Anchor line
RC boat lee
Barging – bargers
Other boats – especially to leeward and starboard tackers
When the wheels come off – Bailing out – Alternate plan

23. Confidence and Decisiveness are Critical
Sticking with a good plan – Here comes The Kitchen Sink II and we should tack right now as planned…

24. Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda
But I took the “safe” and easy tack behind him and now we are relegated to a second row start.

25. The Result
He’s on top of us all the way up the windward leg

26. Learn From Mistakes – Next Regatta Got it Right
Aggressively tacked on lee bow and won the pin – nice start

27. Windward Leg
Clear Lanes – Sail Fast

28. Windward Leg Objectives
Find clear lanes
Sail fast
Avoid entanglements
Avoid mistakes
Stay in contact
Be conservative
2015 LNYC Fall 48

29. Windward Mark
Be Conservative

30. Windward Mark Anatomy of “The Zone” Layline Other boats
Factors affecting location
Approach and set up (hazards of getting to layline too early or too late)
Other boats
Mark room
Tacking in the zone
Anticipating next leg
Determine favored jibe
Spinnaker set

31. Windward Mark Rounding
Think Ahead
Play it Safe
Call the Layline
Don’t Foul
Don’t Hit the Mark
Don’t Get Pinned Short of Layline
Windward Mark 2015 ACC

32. Negotiating a Crowded Windward Mark

33. Downwind
Rhumb Line vs Speed

34. Down Wind Boat efficiency = Speed Eye to weather- clear air
Minimize crew movement and rudder drag
Clean jibes – keep spinnaker filled; smooth is better than fast
Look for pressure
Eye to weather- clear air
Boats coming down
Puffs and wind shifts coming down
Anticipate approach to next mark
Sail the long jibe first
Starboard tack has right of way
Work for inside overlap
Anticipate next leg
Observe wind
Observe leaders on next leg

35. Leeward Mark
Avoid the Yard Sale

36. Leeward Mark Approach Managing Traffic at the Mark Anticipate next leg
Spinnaker stowed at 3 BL zone
Ready for beat
Goal – round inside or alone
Managing Traffic at the Mark
Port/Starboard tack boats
Overlap considerations
Giving room
Slowing down
Anticipate next leg
Tack onto Starboard/Continue on Port?
Favored side
Traffic
Who do you need to cover or catch up to?

37. Finishing
Finish at an End of the Line

38. Determine Favored End and Finish There
Avoid finishing at the middle

39. Finishing Upwind Downwind Notify RC if you intend to file a protest
Favored end: opposite of favored end at start if no shift (caution)
Shoot the line (head up) to finish sooner (perpendicular)
Clear the starting area ASAP – don’t interfere with other boats or wind
Downwind
Favored end: same as favored end at start if no shift
Head down to finish sooner (perpendicular)
Notify RC if you intend to file a protest
Prepare for next race (re-rig, hydrate, eat,)

40. Questions