Start Racing - Andrew P-M. TRIM Weight / Crew Centre of Effort Centre of Resistance

Start Racing - Andrew P-M

Introduction to Racing ‘Start of the

Journey’


5 Essentials‘Efficient sailing’


TRIM

Weight / Crew

Centre of Effort

Centre of Resistance

5 Essentials


TRIM

Weight forward encourages turn into wind

Centre of Effort


5 Essentials


TRIM

Weight Backward encourages turn away from wind

Centre of Effort


5 Essentials


TRIM

Weight Backward & Board up encourages turn away from wind

Centre of Effort


5 Essentials

Top Tip

As wind increases Sit further back


BALANCE

Boat UprightCentre of Effort approximately above Centre of Resistance

Centre of Effort


5 Essentials


BALANCE

Boat heelingCentre of Effort not above Centre of ResistanceTendency to turn into wind

Centre of Effort


5 Essentials


BALANCE

Boat heeling Centre of Effort not above Centre of ResistanceTendency to turn away from windCentre

of Effort


5 Essentials


CENTREBOARD / DAGGERBOARD

5 EssentialsWIND

SOAP

No Board Half Board Full Board

Top Tip Generally better to have slightly too much board – Check wake & Transit

Wind in Sails

Resistance

from board

Forw

ard

Mov

emen

t


WIND

SAIL

Sails work best with wind flowing smoothly over both sides

5 Essentials

Start Racing - Andrew P-M Start Racing - Andrew P-M

SAILS - TELL TAILS

Nearest Tell Tale Down Bear Away or Sheet In

Furthest Tell Tale Down Point Up or Sheet Out

Top Tip Both Tell Tales Flying = Fast

Remember other wind indicators

Burgee and Leech Tell Tale shows flow leaving sail

Efficient SailingSail Trim

5 Essentials

Area about 1/5 back from luff is most sensitive


Top Tip Check rudder central also look at wake

Efficient Sailing DRAG

X X

Top TipA light touch on the extension can feel rudder pressure


Getting Out of Irons

PUSH PUSH

PULL PULL

Top Tip.

Don’t ‘restart’ too soon. Go to almost 90o from the wind

Push Tiller AwayPush Sail Away

Pull Tiller Towards YouPull Sail Towards You

Top Tip.

Avoid getting into irons –use 5 E’s


RULES

‘Avoiding Collisions’


Simple Rules

Rules Principles

• Sportsmanship, fair sailing and misconduct

If you break a rule – take a penaltyPlay fairly

• Help those in danger

• The decision to race is yours – not the people running the race

• A boat must avoid contact if reasonably possible

• When a right-of-way boat changes course, she shall give the other boat room to keep clear.


Rules OPPOSITE TACKS

WIND

STARBOARD

STARBOARD

Port should Tack or Bear Away

Port should Gybe or go behind

ON OPPOSITE TACKSThe port tack boat must keep clear

Simple Rules


Rules WINDWARD LEEWARD

WIND

WINDWARD

WINDWARD

THE SAME TACK, OVERLAPPEDThe boat to windward must keep clear

Simple Rules


Rules OVERTAKING BOAT

WIND

KEEP CLEARON THE SAME TACK, NOT OVERLAPPEDThe boat clear astern must keep clear

Simple Rules


WIND

Rules Tacking

WHILE TACKINGAfter a boat passes head to wind she must keep clear of other boats until she is on a close hauled course

Simple Rules


Rules ROOM FOR MARK

WIND

ROOM

Three Boat Lengths

WINDWARD

Simple Rules

ROOM AT A MARK OR OBSTRUCTIONWhen boats are overlapped the outside boat must give inside boat room to pass the mark or obstruction


Rules ROOM FOR MARK

WIND

ROOM

Three Boat Lengths

STARBOARD

Simple Rules



Rules ROOM FOR OBSTRUCTION

WIND

ROOM

Simple Rules



Rules ROOM FOR OBSTRUCTION

WIND

STARBOARD

ROOM

Simple Rules



WIND

Rules Tacking

Simple Rules

OPPOSITE TACKS AT WINDWARD MARK

When boats are on opposite tacks, port must keep clear

When a boat completes a tack within the three length zone and the other is fetching the mark the tacking boat must not force the other boat above a close hauled course

If the boat astern gets an inside overlap the boat that tacked must give room


COURSE – 5 E’s

WIND

Sail InBoard DownBalance FlatTrim FlatTack towards Mark

Sail OutBoard UpBalance FlatTrim FlatStraight Course

Sail ½ OutBoard ½ UpBalance FlatTrim FlatStraight Course

GYBE

TURN UP TO WIND

BEAR AWAY

A Triangular Course

1

2

3


OPPOSITE TACKS

WIND

STARBOARD

ROOM for Starboard

BoatYou Tack

More Rules

Top Tip

Other Boats often slow you down


OPPOSITE TACKS

WIND

STARBOARDROOM for Starboard

Boat

More Rules


OVERLAP

WIND

Blue has overlapBlue still has overlap

No overlapNo overlap

More Rules


ROOM FOR MARK

WIND

ROOM - DOES NOT APPLY

At Start Line Marks (no proper course immediately prior to start)

At Windward MarkWindward Leeward & or Opposite Tacks apply

Limited rights if tacking within the 3 boat length zone

More Rules


PENALTIES

Penalties

360o (one complete turn) Hitting a Mark – no need to re-round

720o (two complete turns) Other infringement

Turns should be part of same manoeuvre

All penalties taken at the earliest opportunity

A boat has no rights when making her turns (so keep clear!)

More Rules


Strategy

‘The fastest route – without other boats’


WIND

Converging Course

Avoiding a Collision

If relative position stays same – collisionIf angle reducing – it will pass in frontIf angle increasing – it will pass behind

Careful – the wind may increase / change at the last moment


OPTIMUM SPEED - WINDWARD

WIND

Remember the need to Tack Back !

All Changes with;Boat Type, Wind Strength, Tide or Current

Almost Broad Reach (fast)

Pinching too close into wind (slow)

Efficient Sailing

Windward progress for different headings

Top Tip.

Sail pulled in to cornerBoth Tell Tales flying


WIND

TACTICS

Wind Shadow

Bank / Shallows

Weed

More Wind

Fishermen

Other Boats

Lift

Wind Bend

Header

Boat Speed

Strategy


WIND

TACTICS

Strategy

Shallows

Other Boats

Weed

Gust

Shadows / Bend

Top Tip.

Have a plan


THE BEAT (Strategy)

WIND

45o to the windBlue route 1 tackRed route 3 tacks

Strategy

Into Wind

45o


THE BEAT PORT LIFT (Strategy)

WIND

Port LiftedStarboard Headed – sailing on port much shorter

Strategy


THE BEAT STARBOARD LIFT(Strategy)

WIND

Starboard LiftedPort Headed– sailing on Port much longer

Strategy


THE OPTIMUM BEAT (Strategy)

WIND WIND

Strategy

Can end up sailing Longer distance


THE OPTIMUM BEAT (Strategy)

WIND WIND

Top TipThe tack that is aiming closest to the mark is often the best to be on.

Strategy


Starting

‘The best route to clear air’


Start Flags

4 min Open 1 min Open Start Open

Top Tip

Check Sailing Instructions

4 minutes Frampton

2 minutes Frampton

StartFrampton

Frampton Starting


Start Flags

Open Meeting Starting

5 min Open 4 min Open 1 min Open Start Open

Top Tip

Check Sailing Instructions


WIND

Start Line Transit

Start Lines

X

X

Use Tree, house, Pylon etc as Transit

Always on the line

Always on the lineTop Tip

Transits take the guessing out of starts


WIND

Start Line Safe Transit

Start Lines

One boat length ½ way along

Two boat lengths at mark


START LINE

WIND

21 3

A B C D

E

Where to Start with a ‘perfect ‘ beat ?

Does it make a difference which is the windward mark?

Start Lines


START LINE

WIND

21 3

A B C D

E

Where to Start with a ‘Starboard bias ‘ beat ?


Start Lines


START LINE

WIND

21 3

A B C D

E

Where to Start with a ‘Port bias‘ beat?


Start Lines


START LINE

WIND

No go zone

Inner Distance Mark

No Room ?WINDWARD

Line Sag

WINDWARD

Start Lines

Top Tip

Less risks when starting on Starboard


Tactics

‘Dealing with other boats’


HEAD OUT OF BOAT

What to look for…

What happened last time round ?

Look at your boat – Sails, Burgee

Bank – weed – wind strength - Fishermen

Other boats – their sails, how high are they pointing ?

Flags on buoys, what might the wind do ?

Have you noticed boats ahead gaining – can you do same ?

Other boats will they affect you – (are they faster or slower)

Who has right of way

What might the other boats be expected to do ?

Try to predict what may take place


WIND

Top Tip

Wide in tight out

Tight in wide out

Leeward Mark

Mark Rounding

Wide in tight out more likely to keep out of dirty air from other boats

Wide in tight out


WIND

Port Layline

Starboard Layline

Overstood

Under Layline

End of first beat - windward mark

Mark Rounding

Port / StarboardLimited rights if tacking within 3 boat lengths

Three Boat Lengths


WIND SHADOW

WIND

Run – flow affected downwind

Reach – flow affected to leeward

Upwind– flow affected to leeward and astern

Tactics

SlowZone

SlowZone

SlowZone

Top Tip

Sail where there is most wind


WIND

The Beat – Lee Bow

Tactics

Blue is likely to be slowed by yellow tacking in front of her


Sail Control

‘What does that string do ?’


SAIL CONTROLS - KICKER

Kicking Strap

LooseLeech allowed to curveSail made fuller

Kicker Pulls the boom down

TightLeech held StraightSail Flattened


SAIL CONTROLS - KICKER

Kicking Strap

LooseLeech allowed to curveIf too loose can blow in front of mast (may make boat unstable)Sail made fuller

Kicker Pulls the boom down

TightLeech held StraightSail Flattened


SAIL CONTROLS - OUTHAUL

Outhaul

LooseSail full – at bottom

TightSail flattened – at bottom

Outhaul pulls sail along the boom – changes bottom 1/3 of sail


SAIL CONTROLS - DOWNHAUL

Downhaul / CunninghamTight

Front of sail flat

LooseSail fuller

Downhaul tightens the luff


SAIL CONTROLS - Full or Flat

Full or Flat SailFull Sail

More Power Increased Healing Lower Pointing

Flat Sail

Less Power Less Heeling Higher Pointing

Top TipUpwind flat – to allow boat to point – but with powerDownwind Full – to develop power – but not so baggy as to develop drag


Cornering

‘New Directions’


Cornering

Roll TackWIND

1 - LOOK (BEHIND YOU)Check its safe to tack

Top Tip

Also look under boom!


Cornering

Roll TackWIND

2 - HEEL to LEEWARD(Helps turning)

Top Tip

Also look under boom!(helps heeling)


Cornering

Roll TackWIND

3 - GO THROUGH to HEAD TO WIND (May need a bit of rudder)


Cornering

Roll TackWIND

4 - AS SAILS BACK – LEAN OUT TO HEEL TO OPPOSITE SIDE5 - LET SAIL OUT SLIGHTLY

Helm hidden under sail


Cornering

Roll TackWIND

6 - STRAIGHTEN RUDDER7 - WHEN ON CLOSE HAULED COURSE FLATTEN BOAT BY CROSSING TO WINDWARD SIDE 8 - PULL IN SAIL

Top Tip

Try and minimise use of rudder


Cornering

Kiting and GybingWIND

1 - LOOK (Under Sail)(Check its safe to Gybe)

Kiting

Top Tip

In Toppers and Lasers - Try sailing by the lee !


Cornering


2 - HEEL MORE TO WINDWARD(helps turning)

Kiting


Cornering


3 – MAY NEED A LITTLE RUDDER

Kiting


Cornering


4 – PULL IN ARMFUL OF MAINSHEET TO INITIATE GYBE.5 – STRAIGHTEN RUDDER

Kiting


Cornering


6 – CHANGE SIDES

Kiting


Trigger Pull Start

Trigger Pull StartWIND

1 – APPROACH LINE – prepare to ‘almost’ stop(Starboard – In Control)


Trigger Pull Start


2 – A FEW SECONDS PRIOR TO START HEEL TO LEEWARD(To help initiate turn to windward)(May need just a little rudder)

Top Tip

Also look under boom!


Trigger Pull Start


TO ACCELLERATE3 – STRAIGHTEN RUDDER4 - LEVEL BOAT5 – PULL IN SAIL

Top Tip

Aim to cross line at maximum speed


Which Boat?

‘The seller said that I look good in this ?’


Which Boat ?

Which Boat Next?Optimist

Mirror Topper

LaserRadial

Laser4.7

LaserStandard

Solo

RS Feva Enterprise 420


Which Boat ?

Which Boat Next?Optimist

Mirror Topper

LaserRadial

Laser4.7

LaserStandard

Solo

RS Feva Enterprise 420

Where will you sail ?Sea – Puddle - Ditch

What do the locals sail?Fleet Racing - Class Racing

Crew Size ?Weight - Height

What are your aspritations?Mid fleet - Club Winner Local Open MeetingsNational Events - Olympics

How deep are your pockets?Hundreds – Thousands - Bottomless


Tides‘When the water moves !’


TIDES

Tides

A tide is the rising and falling of Earth's ocean and sea surface caused by the pull of the Moon and the Sun.

Tides cause changes in the depth of both sea and estuary waters.

Tides also make oscillating currents known as tidal streams ‘rip tides' .

This means that being able to predict the effect of tide is important for coastal navigation.

It also means that the ability to clearly identify the water movements associated with the tides is necessary in a race.


TIDES

Tides

Spring has highest tidal range (extremes)

Tides a separated by 12hr 25min

SPRING

High

Low (Ebb)

NEAP

High

Low (Ebb)

Top Tip Deeper Water flows faster than shallow water

Fast

Slow


TIDES

Tides

Marine Chart Shows Depths & hazards


TIDES

Tides

Tide Tables Shows Times and heights


TIDES

Tides

Tide Range Shows Pictorial Times and Heights


Tides

Tide FlowShows Direction of Flows at various points during tide

TIDES


TIDES

TidesWIND

Current /flow can swing boats on their moorings (against the wind)

Observing free floating item near fixed object helps identify water movement

FLOAT Orange


Current

Current

Water flows taking the easiest course.

Take care if needing to round marks


End

‘Trophies to polish !’

Documents

Start Racing - Andrew P-M. TRIM Weight / Crew Centre of Effort Centre of Resistance