Attenborough Sailing Club Introduction to Racing Mike Pritchard 8 th March 2006

Introduction to Racing Setting the sail Rules Getting ready ASC overview The course The race

Parts of the Sail

Burgee Head Tack Foot Main Sheet Rudder Boom Clew Main sail Leech Jib / Genoa Forestay Shroud Batten Luff Mast Boat Parts

Points of Sail

Beam Reach Close Hauled Dead Run Broad Reach Tacking Gybing No Go Zone Points of Sail STARBOARDSTARBOARD PORT PORT

Trimming a sail Sail eased completely flutters and generates no force (A) Sail pulled slightly doesn’t flutter, but still no force (B) When trimmed some more, sail starts to work (C) More trimming generates air turbulence and lowers the force (D) Hard trimming against the wind is highly inefficient (E) wind OPTIMUM

wind A sail should be let out until it stops working, …and then trimmed a little to make it stop flutter Correct sail trim depends on the course, so: Changing your course?  alter the sails! Both sails (mainsail and the jib) should be (more or less) parallel Correctly trimmed Sails not parallel – something is WRONG! Overtrimmed – WRONG! Not trimmed enough – WRONG! wind Trimming Sails

Proper Trim Sail close hauled Sails in tight Adjust lead position, traveler, outhaul, cunningham, kicker. etc. Keep all telltales flowing. Adjust sails to keep helm nearly neutral Hull Trim Flat is faster Keep weight out of the ends

Rules of the Road Basic Rules Starboard Rule Windward Rule Overtaking Rule Rounding marks

Rules of the Road Starboard Rule B A PORT TACK STARBOARD TACK Who has right of way? Boat B

Rules of the Road Windward Rule B Both boats are STARBOARD TACK Who has right of way? Boat B A

Rules of the Road Overtaking Rule A A Both Boats are on PORT TACK Who has right of way? Boat B Overtaking boat keeps clear B

Rules of the Road Mark Rounding A Both Boats are on PORT TACK Who has right of way? Boat B Overlap - gained outside 2 boat lengths A B

rules things to remember: on opposite tacks: starboard has right of way on same tack leeward has right of way overtaking boat keeps clear at marks inside overlapped has right of way must est. prior to 2 boat-length circle

Time to Go Afloat at ASC

Clothing Preparation Considerations Temperature Location Time afloat Type of boat Conditions Wind and spray Your health Possible Clothing Tracksuit/fleece/t shirts Spray suits Wet suit Dry suit Sailing jacket and trousers Trainers/plimpsolls/wet suit boots Hat and gloves Always Buoyancy aid or Life Jacket

Other Items Stop watch Food Drink Sun tan lotion

Launching & Recovery More damage occurs to sailing dinghies ashore than on the water Never step or jump into a boat when on dry land When moving a dinghy on a trolley, ensure the bow is tied down and the rudder is secured up When moving a dinghy on a trolley be aware of the overhang of the stern Consider the mast & overhead obstacles Dependent upon boat, do not hoist the main sail when ashore Float the boat off its trolley, do not push it off

Leaving and coming ashore Land wind Land wind both easy difficult dangerous! Land wind keep to windward ready to ease or put down sails

Launching at ASC

The Race

course w indward leeward wind

course wind T riangle

course wind TM iddle

Where do we find out where the wind is coming from ? Can you name 5 ways of finding out? Wind Awareness

Sources of wind direction information Flags Burgee Wind indicator Smoke Back of the neck or face Sails Other boats Ripples on the water

Class Flag è5 minutes start starting sequence

è5 minutes è4 minutes start starting sequence Class Flag

è5 minutes è4 minutes start starting sequence è1 minute

è5 minutes è4 minutes èstart! start starting sequence è1 minute

Starting Penalties I “India” Flag “Round the End – 1 min rule” –You may not sail across the starting line the wrong way (downwind) starting 1 minute prior to start. No Dip starts, must “round the end” if you are on wrong side of line from 1 min through start.

start wind square line

start wind wind right right end favoured

start wind wind left left end favoured

start wind starboard has rights

start things to remember: starboard tack favoured end moving fast clear to leeward able to tack on time clear air

start things to remember: Follow a good starter (does require some boat handling ability) Aim for middle of line or slightly to the right (committee boat end) Make a plan and stick to it Practice

start things to avoid: Avoid being slow (late with speed is fine) Avoid being really late Stay close to the line Aim for a point nearer starboard end (you can reach down or fall off line if a little early) Avoid other boats and collisions Stay on starboard as much as possible and especially in the last 45 seconds Avoid snap decisions and changes in plan

beat wind wind square

beat wind I’m on a header. Great! I’m on a lift. wind right

beat wind wind left I tacked on a lift. I tacked on a header.

beat wind wind right

beat wind laylines (square)

beat wind laylines (wind left)

Clear Air

beat wind Clear air Don’t stay behind

beat wind Clear air Tack to get clear air

beat wind Windward Mark Approach on starboard

The First Leg Sail Fast Properly trimmed sails and Hull Watching puffs, headers and lifts. Light touch on helm Strategy/Tactics Position on fleet and meeting other boats Position relative to lay line Getting ready for rounding When to go for the layline

Headers and Lifts Lift: When the wind shifts to bring your course more directly toward the upwind mark Header: When the wind shifts to bring your course away from the mark Tack in persistent header – stay in persistent lifts

Expected Shifts You have information about expected shifts Sail toward expected shifts. If favoured tack is expected to get more favoured, sail on bad tack early. If favoured tack is expected to get worse, sail on favoured tack early.

Tactics and Position Avoid extremes unless you know you are right. Recall that starboard has right of way Try to avoid crossing through fleet on port Have a plan for what to do when you are on port

reach wind

reach wind

The Reach Shortest course to mark Clear your air Adjust your sails Approach mark on inside Beware of leeward boats

run wind wind square

run wind wind left

run wind wind right

The Run Watch for windshifts Adjust your sail(s) Laser – sail by the lee Clear your air Approach mark on inside Beware of leeward boats Beware of starboard tackers

Mark Rounding wind Poor Good

finish wind square line

finish wind wind right

finish wind wind right left end favoured

Race Result Calculations Basic Calculation Corrected Time = Elapsed Time x 1000 Portsmouth Number e.g.Phantom 60:04mins, PY 1047 Corrected time = 3604*1000/1047 = 3442 secs

Race Result Calculations Calculation – Average Laps Corrected Time = Elapsed Time x Most Laps x 1000 Portsmouth Number x Actual Laps e.g. Phantom 60:04mins, PY 1047, 5 Laps, Corr. = 3442 secs Mirror, 56:05mins, PY 1384, 3 Laps, Corrected Time = 3365 * 5 *1000 = 4052 secs 3 * 1384 PHANTOM WINS!

What Next More talks – internal + external Coaching at weekends Coaching during club racing Bring in external coaches Attend Open Meetings Others?