2. Big Fleets & How to Survive them ! by Colin McMullen April 2002

3. Big Fleets & How to Survive them ! Learn how to avoid the dangers of the Coffin Corner, the Snow Fence, Cornersville, Dodgems R Us and other assorted sea monsters which try to drag you to the back of the fleet. Use the Three Categories, Mid Line Sag, the Swoop, the Triangle, the Gear Change and the Late Charge to get ahead. Learn when to slow down.  Wind rises over top of boats  Less wind to Windward of clump as well as Leeward  Hard to break away at start  Occurs especially at Start, STP, Lee Gate –Before the Start Decide on Category I, II or III (per Stuart Walker) Category One – “one side is obviously favoured”  Due to Tide, Wind Bend, more wind, smoother water, local knowledge, etc.  Persistent Shift due to synoptic change (check layers versus heaps)  Start so as you can attain the favoured tack as soon as possible  Sail as far as possible (or as far as you dare) towards the favoured side  Predictions for the Wind are rarely better than 80% accurate so be a little cautious  Predictions for Tidal Streams are 90% accurate, more reliable. Make sure you know the duration & speed of the streams (Tidal Range in DB varies from 1.9 to 4.4 metres). Category Two – Oscillating Shifts  Refers to regular oscillations – not random shifts  Characterised by blue sky, Offshore Wind & Cumulus Clouds  Essential to measure the shifts before the start  The Larger the clouds, the longer between shifts and the larger the shift  Start so as to get onto the favoured tack as soon as possible and below the other boats (to get the new shift first)  Tack whenever headed below the mean  Downwind – get on & stay on the favoured gybe (“Head Start”)  Beware of headers which leave you above the mean  Beware of an Oscillation which does not end before end of the leg – this is a persistent shift !  Avoid the Corners Category Three – neither side is favoured or you don’t know  Stay on favoured tack  Avoid the Corners Category 1 & 2 are often present together Light Air is always Category One ! Beats 2 & 3 are usually Category Three –The Start  Have a plan, but be prepared to alter it  Your Plan should be take account of the 3 Categories  Know length of the line in minutes/seconds  Get a Transit  Some Strategies:  Timed Run  Port Tack Base Leg  Swoop Start if line is square & long enough  If you see a boat behind you trying to get into your space, before you are overlapped:  Luff if he tries to go above you  Bear Away if he tries to get below you  Don’t always try to win the Start but do get in the Front Row !  Try to start in such a way that you can go to the side of the course you want (if any)  If you are going to be early & want to bail out, do it sooner rather than later  Know the Flags, esp. Z  Watch out for Mid Line Sag, esp. after a few generals 1 st Beat Except in Category I, move Out early, then get back towards the middle, play the shifts, avoid the corners at all costs. Cornersville (Population 1) Starboard Tack Parade – join early or late ? Use Tactical lines to judge how crowded the mark will be Lee going Tide exacerbates the Coffin Corner (1995) STP causes a wind shift, this can be used STP reduces speed dramatically for boats below it (Snow Fence Effect) –Wing Mark Beware of an early gybe if it would bring you to leeward of a mass of boats on the Wing Leg. Get in Phase with Shifts – these pass you slower than to Windward Avoid clumps of Boats, even if you are to Windward of them (Snow Fence Effect) –Lee Gate Although less crowded than a single mark, there is an increased risk of going the “wrong” way, because of shifts, strategy, etc Choose the side of the gate that allows you to go the way you want and at the same time, avoid passing through the boats on the run. Once you are committed to one side of the Gate: If in a bunch, or worse still, outside one, slow down & make a run to get an overlap. 2 nd & 3 rd Beats are always Category III Further Reading If you can only read one book, read Dave Perry’s book “Winning in One Designs” If you can only read 4 books, read Perry and Stuart Walker’s “Advanced Racing Tactics” I also recommend “Wind Strategy” by David Houghton. Enjoy !

4. Fun ! Most people want to have fun when they sail But: they usually spell fun W I N

5. Psychology Set Realistic Goals Difference between wishing & wanting Learn how to coach yourself Importance of Team Work Importance of Practice How to handle setbacks

6. Big Fleet Scenario  Boat Speed is King  Tactics are completely different to small fleets  Be prepared to duck 1 or 5 or even 10 boats if by doing so, you can get to better wind/tide or onto a favourable tack, etc.

7. Big Fleet Scenarios - cont.  Tactical Lines on deck are essential  Clumps of Boats are slow (inward looking, Snow Fence Effect)  Try to get into clear air & water  If you can’t, don’t forget to change gear – i.e. trim for more power, increased angle of attack. Etc. (more depth, more halyard tension, more twist)  Fleet Behaviour may deteriorate – ignore it !  If you are going to protest, you need a witness

8. Boat Speed  Ability to sail fast in a wide variety of conditions  Ability to change gear when required, e.g.  Point or Foot at start when required  Change settings for confused wind/water  Ability to sail fast even if cold, tired, cross, after a collision, setback, etc.

9. Importance of the Snow Fence effect  Wind rises over top of boats  Less wind to Windward of clump as well as Leeward  Hard to break away at start  Occurs especially at Start, STP, Lee Gate  Causes a Wind Bend if boats are lined up (e.g. at start or STP),

10. Before the Start Decide on Category I, II or III (per Stuart Walker)

11. Category One “one side is obviously favoured” Due to Tide, Wind Bend, more wind, smoother water, local knowledge, etc. Persistent Shift due to synoptic change (check layers versus heaps) Start so as you can attain the favoured tack as soon as possible Sail as far as possible (or as far as you dare) towards the favoured side Predictions for the Wind are rarely better than 80% accurate so be cautious Predictions for Tidal Streams are 90% accurate, more reliable. Make sure you know the duration & speed of the streams (Tidal Range in DB varies from 1.9 to 4.4 metres).

12. Category Two Oscillating Shifts  Refers to regular oscillations – not random shifts  Characterised by blue sky, Offshore Wind & Cumulus Clouds  Essential to measure the shifts before the start  The Larger the clouds, the longer between shifts and the larger the shift  Start so as to get onto the favoured tack as soon as possible and below the other boats (to get the new shift first)

13. Category Two Oscillating Shifts Tack whenever headed below the mean Cross’em when you can - don’t let them cross you Beware of headers which leave you above the mean Beware of an Oscillation which does not end before end of the leg – this is a persistent shift ! Avoid the Corners - no shift can help you (Cornersville, Pop. 1) Downwind – get on & stay on the favoured gybe (“Head Start”)

14. Category Three – neither side is favoured or you don’t know  Get on & Stay on favoured tack/gybe  Cover majority of boats  Avoid the Corners

15. Variations on Categories Category 1 & 2 are often present together Light Air is always Category One ! Beats 2 & 3 are usually Category Three, unless you are behind; then stick with rules for 1 & 2

16. Dublin Bay Category One Situations Tide !!! Westerly - Cat’s 1 & 2 Westerly - Sea Breeze reversal Easterly Sea Breeze will veer later

17. The Start  Have a plan, but be prepared to alter it  Your Plan should be take account of the 3 Categories  Know length of the line in minutes/seconds  Get a Transit  Some Strategies:  Timed Run  Port Tack Base Leg  Swoop Start if line is square & long enough

18. The Start - continued  Don’t always try to win the Start but do get in the Front Row !  Ensure you start in such a way that you can go to the side of the course you want (if any)  If you are going to be early & want to bail out, do it sooner rather than later  Know the Flags, esp. Z  Watch out for Mid Line Sag, esp. after a few generals

19. First Beat Except in Category I, move Out early, then get back towards the middle, play the shifts, avoid the corners at all costs. Cornersville (Population 1) Use the Triangle Wind Bend can alter Triangle Tide can squash or extend the Triangle Stay inside and ahead of boats to Windward Cross’em when you can - don’t let them cross you

20. Windward Mark Starboard Tack Parade – join early or late ? Use Tactical lines to judge how crowded the mark will be Lee going Tide exacerbates the Coffin Corner (1995) STP causes a wind shift, this can be used STP reduces speed dramatically for boats below it (Snow Fence Effect)

21. Wing Mark / Run Beware of an early gybe if it would bring you to leeward of a mass of boats on the Wing Leg. Get in Phase with Shifts – these pass you slower than to Windward Avoid clumps of Boats, even if you are to Windward of them (Snow Fence Effect)

22. Lee Gate Although less crowded than a single mark, there is an increased risk of going the “wrong” way, because of shifts, strategy, etc Choose the side of the gate that allows you to go the way you want and at the same time, avoid passing through the boats on the run. Once you are committed to one side of the Gate: If in a bunch, or worse still, outside one, SLOW DOWN & make a run to get an overlap.

23. What do the Good Guys do ? Fast - if they are not, they adjust settings to try to fix it Organised - boat handling, rules, SI, etc. Play the Percentages - no unnecessary risks Controlled Aggression Mentally tough Make up places at marks 1-2-3 1 - what goes on in your boat 2 - what goes on in 2 boat length circle around you 3 - Big picture - looking for a strategic or tactical advantage 1 & 2 are on automatic so they can concentrate on finding a “3”

24. Further Reading If you can only read one book, read Dave Perry’s book “Winning in One Designs” If you can only read 4 books, read Perry and Stuart Walker’s “Advanced Racing Tactics” For coaching yourself, read RYA Race Training Manual or Eric Twiname’s “Sail, Race & Win” I also recommend “Wind Strategy” by David Houghton.

25. Enjoy !