Post on 01-Apr-2015
AttenboroughSailing Club
Introduction to Racing
Mike Pritchard
8th 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 SheetRudder
Boom
Clew
Main sailLeech
Jib / Genoa
Forestay
Shroud
BattenLuffMast
BoatParts
Points of Sail
BeamReach
BeamReach
Close Hauled
Close Hauled
Dead Run
Broad Reach
Broad Reach
Tacking
Gybing
No Go
Zone
Points of Sail
STARBOARD
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)
win
d
win
d
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!
windwin
dTrimming 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
BA
PORT TACK
STARBOARD TACK
Who has right of way?
Boat B
Rules of the Road
Windward Rule
BBoth 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 RoadMark Rounding
A
Both Boats are on PORT TACK
Who has right of way?
Boat B
Overlap - gained outside 2 boat lengths
A
B
rule
sru
les
things to remembe
r:
• 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
win
d
Land
win
d
both easy
difficult
dangerous!
Land
win
d
keep to windward
ready to ease or put down sails
Launching at ASC
The Race
cours
ecours
ewindwar
dleeward
wind
cours
ecours
ewind
Triangle
cours
ecours
ewind
TMiddle
• Where do we find out where the wind is coming from ?
• Can you name 5 ways of finding out?
Wind Awareness
Wind AwarenessSources of wind direction information
• Flags• Burgee• Wind indicator• Smoke• Back of the neck or face• Sails• Other boats• Ripples on the water
Class Flag
5 minutes
start
start
starting sequence
5 minutes4 minutes
start
start
starting sequence
Class Flag
Class Flag
5 minutes4 minutes
start
start
starting sequence
1 minute
5 minutes4 minutes
start!
start
start
starting sequence
1 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
start
wind
square line
start
start
wind
wind right
right end favoured
start
start
wind
wind left
left end favoured
start
start
wind
starboard has
rights
start
start
things to remembe
r:
• starboard tack• favoured end• moving fast• clear to leeward• able to tack• on time• clear air
start
start
things to remembe
r:
• 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
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
beat
wind
wind square
beat
beat
wind
I’m on a header.
Great! I’m on a
lift.
wind right
beat
beat
wind
wind left
I tacked on a lift.
I tacked on a
header.
beat
beat
wind
wind right
beat
beat
wind
laylines(square)
beat
beat
wind
laylines(wind left)
Clear Air
beat
beat
wind
Clear air
Don’t stay
behind
beat
beat
wind
Clear air
Tack to get clear
air
beat
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
reac h
reac h
wind
reac h
reac h
wind
The Reach
• Shortest course to mark
• Clear your air
• Adjust your sails
• Approach mark on inside
• Beware of leeward boats
run
run
wind
wind square
run
run
wind
wind left
run
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 Roundingw
ind
PoorGood
finis
hfinis
hwind
square line
finis
hfinis
hwind
wind right
finis
hfinis
hwind
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 secsMirror, 56:05mins, PY 1384, 3 Laps,
Corrected Time = 3365 * 5 *1000 = 4052 secs3 * 1384
PHANTOM WINS!
What Next
• More talks – internal + external
• Coaching at weekends
• Coaching during club racing
• Bring in external coaches
• Attend Open Meetings
• Others?