Essential tips and tricks for racing

RACING TIPS

BEFORE LEAVING THE DOCK >>

YACHT HAS BEEN ENTERED

The first job is to make sure that the yacht has been entered in the yacht race and all of the necessary documentation has been completed with the race committee.

CREW MANAGEMENT

Having the right crew is key. Make sure your crew list is as good as it can be with as many regular sailors as possible to fill all of the key spots. Ensure that the crew know in advance, what time to be onboard and any other details they might need to know.

CORRECT RACE FLAG

Always double check that you have the correct race or divisional flag on board and in good working shape.

SURPLUS WEIGHT

Ensure that all surplus weight is off the boat. A few times a season, EVERYTHING should be taken off the boat to recheck that safety gear, spares and tools are appropriate for the racing you are doing.

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Ensure SI's are onboard of the necessary course sheets and relevant sailing instructions for the race. It pays to read the SI's as early in case you require any clarification from crew or the race committee.

RIG CHECK

If you haven’t done it yourself, it is important that once or twice a season one of the rigging shops check your rig set up. In particular mast is in the middle of the boat and straight as it can be sideways. Your sailmaker can work with you on fore and aft bend.

WEATHER & TIDE

Make sure you have the latest weather forecast for your area including the tide information. This can play a big part in your overall game plan.

HULL CLEAN

Cleaning the bottom of the boat is an important part of yacht racing – whether this is hauling out or having a diver clean it for you it will make a big difference to your performance.

OFF THE DOCK >>

START SET UP

Always ensure that you leave enough time to get out onto the race course, get sails up, and give the crew time to warm up. With a grand prix event, the aim is to be on the race course ONE HOUR before the start. This could be a little excessive for club racing, but good to keep in mind as a reference.

SAILING - onboard supermaxi INFOTRACK owned by Christian Beck while training for the 2020 Rolex Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
10/12/2020
ph. Andrea Francolini

COLLECT INFORMATION

In most cases the marks won't be laid out when we arrive on the regatta course, so we have a little time to occupy ourselves with the weather conditions. If wind strength and direction agree with the weather forecast generally, what do the clouds look like? If our observations agree with the weather forecast overall, we can assume with some certainty that the other information we have taken from the forecast will be correct.

CHECK START BOAT/TOWER

It is important to always motor/motor sail past the race committee boat or the start tower to check in and also look for the course board. If it is W/L racing you will find the course axis and distance here.

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CHECK PLAN

Double check everything is as it should be prior to the start and before the yacht moves into any pre start sequences.

PRIOR TO THE START >>

PRIOR TO THE START

Pull a jib up as soon as you can and have a couple of practice starts. Start with what you think is your favoured spot and then check in with other options that aren't so familiar.

This allows you to:

Warm the crew up with some tacks and gybes.
Give the team a feel of the acceleration in wind strength and tide.
Look into 'lay lines' and where your risks lie for getting locked out at the start.
Check your AWA off the line.
Start the discussion on sail selection for what will be used off the line and how they should be sheeted.

If you have the technology onboard, you can 'ping the ends', which is where you mark the ends into your starting software which can give you accurate time on distance to the line.

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YOUR NEXT MOVE

At all times, crew must be aware of your next move, even when it is just cruising around before the start. "Hey guys, next move I am thinking is a gybe". This just tunes everyone in, and must become second nature as it goes a LONG way to making it enjoyable for everyone else.

ESTABLISHING WHERE TO START

With any Windward Leeward starts, we are all taught to go head to wind and 'sight the line' and the end that was most upwind was the favoured end to start, this works well for W/L racing or an upwind start.

For a reaching start there is a bit more to think about?

Which end of the line is closer to the mark?
Which end of the line is more favourable for current?
Which end of the line offers the fastest sailing angle.
How fast (and big) am I compared to everyone else?
What is my escape plan if I need to clear my air?

REGROUP BEFORE THE START

Dependnig on how much time you have, drop the jib, give the crew a break and this gives you the opportunity to chat through the course, the tide and the strategy, confirming:

Start time and course
Where you want to start on the line
What sail you are going to use
Who is going to trim what sail
The strategy for the first leg

THREE MINUTE RULE

Where you are positioned three minutes before the start will make a huge difference to the structure and the planning of a nice start. If you are in a bad spot at three minutes then it will take some 'free-styling' to have a nice start from there.

In the final three minutes:

Get a second opinion on time on distance, or time to kill.
Don't be the guy starting against the fleet if you can help it.
The goal should be to hit the line within the range that you were targeting>.

OFF THE START LINE >>

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SPEED IS KING

The highest priority always has to be sailing the boat as well and as fast as you can at every minute.

THE RIGHT DIRECTION

After speed, then going in the right direction is obviously the next major consideration. This could have a boat on boat element versus a fastest route element.

TRIMMING TECHNIQUES

When reaching, these are important considerations:

Weight on the rail and the position of the crew.
Gearing up for the lulls and ‘managing the puffs’.
Outboard leads and ‘twist’.
Being prepared to sail a range of angles to stay powered up.

BOAT ON BOAT

The easiest way to win a yacht race is by going faster than your competitors. 50% of this is done in boat prep, but the rest is done on the race track and how much concentration and effort is put in. As a tactician, your aim is to punch above 50%, you wont get them all right, but you can get tacks, gybes and boat prep right.

Control the controllable.

THE REST OF THE RACE >>

APPROACHING BOTTOM MARK

A TIDY ROUNDING:
The highest priority is a tidy rounding with a slick exit.

COMMUNICATION:
Even if it is obvious, walk through the manoeuvre and what the priorities are straight after the mark.

IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES AFTER ROUNDING:

Priority clear to tack around the mark.
Priority hike.

UPWIND TACTICS

BOAT ON BOAT:

This is when you have to make the call about whether you tack on or around someone which will have a big effect on what the outcome will be.

If you tack on them are you okay for them to be going the other way?
If you tack on them is there someone they will then also have to go and tack on?
If you ‘high side’ them is it a gain to herd them out to one side?

POST RACE DEBRIEF

CHAT TO THE CREW:

Even if it is in the most informal setting, chatting to your crew after the race is important.

Establishing a work list is well worth it. You can then also delegate any tasks to the crew. They often love being part of it and shows that you want them next time.