Be Your Own Tactics Coach E-Book

Jon Emmett

• Herausgeber: Fernhurst Books Limited
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Beschreibung

Boatspeed is not enough – a good understanding of tactics is crucial if you want to win races. This book is a comprehensive programme to make you a tactical genius on the water. Individual chapters take you around the racecourse, from before you get on the water, through the pre-start, start, and various legs. Each section contains detailed advice for the beginner, intermediate and advanced sailor. Ideal for dinghy sailors, there is also a wealth of advice that will benefit yachtsmen. More than a hundred diagrams allow lessons to be learned at a glance and make this a useful aide-memoire as well as a tactical textbook. This is a practical way to improve your racing results, whether starting out, moving up the club circuit or competing at national level and beyond.

Leseprobe

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Pre Start

1.1 Basic Preparations

1.2 Spotting the Changes

1.3 Those Final Few Minutes

Chapter 2: Starts

2.1 Line Bias

2.2 Big Fleet Starts

2.3 Knowing your Rights

Chapter 3: Upwind

3.1 Basic Upwind Sailing

3.2 Dealing with the Conditions

3.3 When to Tack

Chapter 4: The First Beat

4.1 First Beat Basics

4.2 Meeting Other Boats

4.3 Playing it Safe

Chapter 5: Tacking

5.1 Basic Tacking

5.2 Tacking to Loose Cover

5.3 Tacking to Tight Cover

Chapter 6: Windward Mark

6.1 Laylines

6.2 Other Boats

6.3 Starboard Roundings

Chapter 7: Tight Reaching

7.1 Tight Reaching Basics

7.2 Dealing with the Conditions

7.3 Dealing with Other Boats

Chapter 8: Beam Reaching

8.1 Beam Reaching Basics

8.2 Dealing with the Conditions

8.3 Dealing with Other Boats

Chapter 9: Broad Reaching

9.1 Broad Reaching Basics

9.2 Dealing with the Conditions

9.3 Dealing with Other Boats

Chapter 10: Running Symmetric

10.1 Basic Running

10.2 Downwind in Waves

10.3 Sailing Aggressively

Chapter 11: Running Asymmetric

11.1 Basic Running

11.2 Gybe Set

11.3 Sailing Aggressively

Chapter 12: Gybing

12.1 At the Gybe Mark

12.2 The Manoeuvre Itself

12.3 The Angle

Chapter 13: Leeward Mark

13.1 Basic Leeward Mark Rounding

13.2 Leeward Mark Rounding with Other Boats

13.3 Giving or Taking Room at the Leeward Mark

Chapter 14: Leeward Gates

14.1 Choosing Which Gate to Round

14.2 Rounding with Other Boats

14.3 Sailing Aggressively

Chapter 15: The Second Beat

15.1 The Difference between the First and Second Beat

15.2 Leverage

15.3 Controlling the Race

Chapter 16: The Final Beat

16.1 Long Final Beat

16.2 Short Final Beat

16.3 Dealing with Other Boats

Chapter 17: The Finish

17.1 The Basics

17.2 After the Finish

17.3 Dealing with Other Boats

Chapter 18: Being Consistent

18.1 The Basics

18.2 Have a Plan

18.3 Avoiding High Risks

Chapter 19: Attacking and Defending

19.1 When Should I Attack and Defend?

19.2 Specific Manoeuvres Upwind

19.3 Specific Manoeuvres Downwind

Chapter 20: Weather

20.1 Forecasts

20.2 Using the Weather

20.3 Thermal and Sea Breezes

Glossary

Index of Boat Names

Dedicated to my Dad, the bravest man I know.

This edition first published 2011

© 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Emmett, Jon.

Be your own tactics coach/by Jon Emmett.

p. cm.

ISBN: 978-0-470-97321-9

1. Sailing. I. Title.

GV811.E485 2011

797.124--dc22

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978-0-470-97321-9 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-119-95134-6 (ebk)

ISBN 978-1-119-95135-3 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-119-95136-0 (ebk)

Wiley Nautical – sharing your passion.

At Wiley Nautical we’re passionate about anything that happens in, on or around the water.

Wiley Nautical used to be called Fernhurst Books and was founded by a national and European sailing champion. Our authors are the leading names in their fields with Olympic gold medals around their necks and thousands of sea miles in their wake. Wiley Nautical is still run by people with a love of sailing, motorboating, surfing, diving, kitesurfing, canal boating and all things aquatic.

Introduction

As with the original title, Be Your Own Sailing Coach, the aim is to produce a book that is very user friendly, meaning you really can get the most out of it by putting in the minimum of effort and just reading the sections you need to.

To make the book even more accessible each chapter has been divided into three sections with Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced tactics (for example Chapter 5: 5.1 Basic Tacking, 5.2 Tacking to Loose Cover, 5.3 Tacking to Tight Cover). This makes it easy for people new to racing to get the basic concepts, whilst more advanced racers can go straight to the information they need without having to wade through lots of stuff they are already very familiar with.

Top class sailing is all about that extra final percent, but you need to get the basics right as well. You can race extremely well by just getting the “big” things right (always sailing the right way up the beat etc.) before you worry about “smaller” things (which side to position yourself to your main opposition). It is definitely worth mentioning that you should not allow the smaller things (covering the opposition) to override the bigger issue (which way to go up the beat) or both you and your closest opposition could end up having a bad result (although in some cases this ∗may∗ be what you desire). Just remember whatever is going on, and don’t forget the basics.

Just like improving any aspect of your sailing you need to be focused. Before delving into the book I would suggest you fill out the dartboard at the back, as you did for Be Your Own Sailing Coach, to make sure you are working on the areas that will help you improve the most. You can then go and practise these tactics or at least be more aware of them when you train or just during your club race.

To make it easy to remember, the boat’s “surname” has been designed to give an indication as to how they are sailing. For example: Finlay Footing likes to sail the boat fast and free and you may be able to identify yourself as him or someone you race against as like him. This will explain what your best option is and how to deal with him or her. Please note the names represent the helm/tactician and are therefore male and female (although all boats are of course female).

There is a full index of all the characters in the back of the book. Each boat has its own distinct colour.

Chapter 1

Pre Start

Basic PreparationsSpotting the ChangesThose Final Few Minutes

1.1 Basic Preparations

Before you even decide to enter the race/regatta make sure you are properly prepared. How long does it take to the venue? (Giving you enough rest.) Have you sorted out good accommodation? When do you need to enter? (Many regattas implement a surcharge if you enter late, so make your mind up!) Is your boat race ready and do you have all the spares you need?

Read the sailing instructions so you know the course you are racing, where it is and when, and don’t forget to check the official notice board for changes to the SIs (sailing instructions) as it is not uncommon for amendments to be made. World Championships have been won and lost when people didn’t notice a change of start time.

Races can be won and lost before the warning signal is even blown. The key thing is to establish what the most important tactic(s) will be for the day. Get the big things sorted (like not overstanding the layline with strong current under you) before you worry about the little things (a small amount of dirty air).

You need to break things down so first of all consider the course you would sail in the absence of other boats.

Examples:

A strong favourable current (or less adverse current) on one side of the course may be the most important factor, especially with slower moving boats. You can check the current by placing a 2/3 full bottle of liquid by a mark and seeing how far it moves in a minute.

If the wind is offshore you can check the current on your sail out to the start line. Launch early to give yourself plenty of time.

1.1a Charlie Current is always keen to maximise his tidal advantage compared to other boats

If there is a big shift, getting to it first can make a real difference. You may be expecting this windshift because of a weather forecast or if the wind is stable you may see the shift affecting boats further to windward or there may be a wind bend due to the shore line.

1.1b Sally Shift is always keen to maximise the gain of an expected big shift (i) wind bend (ii)

With a big difference in wind speed the windier side of the course may be heavily favoured, especially with boats which plane upwind. More wind makes the water look darker, then when the water is dark there is more wind where there are more white horses. In light winds (under 7 knots) even a small difference in wind speed (say 4–6 knots) can make a big difference in boatspeed.

If the breeze is offshore you can probably work out which is the windiest part of the race course on the way to the start line.

1.1c William Windy is always off to the windiest part of the race course to help his boat go faster

Get out early and if there is an oscillation try and get in tune with it (work out the frequency and duration). If not just practise your tacking!!

1.1d Terry Tacker tacking in a (i) shifting and (ii) oscillating breeze

Lastly, don’t forget good boatwork is essential. To look at the more technical side (before you even hit the water) see chapters 4 and 20 in Be Your Own Sailing Coach.

1.2 Spotting the Changes

Wind awareness is key (especially in light winds). Ensure you pay careful attention to changes in wind strength (darker or lighter patches on the water for stronger/lighter areas of wind) and shifts (which are often the key reason for tacking (See Chapters 3 Upwind and 4 The First Beat). By having a good look before the start you should know what to expect (but you will still need to keep your head out of the boat).

1.2a There would appear to be more wind on the left hand side of the race course

You can also expect changes in current. Now obviously you do not have time to drop a tide stick in during a race but you can make observations such as how the current is affecting you (using transits) and examining any buoys you pass. The buoys will appear to be travelling towards the current with a small amount of slack water behind the buoy (pointing the way the current is going). The faster the buoys appear to be going (the more bow waves at the front and the greater the slack water behind) the stronger the current. Hence you can see if the current is increasing or decreasing and if there is any change in direction.

1.2b The effect of current on a buoy

There may also be expected changes in the wind direction. For example if there is a sea breeze (in the northern hemisphere) you would expect the mean wind direction to go to the right (the wind can still be shifty with a sea breeze). So make sure you know what a header is and what a lift is. If you are sailing at 180 degrees in the morning for example, this might be a lift, while in the afternoon if you are sailing at 180 degrees this could now be a header.

1.2c Harriet Header gets it wrong

1.3 Those Final Few Minutes

Those final few minutes are absolutely crucial. In fact in some ways the results of the race can be decided before it has even begun! This is not the time to be simply reaching around enjoying the breeze. . .

So the most important thing is to focus. Time often has a variable quality. While you are waiting for the race committee to start the sequence, time may seem to drag but the last minute can absolutely fly by and you suddenly find yourself over or further behind the line than you hoped.

Remember sailing is a non contact sport! And the racing rules start from the preparatory signal (the rules still apply but there is no penalty for breaking them). However you must not interfere with a boat who is already racing. You are technically racing when one preparatory signal has gone. You should be awake from the warning signal, looking for information about the race, but at the preparatory signal you should be 100% focused – after all you are now racing!

The rules state that at the preparatory signal your boat should be afloat (I know a few club racers who tend to launch at the preparatory signal). You want to check the starting penalty as this will affect how you approach the start. Examples are: the black flag (you are disqualified if you are over the start line with a minute or less to go); the Z flag (you have 20% of the number of boats in the fleet added to your score if you are over the start line with a minute or less to go); I flag (you are disqualified if you are over with a minute or less to go unless you return to the pre-start side of the course going around the ends of the line) or no penalty (you simply need to dip back behind the line if you were over at the starting signal).

Remember whether you get a good start or not is only clear about 10 seconds after the start. So keep going. That boat which is about to roll/leebow you may hit a wave and stop allowing you to break through.

Your build up to the start of the first race of the day (for a race of around an hour) should be something like this:

Time to startFocus60 minutes1Check and double check your boat and launch, checking the conditions on your way out. Register with the committee boat if needed (in some regattas you have to show your sail number on entering the racing area).50 minutesDo a practice beat. You don’t have to do the whole thing but you need to be comfortable that you know which way you want to go.30 minutesDownwind boat handling. Practise a kite hoist and gybe and then pack the kite on the correct side for the first hoist in the race.20 minutesDouble check the rig set up – are you expecting the wind to drop or increase? Is the beat still the same as it was 30 minutes ago? If not, what is changing?10 minutesCheck out the start line and keep checking. Depending upon the regatta the warning signal may go now.5 minutesNow into starting sequence – so focus!

1Assumes onshore wind, otherwise you will need to allow more time to get to the starting area.

In the final minute it is crucial that you are in the correct area of the line as shown in1.3 a.

1.3 a Where to be with one minute to go