Tactics Made Simple E-Book

Jon Emmett

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

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Beschreibung

Olympic gold medallist and multiple world champion, Paul Goodison, explains why this book is important if you want to win races. He says: "To win sailboat races you need to sail the boat fast. This comes down to hours on the water training and tuning – there are few shortcuts to hours of practising on the water. To consistently win races you need to sail fast and smart – making the right decisions to sail the best course. If you are not the fastest boat, you are still able to win races and regattas by managing risk and sailing smart. This is where good tactics come in. But, unlike boatspeed, tactics may be learnt by thinking about each leg of the course and different situations from the comfort of your own home. Jon Emmett's new book, Tactics Made Simple, is a great tool to help fast track this learning." This book explains simply, through hundreds of diagrams, what tactics can be applied around the race track. Individual boats in each scenario are given names so that you can easily understand what they are doing. Individual chapters take you around the race course, from before you get on the water, through the pre-start, start, different legs and manoeuvres. Each section contains detailed advice for the beginner, intermediate and advanced sailor so you can just look at the level of tactics relevant to you. Ideal for dinghy sailors, there is also a wealth of advice that will benefit yachtsmen. 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. Originally published by Wiley Nautical as Be Your Own Tactics Coach.

Leseprobe

Dedicated to my Dad,the bravest man I know.

JON EMMETT

GOLD MEDAL WINNING COACH & WORLD CHAMPION SAILOR

Jon Emmett is a professional sailing coach who coached Lijia Xu to win the gold medal in the Laser Radial Class at the London 2012 Olympics. He coached Lijia again for the 2016 Rio Olympics and has since coached sailors from the United Kingdom, Israel, Malaysia, Finland and Argentina aiming for the Olympics. He is also the Training Officer for the UK Laser Class Association.

As well as coaching, Jon is a very successful and regular competitor, with successes including:

Byte C II Class

• World Champion

• European Champion

Laser Radial Class

• Masters World Champion (3 times)

• Masters European Champion (6 times)

• UK National Champion (6 times)

• UK National Ranking Series Winner (over 10 times)

• UK Inland Nationals Champion (over 10 times)

Jon is also author of Fernhurst Books’ Coach Yourself to Win, Be Your Own Sailing Coach (ebook only), Be Your Own Tactics Coach (ebook only) and Training to Win. Jon also contributed significantly to the latest edition of Fernhurst Books’ The Laser Book.

www.jonemmettsailing.co.uk

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1 Pre-Start

CHAPTER 2 Starts

CHAPTER 3 Upwind

CHAPTER 4 The First Beat

CHAPTER 5 Tacking

CHAPTER 6 Windward Mark

CHAPTER 7 Tight Reaching

CHAPTER 8 Beam Reaching

CHAPTER 9 Broad Reaching

CHAPTER 10 Running Symmetric

CHAPTER 11 Running Asymmetric

CHAPTER 12 Gybing

CHAPTER 13 Leeward Mark

CHAPTER 14 Leeward Gates

CHAPTER 15 The Second Beat

CHAPTER 16 The Final Beat

CHAPTER 17 The Finish

CHAPTER 18 Being Consistent

CHAPTER 19 Attacking & Defending

CHAPTER 20 Weather

INDEX OF BOAT NAMES

FOREWORD

To win sailboat races you need to be able to sail the boat fast.

To consistently win races and win regattas you need to sail smart and fast, making the right decisions to sail the best course. If you are not the fastest boat you are still able to win races and regattas by managing risk and sailing smart. This is where good tactics come in.

Boatspeed comes down to hours of on the water training and tuning. Feel is developed over time and can be very different from boat to boat – there are few shortcuts to hours practising on the water.

Tactics are quite different and may be learnt and fast tracked more easily by thinking about each leg of the course and different situations from the comfort of your own home!

Jon Emmett’s new book, Tactics Made Simple, is a great tool to help fast track learning.

Jon is an extremely talented coach with a great passion for the sport. He has worked closely with several international teams over the years whose first language was not always English. In the book he explains each tactical situation very well with clear diagrams and limited text. A nice touch is the individual boats in each scenario being identified with names so that you can easily understand the situation.

Each chapter takes you around the race course, from before you get on the water (which is often overlooked), through to the pre-start, start, different legs and manoeuvres. Each section contains detailed advice for the beginner, intermediate and advanced sailor so you can look at the relevant level, and how to progress to the next.

Jon’s passion and experience not only as a coach but also a great sailor (who still competes and wins international regattas) gives him a unique position to breakdown and explain complex tactical situations in an easily understandable format.

This book is a must for any sailor who wants to improve their tactical skills. With reading, understanding and practice you will become a better sailor and tactician.

Sail smart, sail fast, good luck!

Paul Goodison

Olympic gold medallist (Laser), 6 x World Champion (International Moth x 3, Laser, Melges 20, Melges 32), winner of the 2017 Star Sailors League Finals

Performance dartboard

Introduction

Welcome to Tactics Made Simple. As with my other books (Coach Yourself to Win and Training to Win), the aim is to produce a book that is very user friendly, so 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 which are colour coded as follows:

• BeginnerORANGE

• IntermediateGREEN

• AdvancedBLUE

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 want). Just remember what 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 that you fill out the dartboard opposite, as you did for Coach Yourself to Win, 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 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.

I hope you enjoy improving your tactics.

CHAPTER 1

Pre-Start

BASIC PREPARATIONS (BEGINNER)

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 decided before the warning signal is even blown. Establish what the most important tactic(s) will be for the day. Get the big things sorted (like not over-standing 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 variables that will affect the course you would sail in the absence of other boats.

Current

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. (Pick it up afterwards.)

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.

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

Windshifts / Bends

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.

Sally Shift is always keen to maximise the gain of an expected big shift

Sally Shift also likes to maximise the gain from an expected wind bend

Get out on the race course early – the precise placement of the race course will affect your tactics. (The exact position of the racing area should be given in the Sailing Instructions.) If there is an oscillating breeze, try to get in tune with it (work out the frequency and duration). If not just practise your tacking!!

Terry Tacker likes to tack in a shifting breeze

Terry Tacker also likes to gain by tacking in an oscillating breeze

Wind Speed / Pressure

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 so, when an area of the water is dark, there is more wind there. Where there are more white horses there is also more wind than in the flatter areas (assuming no current difference).

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.

William Windy is always off to the windiest part of the race course to help his boat go as fast as possible

Finally, in terms of basic preparation, don’t forget good boatwork is essential. To look at the more technical side (before you even hit the water) see chapter 12 in Coach Yourself to Win (Preparation & Note Taking).

SPOTTING THE CHANGES (INTERMEDIATE)

Wind awareness is key (especially in light winds). Ensure that 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).

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 don’t 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 that 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.

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 (although the wind can still be shifty with a sea breeze). So, make sure you know what compass heading a header is and what a lift is. If you are sailing at 180° in the morning, for example, this might be a lift, while in the afternoon, if you are sailing at 180°, this could now be a header.

In the morning, Harriet Header is on a lift sailing at 180°

But in the afternoon, Harriet Header’s 180° is no longer a lift

THOSE FINAL FEW MINUTES (ADVANCED)

Those final few minutes just before the start 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 that 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 – unless there is damage which would mean you have to retire from the race). However, you must not interfere with a boat who is already racing. You are technically racing when the 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. The most commonly used options are:

P flag: No penalty: you simply need to dip back behind the line after the start if you were over at the starting signal otherwise you would be scored OCS.

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.

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 (the % may vary depending upon the sailing instructions).

U flag: you are disqualified if you are over the start line with a minute or less to go for this start, but you can take part in subsequent starts if the start is re-run.

Black flag: you are disqualified if you are over the start line with a minute or less to go for this and subsequent starts of that race.

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 start

Focus

60 minutes*

Check 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 minutes

Do 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 minutes

Downwind 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 minutes

Double 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 minutes

Check out the start line and keep checking. Depending upon the regatta the warning signal may go now.

5 minutes

Now into starting sequence – so focus!

In the final minute, it is crucial that you are in the correct area of the line as shown in the diagram below.

Where you should be with a minute to go

Area

Reason

Happy?

Options

A

William Windy was on the left side of the course then the wind died, and he could not get back to the starting area.

Sad

Not only does he have to duck any starboard tackers, he must also keep clear of the leeward boats in B as he is windward boat.

B

Daisy Duck has left coming into the starting area a bit late, but all is not lost.

Not happy

She should be able to duck a few boats and get to the line. She just has to pray a gap opens up!

C

Peter Planning is in the triangle that means he can definitely cross the line. If right was favoured, he would be further to the right; if left was favoured, he would be further to the left.

Happy

Peter Planning can look for a gap and start where he wants.

D

Harriet Header got the wind wrong. She thought she was on the layline to the start line, but she was above it.

Not happy

If she can see a gap further down the line she should get in it as soon as possible. Otherwise she has to stay up and clear of the leeward boats in C, hoping a gap opens up, or stay where she is and tack for clear air as soon as the boats in C have started.

E

Ruby Risky thought a gap was going to open up by the committee boat, but it didn’t. There is now a whole queue of boats in the waiting area hoping to start by the committee boat.

Sad

If there is a gap, go for it. Otherwise stay clear and hope the boats are drifting fast. She will have to wait for those boats in C and D to start. She can then go behind them and tack to the right, hoping not too many people have done this already.

F

Daniel Danger was way too late getting out to the starting area and will probably miss the start.

Very sad (crying his eyes out)

Hope for a general recall!!!

CHAPTER 2

Starts

WHERE TO START (BEGINNER)

Line Bias

In the absence of other factors, you would want to start next to the end of the line which was the most upwind, not necessarily that which was closest to the first mark (because boats cannot sail straight into the wind).

You must continually check the bias of the line as it can change. If the line bias is two boat lengths, that equals three boat lengths’ sailing (as we sail at approximately 45 degree angle to the wind!). Therefore, do not stray too far away from what you consider to be the favoured end with ten minutes to go.

Finish Line Bias

If you are finishing going upwind through the start line, then the favoured end of the finish line is the opposite end to the favoured end of the start line, assuming nothing has changed during the course of the race.

Finishing upwind, the favoured end for the finish is the opposite to the favoured end for the start

But if you are finishing going downwind through the start line, then the favoured end of the start is the same as the finish.