Contents

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.

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 Preparations
• Spotting the Changes
• Those 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.

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.

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.

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!!

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).

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.

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.

1.3 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. . .

Time to start	Focus
60 minutes1	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!

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 in.