brettbowden

[brettbowden]

All team members must know how to communicate your performance in a fleet. Comparing your performance to another competitor during a race is an underrated part of sailing a boat competitively. It's important to talk about what is happening on your boat, but even more important to communicate what’s happening relative to your nearest competitors. FREE PDF BOOK - 49 TIPS Immediately After the Start. It’s essential to start calling ­your relative position to your competition as soon as possible after the start. The first few minutes are a critical boatspeed part of the race, and the sooner your team can get locked in, the better. Identify which boat you are calling relative positions against. As an example, “I have us with (name of boat, or bow number or name of skipper)”. Knowing who you are gauging performance against is important. Always refer to your boat first. For example, say, “Higher, same speed.” To avoid any confusion, don’t refer to them first. If they are higher than you, state, “We are lower.” When you are about To Tack or Gybe in Heavy Traffic. When calling a tack or gybe with boats around you, the helmsperson needs to know where you would likely end up. Would you be behind them? Would you cross them? Would you hit them amidships? If you must tack or gybe for tactical reasons and a collision is possible, alert the crew that after tacking, they will need to steer down and ease momentarily to cross behind a boat. It is essential to also name the boat to avoid confusion. Common Calling/Communication Errors and Remedies - We start the race, and nobody says anything. Silence is deadly, and we come off the line in a low mode that is not optimal VMG. To fix that, we need to identify who we are calling relatives against and make it clear how your team is going against them. - We don’t take note of the True Wind Direction or heading before starting the relative calls. We state we are losing a lot to the boats above us, oblivious to the fact that the wind has lifted us 15 degrees. We start changing settings to try to improve based on the feedback, but we only perform worse and lose a lot. The fix is to make sure that you always note the TWD and heading before comparing boat relatives. - We aren’t going well, so we stop calling relatives. Nothing is done to address the performance issue, and we lose places because of it. To fix that, be consistent, be honest and keep the process the same throughout the race. - The boat above you has a poor start, and now they are in your quarter waves, going even slower. You keep calling relatives on them because they are closest to you. Your team thinks they are going well based on your calls. But the boat you are calling is compromised. To fix this, make sure that you cast your eye around the fleet and check your performance relative to all boats around you. SAILING TO WIN BOOK & BONUSES Conclusion It’s important to compare your relative performance against all your competitors, not just the boat in your immediate vicinity. When you do so, be clear, confident, accurate and consistent. If there is no one left to call relatives against, hike hard and do your best with all maneuvers. Continue to roll tack, set gybe and drop spinnakers as efficiently as possible and carry out tacking and mark rounding as though you were under boat-on-boat pressure. Read the full article

[brettbowden]

Sail away from shifts and toward better pressure. Downwind Secrets - When you are racing upwind, the principal rule of thumb is to sail toward the next shift, on a run, however, you should sail away from the next shift because you are trying to make progress downwind, not upwind. By getting farther away from the direction of the next shift you will end up on a lower ladder rung when that shift comes, and this means you will be closer to the leeward mark, one clear exception to this rule is when the next wind shift also brings an increase in wind velocity. Your main priority should be finding the best pressure, once you take care of that, you can play the shifts. Gaining  ground  to leeward  One common thing that happens on a reach or run is when the boat behind sails higher than you want to sail. This forces you to sail above the VMG course in order to keep your air clear in front of them. The problem is falling into their bad air and then losing ground to the rest of the fleet. To avoid this happening try two things, first, as soon as the other boat starts heading high, luff up sharply in their path to let them know there is no way you will allow them to sail over you. The windward boat believes that they may be able to roll over you, so squash that early. The second thing to try is talking to the other boat, and suggest they sail lower so that both of you can gain on the rest of the fleet. If neither technique works and the other boat keeps sailing high, gybing is one way to keep your air clear and regain the ability to sail your VMG angle, but often this is not a strategic option.  The basic idea is to keep your wind (just) safely in front of the other boat, and at the same time try to work farther to leeward and away from them. In other words, pick a safe bearing to that boat and then try to hold this bearing constant while increasing your range (or distance) from them. Sail your own race. As they say, the best defence is usually a good offense. If you find the puffs, hit the shifts and sail your boat as fast as possible, there is little chance that boats will catch you from behind. Sometimes the worst thing you can do is get overly defensive and reactionary; if you let the boats behind dictate how you sail down the run, you could easily miss the puffs and shifts and slowly lose your lead. Instead, stay aggressive and proactive. You want to minimise the amount of time that you sail in bad air, and you should generally stay between your opponent(s) and the leeward mark. Avoid Laylines and Corners. When you get to the sides of the course, you risk being cornered with no option to play wind shifts, cover the boats behind, or avoid wind shadows. The only time when the layline is a good place for the leader is when the boat behind gets there first, then it’s easy to stay between that boat and the mark.  Improve your Exit Angles One of the most important steering techniques for downwind boat speed is exiting gybes. Your exit angle affects your heel angle and acceleration. During gybes, you should come out just a bit higher than your normal course and accelerate before steering to your downwind angle.  Constantly Ease the Kite A good spinnaker trimmer is always easing the kite until they see a slight curl in the luff, and then trimming in slightly to eliminate the curl. Once that process is complete, they do it over and over again to ensure that the spinnaker is not over-trimmed, which we all know is slow. Experienced trimmers can even sense lifts and headers by constantly easing for a curl and watching the bow to see if the boat has turned. If you ease more than normal before getting the curl, and the skipper sailed straight, you got lifted. If you get a big curl without easing, and without the skipper heading up, it’s a header. Stating this aloud helps the helmsman immensely because he’s looking to gybe on lifts and sail straight on headers. Sail fast on the longer Gybe. When you come around the windward mark and you are almost fetching the leeward mark, the last thing you want to do is sail below your VMG angle or speed. If the wind shifted left or increased in velocity, there was a fair chance you would fetch the mark on starboard gybe. If the wind went right, you could gybe across the boats that sailed lower. In either case, you would gain the most by sailing fast down the run without worrying about fetching the mark until you were very close to it. Read the full article

[brettbowden]

Sail away from shifts and toward better pressure. Downwind Secrets - When you are racing upwind, the principal rule of thumb is to sail toward the next shift, on a run, however, you should sail away from the next shift because you are trying to make progress downwind, not upwind. By getting farther away from the direction of the next shift you will end up on a lower ladder rung when that shift comes, and this means you will be closer to the leeward mark, one clear exception to this rule is when the next wind shift also brings an increase in wind velocity. Your main priority should be finding the best pressure, once you take care of that, you can play the shifts. Gaining  ground  to leeward  One common thing that happens on a reach or run is when the boat behind sails higher than you want to sail. This forces you to sail above the VMG course in order to keep your air clear in front of them. The problem is falling into their bad air and then losing ground to the rest of the fleet. To avoid this happening try two things, first, as soon as the other boat starts heading high, luff up sharply in their path to let them know there is no way you will allow them to sail over you. The windward boat believes that they may be able to roll over you, so squash that early. The second thing to try is talking to the other boat, and suggest they sail lower so that both of you can gain on the rest of the fleet. If neither technique works and the other boat keeps sailing high, gybing is one way to keep your air clear and regain the ability to sail your VMG angle, but often this is not a strategic option.  The basic idea is to keep your wind (just) safely in front of the other boat, and at the same time try to work farther to leeward and away from them. In other words, pick a safe bearing to that boat and then try to hold this bearing constant while increasing your range (or distance) from them. Sail your own race. As they say, the best defence is usually a good offense. If you find the puffs, hit the shifts and sail your boat as fast as possible, there is little chance that boats will catch you from behind. Sometimes the worst thing you can do is get overly defensive and reactionary; if you let the boats behind dictate how you sail down the run, you could easily miss the puffs and shifts and slowly lose your lead. Instead, stay aggressive and proactive. You want to minimise the amount of time that you sail in bad air, and you should generally stay between your opponent(s) and the leeward mark. Avoid Laylines and Corners. When you get to the sides of the course, you risk being cornered with no option to play wind shifts, cover the boats behind, or avoid wind shadows. The only time when the layline is a good place for the leader is when the boat behind gets there first, then it’s easy to stay between that boat and the mark.  Improve your Exit Angles One of the most important steering techniques for downwind boat speed is exiting gybes. Your exit angle affects your heel angle and acceleration. During gybes, you should come out just a bit higher than your normal course and accelerate before steering to your downwind angle.  Constantly Ease the Kite A good spinnaker trimmer is always easing the kite until they see a slight curl in the luff, and then trimming in slightly to eliminate the curl. Once that process is complete, they do it over and over again to ensure that the spinnaker is not over-trimmed, which we all know is slow. Experienced trimmers can even sense lifts and headers by constantly easing for a curl and watching the bow to see if the boat has turned. If you ease more than normal before getting the curl, and the skipper sailed straight, you got lifted. If you get a big curl without easing, and without the skipper heading up, it’s a header. Stating this aloud helps the helmsman immensely because he’s looking to gybe on lifts and sail straight on headers. Sail fast on the longer Gybe. When you come around the windward mark and you are almost fetching the leeward mark, the last thing you want to do is sail below your VMG angle or speed. If the wind shifted left or increased in velocity, there was a fair chance you would fetch the mark on starboard gybe. If the wind went right, you could gybe across the boats that sailed lower. In either case, you would gain the most by sailing fast down the run without worrying about fetching the mark until you were very close to it. Read the full article

[brettbowden]

                        Become a Student of The Weather - Part 2 of the interview that I did on the subject of weather and how it affects your sailing with Professional Sailor and International Sailing Coach Andrew Palfrey. Do you take notice of the clouds on the course and how do they affect your decision-making? Yes, absolutely. I think broadly speaking, the clouds can tell you a lot about whether the forecast is playing out, or not. This assumes you had that information to hand prior to racing. What can Clouds tell you? Lots but to highlight a couple of things that I look for: - In terms of a sea-breeze development, they are fundamental in highlighting the convection above the land - On a day of squally and rainy conditions, the clouds are your main indicators for where to go and where to avoid going. - The approach of a change in conditions (be it a tightening of pressure gradient, a front etc..). Basically, they are part of the environment in which we make our decisions If the wind shift seems persistent how do you establish a new mean or is this a constant process? Become a Student of The Weather The mean is something we set in our minds, so of course, it is quite a fluid number. Keeping an open mind and constantly updating what is happening and where we are relative to course and laylines is key. How do you calculate wind strength in order to set your boat up for the conditions? I think the keys here are: - What is the sea-state? - How dense does the breeze feel on the sail plan? - Are the waves offset to the True Wind Direction? - I’ll try to get a quick feel for these questions in the first couple of minutes in a pre-race line-up. Set the boat up and adjust as necessary using your senses. Then check in with performance relative to other boats and make some simple evaluations based upon your power level and balance If a front is predicted during the race, does your strategy take this into account? Yes – you’d be constantly monitoring the sky and the True Wind Speed and True Wind Direction. If you feel a sudden change in temperature either up or down, what can you read in to this? Tricky one… we all feel when the wind becomes warmer when sailing toward land on a summer’s day in an offshore breeze or the colder air filling in when a sea-breeze starts to build. Hard to generalise what this means. Sometimes it is obvious, like the examples here. Other times it can be quite subtle. But I think it is another indicator that things have just changed and you need to be tuned into what it might mean and how it affects your decision-making in the short term. What effect can a rain squall moving across the course have and how can you use it to your advantage? If the squall is generally upwind, I’d be aiming to place the boat near to the leading edge of the rain squall. But not so close that I get engulfed too quickly relative to the fleet. In general, you will find more breeze and shifted direction on the edge. If the rain squall is downwind of the gradient True Wind Direction, I’d try to get away from it as quickly as I could (or try to avoid it if you are sailing downwind). In this case, the colder air coming from the cloud would generally reduce the True Wind Speed. Do you time shifts to get an idea of when to expect the next shift or is it something that you feel? I’ve never really taken the times of shifts methodically like that and I do not write the shift range down I seem to have a good recall for the numbers. Where is the best place to get your weather information from? Become a Student of The Weather I have developed a trust in Predictwind. Very user-friendly. Gives a good overview snapshot, but allows you to dig deeper into the bigger picture synoptic and cloud situation with a few clicks. I like it. Do you look at a weather map and what do you read from it? Yes – I think it important for sailors to know what is driving the weather and what are the 2 or 3 biggest influencing factors. This helps over the course of an event. I just like to know what is driving the wind we see and how might that change over the course of the day or the event, I think it is just another component in developing your decision-making instincts. More articles at Sailing To Win Read the full article

[brettbowden]

Firstly you must understand what current is, how it acts on your boat and its effect on wind speed and direction. How to Understand The Effects of Current Currents are driven by three main factors: The rise and fall of the tides. Tides create a current in the oceans, which are strongest near the shore, and in bays and estuaries along the coast. Wind. Winds drive currents that are at or near the ocean's surface. Thermohaline circulation. the movement of seawater in a pattern of flow-dependent on variations in temperature, which give rise to changes in salt content and hence in density. Current Characteristics and Causes: Current is faster in deep water and slower in shallow water so sail out to deeper water when the current is with you and sail in shallower water when you are sailing against the current. Sustained, strong breezes push water in the direction of the wind; when the wind subsides, the water flows in the opposite direction.
      Pressure systems also create current and influence tidal flows. Lows increase the height of high tides and prolong flood currents; highs push the water away, which increases the strength and duration of low tides and ebb currents. Current is strongest around prominent points and in narrow openings such as harbour mouths. There are usually back eddies on the down-current side of islands, shoals and points.  When a tidal-induced current begins to change direction, it changes first along the shorelines and later in the mid- channel. Working Out Current: One way to predict what the current will be doing on the race course is to use published charts and tables. These give a fairly accurate guide to the velocity and direction of the current that is caused by tides. Another way is to look at fixed marks or buoys like the starting pin. Be careful not to confuse wave action with current and anchored boats will also give you a good idea about current flow. Another important clue about the current is the appearance of the water surface. When the current is flowing toward the wind, the water will be choppier than usual. When it's flowing away from the wind, the water is smoother. Look also for distinct lines of separation between different water surface textures. Racing In Current:  When starting a race in current, be sure you have a line sight to help you judge the position of the line. When the current and wind is going in opposite directions, you're likely to end up with multiple recalls. This is a great time to start at the leeward end (assuming you want to go left) because it will be easy to make the pin. However, don't start right at the committee boat, because it's too easy to get caught barging. And be careful not to be over early, since it will take a long time to get back against the current and re-start. Current affects your course over the bottom and therefore changes the laylines to any windward or leeward mark. When the current is pushing you away from the layline, it's easy to underlay the mark and lose distance by trying to pinch up to the mark. The safest route is to overstand slightly -- this will keep you clear of the mess of other boats and eliminate the need to make extra tacks.
 When the current is pushing you toward a layline, the biggest potential mistake is overstanding. Prevent this by approaching to leeward of the "normal" layline or by avoiding the starboard layline completely until you are almost at the mark. Current on Reaches and Runs: On reaches and runs, the current will usually cause you to sail a longer course than necessary. Stick to the rhumbline and gain valuable distance. The best way to do this is by using a land sight. If you can see land behind the next mark, use this to set up a range so the mark stays in the same place against the land. In the absence of a land sight, use a compass bearing to the mark and steer a course so this bearing remains constant. Myths Regarding Current: There is no such thing as the lee-bow effect, if you are sailing upwind directly into the current, you can't gain by pinching to get the current on your lee bow. Another Myth is the belief that the direction of the current favours one tack over the other. As long as the current stays the same for all boats, it doesn't matter whether you take the up-current or down-current tack first or last. #sailingtowin #sail #sailing #sailingcoach #sailtowin #yachtrace DISCOUNTED MEMBERSHIP SITE   Read the full article

[brettbowden]

Andrew Palfrey, better known to the worldwide yachting fraternity as “Doggy” will give us the benefit of his vast experience in factoring wind, weather and currents into our sailing and its importance in planning the conduct of your race. This is part one in a series of excerpts from an interview I did with the high-achieving sailor, olympian and coach. FREE BOOK - TIPS FROM SAILING LEGENDS Brett: Doggy, because the interview is primarily about weather and how to use observations to run a race day or regatta strategy, can you tell us how sailors who are looking to get better should go about gathering information and then utilising it to give themselves the best advantage on the racetrack. Perhaps a little history of your weather journey would be really helpful here.  Andrew: This sort of thing has become so much easier in the last few years. I didn't start Olympic campaigning until  1998 properly. I was in my thirties. And back then, it was hard, it was difficult. I can't even remember how we kind of did it back then or probably didn't do a lot of it. But these days it's obviously, it's a hell of a lot easier on the internet. And it's like the United States, for example, the NOAA resource, N-O-A-A, I don't even know what it stands for, National something, something. It's just a huge resource. There are so many layers and you can get historical data and so on. Really, I mean, as we know, you really just got to plug in, you know. I'm heading to Nassau in a couple of weeks, just plug in Nassau for historical weather data for December, and it's there, it's three clicks away. So I think the challenge is to decipher that and to filter through that and to figure out what the important information is because there's a lot of stuff there that, it's not rubbish but it's just not relevant to what you need. FREE SAILING GLOVES Brett: How much information do you gain from fellow competitors about venues, especially those that you have raced at previously or from locals such as fishermen who may have relevant observations that you can learn from? Andrew: I guess through this lifetime of sailing, we gain a network of friends, or at least acquaintances. We tend to go back to the same sorts of places, the same sorts of locations, year after year. You'll know someone, and that person will know someone. My experience, like I know for sure when I get contacted about the weather in a place I'm living, I don't mind spending a little bit of time or whatever, with the person, if I know they're kind of quite keen. And I kind of like that human-human interaction, that side of it. So I think that a lot of it comes back to that. But in terms of in the pre, sort of getting ready to go away side of things, make contact with that person and your questions would be, "Where do you look, what do you look at for your weather for that location?" And they might say, "I look at Windguru is generally the best here, or this, or that." And all of a sudden, bang, you've just saved yourself a whole lot of time. AUSSIE SAILORS - BOOK AND BONUSES Brett: Are you asking about what is likely to happen at the time of the regatta or are you delving in to history of previous years at that time of the year and how far out do you plan? Andrew: I think it goes back further than that, further than the day. It might even be as fundamental as even several months out. You might make some decisions on equipment or where you want your, for example, the Etchells Worlds next year. It's in San Francisco and we've all got time...time is a limited resource, we're all in the same boat there, it doesn't matter how big your budget is. Time is the same for everyone. So you want to make the right decisions early so you're not spending your time going down the wrong path. A lot of people are already saying, "Oh, San Francisco. It's going to be windy." But the fact is, it’s very late in the summer that we go there and there was a regatta this year, at the same time, that was three out of four days were light air. And so, that information is critical. You could turn up in San Francisco or you could sort of get to San Francisco two weeks before the Worlds, let's say, quite well-prepared, well-resourced, all that sort of thing. And you'll start talking to locals and they might say, "Oh, no, no, no. It's actually, there's a fair chance we might get some light air here." And you're thinking, "Shit! I've invested all...I've exactly invested all this..." It might even be, I mean, you might have your light sails there. You've shipped them over or whatever you did but you haven't spent time using them. So harping back to these decisions we made months before, they can... Probably, a lot of people don't realize, even as they come away from these events, that those decisions were probably more of an impact than what people realize.       Read the full article

[brettbowden]

Use your Traveller or Mainsheet to depower the mainsail. The traveller has two functions, it controls the boom's angle to the wind and it steers the boat controlling helm and heeling in puffs and lulls. Mainsheet The mainsheet controls the twist and then you use the traveller to position the boom on the centreline. This gives maximum power and pointing as long as the helm and heeling are within the normal parameters. These are the ones that give the best results for your respective type of boat. As a general rule of thumb, as the breeze builds and mainsheet tension increases, the traveller will gradually be dropped to keep the boom on the centreline. Traveller - Use your Traveller or Mainsheet In medium conditions, the role of the traveller will expand to include control of helm. As the boat generates weather helm, drop the traveller to de-power the boat. The position of the boom, relative to the centreline becomes irrelevant. In medium air, play the traveller aggressively to maintain the correct amount of helm. Dump the traveller quickly at the onset of a puff. Pull it up as the initial power of the puff dissipates and turns into forward speed instead of heel. If you leave it down too long you will miss the opportunity to point once the boat has     accelerated. The beauty of using the traveller is that the mainsail twist which is controlled by the mainsheet and which is vital to both speed and pointing, does not change, only the total amount of power. The mainsheet is the Gross Trim The main sheet is the “gross trim” adjustment for the overall amount of power. As a general rule of thumb, on fractional rigged boats with large mainsails, the mainsheet is played more aggressively and the traveller is usually kept closer to centreline. The mainsail trimmer continually makes adjustments to both traveller and mainsheet based not just on the overall amount of power, but issues like boat speed, waves, and even a tactical situation. Read the full article

[brettbowden]

A Checklist For Successful Trimming Trimming sails is a challenging crew position that requires knowledge and experience. The trimmer also needs the ability to work with the rest of the crew. The goal of The Trimmer The goal of the trimmer is to get the boat to perform at peak efficiency and to use that speed to outsail the competition. A good trimmer must recognise changing conditions and react accordingly. They need to take weather, sea state and tactical position on the race course into account. The best teams set themselves up for success long before leaving the beach or dock and the trimmer is an integral part of that team. As a trimmer, have a good understanding of what the forecasted weather is likely to be. A good trimmer also updates this information when out on the course. Trimmers On Board Responsibilities Once on the boat, look around your area, make sure everything is in its place and sails are packed and stowed where they are readily accessible. All unnecessary gear must be removed to ensure that the boat is as light as possible. Inspect the sheets, blocks, winches, handles, cleats and jammers for any issues. Carry a grab bag with duct or electrical tape, lube, markers, sail repair tape and tools. Carry energy bars and drinks (include spares where appropriate). Spray all moving shackles and clips to ensure that they will not seize at a crucial moment, replacing any that are worn or bent. Make sure there are knots at the end of halyards, that all telltales on sails are intact, and the right sails are in the right bags. Trimmer Works With  The Tactician As a trimmer, you can be a valuable backup to the tactician, so read and memorise the sailing instructions. Carry a rule book and notice of race in a waterproof folder for reference where necessary. Keep target boat speeds and note down what sails are required depending on wind strengths and sea state. Have this information written on a card, plus have it prominently displayed on the boat as a reference. This is particularly important so that everyone can understand what sail should be set and when. Being able to refer to this means each crew member will be prepared as conditions change. Trimming sails on a dinghy or being part of the crew on a Maxi is equally rewarding. Define the mission, set parameters, prepare your trimming area, stay focused and constantly review your fastest trim will make sure you are successful. #sailingtowin #sailing #yachtrace #sail #sailcoach #sailtowin DISCOUNTED - STW Membership          Read the full article

[brettbowden]

A Checklist For Successful Trimming Trimming sails is a challenging crew position that requires knowledge and experience. The trimmer also needs the ability to work with the rest of the crew. The goal of The Trimmer The goal of the trimmer is to get the boat to perform at peak efficiency and to use that speed to outsail the competition. A good trimmer must recognise changing conditions and react accordingly. They need to take weather, sea state and tactical position on the race course into account. The best teams set themselves up for success long before leaving the beach or dock and the trimmer is an integral part of that team. As a trimmer, have a good understanding of what the forecasted weather is likely to be. A good trimmer also updates this information when out on the course. Trimmers On Board Responsibilities Once on the boat, look around your area, make sure everything is in its place and sails are packed and stowed where they are readily accessible. All unnecessary gear must be removed to ensure that the boat is as light as possible. Inspect the sheets, blocks, winches, handles, cleats and jammers for any issues. Carry a grab bag with duct or electrical tape, lube, markers, sail repair tape and tools. Also, carry energy bars and drinks (include spares where appropriate). Spray all moving shackles and clips to ensure that they will not seize at a crucial moment, replacing any that are worn or bent. Make sure there are knots at the end of halyards, that all telltales on sails are intact, and the right sails are in the right bags. Trimmer Works With  The Tactician As a trimmer, you can be a valuable backup to the tactician, so read and memorise the sailing instructions. Carry a rule book and notice of race in a waterproof folder for reference where necessary. Keep target boat speeds and note down what sails are required depending on wind strengths and sea state. Have this information written on a card, plus have it prominently displayed on the boat as a reference. This is particularly important so that everyone can understand what sail should be set and when. Being able to refer to this means each crew member will be prepared as conditions change. Trimming sails on a dinghy or being part of the crew on a Maxi is equally rewarding. Define the mission, set parameters, prepare your trimming area, stay focused and constantly review your fastest trim will make sure you are successful. #sailingtowin #sailing #yachtrace #sail #sailcoach #sailtowin DISCOUNTED - STW Membership          Read the full article

[brettbowden]

A Checklist For Successful Trimming Trimming sails is a challenging crew position that requires knowledge and experience. The trimmer also needs the ability to work with the rest of the crew. The goal of The Trimmer The goal of the trimmer is to get the boat to perform at peak efficiency and to use that speed to outsail the competition. A good trimmer must recognise changing conditions and react accordingly. They need to take weather, sea state and tactical position on the race course into account. The best teams set themselves up for success long before leaving the beach or dock and the trimmer is an integral part of that team. As a trimmer, have a good understanding of what the forecasted weather is likely to be. A good trimmer also updates this information when out on the course. Trimmers On Board Responsibilities Once at the boat, look around your area, make sure everything is in its place and sails are packed and stowed where they are readily accessible. It is very important that all unnecessary gear is removed to ensure that the boat is as light as possible. Inspect the sheets, blocks, winches, handles, cleats and jammers for any issues. Carry a grab bag with duct or electrical tape, lube, markers, sail repair tape and tools. Also, carry energy bars and drinks (include spares where appropriate). Spray all moving shackles and clips to ensure that they will not seize at a crucial moment, replacing any that are worn or bent. Make sure there are knots at the end of halyards, that all telltales on sails are intact, and the right sails are in the right bags. Trimmer Works With  The Tactician As a trimmer, you can be a valuable backup to the tactician, so read and memorise the sailing instructions. Carry a rule book and notice of race in a waterproof folder for reference where necessary. Keep target boat speeds and note down what sails are required depending on wind strengths and sea state. Have this information written on a card, plus have it prominently displayed on the boat as a reference. This is particularly important so that everyone can understand what sail should be set and when. Being able to refer to this means each crew member will be prepared as conditions change. Trimming sails on a dinghy or being part of the crew on a Maxi is equally rewarding. Define the mission, set parameters, prepare your trimming area, stay focused and constantly review your fastest trim will make sure you are successful. #sailingtowin #sailing #yachtrace #sail #sailcoach #sailtowin DISCOUNTED - STW Membership          Read the full article

[brettbowden]

A Checklist For Successful Trimming Trimming sails is a challenging crew position that requires knowledge and experience. The trimmer also needs the ability to work with the rest of the crew. The goal of The Trimmer The goal of the trimmer is to get the boat to perform at peak efficiency and to use that speed to outsail the competition. A good trimmer must recognise changing conditions and react accordingly. They need to take weather, sea state and tactical position on the race course into account. The best teams set themselves up for success long before leaving the beach or dock and the trimmer is an integral part of that team. As a trimmer, have a good understanding of what the forecasted weather is likely to be. A good trimmer also updates this information when out on the course. Trimmers On Board Responsibilities Once at the boat, look around your area, make sure everything is in its place and sails are packed and stowed where they are readily accessible. It is very important that all unnecessary gear is removed to ensure that the boat is as light as possible. Inspect the sheets, blocks, winches, handles, cleats and jammers for any issues. Carry a grab bag with duct or electrical tape, lube, markers, sail repair tape and tools. Also, carry energy bars and drinks (include spares where appropriate). Spray all moving shackles and clips to ensure that they will not seize at a crucial moment replacing any that are worn or bent. Make sure there are knots at the end of halyards, that all telltales on sails are intact and the right sails are in the right bags. TrimmerWorks With  The Tactician As a trimmer, you can be a valuable backup to the tactician so read and memorise the sailing instructions. Carry a rule book and notice of race in a waterproof folder for reference where necessary. Keep target boat speeds and note down what sails are required depending on wind strengths and sea state. Have this information written on a card plus have it prominently displayed on the boat as a reference. This is particularly important so that everyone can understand what sail should be set and when. Being able to refer to this means each crew member will be prepared as conditions change. Trimming sails on a dinghy or being part of the crew on a Maxi is equally rewarding. Define the mission, set parameters, prepare your trimming area, stay focused and constantly review your fastest trim will make sure you are successful. #sailingtowin #sailing #yachtrace #sail #sailcoach #sailtowin DISCOUNTED - STW Membership          Read the full article

[brettbowden]

Copying The Champions In Your Fleet - To someone unfamiliar with our sport, two identical boats should sail at the same speed given equal crews, the same wind, and the same wave conditions. Small Changes Can Make a Huge Difference What an outsider may not realise is that small changes in identical equipment can make big differences in boat speed and performance. A couple of turns on a forestay turnbuckle can change the mast rake thus affecting the helm load and balance. In the case of a side stay, it can affect mast bend characteristics and thus sail shape. The adjustments available to a sailor are endless, ranging from the rig adjustments just mentioned. Other changes are sheet tension, outhaul, batten tension, Cunningham, and halyard tension. Other than in boats with adjustable rigging systems (adjustments that can be done on the fly) most rigs are set up before you leave the beach or dock and cannot be changed once on the water. These settings are based on your perception of what the day's weather will be and once you are out there, you are stuck with those settings, so plenty of study of the weather patterns is important. Sailing At an Unfamiliar Venue If you are sailing at a new venue, don't be too shy to copy what the locals are doing to get the perfect tuning for that venue. On the water, every change to a sail control will either give you a better or worse result and being able to ascertain the effect of these changes is incredibly difficult. Select the most successful sailmaker in your class. They will have a tuning guide that will help you set up your mast rigging tension, fore and aft rake, and pre-bend for the various conditions. Follow The Tuning Guide If you are new to a class, not only follow the tuning guide but ask questions of the top sailors in the fleet and copy what they do. You will be surprised at how helpful they will be, it is just a case of plucking up the courage to ask. Copying is not cheating and most champions appreciate being pushed harder. They will be happy to help you get faster as this forces them to improve as well. Quantifying the effect of a small tuning change is hard to do on the water. It may not be apparent until many minutes after the change. This is because of variables in the wind between boats across the course. After establishing a baseline, it is important to experiment using your own tweaks. Then learn what each adjustment does with reference to boat speed and handling. When out racing, be honest with yourself when evaluating the changes that you made during a race. Factor in a lucky wind shift that may have given you the improvement, not the adjustment. Get Up To Speed Quickly Copying the best sailors in your fleet guarantees getting up to speed quickly. This should give you an easy jump on much of the competition.  If you don't copy the fleet champions you are starting behind the 8 ball. #sailing #sailingtowin #yachtracing #sail #sailtowin #sailingcoach # FREE BOOK - 49Tips from Champions and Legends             Read the full article

[brettbowden]

If you're a competing sailor, you know that the sport requires a lot of skill, knowledge, and practice. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned sailor, there's always room for improvement. But where do you start? How can you take your sailing skills to the next level? With so much information out there, it can be overwhelming to know which tips and tricks to follow. That's why we've compiled a list of expert tips to help you improve your sailing performance, from novice to pro. From mastering the basics to fine-tuning your technique, these tips will help you become a more confident and successful sailor. FREE PDF BOOK - 49 TIPS Basics of Sailing Techniques Before you can become an expert sailor, you need to master the basics of sailing.  This includes understanding the different parts of a sailboat, knowing how to steer, and learning how to control the sails. One of the most important skills for any sailor is learning how to trim the sails. This involves adjusting the sails to catch the wind and propel the boat forward. It takes practice to get it right. Another key skill for any sailor is learning how to tack and jibe. Both techniques require careful coordination and timing. It's important to know when to use each one depending on tactical considerations and wind conditions. Lastly, learning how to read the wind and waves is essential for any sailor. Understanding the direction and strength of the wind can help you plan your tactics and strategy more effectively. Waves can also affect your sailing performance, so learning how to read them and adjust your technique accordingly is crucial. Understanding Wind Patterns To become a successful sailor, you need to understand the different wind patterns and how they affect your sailing performance. The most common wind patterns are the prevailing winds, which blow in a consistent direction over a particular area. In some areas, there may also be local winds, which are influenced by local geography. One of the most important things to understand about wind patterns is how they affect your sail trim. It's also important to understand the wind shadow effect, which occurs when another boat blocks the wind from reaching you. This can be particularly important during a race, as you want to avoid getting stuck in another boat's wind shadow. FREE PDF BOOK - 49 TIPS Sailing Equipment and Gear Having the right sailing equipment and gear can make a big difference in your sailing performance. One of the most important pieces of equipment is your sailboat itself. Different sailboats are designed for different purposes, so it's important to choose one that fits your needs and skill level. Other important pieces of equipment include your sails, lines, and rigging. It's important to keep these in good condition and to know how to use them properly. You should also invest in good-quality safety gear, such as life jackets and harnesses. Preparing for a Sailing Race If you're competing in sailing races, there are several things you can do to prepare and improve your sailing performance. One of the most important things is to practice as much as possible. This not only helps you get comfortable with your sailboat but it improves your technique. It's also important to familiarize yourself with the racecourse and the rules of racing. This will help you plan your strategy and avoid any penalties or disqualifications. Lastly, make sure to check the weather conditions before you race. This will help you choose the right sails, rig set-up and adjust your technique accordingly. FREE PDF BOOK - 49 TIPS Advanced Sailing Techniques Once you've mastered the basics, you can start to focus on more advanced techniques to improve your sailing performance. One of the most important techniques to master is sail shape control. Get your sailmakers recommended rig settings and adjustments for the different wind strengths that you will be competing in. Another key technique is weight distribution. This involves positioning your crew and equipment in the sailboat to optimize balance and stability. It's also important to know how to use different sail controls, such as the Vang and the Cunningham, to fine-tune your sail trim. Once again, your sailmaker will be able to advise on this and will factor in the crew weight that you are sailing with. Nutrition and Fitness for Sailing Sailing can be a physically demanding sport, so it's important to maintain good nutrition and fitness to improve your sailing performance. Eating a balanced diet can help you maintain your energy levels and improve your endurance on the water. Do not overlook hydration, a team that is thirsty with not be able to perform at optimum. In terms of fitness, it's important to focus on both cardiovascular and strength training. Cardiovascular exercises, such as running or swimming, can improve your endurance, while strength training can help you build the muscle you need to control your sailboat. FREE PDF BOOK - 49 TIPS Mental Preparation for Sailing Sailing also requires mental preparation, particularly if you're racing. It's important to stay focused and alert on the water, as even small mistakes can have a big impact on your sailing performance. One technique to improve your mental preparation is visualization. This involves imagining yourself sailing and visualizing different scenarios and outcomes. It can help you stay focused and confident on the water. Tips for Improving Your Sailing Performance Here are some additional tips to help you improve your sailing performance: - Practice, practice, practice! The more time you spend on the water, the better you'll become. - Join a sailing club or find a sailing mentor to learn from more experienced sailors. - Experiment with different sail trims and techniques to find what works best for you and your sailboat. - Stay up-to-date on the latest sailing technology and equipment to stay ahead of the competition. - Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Learning from your mistakes is an important part of improving your sailing performance. - Watch sailing videos, read blogs and attend sailing lectures at every opportunity. FREE PDF BOOK - 49 TIPS Conclusion Improving your sailing performance takes time, practice, and dedication. From mastering the basics to fine-tuning your technique, there are many tips and tricks you can use to become a more confident and successful sailor. By understanding wind patterns, investing in good-quality equipment, and focusing on your nutrition and fitness, you can take your sailing skills to the next level. With these expert tips, you'll be well on your way to becoming a pro sailor.   Read the full article

[brettbowden]

  Prepare to Race - On the morning of the race, you will check the local forecast again to see how the predicted weather has changed or whether it is behaving as has been forecast. Get Out On The Course Early Get on the course 60 minutes before the start and sail as much of the first beat as possible. Make mental notes of the wind patterns to establish which side of the course appears favoured. Work out whether the wind shifts are oscillating or persistent. Compare what you are seeing with what has been predicted and start to make your plan for the first windward leg. The main advantage of doing this is that if immediately after the start something changes, you will have the information to make a snap decision about whether to continue standing on or whether to tack. Whilst sailing the first leg prior to the start you can establish whether your setting for the rig, sails and sheeting positions are correct. These would have been set initially prior to leaving the beach based on information available at that time. Check the current at different points on the racecourse matches with what you know about this venue. Find this out from previous regattas or local knowledge research. Line Up Against Another Competitor Even the best sailors benefit from lining up against another competitor prior to the start. Many of us have a tuning partner. If your regular mate isn't there, find someone beneficial to work with.  So many questions can be answered by positioning your boat two lengths from a competitor and speed testing. These tests can and should be lined up in advance with a reliable competitor. Their speed and abilities are known and they will show up on time at the designated spot. Almost always prioritize tactical and boatspeed research over boat-handling practice, you are not likely to solve bigger boat-handling issues in the short period of time that is available to you. Finally, allow an 8 to 10-minute chill period before the start. During this time discuss the upcoming race in a low-stress manner. This gives the team an opportunity to re-evaluate sail selection, and then to fuel up and hydrate. You are now ready to tackle any eventuality after the gun goes. You can make an informed tactical decision when something that was not predicted occurs.     Read the full article

[brettbowden]

  Pre-Race Routine to Ensure Race Day Success Pre-Race Routine Your pre-start routine shouldn't be set in concrete and needs to be fine-tuned. Take into account the conditions, your freshness and any glaring weaknesses. Work on these in the time available.  Ideally, a three or four-hour gap between waking up and starting a race works best. This gives you time to get ready, feed, hydrate and switch on.  Vary how early before the race you hit the water. In lighter winds, get out earlier and tune up for longer. Allow 45- 60 minutes on the racecourse to give more time to refine your trim.When the breeze is strong, spend 10-20 minutes less time on the course to stay a little fresher. If some specific aspect of your performance has let you down in prior races, that should be worked on immediately before the next event. When it was speed, find a buddy to do some straight-lining and make some tweaks to your set-up and technique. Work On Strategy If it was a strategy that let you down, spend more time gathering wind data. Then begin the race by sailing the fleet rather than immediately tacking away for glory. No matter the venue or conditions you’ll always want to check your speed is OK on the day. Check out the wind and check out the starting line. Ideally, before you leave the shore organise to hook up with another boat to test your speed and to study the wind.  Once on the racecourse,  have a few minutes by yourself to get stuff sorted before joining another boat for some straight-line speed testing. Once sailing side by side with your tuning buddy, you’ll soon know how much more speed work you need to do or how long a day it might be! Work on Speed - Pre-Race Routine If you’re faster or even speed, you can soon move on to checking the wind. If you’re slow, review your sail and rig settings, ask your buddy how they are set up. Then make a change and test again. Continue the process until you are satisfied you’ve optimised your set-up for the day. Once you are happy with your speed, expand your awareness to tracking your heading on each tack with a compass or via land references. Sail through a few lifts and knocks on each tack to become aware of the range of wind shifts. Working on speed and shifts helps to get your head outside the boat well before the start. If you’re at a new venue, it can be worthwhile testing to see if one side of the course is better than the other. This is best done by doing a split tack with another boat of similar speed. To achieve this, the two boats head off upwind on opposite tacks for 3-6 minutes, tack and when you converge. If one boat is ahead more than a few boat lengths, then some factor has made that side better. Discuss the result of your split tack with the other boat – was there anything that may have affected the result, or could they have done better by tacking in a different spot? Determine the most likely reason for the result – tide, geography, shift or pressure and how repeatable that effect might be. CLICK FOR MORE TIPS! Read the full article

[brettbowden]

.  Useful Tips For Racing Sailors to be at the front of the fleet. Boat Preparation - Useful Tips For Racing Sailors To win you must be the best prepared, and a lack of attention in this area can mean gear or boat breakages to be able to win you must be able to finish. Beyond that, you must have competitive equipment, efficient systems and an excellent hull finish. Carry spares for things that can be repaired on the course. Carry tools that are needed to effect those repairs. Financing an Event - Useful Tips For Racing Sailors Look at your season and pick out the events that you would like to do. Work out whether you can attend each one and compete at the top level required with the finances you have available. If you find that you are having to make the money stretch by scrimping on accommodation, food and equipment options, consider doing fewer events but dedicating more resources to those events. You will find your stress levels will be reduced and the fun levels and your event success will greatly increase. Mental Stamina - Useful Tips For Racing Sailors Are you able to keep going when things get really tough or do you let frustration get the better of you? Sleep and diet are not only important for your physical well-being but they are important for your mental state as well. When you train, work as hard as you would if you were racing. Eat and hydrate the same way as well. Many of us practice specific things but don't push ourselves as hard as we would if we were racing. If your class does 3 x 45 minutes races each day, some of your training sessions should be for the same amount of time. That way you build the necessary mental stamina to carry forward to race day. Concentration - Useful Tips For Racing Sailors In sailing, because there are so many variables, you are not able to concentrate on every variable all the time. The best sailors pick the variables that need the most attention given the current course and conditions. They disregard the ones that won't make much difference. There are always plenty of distractions at your club, a regatta or around the boat park, try to concentrate on the day's racing by thinking about the weather, the course and what you need to do to succeed. Many top sailors I have spoken to use headphones prior to heading out on the water and play music suitable for the day to set the mood and block out unwanted distractions. Keep a sailing Log - Useful Tips For Racing Sailors All of us have plenty going on outside sailing so trying to remember settings that worked in particular conditions. This becomes especially tricky when you may not encounter those exact conditions again for many weeks or even months. The act of writing things down helps your memory. Keeping a sailing diary enables you to refer to it to when you encounter the same conditions again.  Body Weight - Useful Tips For Racing Sailors Many boats and classes we sail have an upper crew weight limit or ideal weight for best performance and many competitors get involved in yo-yo dieting to meet those weight requirements. Changes in weight need to be gradual and balanced otherwise it can affect your ability to perform at your peak. In a class that has a particular weight range to be competitive is to be somewhere in the middle. Of course, this is dictated to a large extent by our physical size. When choosing a class of boat to sail, select a boat matched to their natural size. #sailingtowin #Sailing #yachtrace #competitivesailing #yachtrace #sail Read the full article