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You are reaching around the
starting line- 12 minutes to the gun. The line is set and
unrestricted. What to do? A very useful routine to develop that
is widely used by match racers is to define the laylines on a
closehauled course to both ends of the line.
Top match racing teams make it their business to almost
"paint" white lines on both port and starboard tack to both
ends so that when the inevitable melee of wild circling with the other
competitor begins they have a good idea of where they are relative to
those laylines. This knowledge reduces the chance of being shut out
from starting by the other boat.
Now, for us fleet racers - how many of us have ever been caught
barging and fouling a leeward boat at the committee boat- or just
as worse- not making the pin end and having to jibe and duck the
whole fleet !? The answer is we all have! Being forced out
at the committee boat or at the pin can very often be recovered from-
but they can also put a blemish on the scoresheet that is very
pronounced at the end of the series!
What we have found is very helpful is to make a practice run at the
committee boat on starboard tack closehauled and pass the transom of
the committee boat with at least one boat length of space between you
and the boat. Note the compass heading, note any land marks ahead of
you and any aft of you that you can use as reference points. The one
boat length of space is your insurance to being luffed with a leeward
boat and being able to respond to them and still be able to start
legally without barging. If it is shifty, do this a couple of times as
the layline will shift. In particular - a lot of boats get caught
unaware of the layline change when the wind shifts to the right.
Remember that moves the "safe" layline further to leeward-
it is a good idea to recheck it. A lot of boats do not do this and
consequently come screaming in to the committe boat end on beam
reaches and either foul some boats, go over early or get shut
out by leeward boats with luffing rights ! If you can see you have
misjudged your layline approach and you are going to foul other
boats- then clear out, (usually by circling ) and have another go! If
you do not do this then you will be doing 720's and buying other teams
beers afterwards! Also note if the current is effecting
you any and if it is sweeping you toward the committee boat then
budget plenty of distance for it. If the current is pushing you over
the line- that moves you "safe" approach further to leeward
on the line- essentially the layline moves to the left and your
approach will be much lower as you will be pushed to windward and over
the line.
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If your
team is thinking of starting near the pin end then do the same approach-
come in on starboard tack close-hauled and pass the pin with at least
one boat length of separation . Watch the current on the pin- if you are
being swept into it then budget more distance of separation. Check your
compass heading, note landmarks and get a feel for where the boat has to
be. This will help you know when to to tack from port to starboard if
you are doing a port tack approach. Something we find helpful with
current considerations is the knowledge that one knot of current is
equal to about 5 knots of sailing wind! Beware- it changes the laylines
drastically! It is not uncommon to see a number of boats not make the
line on starboard tack when the pin end is favored or in the event of
wind shift to the left or in adverse current - a knowledge of the
layline would of helped prevent this ! Remember - if the wind goes left
-the layline to the pin moves to windward- in essence to the right and
that means you have to be further up the line for your approach
and will be on a very close hauled course. If you are thinking of
starting in the middle of the line- away from the crowded ends then do
the same approach work so that you have a feel for the layline.
If the line is indeed restricted as a result of multi class starts- then
pay a lot of attention to the fleets starting ahead- by observing there
angles it will help you gauge the layline angles. Consistent starters
use the laylines to there advantage and it helps the teams make boat to
boat decisions more clearly. May the force of the "Safe"
layline be with you!
Quick Kerr Bio ! Co owner with Chris Winnard of 3 time
S20 National Champion "Disaster Area" , North U Seminars
speaker and coach, J World sailing Schools rep and staff trainer,
"Sailing World " contributor, 2000 J24 National champion, 3rd-
2000 J24 World Championships. |