Upwind Tactics: Defending Against a Lee Bow and Tacking into a Safe Leeward Position

By Andrew Kerr

Last month we looked at executing the lee bow and the duck. This month we are looking at how to defend against the lee bow. A teams ability to defend there lane of clear wind and water is critical to there success going upwind. The longer you can stay off another teams lee bow maneuver the better. We will look also at the strategic positioning of tacking well before you meet the competition into a safe leeward position, this being a great bigger fleet move.

Lets first look at a typical scenario in a race where a team gets lee bowed by another boat:

The team on "8 Ace" is quiet as they work the boat going upwind. They are half way up the first beat to windward and are in a great position. Most of the fleet to the right is tucked behind them and are slowly fading, a few boats threaten. The boats on the left are well to leeward with perhaps a few gaining slowly. "Up 10 degrees since we tacked 'says the mid deck, "Air is clear, good flat water" says the foredeck. "We are in a great spot" says the skipper -- only "Mohawk Warrior" and "# 914" to worry about to the right of us."
Suddenly, with stealth like perfection, another team plants a perfect tack ahead and to leeward of "8 Ace."
The team on "8 Ace" struggles to stay off our intruders until finally they are forced to tack away out of phase and into the looming crowd of boats to the right. Suddenly they find they are having to duck and tack in the crowd as the water is churned up amidst the chaos of bad air and log jammed boats! >From serenity to mayhem!

Afterwards at the club the team on "8 Ace" checks the scoreboard -- a 15th that race when seemingly a top 3 was in sight. "If we had just been able to keep that lane it would have been a different race and we would be 2nd overall right now " the team laments and whats worse the free keg beer tastes awful!

Sound familiar?

Lets look at defending against the lee bow:

See them early:

It is so key that the team is in anticipation mode. That means the foredeck constantly looking through the Genoa window and the skipper/mid deck is looking under the boom once in a while and through the mainsail window. If you do not have a mainsail window we do recommend one as it can be helpful.

When the foredeck is looking through the Genoa window it is helpful for them to describe where the other boat is by using there position in the window.

An example of this communication would be:

"I have a port tacker in the middle of the window about 8 lengths away -- it looks to be bow to bow with him -- do you see him?"

or:

"I have a port tacker in the aft part of the window about 5 lengths away -- we appear to be crossing -- do you see him?"
By using the Genoa window this helps describe to the skipper where the other boat is.
Tactically, you can anticipate lee bows from your position on the race course.
For instance -- if you are slightly overstood on the layline you can anticipate a lee bow coming from a boat that cannot cross you. When you see the other boat coming the crew body language will be a good indication -- the mid deck moving in off the rail and taking out the winch handle tells you that likely a tack is imminent on there boat. Also, if you have a bunch of boats on starboard tack to windward of you then you know the port tacker will probably lee bow you as they do not want to do a bunch of ducks of the boats beyond you and be forced into the crowd. One thing that has helped us anticipate the other boats move is to put ourselves in the re tactical shoes and think what there possible move would be and what there likely move would be. Remember that very often teams will lee bow a port tacker when they are on starboard tack -- this is most likely to protect the side of the course that they have gained from.

Defending the lee bow:

Lets assume now that we have seen the other boat coming and it looks like a lee bow is coming.
First, when they are about 2 and a half lengths away, bear away slightly, 5 or so degrees and ease the mainsail and Genoa a small amount. This will increase your speed and also make them tack a little earlier. Remember - there goal is to tack as close to you as possible, (without fouling -- "tacking too close," Rule #10) and your goal is for them to tack as far away from you as possible so you can maximize your clear air and gap to leeward. As they tack -- use your extra speed to point higher and hike as hard as you can, (if there is enough wind). Remember the class rules state that your hips must be inside the boat.
This is the crucial time -- if they do a bad tack or tack in a wave or tack down speed or do a crash tack then you can roll right over them and they maybe forced to tack again for clear air!
If they do a good lee bow then now is the time to really work the boat -- make small adjustments to the sails. If the wind goes right and you are the right boat then you will lift off the leeward boat and gain. If the wind goes left then the leeward boat will gain and it will be harder to stay off them.

Don't Pinch!

It is key not to pinch too much -- the boat will stall and you will sag into the leeward boat immediately.
Another common error is to overtrim the sails to point -- remember you can only point when you have speed so get the boat going before you trim in the sails tighter.
Pick good flat spots to point up -- when it is choppy we call out the flatter water so we can point and gap off the leeward boat.

Performance report and assessment:

How are we doing? Monitor the boats around you -- are we losing? If you are holding fine with other boats around you then you can hang in there. If it is a net loss -- and you can tack and cross boats to windward of you then a bail out tack to clear may be the move. An accurate report from the crew on net gain / net even / net loss versus other boats will help you decide weather to keep going and stay off the lee bower or to tack.

Psychology:

"Mental toughness" is the catchphrase of the new millennium and it applies right here!
Good teams will defend against lee bow's very well and will hang in for a long time before being forced to tack away. Have the mentality that you can roll the boat to leeward.
In preparation for the J24 worlds last year we deliberately set up in practice with a boat ahead and to leeward. This really made us work the boat hard for clear air and speed. The longer we could hang in there the better.

The safe leeward position:

Especially in bigger fleets a conservative and smart move is to tack into the safe leeward position.
In big fleets there are lots of boats which churn up the air and the water! In order to protect a side of the course you can tack further away from the crowd with clear air and work on your speed.
The advantages are:
- You do not risk a "tacking too close" foul that a lee bow can risk.
- You avoid being locked up with other boats and can go faster.
- It affords you the ability to play a favorable shift from that side of the course and reduces boat to boat conflict, (which slows boats down) until later in the leg.
- If you have gained from your side of the course then you can tack back before you get to the crowd so you can keep gaining in the favorable shift or velocity or current, this keeps your air clear.
Your mantra in bigger fleets should be speed and clear air. This tactic affords this with associated risks if you are going the wrong way.

Next month we will look at the techniques of sailing a good, consistent series.

Best of luck and have fun in your racing!



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.