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By Andrew York, 25/03/2010
Dragon sailors,
A couple of weekends ago at the committee meeting at the squadron I was asked if I could help improve the ability of our fleet to sail in large fleets so that more Australians can make a creditable showing at the Worlds in Melbourne.
Our weekend Sydney fleet of five to nine boats does not give anyone the experience of sailing in a large fleet where starts and strategy are so important to having a good race. In small fleets like ours the fastest boat will usually win as there is plenty of opportunity to clear your air if you are not in a good position.
While it is important to be able to hold your lane off a start line in a big fleet the crew that have the superior strategy will usually beat faster boats that have not made a plan.
While a fleet of around 30 boats as we experience in our nationals is one step up, a fleet of 60 plus boats as we could experience in the worlds in Melbourne is a totally different kettle of fish. The basics that everyone needs to start with are good boat speed and good crew work. Whenever I get into a new class I like to document what I am learning. For this I use a logbook. Uses of a racing Logbook are: 1. To record trim and techniques in all conditions, yours and other boats, noting what is fast. 2. Record mistakes that you made so that you can work on them and eliminate them. 3. Note good tactical moves made by others so that you can use them in the future. 4. Note strengths, weaknesses and idiosyncrasies of other competitors so that you can plan counter moves. 5. Note wind and wave conditions at each venue for future reference when you sail there. 6. To highlight to you if you keep on making the same mistake that you may not be aware of. 7. To remind yourself about all of the above information when you have not been sailing for a while. When I was campaigning a Tasar I found point 6 very useful. I decided to review my Logbook one day. When I did I found that there were a number of races where I had worked into a comfortable lead and then relaxed, only to find that a little while later the fleet was back around me & I had a fight on my hands. I did not note anything special at the time but it was very clear to me when I read my logbook that I needed to keep my concentration for the whole race even when it looked like it was ‘in the bag’. I have developed the basic logbook I have specifically for Dragon sailing. I am attaching Wizzardry’s logbook from our third and ninth outing. Also attached is our Worklist from our first outing and a detailed list of crew duties for tacking & kite sets & drops that I did after our second outing which was a training day with Robert Alpe. We have improved dramatically each time we go out. This is mainly due to being merticulous with our approach and documenting everything that we need to do to improve. If you want to improve you can see that you need to put some effort in. I would recommend that everyone read the David Dellinbaugh articles in Australian Sailing every month. The most concise and easy to read book on weather is ‘Wind Strategy’ by David Houghton. I have the first issue published in 1984. There have been a few changes in the recent issues but the information is still the same. If you take time to read and understand this book you will learn heaps of facts about the wind that will take a lot of the mystery out of it. Another book I recommend you read is ‘Go for the Gold’ by Garry Hoyt. It was published in 1971 and is a great read if you can find it. I have bought half a dozen copies on Amazon over the years but could not find any yesterday. I hope you find this helpful. If anyone has any questions just email me. Yorky
It is a fact that many classes in many countries have improved their standard dramatically by working closely together with a pre-determined plan and sharing information.
Dragon Logbook 3
Date10.10.09 Start Time: 1:10pm
Location: Sydney Harbour
Wind Forecast: 10-15knots, 140 Tide: High 1:20pm
Wind Actual: 10-20 knots S-SE
Sea State: Fairly flat
Course Type: Club SSE Distance: 10nm
Caps: 15
Lowers: 5 Fleet Size: 8
Mainsail: A6 Finishing Position: 3
Jib: Norths 02
Spinnaker: Norths broken head
Settings
Outhaul Position: MW2
Cunningham Position: Nil
Runners: 80-100mm out
Vang: So top telltale flows downwind
Jumpers: 10
Mainsheet tension: Black mark down to block when 12- 15 knots. Mark halfway
up ander 12 knots
Genoa In/Out Fully in
Leech off spreaders 50mm
Foot up caps 200mm in 10knots, 300mm in 15knots
Performance (Speed, Strategy, Tactics)
At Start: Pin end heavily favoured. We got the pin with Carl just above us
Upwind: Carl changes gears a bit better than us.
We did really well with Tom calling the shifts and pressure. We need to keep a better look out for the other boats in the fleet
Downwind: Our speed was pretty good.
We seemed to hold Carl
Improvements to be made:
Tom had not sailed on a Dragon before. A couple of kite take down foul ups
cost us 2nd place. Martin Burke got past us.
Rate of turn in tacks and let offs need to be practiced
Good Technique/Tactics observed/Traits of competition to be aware of:
At the first mark Carl luffed us after he tacked under us.
After building speed before he tacked I should have taken height as he tacked.
Dragon Logbook 9
Date: 21.11.09 Start Time: 1pm
Location: Clarke Island
Wind Forecast: 8-12knots, 130-100 Tide: High 1:22pm
Wind Actual: 5-12 knots 90 with 20 degree shifts High 7:15pm
Sea State: fairly flat
Course Type: E Distance: 11nm
Caps: 15
Lowers: 5 Fleet Size: 8
Mainsail: M1 Finishing Position: 1
Jib: G1
Spinnaker: S2
Settings
Outhaul Position: LW
Cunningham: Nil
Runners: 100 to 150mm
Vang: Just slack up wind. Did not change downwind
Jumpers: 10
Mainsheet tension: The mainsheet should be as tight as possible with the
top telltale fully flowing (not tucking behind) all the time
Genoa In/Out Fully in
Leech off spreaders 50mm Foot up caps Foot 40mm off caps
Performance (Speed, Strategy, Tactics)
At Start: Good start just above most of the fleet heaqding towards Cremorne Point
More pressure there. Carl was too high on linre & missed pressure & tacked off.
Upwind: We played pressure & shifts well but did not find our top mark as we were sailing amongst a fleet of J24s
Gassed the blue boat up the second beat to give ourselves a safe lead at the top mark
Downwind:After overlaying the top mark & giving the leaders 100m headstart we took the lead at
the bottom mark by sailing the whole run in pressure while all others bobbed up & down.
Improvements to be made: 1 Rate of turn, let off & pulling in genoa in tacks
Tactics & Strategy
General
You must be confident with your boatspeed and
boathandling to mix it & hang in with others.
When choosing a strategy or tactic weigh up the percentages of
1/ How much will I gain if it works.
2/ How much will I lose if it does not work.
3/ What are the chances of it working.
Sail aggressively (motivated) but do not make rash decisions.
Keep your cool.
Pre - think situations so that you are prepared to take the
correct option when the opportunity arises.
100 sheep can not be wrong.
If you are deep in the tank, keep your head and improve
when others make mistakes. Never give up there are always
opportunities to improve and there may be an unforseen huge one coming.
Always maintain concentration even when you have worked
into a good lead. Is there current shear or geographic effects favouring one
side? How are your wind and laylines affected?
Start
Establish max, min & mean wind readings before the start
to determine if the breeze is oscillating or showing signs of
being a persistent shift.
Watch for late shifts on the starting line.
When the favoured end is crowded do not go all the way
there. Get a higher percentage start with good speed and
clear air just on the outside of the bunch.
How many good competitors are there , in the fleet and at
the favoured end. Do you have to go for it or will a higher percentage startbe
good enough. Do not tack repetitively after the start.
If the pin end is favoured do not go for THE start there
unless : -
1/ You will be able to tack when you want.
or
2/ The left hand side of the beat is obviously favoured.
Notes
Upwind Boat on Boat
Look at your weather quarter when sailing upwind for boats
picking up better pressure. Tack over early to get it.
Do not match race when you are mid- fleet.
Be obsevrant, look for starboard tackers you may have to
avoid when you tack onto port. Look before you tack!
Do not tack onto starboard underneath someone unless you
are on the layline or you can leebow the boat above.
Do not let a port tacker cross close behind you near the top
mark or the finish.
When it is only a two boat race employ match racing tactics up the final beat.
Upwind
Work out whether you should tack as soon as the shifts hit
you or whether you have to sail into it to get the maximum
benefit.
Check the angles of all the boats to indicate what the
breeze is doing across the course.
Look around and notice what is happening why and how to
take advantage of it.
Know where the laylines are and do not sail past them.
In an oscillating breeze stay well away from the laylines.
Do not sail from one side of the course to the other to get
someone elses shift . Sail the breeze you are in.
Always take a shift to where you want to go.
Do not go on fliers.
Do not tack early on a beat which is practically a one tack
beat.
Learn lessons from previous beats : Left or right favoured.
• Oscillating persistent or geographic shift
• Pressure lines.
• Gusts backing or veering.
Play a side of the beat in light air, there is no gas in the
middle in a large fleet.
Offwind
Never sail low on reaches in light air.
Low (straight ) on reaches is fast in heavy air.
When the breeze has backed go high on the first reach
(tight) and low on the second reach (broad).
When running pick the best tack to surf the waves.
When running always look behind for lines of pressure.
Typical Notes:
to crew following a race
David & Craig, 4.10.09
I don’t know what you guys thought of our tacks but my
thoughts are as follows:
1. Weight was coming off the rail a little early
2. With both of you in the middle of the boat there is
not enough room for anyone to swing their arms to
pull the sheet on.
3. Probably because of 2. you both did not get on the
new rail early enough.
My suggestion for TACKING is:
1. David uncleats the genoa and goes across the boat
with it in his hand until the bow is passing head to
wind at which time he releases, gets on the windward
gunwale & goes for the runner.
2. Craig has the new sheet and pulls it in to the mark.
He should have room to swing his arms as David will
be hiking by then. He grabs the fine tune as he sits on
the side deck and pulls it on until the clew is around
100mm from upwind position.
I’m not sure how my rate of turn has been during tacks as I
have to duck around or under the tiller to get past it, so we
all need the practice.
If you have any comments or suggestions on the above let’s
discuss it and see if we can come up with something that will
work.
At top mark for SPINNAKER SETS:
1. David will have the sheet & brace in his hand.
2. When I say bow is at the mark the brace goes up to
the pole.
3. When I say hoist the pole is pulled back with one
quick tug while trying to give Craig as much room as
possible to pull the halyard up.
4. If David cannot get the brace back to where it
should be it does not matter, just cleat it & pull the
sheet on so the kite sets & does not twist.
5. Then cleat the sheet, get the brace back with both
hands and then go back to the sheet.
6. As soon as Craig has the kite up he rolls the genoa.
7. Craig then goes forward to look for wind & wind
shadows
8. Once the genoa is rolled I can let the rig go forward.
9. David closes the hatch when there is a bit of wind &
waves
Notes
At the BOTTOM MARK:
1. Well before the mark David opens the hatch &
checks the puller is falling straight into the chute.
2. Craig stows the pole.
3. David flies the kite while Craig;
a) pulls the backstay on to get the rig back.
b) pulls the runner on to get forestay tension so the
genoa can unroll
c) gets the ram on
d) pulls the outhaul out
3. When we are ready to drop David drops the sheet &
pulls the brace in forward of the tweeker.
4. When David has the tack in his hand Craig dumps
halyard & pulls the retriever line.
5. When the retriever is pulling the kite along the deck
David lets go of the brace & pulls the genoa out if we
want it before the mark
6. Craig closes the hatch, grabs the genoa trims it to
the mark & gets on the rail.
7. David gets the runner & checks the mainsail trim.
(Check the backstay & vang are not on)
I think that when the slack is taken out of the vang upwind it
is a good starting point for it downwind.
I would like to get a light, medium & heavy mark on it.
Good sailing......all
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