Document Your Way to the Top
There is no doubt that the top level of sailboat racing is getting more professional. However there is a way for most people to become more competitive without spending big bucks. If you are prepared to spend a bit of time documenting your sailing and making realistic evaluations then you can see where you need to make improvements and work on these areas until you get to the desired level of performance.
If you do not know how to make the improvements in your performance I would suggest that you ask the guys who perform best in your class. They are usually friendly and helpful. After all if you ask them for help it is you recognition that they are the expert so kudos to them.
Back in the 70’s and 80’s way before there were any private coaches in sailing there were seminars held at various clubs where experts of the day would come and divulge all their go fast secrets. I’m sure it was at one of these that I was first introduced to the Racing Logbook. I have seen other people make attempts at a logbook over the years but they never went to the detail I noted at one of the seminars.
As part of the learning process when I get into a new class I customize the logbook to suit the class and take notes on each outing to maximize my learning curve. I have not documented every race I have sailed in but I can tell you that I have three logbooks and my first entry is 18th April 1976, not long after I got my first laser. Less than two years later I won the Laser Nationals. In my first season in J24s I got 4th in the World Championships and after one season in Tasars I won six races of the Worlds and finished 4th. A PMS (OCS) cost me the regatta.
Using a logbook certainly helps increase the learning curve. In my second season in Dragons my crew & I won 14 of the 21 club races we sailed, the NSW States, Audi Regatta and the Gold Cup.
Preparing the boat, briefings and debriefings of every day play a big part in improving performance. I often document worklists and detailed debiefings additional to the Racing Logbook but it forms the basis of our learning.
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 reviewed my logbook that I needed to keep my concentration for the whole race even when it looked like it was ‘in the bag’.
Attached (Dragon Logbook 50) is my Racing Logbook specifically for the Dragon the entry is from January 2011.
Armed with this information and a determination to improve you should be well on your way to documenting your way to the top.
Andrew York
