STARTING ANALYSIS & SKILLS FOR SUCCESS

Article by Gordy Bowers , North Sails One Design Zenda

STRATEGY is using the wind to finish the race as quickly as possible. By looking at a weathermap, lake geography, the sky, the lake surface, the length of course, number of competitors and type of boat sailed you create a game plan for the start and first beat. You should stick to the plan unless wind conditions clearly change before or slightly after the start. The best racers start thinking of a winning strategy before they go out on the water. There are two basic strategies –hit the corner or sail the middle– depending on your feel for the wind velocity and direction.

HIT THE CORNER when the wind is very steady or progressively shifting to one side of the course. For example, when there is a point of land or a shoreline (within thirty degrees of parallel to the wind direction) you should plan to get to that side of the course. If the wind is stronger on one side due to a lower windward shore, a bay or just more open water on one side of the course it is also critical for you to get to that side. When the course is short, the bold approach is to keep the fleet on your weather quarter sail fast to a little short of the layline and tack for the weather mark. A more conservative racer will tack short of the layline or slightly before the boats around him with a clean lane and a potential lift to the mark as the wind continues to shift or build. The boats that wait to get to the layline will backwind each other or overstand the mark. You can usually tack back to the corner if boats that continued to the side are making good gains and still get to the weather mark among the leaders.

SAIL THE MIDDLE when the weather shore is less than a third of a mile away or when the upper air is colder than the land or water over which it is flowing – a cold front. In either case the wind is very changeable in velocity and direction. You need to respond to shifts quickly to stay on the lifted tack, which is usually the fastest way to the weather mark. The exception is when by sailing a small header your can get into much better wind velocity. Generally, you should sail to the next heading shift, tack back toward the middle on the long tack toward the mark and sail fast to the next big header. Only point high for tactical reasons: when you are close to the layline, if other boats are on your weather quarter that prevent you from tacking or when you are on the lifted edge of puff and pointing high will keep you on the edge sailing high and fast.

TACTICS are usually defined as how you place your boat relative to a boat or boats around your to gain control so you can execute your strategic game plan, winning both the battle and the war. It is critical to change your starting priorities depending on the wind strength. Light air requires clear air and speed at the gun with the ability to sail in the direction of the most wind. In medium wind positioning is most important so set up the boat for pointing high to separate from boats around you and make that first tack perfect. In heavy air boat handling is what wins the start. Knowing how long it takes to tack into a good approach position with the ability to accelerate to full speed into a hole to leeward at the gun is the heavy air priority.

I analyze the starting tactics as a series of timeline problems: from three minutes to thirty seconds before the start, thirty seconds to the start and from the start until two minutes after the start.

THREE MINUTES TO THIRTY SECONDS – First determine which end of the starting line is favored. The quickest method is to go head to wind and estimate which end is favored and by how much. You then use your strategic analysis of the wind to determine whether you will be sailing for a side or going up the middle two minutes after the gun. Starting line situations fall into three groups: port-biased, starboard-biased and no-bias to the line.

PORT-BIASED LINE – Advantages are clear air, the ability to get to the favored left side of the course and a head start on all boats behind and to weather. Disadvantages are that many others will want to be at the port end preventing you from getting away cleanly or blocking you from tacking if the line is extremely biased.

1. Do not be early and know the layline to the port mark.
2. Avoid the port end crunch by starting just behind the starboard crowd at the pin.

STARBOARD-BIASED LINE – Advantages are clear air and the option to tack to starboard for more wind, a heading shift or both. Disadvantages are boats that are early, bunching or barging the line. It is critical to know the layline to the starboard mark so you can tell if your are high, low as you approach the line.

1. If high of the layline try to drift down or sheet in to sail over or below close boats.
2. If low of the layline, tack to port and then tack back once on the layline.
3. If late trim immediately or wait for the boats ahead to start, then tack.
4. If early stop(wiggle the rudders, luff both sails, drop both boards and ease the vang), reach down the line for a hole or circle the starboard end of the line.

NO-BIAS LINE – Advantages are that you can avoid the ends, which are usually crowded – the middle is safer when you are fast or leading the regatta. The midline start also gives more flexibility to sail to either side when the wind is shifty and you want to stay on the lifted tack using the sail the middle strategy. The disadvantages are getting to the line too soon in a group of early boats and having to sail around the ends if you are over the line early. Develop great boathandling skills to be successful in the following mid-line situations:

1. Develop a reliable port tack approach that enables you to spot gaps in the line to tack into with thirty seconds to the gun.

2. When on starboard learn to accelerate quickly over the top of a boat to leeward and into a hole on the other side or accelerate quickly to prevent an overlap and luffing rights.

3. When making a starboard approach, defend against a port tacker who is trying to steal your hole by bearing off to aim at him thereby forcing him to either tack early or sail past you and look for a more attractive hole further up the line. If he tacks under you head up quickly so you gain separation.

4. When making a starboard approach, defend against another starboard tacker who attempts to get to leeward of you by bearing off to fill the hole to leeward of you before he can establish an overlap to leeward of you with luffing rights. You might also leave your boom out to further discourage him while trying to make yourself a half-boat length hole to leeward. If done correctly your defense will leave the starboard tacker no option but to reach off to a hole well below you or to luff sharply to an overlapped position on your weather quarter.

5. If luffed hard by a boat to leeward, look back up the line to see if you can tack to port and then tack back to starboard so you create a new hole to leeward.

6. Discipline yourself to hang back if your are with a group of boats that will be over the line early. Either you or your crew should look at the pin then at the boat end to see if you are over. The shorter the course or the larger the fleet the more important it is to not be over early.

THIRTY SECONDS TO ZERO SECONDS – During this period quick reaction time and perfect boathandling determine your success. The following techniques, when practiced will give you a big advantage over less skilled opponents:

1. Learn how to rotate your boat from close to head to wind to perpendicular without moving more than one length forward by using sail trim, crew weight and helm.

2. Hold your boat nearly stationary keeping just enough flow on the board to maintain your position on the line using sail trim, crew weight and helm. Reach off and accelerate as soon as the boat to leeward just before the gun.

3. Practice at least one acceleration drill before the starting sequence to know the time and distance to full speed for the wind and wave conditions.

4. Accelerate by first trimming the jib, then the main while keeping the helm on the centerline of the boat until you are close to top speed. Trying to point early will only cause the boat to sideslip toward the boat to leeward of you.

5. Be quick to protect your position in lifts/headers and puffs/lulls just before the gun.

ZERO SECONDS-TWO MINUTES AFTER THE START – Assuming you have executed well, you are in the front row and going fast in the right direction for the first shift, you will round the first mark in good shape. However, if your plan or execution is wrong you will be behind shortly after the start. Relax! Look for opportunities to get clear air, to play the shifts and go fast. Try some of the following Plan-B moves.

1. Find lanes of clear air and stay with your game plan, unless obviously wrong.
2. Learn to use a blocker when on starboard tack.
3. Do not get trapped on port thinking another boat to leeward is a blocker.
4. If a boat tacks on your wind, tack and come back to follow your pre-start plan.
5. If a boat is on your quarter, know at what distance you can tack and duck his stern.
6. Change gears to point or drive off for clear wind, lifts or headers.
7. Know what port-starboard relationships call for cross, lee bow or duck.

CHAMPIONS IN ANY SPORT think, believe in, and work very hard to win. They are willing to make mistakes, learn from them and prepare for the next race. Above all, be positive and enjoy the process of becoming the best racer you can be.