You are hereA Learn to Race Seminar
A Learn to Race Seminar
QYC is trying to encourage all our members to race and so this year we are holding a series of seminars to help new racers feel more comfortable coming out to play with us. Below is the tip sheet for the on-land seminar I'm running.
The tendency is to tell too much too fast, so we’re exploring what the fun minimum is. If you have ideas or experiences, share them with the rest of us. How have you increased participation in club racing?
What You Need to Race
· You need to have or borrow a boat!
· Even if you can sail singlehanded, if you have a two person boat a crew will be a big help; there is a lot to think about the first few races
· You must have a life jacket for each person on board.
· You will want a watch that counts down (many inexpensive digital watches do), or if not, a stop watch will work.
· You will want a note book to write down the course of the race.
· A bottle of water and a small snack can make a long race feel more fun.
· The race won’t necessarily stop if it starts to rain, so bring a rain jacket and other clothes to keep comfortable if the weather changes.
· Sun protection, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, sunscreen and sunglasses are crucial.
Before the Racing Starts
· Ask an experienced racer what course is likely to be set given the wind that day. This will give you an idea of what is going to happen.
· Get the boat ready so you can go out a bit early and get comfortable in the boat.
· Keep an eye out for the race-committee boat and follow them to the starting area. You don’t want to get too far away in case the wind gets really light.
· Write down the course and visually confirm where each buoy is in the order you will sail around them. Confirm which side (which side of your boat) you will leave them on. E.g., 1-red à 4-red à 7-red à R (repeat) à finish. (Red to the right)
· Note when you will start, with the first, second, third or fourth fleet. Lasers usually start first. D=Daysailors, M=Mercurys, L=Lasers, F=Flying Scotts, H=other boats racing handicapped.
· If there is time, try sailing across the line before your race starts. This will give you an idea of where you need to be to start in the middle and how long it might take you to get to the line.
· At about a minute before your start, tack onto starboard so that you don’t have to give way to port-tack boats.
At The Start
· The Race committee will sound four or five horns to alert you that the next horn will be the start of the countdown sequence. QYC starts are three minutes from first horn until the starting horn. Stay close to the starting area during the three minutes prior to your start.
· The first couple of times you start a race try to start in the middle of the line and no more than a boat length behind the front row, unless there is plenty of room on the line for all the boats starting, then get a front row spot.
· Don’t allow any part of your boat, sails or crew to be across the starting line until after the starting horn. If you are, immediately sail back behind the line and then you are free to start.
· Be careful to not pinch during the first few minutes of the race. Even if there is someone sailing close to you and just to leeward of you (on the side your mainsails on) you need to keep your speed up to sail high.
· On short courses, like Quannapowitt has to set, staying on the right side of the course often has advantages. (but see below)
· Try to sail on the tack that seems to take you most directly to the mark, the short tack.
· When you’re new to racing, try to follow the best person in the fleet or the majority of boats. Stay with the fleet as long as you can. Don’t go off to some far corner of the course.
At the Mark
· Spot the next mark before you round the mark in front of you.
· If you’re alone or clear ahead of another boat when you are three of your boat lengths away from the mark, go a little wide and swing close to keep your speed up. Let your mainsail out quickly so you’re not fighting it with your rudder.
· If this is one of your first races and there are other boats around you at the mark, swing pretty wide so that you don’t foul somebody. Once you know the rules you can sail closer to other boats.
· When you’re sailing downwind, you have the advantage over boats ahead of you; try to catch a couple. Get between them and the wind behind them if you’re within five or six boat lengths of them.
· Try not to let anyone sail directly behind you, between you and the wind. (See above.)
At the Finish Line
· Sail toward the end where the best sailors are finishing.
· When you get within one boat length, sail directly toward the line even if your sails luff.
· When any little piece of your boat, sails or crew in their normal positions cross the line, you’re done. The Race Committee will call out your sail number to tell you they think you’re done.
· Always thank the Race Committee, without them you can’t race.
After the Race
· If there will be another race, sail away from the finish line so you’re not in the way of other boats finishing or getting ready to start.
· If racing is done for the day, sail back to the dock so that you can talk with other sailors about what they did that helped them finish ahead of you. Most good racers will share all their thinking with you.
· Practice so that the next time you go out you will be more comfortable and better at something.
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