Viola

IP: 83.67.105.75

May 1, 08 - 4:18 PM

For the New to Racing - THE RACE

The Race to the Finish

The course will be a number of laps, depending on the speed of your boat, around set marks which starts and finishes back at the Start Line.

A simple triangle course will be as follows:
First leg – a beat to the Windward Mark, rounded to Port (leave the Mark to the port hand side of the boat).
Second leg – a reach to the Wing Mark, rounded to Port, by a gybe
Third leg – a reach to the Leeward Mark, rounded to Port
Fourth leg – a beat back to the Start/Finish Line.

Continue sailing round the course until the Race Officer indicates that boats will finish the next time they cross the Line. This is done by flying the ‘S’ flag, (a white square with a blue square inside) and two Sound Signals. As the front of your boat crosses the line you will get a sound signal and your time will be taken, although you must cross the line completely.

If there is going to be another race you remain near by to one side or the other, but not in the line area, so as not to confuse the race officer.

Points to remember.
The AIM: To sail your boat as fast as possible round the course. This means you have to use the wind direction, sails, centre board, balance and trim as best you can, whilst being aware of the other boats on the course and responding to them appropriately. This take practice for everyone.

The BEAT: It is very easy to point too directly to the Windward Mark (PINCH) and get into the No-Go-Zone which slows you down. Remember to stay properly close hauled and, as a rule of thumb, look behind your back (aft) to see if the Windward Mark is at right angles to your course, rather than looking round in front of you. That way you get what is known as the LAY LINE, the line which lets you get straight to the mark while close hauled.

ROUNDING MARKS: If two boats are close together when coming up to rounding a mark, if at the moment when the first of them reaches the imaginary circle two boat lengths from the mark, the other is overlapped on the inside, then Rule 18 states that other must be given room to round.
But if a boat has NOT got the overlap by the two boat lengths, it is not allowed to then sail between the leading boat and the mark, it must go outside the leading boat.

If someone calls 'water at the mark' they are claiming the right to room.
Rule 18 has a few complexities e.g. you cannot call for water on the Start Line.

Club courses are Trapezoid, Sausage, ‘P’, ‘M’, even Trapezoid With Outer Loop! There is a variation in the Fewster Series where it is a Windward Leeward course - you beat towards the first mark as usual, then back THROUGH the start line from the course side for one lap. For the next lap you can choose to go round either the Pin Mark or the Start Boat on your way back to the first Mark. I cannot add pictures to the forum but ask at the club house to be shown on the board.

Once the racing session has finished competitors head back to the shore for the final part - reliving all the moments of joy and horror; close misses, good and bad wind shifts, gaining places and loosing them. It is this final camaraderie that makes the day for me.

Welcome to racing!

Neil

IP: 92.233.237.49

May 2nd, 2008 - 10:30 PM

Re: For the New to Racing - THE RACE

As I invariably muck up the start it is reassuring that there is something else to compete for.

Neil

Viola

IP: 83.67.105.75

May 8th, 2008 - 6:38 PM

Re: For the New to Racing - THE RACE

The site that Steve suggested is excellent - http://www.uiowa.edu/~sail/skills/racing_basics/index3.shtml - (Bother, I can't find the href formula to make a seamless link)

I have just been browsing through it and I think it should work well for new sailors AND gives me lots to think about to refine what we are doing.

Anyone else looked at it?

Steve

IP: 86.152.2.211

May 8th, 2008 - 7:53 PM

Re: For the New to Racing - THE RACE

The link is here folks

Author	Comment
Viola IP: 83.67.105.75 May 1, 08 - 4:18 PM	For the New to Racing - THE RACE The Race to the Finish The course will be a number of laps, depending on the speed of your boat, around set marks which starts and finishes back at the Start Line. A simple triangle course will be as follows: First leg – a beat to the Windward Mark, rounded to Port (leave the Mark to the port hand side of the boat). Second leg – a reach to the Wing Mark, rounded to Port, by a gybe Third leg – a reach to the Leeward Mark, rounded to Port Fourth leg – a beat back to the Start/Finish Line. Continue sailing round the course until the Race Officer indicates that boats will finish the next time they cross the Line. This is done by flying the ‘S’ flag, (a white square with a blue square inside) and two Sound Signals. As the front of your boat crosses the line you will get a sound signal and your time will be taken, although you must cross the line completely. If there is going to be another race you remain near by to one side or the other, but not in the line area, so as not to confuse the race officer. Points to remember. The AIM: To sail your boat as fast as possible round the course. This means you have to use the wind direction, sails, centre board, balance and trim as best you can, whilst being aware of the other boats on the course and responding to them appropriately. This take practice for everyone. The BEAT: It is very easy to point too directly to the Windward Mark (PINCH) and get into the No-Go-Zone which slows you down. Remember to stay properly close hauled and, as a rule of thumb, look behind your back (aft) to see if the Windward Mark is at right angles to your course, rather than looking round in front of you. That way you get what is known as the LAY LINE, the line which lets you get straight to the mark while close hauled. ROUNDING MARKS: If two boats are close together when coming up to rounding a mark, if at the moment when the first of them reaches the imaginary circle two boat lengths from the mark, the other is overlapped on the inside, then Rule 18 states that other must be given room to round. But if a boat has NOT got the overlap by the two boat lengths, it is not allowed to then sail between the leading boat and the mark, it must go outside the leading boat. If someone calls 'water at the mark' they are claiming the right to room. Rule 18 has a few complexities e.g. you cannot call for water on the Start Line. Club courses are Trapezoid, Sausage, ‘P’, ‘M’, even Trapezoid With Outer Loop! There is a variation in the Fewster Series where it is a Windward Leeward course - you beat towards the first mark as usual, then back THROUGH the start line from the course side for one lap. For the next lap you can choose to go round either the Pin Mark or the Start Boat on your way back to the first Mark. I cannot add pictures to the forum but ask at the club house to be shown on the board. Once the racing session has finished competitors head back to the shore for the final part - reliving all the moments of joy and horror; close misses, good and bad wind shifts, gaining places and loosing them. It is this final camaraderie that makes the day for me. Welcome to racing!
Neil IP: 92.233.237.49 May 2nd, 2008 - 10:30 PM	Re: For the New to Racing - THE RACE As I invariably muck up the start it is reassuring that there is something else to compete for. Neil
Viola IP: 83.67.105.75 May 8th, 2008 - 6:38 PM	Re: For the New to Racing - THE RACE The site that Steve suggested is excellent - http://www.uiowa.edu/~sail/skills/racing_basics/index3.shtml - (Bother, I can't find the href formula to make a seamless link) I have just been browsing through it and I think it should work well for new sailors AND gives me lots to think about to refine what we are doing. Anyone else looked at it?
Steve IP: 86.152.2.211 May 8th, 2008 - 7:53 PM	Re: For the New to Racing - THE RACE The link is here folks E-mail: stephen.gibbon@btopenworld.con