March 3, 2010
CONTACT:
Jake Fish
US SAILING Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org
(401) 683-0800
Know Thy Neighbor
Dave Perry is one of several renowned sailing experts participating in US SAILING's 2010 Speaker Series. The author of Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-2012, 100 Best Racing Rules Quizzes 2009-2012, and Winning in One-Designs offers up his top tactical tips again this week…
Know Thy Neighbor
Regardless of whether there are three boats starting or 30 or 130, the only two boats that really matter to you right off the starting line are the boats just to windward and to leeward of you. I call these boats my “neighbors.” Therefore, one of the secrets to getting a good start is picking your neighbors wisely.
A well-known sailor tells a story about a Midwinter event he participated in many years ago. Despite a poor result, he was proud of his good starts because he was always lined up next to the eventual winner. However, after the regatta he was listening to the winner describe his starting strategy: “I always try to line up next to a “marshmallow” or someone who I know will be really slow off the line.” The sailor’s heart sank as he realized that he was the marshmallow.
There are two basic approaches to final position on the starting line. One is to get onto starboard tack with about 1:30 to go and work your way along the line, trying to create a nice hole below you, and waiting for the perfect moment to pull the trigger (put your bow down and build speed). Two is to come along on port tack with about 1:30 to go, and look for a good place to tack onto starboard, preferably close to leeward of a boat already set up on starboard, with a nice hole below you.
The key to knowing who your neighbors will be is to look where you are at 1:30 to go. If you are on starboard reaching along the line, the boats directly in front and behind you are likely going to be your neighbors. If one is the fleet champion, slow down or tack out and reshuffle your neighbors. If you like who they are, then slow down and open up as much distance as you can between you and the boat in front of you, without risk of the boat behind you getting a leeward overlap on you. That way, you’ll have the largest hole to leeward of you when you head up to start.
If you are on port tack, be as selective as possible about the boat you choose to tack in to leeward of. When you make that tack, be sure to start low enough that you end up solidly overlapped with the new windward boat, as opposed to being too far forward and not securely pinning that boat. If they aren’t pinned, they can bear off and overlap you to leeward after your tack, which could be disaster.
For more information on US SAILING's 2010 Speaker Series, please visit the event website.
US SAILING has partnered with Dave Perry to provide our members with great membership discounts on these educational sailing publications:
Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-2012
$32.50 Retail
$27.00 for Members
Winning in One-Designs
$26.50 Retail
$20.00 for Members
100 Best Racing Rules Quizzes 2009-2012
$14.95 Retail
$12.00 for Members
Dave Perry Trilogy
$69.95 Retail
$49.95 for Members
About US SAILING
The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US SAILING is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US SAILING offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.