Learn to Win March 13, 2013

Transcription

1 Learn to Win March 13, 2013 What we ll cover 1. Confidence-The Winning System Goals, preparation and two boat tuning 2. Crew selection, Training and Tuning 3. Race Day 4. The Start Five starting techniques 5. First, Second, Third and Fourth Legs 6. C Course Tips 1

2 The 10,000 Hour Rule Outliers Malcolm Gladwell You don t play the game, the game plays you Phil Jackson Over 50% of the race is won before you leave the dock. That is why practice and preparation is so important. Your boat has to be bullet proof. Everything on your boat must work. 2

3 CONFIDENCE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO WIN-IT IS WHAT YOU NEED TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS. Practice is preparation, and preparation is what provides confidence. The more that you practice the more confident you will be. GOALS MAKE OR BREAK YOU WHY GOALS ARE IMPORTANT Goals build CONFIDENCE and CONFIDENCE WINS RACES Goals ENSURE PROGRESS HOW TO SET REALISTIC GOALS Goals should be incremental towards a Big Goal Goals should be small initially, with larger steps Goals must be incrementally measurable and achievable 3

4 GOALS MAKE OR BREAK YOU Examples of achievable goals: 1. Finished 4 th in DRYA, then 2 nd this year. 2. Won 2 races last year, then 4 this year th in Nationals last year, top 18 this year, top 10 in two years, top 5 in three. Parts on Board Parts on Shore Tiller Extension and Swivel Spare Parts Full set of battens + battens for extreme conditions Shackles, lashing line, tool bag Rip Stop, Scissors, telltales, Duct Tape, Dr. Shrink Flag Chart, Extra Sailing Instructions Rule Book Spare Handheld radio, hand bearing compass, binoculars Have two of everything Compass Windex Full suit of sails Mast, Boom, Spin Pole, or know where you will get them immediately Keel Plug Nico press and big pop riveter Spare lines, halyards and sheets Tiller 4

5 THE TO-DO LIST AT THE REGATTA PRIORITY 1. SAFETY 2. RELIABILITY 3. SPEED 4. COMFORT Vince Brun, example of a San Diego expert Notes from a Vince Brun Interview: No Heavy Air sails needed Only light and medium jim Fuller up high Race Committee may start races in 5-6 knots Need to use a double taper top batten More draft stripes lower in the sail Loosen Spinnaker Halyard in light air Dying Breeze favors the Left Side Filling Breeze favors the Right Side Floss for Kelp on the runs 5

6 REPLICATING YOUR SPEED BACKSTAY IS MARKED EVERY 1.5 INCHES WITH DIFFERENT COLOR THREADS TO REPLICATE SETTINGS AT ANY TIME REPLICATING YOUR SPEED ADJUSTMENT BACKSTAY HEADSTAY/FORESTAY SHROUNDS ALL SHEETS AND HALYARDS TRAVELER, JIB TRACKS Spinnaker Pole Topping Lift MARKING DIMENSION: YARN, MARKER, CALIBRATED TAPE; PRESSURE IS FOR SAFETY, NOT FOR TUNING DIMENSION: STICK, BATTEN PADDLE, TAPE MEASURE DIMENSION: CHECK TENSION AT INITIAL SET UP, SAG IN LEEWARD SHROUD WHEN SAILING UPWIND DIMENSIION: MARK WITH SEWN THREAD OR SHARPIE DIMENSION: SHARPIE ON DECK Sewn thread 6

7 TWO BOAT TUNING Two boat tuning is the foundation of all boat speed development in one design racing. You must know how to do it properly to win a major regatta. You must tune before every race. The initial line up is critical. You must have an open and honest partner for this to really pay off. TWO BOAT TUNING Why it WORKS When two teams cooperate learning is improved at a faster rate. Sails and trim can be tested and validated quickly - you do not have to wait until regatta time. Each team pushes each other to excel. 7

8 TWO BOAT TUNING How to choose your partner 70% of your time in the boat should be on two boat tuning or speed testing. 30% of your time should be spent on crew work and practice. This may different for every team, or every type of boat-this is the ratio we like to use. TWO BOAT TUNING Rules of Engagement Each boat should sail as they normally would during a race. The windward boat should not try and reach over the leeward boat. The leeward boat should not try and pinch off the windward boat. 8

9 TWO BOAT TUNING Upwind THE CORRECT LINE UP LADDER RUNG SIGHT LINE TWO BOAT TUNING LADDER RUNG DO NOT BE FOOLED, YOU ARE LOSING TO THE LEEWARD BOAT BECAUSE OF THE LADDER RUNG YOU ARE ON SIGHT LINE THE SIGHT LINE ANGLE HAS NOT CHANGED BY THE BOAT BUT THE STRINIG LENGTH BETWEEN HELMSMEN IS SHORTER-LOST A LADDER RUNG 9

10 TWO BOAT TUNING Leeward boat faster LADDER RUNG SIGHT LINE Crew Selection Training Tuning 10

11 Crew Selection Most important decision is the crew, not the sails. Beer can races can be good for initial compatibility determination. Quiet boat is a fast boat. Training and Tuning Train early in the Season-Old Sails. Sets, gybes, tacks, pumping and rocking. Must train in all conditions, light, medium, heavy. Practice Gear Changing-who does what. Have your sailmaker sail with you. Two Boat tuning-focus on height with same speed. Helps you start and stay in clear air. 11

12 Training and Tuning (cont.) Headstay length and sag. Proper mast bend and main luff curve matching. Balanced helm, 1-1/2 lbs of weather helm. NEVER SAIL WITH LEE HELM. Record all good speed settings in logbook. Photograph your sails and commit shape to memory. Compare new sails to old sails. Keep a LOG of your settings and mark all sheets, halyards, traveler, stays, tracks, etc. New Sails Photograph Sails when they are new-send copy of photo to sailmaker to ensure proper shape and trim - did you receive what your ordered? When sails get older you can photograph them again and compare to see how they age-important if you do not get new sails frequently. Luff curves and leaches need attention over time. 12

13 TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS AND ANALYZE YOUR TRIM Race Day Read Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions. Plastic laminate Sailing Instructions and have onboard Designated expert on SI s onboard. Watch weather pattern for racecourse 5-7 days ahead of regatta. Good Fiction Sailflow Sailing Weather Service (Chris Bedford) Commander s GP Sail Club ( Have all tide information on board. Know sail selection, have all sails on board for the day. De-louse the boat before you leave - no extra gear. First Boat to leave the dock and first boat on course. 13

14 Race Day Start wind readings at GP Park, when leaving the river wind readings before start, minimum. Typically every 5 minutes; record direction and speed if it is puffy. FROM COMMITTEE BOAT Course 4 Direction 90 L length 1.5 P W S : : : : : : : : :25 25 WRITTEN ON DECK 14

15 Get Your Head Out of the Boat ALWAYS SAIL TO THE RACECOURSE WHEN POSSIBLE. Lake St. Clair is more honest that many other venues - BELIEVE ME! Know your venue! Current and tide-always check on lobster pots and marks - know time of change. Observe clouds. Updraft and downdraft clouds. Know how edges of clouds affect wind strength and direction. Race Day Always racing-even before the race. Crew meeting before start - get everyone's input. Know your boat s strengths. Light-medium-heavy conditions? Stay away from your weaknesses! Back Up before start to clear weeds from keel and rudder. After clearing keel, sheet in and time how long it takes to attain full speed. Remember: 6 knots = 10ft/sec. 15

16 Race Day Calculate approximate number of shifts on upwind leg so that you know how many times you may have to tack. Sail up the course at least twice to get a feel for the proper sail selection and settings. Now is when you connect with your tuning partner, both up and down wind. FULL RACE MODE NOW. Share any information with partner. Height and speed observations. Help each other as needed. Race Day If favored side is undetermined, then split tacks with tuning partner and see who wins. Start near middle of line. Sail 3-5 minutes and tack simultaneously and see which side gains. Determine tacking and gybing angles. No beer prior to racing (excepting weekdays!). Always watch starts before yours to verify favored end of line and side of course. 16

17 The Start-Types Communicate Game Plan to Team. 1 or 2 wind shoots to confirm wind and favored end of starting line and course. 70% of the race is lost at the start. 5 basic starting techniques. Port End Approach Starboard Tack luff approach Mid Line conservative approach Vanderbilt timed start Dip Start (good on Tuesday nights!) WIND 0 2 min. Distance to line Five Starts 17

18 The Start-Where to Start Divide line into 25% increments. Decide where we want to start and make timed runs to that area of the line. Visualize the spot for the ideal start. Very few boats win an end, so gauge traffic. We typically start 15% from either end of the line. Be sure to record course from Committee Boat and write upwind and downwind directions on deck. The Start-the Favored End Four ways to determine the Favored End. Run the line and record compass reading. Add or subtract 90 o to obtain square wind. Elvstrom Technique. Run line with fixed sheets, tack and see if you are over or under trimmed. If under trimmed new tack is towards favored end. Eyeball - only do when you are late. Starboard Cross. Watch other boats cross line trimmed in or wind shoots. 18

19 WIND C - 10 D The Start Shore Sight Run line and sight spot on shore. Be near Committee Boat at 5 minutes if line is less than 2.5 minutes long. Time length of line and calculate time to get to your spot. Always gybe at left end of line and tack at the right end of line. Tacking from the port end always puts you in the traffic lane and too close to the starting line. Helmsman must concentrate on immediate traffic. Crew counts time out loud at 20 seconds to go. 19

20 The Start Last approach to the line should be a tack. Constant input regarding distance to line so Helmsman can go into power mode. Give constant distance to leeward boat. Forget the bad start immediately and concentrate on finding a hole or take transoms to clear. Know the competition and possibly start near them. Sail your own race. Even though you are on starboard tack doesn t mean you have the right of way. Bottom line get comfortable with your own starting style and repeat it so everyone knows on the boat what to expect. First Leg Know the game plan try to stick to it. 70% of the time the first shift is a header. Immediately after the gun know what compass mode you are in: up, down or median. Break the fleet into a percentage over the race course. Immediate input as to lee bow, gaining, same, higher, lower. Give input constantly for five minutes after the start so the helmsman gets comfort zone. Start watching the corners. Always sail the longest tack first. Determine which side is looking better and sail to it if possible. First crossing group discuss how you want to approach the group before it gets there. If you re behind it usually pays to tack underneath the group and wait for the shift to go back your way, if oscillating. Continue past the group if it s a persistent shift to the other side. Hail / ask boats well in advance of either Cross or Starboard so you can trim accordingly. Make sure they respond/confirm. Stay to the edge of a group for minor leverage. Stay out of the middle and work to a side. Do not shoot a corner on the first leg only unless a current or tide dictate. 20

21 First Leg Use a hand bearing compass to confirm your laylines. Always point your boat at the mark. To confirm the favored tack use the shoulder technique. If unsure of what to do against a group of boats duck them rather than a slam tack and remember how long it takes you to get up to speed. Its better to sail in clear air rather than trying to pinch someone off. If possible stay away from groups of boats. If out on the lay line start ducking boats. Approaching lay lines stay5-8 boat lengths below the mark so you have room for another tack and especially on the port tack layline so you are outside the 3 boat length zone. Having to duck starboard wall of boats kills a race. Defend a starboard tack approach to the mark by sailing fuller at your competition to the mark and don t ease your sheets. There is no such thing as Bank on the lay line. Over standing is lost distance. Set game plan for the run when you are 10 boats lengths from the mark. Usually left on the beat makes right on the run favored. At the mark make sure everyone is ready for the next transition; if some is not ready do not make the maneuver. WIND 80% 20% 50% starting line 21

22 WIND Puffs and dark water Puffs fan out when they hit the water so try to position your boat on the bottom of the fan to be lifted up thru the puff. Typically when you enter a puff you get headed and then lifted up thru the boat acceleration. Puff Second Leg Downwind Sail long gybe first if possible on the headed gybe. Up in the lulls and down In the puffs. Make move early right after the mark, whether is stay high in the passing lane or dive low if there is gap in the fleet. Determine gybe angle and favored heading, stay on headed if oscillating or gybe away first if there is a persistent shift then gybe back later into the shift. Position you boat on the side of a group for minor leverage. Stay away from the middle and bouncing between sides. Wind shadow effect is bigger than you think so stay out of it. Go thru downwind check list, backstay, traveler ease, vang tighten and pull mast forward if possible. Keep weight in boat low and centered so the helm can feel the boat accelerate. Constant communication between helm, trimmer and tactician. Break down leg again into % usually it pays to gybe first from a group closer to a lay line and stay in clear air. 22

23 Know your boats downwind characteristics reacher or runner. Down wind is all technique. Protect the inside advantage if possible closer near the mark. Prior to the drop talk about the up wind leg. Note any transitions in the wind as the day goes on conditions change. Go thru the spin drop check list, halyard coiled, backstay on, traveler on and replicate up wind settings. Spend your lead near the bottom mark. Raise jib and drop spinnaker early and get your boat ready to go back up wind. If you are back in the pack. Take the time to have a good rounding rather than waiting to the last second to drop and to be pushed to the outside. Make the drop when everyone is ready. Communicate with you competitors about overlaps and when entering the 3 boat circle. Let them know in advance. Make your mark rounding wide from the outside and tight on the left side of the mark. Third Leg Beat Fleet is usually well established so concentrate on getting past the boats around you. Take a clearing tack to get the boat moving and in clear air. Usually the fleet is sailing the most efficient course so if you are going to leverage against it do it early. Pick a side and go. If you are leading around the mark, tack on half of your lead to starboard and tack back to port when the 2nd place boat is rounding so you are directly in front and up wind. If you are leading try to herd the fleet to a side by a loose cover thereby reducing the fleet s ability to take a flyer to the other corner. Try to keep the fleet compact. Look at the odds if a boat or group take a flyer. Stay above the fleet on the lifted tack and in front of the fleet sailing into the header. Watch for boats going around your stern to a side. Tack if you have to. Be flexible with you game plan because the conditions are changing. 23

24 Fourth Leg Run Know your plan and side. Know if you are going to attack or defend. Its better to defend from a low position, to luff or gybe away. Attack from a high position to sail over and shadow or gybe to the inside. Be aggressive in your boat handling and try to catch every wave possible. Consolidate your lead if winning by staying between the competition and the mark. If behind try to sail lower angles than the leaders. Post Race 2 min. de-brief as to what worked and what didn t. The good moves and crew mistakes. Possible sail change and rig tune. 24

25 C COURSE TIPS KEY ELEMENTS TO UNDERSTANDING THE C COURSE WIND TWIST ACROSS THE COURSE THE MAYOR HOW THE WIND FILLS CURRENT GRADIENT-LIGHT AIR SHIFT C COURSE TIPS 25

26 C COURSE TIPS C 4 CLASSIC DIRECTIONS NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST C COURSE TIPS C NORTH WIND (10-15) TYPICALLY A LOW TO THE EAST EARLY OR LATE IN THE SEASON AVOID STARBORD LAYLINE BIG LIFTS ON PORT THAT DO NOT MOVE DOWN WATCH FOR BACKING OF THE BREEZE LATER IN THE DAY WATCH FOR CURRENT ON LEFT SIDE UP WIND AND RIGHT SIDE DOWN WIND 26

27 C COURSE TIPS C EAST WIND (5-10) TYPICALLY A HIGH IN CANADA TYPICALLY JUNE-AUG MORNING AVOID PORT LAYLINE (CURRENT) BE ON THE LEFT GOING TO THE RIGHT (SHORE EFFECT LIFT) STAY RIGHT ON THE RUNS CAN CLOCK ALL DAY LONG C COURSE TIPS COAL PILE C SOUTH WIND (5-15) TYPICALLY A HIGH TO THE EAST TYPICALLY JULY-AUG MORNING AVOID CORNERS (FAVORED SIDE MAY CHANGE EVERY RACE) HAVE SEEN LEFT PAY ON THE RUN EVEN AT END OF LEG GENERAL RIGHT SHIFT OVER THE DAY SHIFTS ARE SO BE PATIENT 27

28 C COURSE TIPS C WEST WIND (5-15) THIS IS THE MAYOR TYPICALLY A HIGH TO THE SOUTH TYPICALLY JULY-AUG AFTERNOON ON THE LEFT GOING TO THE RIGHT WARMER IT IS, THE STRONGER THE BREEZE BUILDS ALL AFTERNOON WAIT FOR YOUR SHIFT Thank You! 28