BUILDING A RACING PLAYBOOK Keith Church Quantum Sails Chicago
WHO IS ON THE TEAM?
FOR THE CREW WHO ON THE TEAM? Clearly define rolls Focus on strengths Explain jobs in detail Execute asses and adjust SCHEDULE: Responsibilities Practices Races Meetings Seminars
THE TEAM Owner, Driver, Boat Captain, and Tactician Mast, Trimmers, Grinders, Bow, and Coach The Floater
BOAT CAPTAIN Team no I Communication Job Description Role Play Mark & Record Meetings Video Learn from others
FLOATER Helm Tactician Main Jib/Genoa Spin/A Sail Pit Nav/Float Mast Bow
DRIVER / HELM Helm Steer target speed + or Sail proper heel angle Avoid boats Steer smooth 3/2/1 Speed upwind Angle downwind
TACTICIAN Weather Race program Local conditions Competitors Communicate Take in information Decisive Determined Direct Confident
MAIN TRIMMER Speed Chief Weather Rig tune Sail selection Control target speed Backstay/Traveler Sheet Tension Promote talk Make or break a helmsman Always talking to the driver.
TRIMMER 1 Upwind targets Sheet tension Inhaul location Halyard location Backstay tension Downwind 3/2/1 Call pressure downwind Talking to the mainsail trimmer and mast/bow
TRIMMER 2 Release upwind Call relatives Call 3/2/1 rock Trimmer off wind TWA Constant talk Calls drop Hikes upwind
PIT Inventory below Halyard control Grind off wind Hike and pressure upwind Delegate hoist Liquid manager Weight placement below
FLOATER Information Role Listen VHF Hand Bearing Compass Help pit Bring Sails up Pull Spin down Talk about competition
MAST Waves upwind Hiking hard Hoist top mark 3/2/1 Roll on gybe Help bow Douse/help main Rope manager
BOW Line site Time to line Hiking upwind Set pole Sail to prod/pole Gybing The drop Clean up Vocal
SPEED TEAM Main & jib trimmer Tactician Helm Three on rail Water Wind Relative
INFORMATION TEAM Navigator Tactician Helm Two on Rail Wind Relative
MECHANICS TEAM Bow Pit Mast Trimmers Sewer Floater Tactician
RACE ELEMENTS Information Weather Race committee Tactician Navigator Wind & wave Course side Competition Geometry
MAKE IT YOURS Practice Video Meet Change Practice Video Meet Change On-going
BEST PRACTICES Boat setup Skills Training Communication COPY?
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE: BOAT HANDLING There is no substitute for time in the boat Assign crew responsibilities and adjust as needed Make practice as realistic as possible Have a plan Sample drills: Short windward/leewards Do a set number of tacks and jibes Simple mark drills
SINGLE BOAT TRAINING Focus on boat handling Make it realistic by using a mark Time on distance for starts
TIME ON DISTANCE FOR STARTS
TRAINING WITH A PARTNER 2 boat speed testing Set up in full race mode Once one boat gets ahead, make a small adjustment and start again
GROUP TRAINING/WITH A COACH Work on high traffic situations, starting roundings etc. Work on boatspeed with 1-2 partners Short course racing lots of starts, roundings, etc.
START YOUR RACE DAY OUT RIGHT Set a routine Get warmed up Find your fast settings Make small adjustments Record wind readings and angles
MAKE IT YOURS Practice Video Meet Change Practice Video Meet Change On-going
MAKE IT YOURS Practice Video Meet Change Practice Video Meet Change On-going
TALKING ALL THE TIME Speed Target Height Relative Sheet on In haul #2 Jib halyard Wind/wave % of VMG
SMOOTH BOAT HANDLING Tacking/Gybing In 3-2-1 Top Mark Rounding/Hoist 3-2-1 Made Bottom Mark Spin Down Hiking
REGATTA ORGANIZER PRE-REGATTA Boat packed up: Gear on board, safety gear, tool box, spare parts, repair kit, VHF Sails ready: New sails measured, practice sails ok, sail repair kit Trailer ready: Lights work, spare tire ok, bearings greased, straps ok, registration Tow vehicle: Hitch ok, oil change, gas, trailer light bridle ok Entry fee paid Housing: Directions, phone numbers Weather forecast, local knowledge research REGATTA SITE Rig boat: wash deck/hull, Teflon hull, bottom clean/smooth, rudder and keel ok Complete registration, boat/sail measurement, weigh crew in Bow numbers, sponsor sticker, sailing instructions Tune rig Sails on board Safety gear, legal equipment ok
SYSTEM LISTS At 9:00 am the system starts. MECHANICS TEAM Check all rigging halyards, blocks etc McLube spin. Pole, mast track Rig all spin and after guy sheets Look over forward hatch for spin hoist Check all marks for reference Pole lift After guy, pole at headstay Jib halyard Main Halyard Spin halyard (3,2,1)* INFORMATION TEAM/FLOATERS Set up interior for the days condition Liquid in cooler behind mast Liquid under floor boards Sails for the days racing Position weight for or aft based on wind Store all food for the day Make sure VHF/Deckman are charged for the day Read all sailing instructions Understand the mark change rule Set up computer for the starting function Make sure all spinnakers are packed for the day Set up computer for starting and download charts Print and post weather for the day below Remove and drain de-humidifier Dry off deck and place winch handles in pockets Put water in each sheet bag
MECHANICS TEAM Main, Jib and Spinnaker Trimmers Check all moving systems in your area and lube Jib tracks, and traveler systems Turning blocks Backstay blocks Check over batten tension in your sails based on weather Check over luff tape particularly at the head of the sail Look at weather and anticipate the sail choice Talk with all trimmers about anticipated sail settings for wind and wave conditions Make the gross rig adjustments at the dock and then after sailing for 20 minutes, make the fine adjustments Trimmers should rig all spinnaker and jib sheets Review targets for the day
INFORMATION TEAM TWS BSP TW/HEEL/JIB 4 4.80 50///10///1 5 6.20 50///10///1 6 7.00 48///10///1 6.5 7.15 45///10///1 7 7.30 42///10///1 7.5 7.35 40///12///1 8 7.40 38///12///1 9 7.45 35///12///2 10 7.50 35///14///2
PRACTICE DAY PRACTICE DAY At least two boats out to tune Upwind tuning (four lengths apart) on both tacks Downwind testing: spinnaker up (four lengths apart) Mark rounding's Split tacks to see favored side of course &/or favorable current Practice starts (or timed approaches to stationary mark) Boat handling: tacks, gibes, 720s, 360s, spinnaker sets & douses Boat ready for race day Attend event Skippers Meeting
RACE DAY Get to regatta site early! Lunches ready; plenty of fluids on board & sunscreen Weather/current forecast for the day VHF charged Tuning guide/numbers on board Safety gear/life jackets Get to race area one hour before warning Sail on course to check, wind, waves, and current movement Tune with other boat(s) upwind and down Set spinnaker at least once no matter what the conditions Get to line early and set up for starting sequence Determine favored end of the line and get watches set for sequence Get off the line and have a great race!
INFORMATION TEAM HELMSPERSON, TACTICIAN, NAVIGATOR Review the race instructions and amendments Look over weather report Review yesterdays race on the computer Discuss starting process and strategy Talk with Helmsperson using toy boats Review race board for any changes Make sure the boat leaves at agreed time AGREE ON: Starting goals Mark rounding Leeward tacks Ducking a boat Fast targets/slow targets up and down wind Language used or hand singles
ON THE WAY OUT DOCK OUT Same jobs leaving the dock and entering the dock Short meeting about weather and goals Time to drink water and apply sun screen Pit person check pole lift marks for gibing Guy trimmer check mark on guys for gibing Floater sets up sails below for sailing condition Trimmers check all sheets and place tails in windows AT THE COURSE Mainsail goes up while boat is motoring in reverse (less wear on the sail and release any weeds from keel) Trimmers pick the jib for pre-race sailing
PRE RACE TWEAK Sail for 5 min per tack: Note wind direction patterns Note speed relative to a competitor Agree on the best target speed Discuss proper heel per water Flat water, less heel / Chop, more heel Decide on rig settings Round a mark if possible and set the spinnaker Note the wind direction patterns Find the proper TWA to sail for the wind Agree on the gibe angle Drop spinnaker careful for a clean set
PRE RACE TWEAK Write it all down on your wet notes and have another short meeting on lessons learned while sailing Make the necessary rig adjustments Put the jib or genoa in the bag/turtle Back up one more time
PRE START Ping boat and pin end Note the line bias Locate both lay lines, boat and pin Determine line bias Luffing in mid line and noting which end is forward Sail down line with main sheet cleated and tack If on port tack you ease more, boat favored If on port tack you trim more, pin favored Understand your boat end lay line and pin lay line Range pin with object on shore if possible Agree on the section of the line Boat end, pick the top third Square line, near the middle Pin end, lower third Approach the line on port tack Early if upper third Normal if middle Late if lower third
THE START Last tack Protect hole by: Tacking fast and bow down while being tailed Tacking slow and back up if set up to leeward Tacking fast and back up hard for space Tacking to force trailer to tack and back to port if room to windward. Pull the trigger Time necessary to be up to target speed When boats close by go When there is more distance than time
END OF THE DAY CAPTURE LIST (EXAMPLE) Date Rig Settings Full stack TWS 12-15 Objectives: Trimmer/Helm communication: Which boat today and why? Fast upwind. Very smooth around the course Seemed very slippery downwind Accelerates well fast at the start Aggressive but calculated we have to make sure we are smart through these times.
END OF THE DAY CAPTURE LIST (EXAMPLE) What did we learn? When target said 10.2 or 10.3, 10.6 or 10.7 was better same speed and good height? Strengths: Same demeanor and tone whether first or last. Smoothness off the starting line and final wrap-ups was very well executed. Starting and planning Com s of plan and executing Plan A or Plan B Weaknesses: String drop check lines 15 second call from TH Exit angle out of top mark. Keep smoothing the arc of the turn.
DEBRIEF Have an Agenda Trim and Tune Starts Boat speed Tactics Communications Strategy
COACHING
WHO IS YOUR COACH?
COACHING Step 1: find the right coach Step 2: show up with the right attitude Step 3: come with questions Step 4: expand your horizons Step 5: debrief Step 6: document & implement
ALTERNATIVE COACHING Video your race Encourage peer review Match up with a competitive boat and split cost Attend seminars/discuss with crew Document & implement
TERRY HUTCHINSON S TOP 10 TAKEAWAYS 1. There is no substitute for days spent on the water It s not enough to know your boat and your crew. Practice together often on the same boat you ll race. Time spent sailing and practicing with the same team has a measurable, positive effect on results.
TERRY HUTCHINSON S TOP 10 TAKEAWAYS 2. Practice harder than you race Don t just cruise with your crew. Be intense and push yourselves in practice to create difficult racing scenarios. For example, make your practice track shorter and more intense than the race track, so maneuvers on a fullsized course will seem easier.
TERRY HUTCHINSON S TOP 10 TAKEAWAYS 4. Avoid big risks, especially early on The old adage you can t win the regatta on the first day, but you can lose it is one I ve always liked, and it s one my friend Terry supported. Set goals for average scores that will give you a chance to win on the final day.
TERRY HUTCHINSON S TOP 10 TAKEAWAYS 5. Know your competition Don t just look at their average scores. Do some research and find out what you can expect from each boat at the start line and on the course.
TERRY HUTCHINSON S TOP 10 TAKEAWAYS 6. Focus on what you can control, not what you can t Forget about the weather and other boats. Instead, figure out how you plan to respond to each possible situation.
TERRY HUTCHINSON S TOP 10 TAKEAWAYS 7. Set your crew and schedule as early as possible The most successful teams set their schedules nearly a year in advance, including crew, flights, hotels, food, gear, etc. Plan ahead so you can focus on racing, not the logistics.
TERRY HUTCHINSON S TOP 10 TAKEAWAYS 8. Have a coach and photographer Not everyone can afford a full time coach/photographer, but having someone from another boat come out to evaluate what you re doing can be a tremendous help! As for photos, taking a few pictures of your own sails and set up is free and easy. You can usually find photos of races online after the regattas. Use your coach s comments and the pictures to study and improve your own technique.
TERRY HUTCHINSON S TOP 10 TAKEAWAYS 9. Trust your teammates Focus on your job and don t worry about what your teammates are doing. If everyone follows your lead, no one will be worrying you ll all be too busy doing your own job the best you possibly can.
TERRY HUTCHINSON S TOP 10 TAKEAWAYS 10. HAVE FUN! If we forget to do this, our sport won t grow and future sailors won t stay with the sport. Whether you re racing in the America s Cup or sailing with your kids, don t forget that critical ingredient fun!
WINNING THE LONG EVENT Search Dave Gerber // Winning the long event // Quantum Sails. Dave Gerber Quantum Sails Chicago 312-213-1181 dgerber@quantumsails.com
THANK YOU Keith (KC) Church Quantum Sails Chicago 312-371-6929 kchurch@quantumsails.com