Coaching starting and the first beat. Dave Woodhead

Coaching starting and the first beat. Dave Woodhead

Dave Woodhead Who? Began sailing in 1961 aged 11 in Graduates. I was a high school teacher for 37 years but I m alright now. In 2001 began coaching after doing an RYA level 3 Race Coach Course. Currently race a Scorpion and a Solo but more often seen in a RIB Work as a head squad coach, regional club coach and OnBoard Coordinator.

So who are you?

This will not be death by power point! More a discussion, with some interactive bits thrown in. I hope to give you lots of ideas but I will be disappointed if I don t take some ideas from you back home with me. So chip in and heckle whenever you feel like it. Especially if you have any good activities to share.

Why is it so important? A one hour race with only 6 boats Not so critical, recovery from a poor start could be one small wind shift away. What should MYA do?

Why is it so important? With 37 boats on the start line your finishing position is now probably 50% determined by your start. Why?

Why is it so important? A one hour championship race with 120 boats it is now 95% of the race. In other words your finishing position will probably be largely determined by the first 10 seconds of the race. It is impossible to claw back to a top result if you round the windward mark 104th.

PRE-STARTS ARE CHARACTERISED BY Limited space Low speed boat control take your off! High concentration good communication

POST STARTS ARE CHARACTERISED BY Limited space, acceleration, lane holding and good communication

Time to get interactive Turn to the person next to you and see if you can come up with 5 key words that sum up what makes a good start. A kind of starting check list. Example BIAS ( which end of the start line is favoured) Coaching point. Starting is complex, we are looking to chunk it.

To get the perfect start you need to be PSSTT! Position Speed Space Time (and distance) Transit.

Slippage?

PSSTT Position, Space, Speed, Time, Transit Tip write PSSTT on your boat

Key words from a junior squad. Tide, space, acceleration, front row Knowing opposition, eyes out, bias Rules, transit, time, 1 st beat plan Communication, slow speed, control Flags, signals AWESOMENESS

What determines your choice of POSITION on the start line? Line bias. ( Which end is favoured? How do you work it out?) 1 st beat strategy. ( which route up the beat are you going to take) Other boats. ( crowded areas, know the opposition, play the odds No high risk strategies)

Coaching the P for Position Discussion. So how do you work out bias? Try each method and report back to the coach. Do a buddy beat to decide your 1 st beat strategy. Discuss and report back to coach. Compute into this fleet behaviour. Question - Port (pin)end bias, starboard side beat has more pressure, where do you start?

One junior squad answer - I would start at the biased end of the line (pin) then tack onto port and go up the right hand side of the beat however this might change depending on shifts. the end may not be biased after a shift and the favoured side of the beat may also change, it would also depend on other boats and where there was space and whereabouts the windward mark was because you wouldn t want to go really far right if it was more left, all things considered i may want to start in the middle of the line more pin end then go for the right hand side of the beat but tack on shifts It all depends

Aim for a 9.1 Boat on boat tactics In this zone Aim for 9.1 Speed and leverage Over the fleet Bank gains Get in phase With the shifts Maintain a clear lane in clean wind Speed and leverage over the fleet Put strategy into action Don t bang corners

Play the odds / know the fleet A 10% chance of getting the best start leading to getting to the first mark first ( 90% chance of being halfway down the fleet or worse) OR A 90% chance of getting to the first mark in the top 5. (10% chance of being halfway down the fleet)

What is Strategy? Having a plan for a beat based upon wind, tide, fleet behaviour, desired approach to windward mark or any other factor. And Tactics? The positioning of your boat in relation to other boats for maximum advantage to yourself and the possible disadvantage of your competitors.

Space You have to make it How? Windward boat keep clear. Protect space below you. Practise parking up, (hovering) Star next to a muppet!

Time to get up and move Land day no sailing possible. Taming the start line

Coaching the S - Space Give them prescribed starting places. Move down the line. Gap attackers. ( A S at Pwllheli) How many starts does a club sailor do in a week?

How do you get your nose ahead of the opposition? Time for some fresh air. 5 volunteers needed

Speed the trigger pull This has got to be one of the most important skills in racing. How long does it take to get up to full speed in different wind strengths? Different wave conditions? Disturbed wind?

Show em the JAMIE CATCHPOLE video clip

Coaching Speed ( Trigger pulls) Acceleration Discussion to break it down into specific skills Two boat drag races. (less than a minute) (video clips?)

Speed Trigger pull. Do you train for it? You must have the space. Pinching / footing. Acceleration / timing? When do you pull the trigger?

Time Can you see your watch? Which hand? Watch types? Timed runs. (distance) 3 minutes. (check list) 1 minute. (change?) 30 secs. (the approach) 10 secs - ish. (trigger)

Alternatives (watch packs up!) Look at somebody else s tack tick! Listen for the ratchet. Any other ideas?

Coaching the T for Timing Best combined with trigger pulls. Compile a table of acceleration rates. Practice approaches. Crew calling the shots.

Safe Transit True Transit

Transit Otherwise you don t know whether you are on the line! Line sag Safe transit?

Coaching the T - Transit Dinghy park Report to the coach before the start.

Getting a transit

Remember you need excellent low speed boat handling, quick acceleration and perfect reactions under pressure. Get these skills through playing. Follow my leader Tennis ball tig Snatch the ribbon Sailing backwards W exercise Hover and trigger

Other on the water training activities for starting Box starts 30 secs before, 30 secs after. 9, 6, 3, GO Twin start lines Staggered starts FML into trigger pull races.

On the water activities to get them thinking about upwind strategy Round the clock. Twin windward marks. Arrow head races

Handicap racing? Other priorities? My Solo. Not sailed a slower boat since I was a teenager. Even in the last month this has led me to re think my starting routine. No fast boat is starting up wind of me! Squeeze them out. Wait and start 10 secs late from the muppet zone!

Gap Attack clips on corsair 1 st Beat action? Emma and Reg- Ripon Windshift game

Gamesmanship!!!!!