Some Tactics for Racing – compliments Bill Gladstone

With our strategic plan set, Starting
Tactics will be used to execute a
start which meets our strategic
goals. Our goal is to arrive at the
selected spot on the line at the gun
at full speed with clear air and no
interference from other competitors.
No mean feat ( Fig. 1).
Tactics will give us the tools to hit
the line at the gun in clear air at full
speed at the favored end.
In this chapter will look first at the tactical information we need, and how
to gather it. Next, we will look at the start itselfÑthose final fractions of a
minute which can unravel the best laid plan. This section includes the final
approach, the critical sprint off the line, and some common pitfalls.
4.2 Tactical Information
We gather tactical information (Fig. 2) about the line to help us execute our
approach. This is different from the strategic information we gathered to decide where on the line to start.
Fig. 2a,b – Tactical Information. 2a – Time the line.
The information we need includes:
The timed sailing length of the starting line (Fig. 2a).
2b – Check the laylines.
This information will help us judge our timing as we set up for our start and
as we make our final run at the line. It can also help us figure out if other
boats are close enough to pose a threat to our plans.
Laylines to each end of the line (Fig. 2b).
Knowing the layline to each end, particularly if you plan to start near the
end, will help you set up. Obviously, you want to be inside the right end
layline to avoid barging, and inside the left layline to fetch. But you also
can use the layline to position yourself up or down the line. For example, if
you want to start five boat lengths down the line, you need to make your
turn five lengths after crossing the layline, not five lengths after passing
under the end of the line.
Line Sights off each end of the line (Fig. 2c).
Line sights to each end of the line can help us judge how close to the line
we are. This is particularly useful for midline starts, or when other boats
obstruct our view of one end. Compass bearings are not an effective way to
judge the line, as it is not practical to sight the line with a hand bearing
compass as you approach. Line sights using a range to an object on shore or
to a nearby anchored boat (such as a judges boat or spectator boat off the pin end) are what we
want. If you are near
the committee boat
on your final
approach, the eyes of
the line caller offer a
definitive reference.*
We will use this
tactical information will help us execute our start. For our starting plan, we
will need to choose from one of the approaches described in the previous
chapter.
4.3 The Start
Regardless of the approach we choose, the details of timing, speed, and
clear air can be a struggle. Our approach gets us set up. We have taxied into
place. Next is our sprint down the runway and the climb out.
Fig. 3 – The Practice Start: Whichever approach you choose, do a practice
run to prepare for the real start.
The Practice Start
A practice start helps assure success. A dress rehearsal of our planned
approach (Fig. 3) lets us:
1. Confirm lines of sight and bearings on the line.
2. Check laylines.
3. Confirm wind direction and close hauled headings.
4. Approximate timing for the final approach.
5. Check sail trim for acceleration off the line.
6. Confirm crew organization and communications.
A practice start is an important part of preparing for our final approach.
Obviously, it lacks some of the frenzy of the real thing, but it offers a
valuable base line. I often us the five minute
signal for our practice start.
The Final Approach
Our goal is to hit the line at
the gun, with full speed, clear
air, and no interference from
other boats. Here are some
things you can do to accomplish this: Sail your boat, create room, control
speed, kill time, keep clear air, accelerate, sail faster than full speed, defend
your space, start near a marshmallow, call the line, call time, speed and
distance, and get off the line.
1. Sail Your Boat
On the final approach you must charge the line. This is no place for the
timid. Push hard to hit the line with full speed at the gun. Don’t hold back.
With the practice run under your belt, you should be able to communicate
easily with the crew and concentrate on speed and timing. Do not let the
histrionics on boats nearby distract you. Appoint a ÒspokesmanÓ to handle
boat-to-boat Òconversation.Ó If the tactician, helmsman, and sail trimmers
sail the boat, you will leave the chaos in your wake (Fig. 4).
Fig. 4 – The Final Approach: Sail your boat. Ignore the chaos around you.
Appoint a spokesman to handle inter-boat “dialogue”.
There are several techniques you can use during the final approach which
will help you start with speed.
2. To Create Room
Perhaps the single most important thing you can do on the final approach is
create a double space to leeward. You then use part of this space to drive
off and accelerate to full speed. Your goal is to save part of the space for
after the start, so you won’t have any interference from leeward. By carving
a double space, you can accelerate more quickly and avoid the danger of
sailing down into bad air. You create room by pinching up under boats to
windward (Fig. 5).Fig. 5 – To create room, first squeeze up. Then drive off to accelerate.
3. To Control Speed
If you need to slow down during your approach, luff the jib first and keep
the main trimmed. This creates weather helm, holding the bow up and
preserving space to leeward (Fig. 6).
Fig. 6 – To control speed, luff the jib first.This keeps the bow up and helps
create room.
Remember that it takes a long time to trim a genoa; call for trim early so
you have full trim when you need it. Time your approach so you hit the line
at full speed. Trimming at the gun is too late.
4. To Kill Time
Rather than slow down, a better way to burn off extra time is by
oversteering and sailing extra distance (Fig. 7).
Keep your speed. Steering erratically will keep others away, preserving
space and clear air. (My crew tell me I’m great at oversteering!)
5. To Keep Clear Air.Near the line it is important to keep clear air. You want to keep your bow
even with those around you. If you fall into bad air, it is difficult to
accelerate.
Fig. 7 – Oversteering is an
effective way to kill time.
At the same time, you want
to hold back with room to
accelerate to the line. Boats
which are too close to the
line will not have room to
accelerate without being over
early; boats which are too far
back will be in bad air. This
is a difficult balance to strike
(Fig. 8).
The more room you can preserve in front of you for acceleration the easier
it will be to preserve space to leeward, which you can use later if needed. If
you use up your forward space, you will be forced to drive down and give
up some of your cushion to leeward. You may even be driven down into
the exhaust of the boat to leeward.
Fig. 8 – To keep clear air, hold your bow up. But hang back to keep room to
accelerate.
6. To Accelerate
To accelerate from half speed, bear off a few degrees from close-hauled.
Trim the jib first to drive the bow down, then trim the main. If the main
comes in too early it creates weather helm, making it difficult to bear off
and accelerate. It also may push the bow up and over early. Trim the jib to
accelerate, trim the main to squeeze up to course as speed builds (Fig. 9).Fig. 9 – To accelerate
from a luffing position,
drive off by trimming the
jib first; then trim the
main.
Setting up with a space to leeward helps insure a good start. Without the
space to drive off it will be difficult to accelerate. You may end up
backwinded by boats close to leeward, or blanketed by boats driving over
on top of you. If you have a good double space you can start with full speed
and keep clear air off the line
In fact it may be possible
to start going faster than
full speed.
7. Faster than Full
Speed?
Full speed is passé. Our
goal is to hit the starting
line at faster than full
speed. But how?
If you have room to
leeward to drive down
the line you can
accelerate on a close
reach to speeds faster
than close-hauled. When
you trim up to course
you will carry the extra
speed for a few boat
lengths, enough to squirt
you out in front of the
pack as you come off the
line (Fig. 10). We wont
settle for full speed
anymore ~ ;we want to
come off the line faster
than full speed!!
8. To Defend your Space
Fig. 10 – With enough room you can accelerate to faster than close-hauled speed and then trim up.
Once you are set up with a space to leeward, you may have to defend it
from those who would steal it away. This may happen while you are killing
time, luffing, before you make your final mad dash to the line. Suppose you
see a port tack boat sailing down the line, eyeing your space; or you see a
starboard tacker ducking sterns, looking for a space to cut in. How can you
defend you position? With sails luffing, turn your bow down and stretch
your boat across your space. Unless the space is huge (big enough for two),
this should scare off the treasure hunters. The port-tack boat should
continue down the line; while the starboard tacker may take the space to
windward, rather than leeward. Once the threat has passed, trim the main
hard and put the helm over to bring your bow up. You may let your
neighbor to windward off the hook with this move, but you should be able
to save your space (Fig. 11a,b).
Fig. 11a – To defend your space from a port-tack poacher, rotate your boat
across your space with your sails luffing. Fig. 11b – When a starboard tack
shark attacks, lure him in above you, or let him pass, and then head up
sharply.
If you have already started to build speed on your final dash, then don’t
worry about others sailing into your space. The port tacker won’t be able to
tack and accelerate into your spot before you drive over him, and the
starboard boat won’t be able to drive through you far enough to be a threat.
As you trim up, you will gas him.
Another way you can protect your territory is with sweeping turns up and
down. This is an effective way to kill time and preserve your space.
9. Start Near a Marshmallow
Another useful technique is to find a “marshmallow” to set up nearby ( Fig.12).
If you can
surround yourself
with slow boats,
you will be
assured of less
interference
coming off the
line. (Kinda’
makes you
wonder about all
those times you
found yourself
near the fleet champion at starts last season, don’t it?)
Fig.
12 –
Star
t
nea
r a
mar
shm
allo
w.
10. Call the Line
A crew member in the bow pulpit should signal information about other
boats and distance to the line. Point at other boats with fingers, and hold
fingers up to give boat lengths to the line. Signal where to go with a thumb:
up to accelerate, down to slow, windward to head up, and leeward to bear
off. The bow crew needs a watch to call the start effectively. As soon as she
(or he) knows you will be clear, she/he should get off the bow (Fig. 13).
Fig.13 -Call the line accurately to avoid midline sag.
11. Calling Time, Speed, and DistanceCalling starts is
tricky, you need to
know when to put
the hammer down.
Too early, and
you’ll be over, or
you’ll have to stall
at the last moment;
too late and you’ll be buried by those around you. At every moment during
the sequence you should know how far from the line you are (Fig. 14). As
you sail away this includes time for a turn.
It isn’t easy, but with practice you will find you are able to guess time to the
line quite accurately. It is an important skill.
Fig. 14 – You should always know your time to the line. With practice you
will be able to make accurate calls.
12. Getting Off the Line
The starting signal marks the midpoint of the start. We’ve dashed down the
runway; now for the climb out. The final seconds before the start, and the
two minutes after, are often a pure sprint for clear air. Speed is the key
ingredient. A little extra speed or pointing here translates into a big
advantage. Make sure you are tuned up before the start; concentrate on
sailing your boat; ignore others. Try to start faster than full speed if
possible, and blast off. Settle the crew and concentrate on steering and trim.
The tactician should watch the compass and the fleet for shifts and room to
tack. Being a shade slow or a little low eventually leads to bad air, and
problems multiply. Keep clear air and keep moving. Nothing else matters
(Fig. 15).
Fig. 15 – At the gun, blast off the line and Sail Fast. Only those with speed
will be free to pursue strategy unimpeded. Others will have to compromise