Sayings to live by
Mark Lammens,
2001
There
are many sailboat-racing sayings that you hear repeated on the boat, in the
Boat Park or in the mind of a single-handed sailor. They assist in ensuring the
sailor is task oriented. Most of the time these sayings will ensure the sailor
is doing the correct action. Here is an abbreviated look at some of them.
Racing "Sail the
longest tack first" upwind and downwind, this is the tack that will get you under the
weather mark or above the leeward mark the quickest. It gives the sailor the
option of sailing shifts after you get closer to the middle of the course.
"Stay between your
competition and the next mark" upwind sailing, this ensures that you will get the
new wind pressure or shift before they do. They have to sail through you to
pass you. Downwind gets a little interesting as you could be in their blanket
zone if you follow this saying.
"Tack on the knocks,
sail on the shifts" upwind- lifted is the tack that, all things being equal, should take
you closest to the mark.
"Gybe on the lifts,
stay on the knocks" downwind- double-handed boats.
knock is the tack that, all things being equal, should take you closest
to the mark.
"Aim for the next
Mark" Most
of the time this is the shortest course to it.
"Sail towards the
closest shore" disregarding current, you will get either a geographical shift or
pressure increase from land.
.
"Don’t fall off too
quick in a velocity knock". When the wind dies, the
apparent wind will go forward and will feel like a knock, it is not, it is no
wind. Some suggest aiming at the next mark till the boat speed and apparent
wind speeds are compatible.
"Always know where the
marks are" need to know where you are going to get there. Some suggest you get a
'visual' on the next mark before you round this one.
"Stay out of the
corners" this
is looking for favourable wind shifts to an extreme. This is the best way to
pass lots of boats if you are lifted into the weather mark or lose lots of
boats if you are knocked all the way to the weather mark. Not recommended for
those with anger management issues, or learned helplessness.
"Good Risk" An opportunity to protect
or use your lead to pass others based on speed, wind shifts, etc.
"Get on the lifted tack
quickly" when
you round the leeward mark, get on the lifted tack quickly.
"Get a 'blocker'" on start board tack and
sometimes on Port, having a boat to leeward is good to get boats to move for
you.
"Keep the laylines
short" shorter
laylines ensures that you have options to tack on shifts, have not overshot the
weather mark or are not the first of the starboard parade that will be tacked
on.
"Force them to the
laylines" when you are leading a race and coming into the finish force your
closest competition to the laylines so you have control over them. Hard cover
coming into the middle of the course and a loose cover when they are going out.
"Herd your
competition" force (tack on) the people behind you so they go the same way. It is
easier to stay between them and the next mark and hopefully you will beat most
of them.
"Prepare for the worst,
hope for the best" mostly regarding clothing selection for the day, people think it will
be warm and then it snows.
"Sail towards the dark
clouds" Wind
shifts/pressure increases usually happens with dark clouds. If electricity is
coming out of it, sail in.
Technique "Keep the boat under the rig" mostly for heavy air
gybing. Pull the mainsheet when the leech curls and steer downwind when the
boom comes across.
"Keep the boat
Flat"
Neutralizes the rudder forces when the hull's curvature on both sides of the
hull at the water line is the same.
"Head up in a
Gust"
upwind- the apparent wind moves back when a just hits for up wind sailing,
called feathering.
"Fall off in a
Gust" downwind-
the apparent wind moves forward when a gust hits for downwind sailing, called
massive acceleration.
"When in doubt let it
out" Sail
trim. To ensure one is not over-sheeting, let out the sheet till the 'bubble'
appears or the sail starts to luff then pull it in till it stops. Most sailors
are constantly doing this down wind with the sheet and upwind with the tiller.
“Speed” sport psychology, when
things are not going well, after a dump, bad start, etc
relax
shoulders and jaw, calm down heart rate, get task oriented and focusing on the
present.
Hierarchy
of tactical considerations.
Fleet tactics. “Where is the
fleet going”,
“Am I staying close to the fleet”
“Are they all on Port or Starboard Tack?”
“Can I get freedom to tack or jybe?”
Course tactics. “Where is
the next mark”,
“How do I want to approach the mark”.
“Can I get freedom to tack?”
Wind tactics. “Where is the next
shift coming from”,
“What are the compass numbers,”
“What shore is
closest”,
“Where is the
wind the strongest, weakest”
Current tactics. “Which way
is the current going,”
“How will it
affect start line, lay lines etc.”.
CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION
"The sail, the play of its pulse so like our own lives: so thin and
yet so full of life, so noiseless when it labours hardest, so noisy and
impatient when least effective". -- Henry David Thoreau