The Publisher
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Aug 5, 2009, 8:42 AM
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Steve Hunt: July Team Racing Tip
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Dear Team Racer,
One of the most powerful moves in sailing is to win the committee boat end of the start line. It is especially powerful in team racing because you can control the right side of the course and tack on any opponents who tack out shortly after the start.
Let's discuss some techniques to help you win the boat:
One of the first things you must do before the starting sequence is to research is the layline to the committee boat. Start out below the committee boat and head up to close hauled guessing the layline. Do this multiple times until you get a good feel for where it actually is. If the venue is shifty, which most team race venues are, you should get an idea for how the layline changes with the shifting winds. It is helpful to find a line sight for your layline if one is available.
Now that you know where the layline is you are ready to approach the line as the clock runs down and not get pinned out at the boat, or better yet, pin your opponent out, commonly known as barging. If you are on or slightly below the boat layline you can avoid getting pinned out by a leeward opponent.
After you have done your research and know the layline you should adhere to a few match racing principles that we have discussed in the past. If your nearby opponent is late to the line you should lead them in and win the boat with no worries as they will be behind you. (In this case it is okay to approach the line on or above boat layline as long as no other opponent is a threat to leeward, because your nearby opponent is trailing you and late) If your opponent is early, you should trail them in and this is when knowing the layline is critical. You should go for the repeated hook on your opponent (called Pushing) until you are both below boat layline. As you push you continually post up on their weather quarter whenever they try to defend, keeping enough distance to bear away and push again.
You do this until you have pushed them far enough below layline so they cannot close you out on your final approach. While pushing them down by faking the hook you may at some point actually hook them to leeward, if you happen to get a hook before reaching boat layline, you're okay, just luff until it is time to bear away and start, shaving them off at the committee boat. But most likely the opponent will dive down trying to prevent you from hooking them each time you make your move and when they do, you head up to get separation, knowing your true goal is to push them below layline. You repeatedly do this until you have pushed them below layline far enough to where even with a luff head to wind, they cannot pin you out at the boat. Once in this position you can start above them, to their right, winning the boat and right side of the course.
In summary, study the layline before the start, lead your opponent in if you are both late, push in if you are both early, and if you are pushing, push them below boat layline so when you head up for your final approach, they cannot pin you out. After the start if you have a nice lane you can keep sailing straight until you choose to tack, or if you are uncomfortable with your opponent tight to leeward, tack and go right.
If you enjoyed this tip, there are many more like it in the Teaching Team Racing DVD. Click here and buy it now to get a firm grasp on Team Racing!
Sail Fast,
Steve Hunt
www.teachingteamracing.com
- Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt
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