Note This: Don't Make the Same Mistake Twice
Note This: Don't Make the Same Mistake Twice
To download John Loe's template for note-taking, click here.
Sample notes coming soon...
After graduating from college, and concluding my scholastic sailing career, I assumed I was done taking notes. However, I quickly realized the complication and variety in the boats I was racing after college made documenting my days on the water more important than ever.
In addition to the standard sail controls, the 505, for example, has adjustable shrouds and a mast ram. I initially thought I could remember the best settings for any given condition and duplicate them at will. I was wrong. Even if the class is fairly simple, it's impossible to track everything. Getting in the habit of documenting your days on the water will allow you to improve more quickly and avoid wasting time re-learning the same lesson.
The hardest part about taking notes is getting started; just as bad habits are hard to break, good ones can be a challenge to start. For many sailors, the first inclination after a long day on the water is to kick back with a beer. This, of course, is the best time to jot down a few thoughts on the day. The key is to get the entire crew involved. If you have to motor in from the racecourse, this is a great time to gather the team in the cockpit and reflect on the day. If your boat is too small for that, then wait until you've lowered your sails and spend a just a few minutes debriefing before finishing your de-rigging.
Having a template makes the process much easier. It should be easy to understand and fill out. My template is available for downloading. However, for it to really work it must be customized to suit each team or sailor.
For standard weeknight racers, the template should be simple. Most of the data on boat, sails, etc. can be filled out ahead of time. The most important data for this type of sailor relates to sail trim and tactical considerations. When repeatedly sailing the same boat, large improvements in speed can come from knowing the fast settings for each point of sail, and wind and water condition. For example, "Having the top telltale on the main stalled 100 percent of time is only fast with flat water." From a tactical standpoint, every venue will have its idiosyncrasies for a given wind and/or current direction. Noting what worked, or didn't work, is the best way to commit these nuances to memory.
