Right or Left? Choose the Faster Side
Choosing the faster side of the first leg of a race is critical
to getting an early jump on the bulk of the fleet, and it's something
you can usually predict. Careful study, a disciplined approach, and
simply summoning up the courage to make the call are essential
ingredients. Few sailors have the resources America's Cup sailors
enjoy, but both ashore, and on the water before the start, you can do
quite a bit of homework to help you make the right call.
Make
a habit of reviewing your tide tables (if you're on the coast) and
forecasts in the newspaper or internet, before leaving the dock. In
addition, take the time to ask local sailors what to expect; beyond the
normal wind and current info, you may learn some surprising things. On
one Midwestern lake, the cows near the shoreline face downwind, and the
stronger the wind, the more neatly they line up. In Newport, R.I.,
dense dew on the grass early in the morning indicates a strong
southwester will fill. Some of what you hear may not help you choose
the faster side, but the process always helps orient you to the race
area.
Once you leave the dock, the same applies to watching the
wind. Track changes in the wind by recording compass readings,
including the time. Then, well before the start, study the water
carefully. Look for dark patches of water indicating more wind or a
significant current effect. Study one section of the horizon at a time,
standing up so you have a greater height of eye. Use polarized
sunglasses because they help contrast the color of the water, and let
your eyes blink naturally. There are many sources to use when reading
the wind: flags, smoke stacks on shore, cruising sailboats, birds
taking off, ripples on the water, the direction of anchored boats, as
well as your competitors. Look to see if the boats on one side are
heeling in more wind.
When you look upwind, split the leg into
three sections: left, middle, and right. After a couple of minutes of
study, make a guess as to which side seems better. Select a section to
head for, and state your findings aloud-this is part of giving yourself
the courage to make a choice. Your first instinct will usually be
correct.
Now run a test; the best way is to arrange a tune-up
with a competitor. While you sail upwind on one side of the course,
your partner sails up the other. After 2 minutes, tack toward each
other. Note which boat gains, and after crossing, head toward the
opposite side for another 2 minutes. Tack back together and note the
difference. Usually the boat on the same side will have gained.
Return
to the starting area and make a second visual observation. Ask
yourself, is the wind any different now? The key at this point is to
make a definite decision to favor one section of the course. Sometimes
you may think you'll get a shift going one way but stronger wind, the
other. If that's the choice, I like to head for stronger wind because
it gives me more speed and often more options.
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
©David Norton | |
|
|
|
Set
up your starting strategy so you're heading toward the side you favor.
If your plan is to sail to the right side, start on the right end of
the line. The less sure you are of your choice, the closer to the
middle of the line you should start (see diagram).
Once the
race starts, head for your side at top speed. Right or wrong, speed
always counts. Strategically, your biggest decision now is to monitor
the rest of the fleet and consider whether to carry on or switch sides.
My first instinct is always to stick with my original call. But
conditions change, so one crewmember should continually analyze whether
you're gaining or losing; if you decide your side is losing within a
minute or two, that's the time to tack and stay in contact with the
leaders.
Key indications may be that a new wind is blowing in
from the opposite side, or maybe a few boats are making huge gains. But
before taking action, ask yourself, "Will the new wind still be there
when I arrive?" If you have any doubt, avoid chasing the new wind. If
you decide to go for it, pick a spot just after a boat has crossed
ahead of you or close behind. This boat will become a blocker as you
cross the course. It's OK to dip behind several boats if you see better
wind; an early loss may translate into a big gain later.
What's
the biggest mistake sailors make when they've decided to switch sides?
It's second guessing themselves and tacking back again. The extra tacks
cause you to fall farther behind, and your indecisiveness will make it
even harder to catch up.
Later in the race watch for major
windshifts or current shears (abrupt shifts in the direction the water
is moving), and, when planning to go downwind, consider what you
learned upwind. When you cross a current shear marked by surface debris
or irregular, choppy water, analyze your performance. If you're
suddenly sailing slower than boats on the other side of the shear,
consider tacking back across it.
Some years ago in a Finn
Olympic Trials race, I learned the value of getting on the course early
and having the courage to believe in what I discovered. I found a
current shear halfway up the beat during my pre-race tune-up. To the
windward side of the shear, the water was flowing toward the windward
mark. All week long at this regatta, the right side had been favored
thanks to a predictable starboard windshift. But in this race, after
the start, I headed left and crossed the shear while the fleet headed
right as usual. I rounded the first mark with a comfortable lead.
Don't
forget which part of the course was most beneficial when you consider
your strategy for the downwind leg. Well before rounding the windward
mark, announce where you plan to sail on the run and if you should do a
bear-away spinnaker set or jibe set. My rule of thumb is that if the
other jibe is favored by 15 degrees or more, a jibe set is a better
option. However, with many boats, and in many fleets, it can be more
efficient to set, accelerate to full speed, and then jibe, being
careful to keep your wind clear.
Wind patterns caused by the
surrounding land repeat themselves on the water. When you learn what
works, put this knowledge into your game plan. Keep notes for future
regattas. Recently I sailed in a college alumni regatta in Chicago. I
reviewed my notebooks from racing four times in the Timme Angsten
college regatta between 1969 and 1972. Once I started sailing I was
pleasantly surprised to find that my old observations still held true
and, in fact, they helped me win the regatta. Afterwards, I added a few
new passages to my youthful thoughts in case I ever have to pick a side
in Chicago again.
