[Sailingclub] FW: Part 4 The Run sec: unclassified

[Coffey, James MR 2]

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From: sailingclub-bounces at anumail0.anu.edu.au
[mailto:sailingclub-bounces at anumail0.anu.edu.au] On Behalf Of Warner,
Grant MR
Sent: Thursday, 20 April 2006 15:59
To: sailingclub at anu.edu.au
Subject: [Sailingclub] FW: Part 4 The Run sec: unclassified




>
>Pinnell and Bax

>Part 4 The Run

>Fast downwind sailing is all about picking the right gybe on the 
>downwind
>leg and that thinking process has to start a long way before you reach
the 
>windward mark. Plan ahead for the gybe you want to be on, as this may 
>affect your final approach to the mark. If you can, set as many of the 
>control lines ready for the downwind leg in advance. This will give you

>time to sail away from the mark, concentrating on sail trimming and 
>direction and not spending all the time with your head in the boat.
>If the wind has shifted to the port side of the course as you approach
the 
>mark, then you will want to sail downwind, away from the mark on that
side 
>(i.e, starboard), and vice versa.
>
>From then onwards, you have to spot for any change In wind direction, 
>which
>might mean gybing for advantage. it is more difficult to spot a wind 
>direction change because you will probably be sailing a range of
courses 
>between dead run and broad reach to maximise speed, but you can see
wind on 
>the water more easily.
>As the gusts come through you have to sail as much as possible in the 
>strongest wind by gybing into and sailing down with them. Keep a good
look 
>out because again, one good gybe which takes you into stronger gusts
may 
>get you a number of places by the leeward mark.
>There are other factors influencing your decision on direction. The
tide 
>will often be decisive - you shouldn't want to sail in tide or current
that 
>is flowing against you! Your closest competitors may influence your 
>decision and it is always important to stay in touch with them, unless
you 
>can be sure of an advantage. In competitive fleets you will often find
that 
>a number of helmsmen will spot a downwind shift or gust all at the same

>time and gybe together.

>When the wind is not steady you must concentrate on maintaining good
boat 
>speed to the leeward mark and this may not be a straight line course.
Boats 
>sail faster as you sail increasingly onto a broad reach from a run, so
by 
>heading up a few degrees, the boat speed can be increased and then you
can 
>gently resume your original course. When sailing into a gust, you can
often 
>get best VMG (Velocity Made Good) by bearing away or sailing square to
the 
>mark. Different boats have different downwind characteristics. A 505
has 
>always been a good square-running boat, even in the strongest
conditions, 
>but in a Fireball you may have to sail up a little so as not to dig the
bow 
>in.

>Do not leave it too late to plan your approach to the leeward mark. If 
>there are few boats around then you can opt for the fastest course,
with 
>minimum of gybes, but if you are in pack then it may pay to gybe onto
the 
>inside, so that you can gain overlaps as you get to the mark. This may
even 
>mean reaching up to pass behind the transoms of right of way boats, but

>hopefully it will pay off later.

>Keep a good look out ahead, because boats ahead may be on the windward
leg 
>as you approach the mark and both distances and angles can change
rapidly.
>Good speed can only come from working closely with the crew. Most of
the 
>crews time should be concentrated on sail setting, which is really
vital, 
>whilst the helm watches for shifts, gusts and tactical changes.

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