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A Good Article by Wally Cross

September 2, 2008 on 5:23 pm | In Uncategorized | No Comments

Sailing System 2008


The older I get the more I appreciate sailing on boats that have a working sailing system. I was sailing in Scarlino Italy a few weeks ago sailing on a Swan 45 named Blue Nights. The boat has a mixed crew of Americans and Finish sailors. It became more than obvious we had to establish a system soon or it was going to be a disaster.

A good system has to start early in the day and end at the conclusion of the sailing day. Every segment of the day will have a system for the crew based on the timing of the race.

Example:

Swan 45 Blue Nights, Crew of 11
Location, Scarlino Italy

Boat Call 9 am , Dock out at 9:45
The dock out time has to be tested before the first day of racing so that your boat is at the race course one hour prior to the warning single. In Scarlino it is only 15 minutes.

Prior to boat call the entire team should plan on a morning that will allow them to be ready to sail at 9am. I will get up usually three hours earlier than the boat call and do some light exercise to clear my head and then I will have a good breakfast. Based on the type of internet access this is also a great time to download weather and start thinking about the day’s condition.

At 9 am the system starts.

(Group A) Bow-Mast-Pit

· check all halyards, blocks
· McLube spin. Pole, mast track
· Rig all spin and after guy sheets
· Look over forward hatch for spin hoist
· Check all marks for reference
o Pole lift
o After guy, pole at headstay
o Jib halyard
o Main Halyard
o Spin halyard (3,2,1)*


(Group B) Floaters, could be one or two crew

· Set up interior for the days condition
o Liquid in cooler behind mast
o Remove liquid under floor boards
o Sails for the days racing
o Position weight for or aft based on wind conditions
· Store all food for the day
· Make sure VHF/Deckman are charged for the day
· Read all sailing instructions
· Understand the mark changing rules
· Set up computer for the starting function
· Make sure all spinnakers are packed for the day
· Set up computer for starting and download all necessary charts
· Print and post weather for the day below
· Remove and drain de-humidifier
· Dry off deck and place winch handles in pockets
· Put water in each sheet bag




(Group C) Main, Jib and Spinnaker Trimmers

· Check all moving systems in your area and Mclube
o Jib tracks, and traveler systems
o Turning blocks
o Backstay blocks
· Check over batten tension in your sails based on weather
· Check over luff tape particularly at the head of the sail
· Look at weather and anticipate the sail choice
· Talk with all trimmers about anticipated sail settings for wind and wave conditions
· Make the gross rig adjustments at the dock and then after sailing for 20 minutes, make the fine adjustments
· Trimmers should rig all spinnaker and jib sheets
· Review targets for the day



(Group D) Helmsperson, Tactician, Navigator

· Review the race instructions and amendments
· Look over weather report
· Review yesterdays race on the computer
· Discuss starting process and strategy
· Talk with Helmsperson using toy boats
· Review race board for any changes
· Make sure the boat leaves at the agreed time
· Agree on:
o Starting goals
o Mark rounding
o Leeward tacks
o Ducking a boat
o Fast targets/slow targets up and down wind
o Language used or hand singles





The System on the water

· Dock out
o Same jobs leaving the dock and entering the dock
o Short meeting about weather and goals
o Time to drink water and apply sun screen
o Pit person check pole lift marks for gibing
o Guy trimmer check mark on guys for gibing
o Floater sets up sails below for sailing condition
o Trimmers check all sheets and place tails in windows

· At the course
o Mainsail up while boat is motoring in reverse
§ (less wear on the sail and release any weed)
o Trimmers pick the jib for pre-race sailing
o Sail for 5 min per tack:
§ Note wind direction patterns
§ Note speed relative to a competitor
§ Agree on the best target speed
§ Discuss proper heel per water
· Flat water, less heel
· Chop, more heel
§ Decide on rig settings
o Round a mark if possible and set the spinnaker
§ Note the wind direction patterns
§ Find the proper TWA to sail for the wind
§ Agree on the gibe angle
§ Drop spinnaker careful for a clean set

Write it all down on your wet notes and have another short meeting on lessons learned while sailing

· Make the necessary rig adjustments
· Put the jib or genoa in the bag/turtle
· Back up one more time




Pre-Start System

· If you have starting software
o Ping boat and pin end
o Note the line bias
o Locate both lay lines, boat and pin
· Determine line bias
o Luffing in mid line and noting which end is forward
o Sail down line with main sheet cleated and tack
§ If on port tack you ease more, boat favored
§ If on port tack you trim more, pin favored
o Understand your boat end lay line and pin lay line
o Range pin with object on shore if possible
· Agree on the section of the line
o Boat end, pick the top third
o Square line, near the middle
o Pin end, lower third
· Approach the line on port tack
o Early if upper third
o Normal if middle
o Late if lower third

· Last tack
o Protect hole by:
§ Tacking fast and bow down is being tailed
§ Tacking slow and back up if set up to leeward
§ Tacking fast and back up hard for space
§ Tacking to force trailer to tack and back to port if room to windward.

o Pull the trigger
§ Time necessary to be up to target speed
§ When boats close by go
§ When more distance than time

The Race

Each race is different, yet having a system prior to the race will give you the confidence that the homework has been done to get the best result. The goal of every start is to hold your lane up to the point you want to tack. Often early in the race a high angle, slower target speed is necessary to protect the lane. Once your boat can sail at target the quicker you will be with the top group.

After the race, have another short meeting and discussed what worked well first and then the other things that need more work. Make a work list and divide up jobs on the water so the boat work is all complete that same day.

Work on your system and you will quickly see more consistent results that will keep your team in regattas longer.

Wally Cross