Once upon a time, I thought there was nothing more to do with a 30' sailboat other than sail around the bays. Then I discovered sailboat racing and it rocked my world.
Suddenly, weekends were more meaningful and filled with excitement. I wasted no time recruiting my friends as crew members. I was determined to win. Races varied from weaving in and out of buoys to zipping around islands. One of the first things I learned was that I had to understand the tides and the winds. That was crucial to gaining the competitive edge.
If you have to go up against the tide in a race, it's better to stick to the lighter side. When the tide is on your side, you want to keep in the strongest part to gain the most speed you can. Winds work the same way when racing. When in a bay, the closer to shore you are, the warm winds drive the wind onshore. A mere - 3 knots of wind can make all the difference. Being in the middle of the bay could make you lose ground.
Long time sailboat racers have beaten me many times. I recall on one occasion being certain I was going to win. A sailboat was turning as if it was heading back. I was passing the very last buoy before the finish line. Was I ever tricked! That sailboat found stronger winds and beat me to the finish line. That was an important lesson learned. Over time, you master the techniques and it becomes automatic. I learned the hard way and faced much frustration, but, ultimately, when I figured it all out, there was plenty of excitement. Short races lasting a few hours turned to races one week long.
Along the way, I've encountered some very high wind conditions. The race didn't start that way, but along the line I've seen sailors extracted by helicopters. Once I won a trophy simply because I managed to drift the best - there was no wind for hours and I lucked out thanks to either my deep keel or wide beam. Learning to master my racing skills in my sailboat took time and experience, but eventually you learn how to reach top speeds without straining your crew or your boat. That's all part of discovering your boat's point of sail. When you figure that out, sailing becomes natural, effortless and automatic.
Suddenly, weekends were more meaningful and filled with excitement. I wasted no time recruiting my friends as crew members. I was determined to win. Races varied from weaving in and out of buoys to zipping around islands. One of the first things I learned was that I had to understand the tides and the winds. That was crucial to gaining the competitive edge.
If you have to go up against the tide in a race, it's better to stick to the lighter side. When the tide is on your side, you want to keep in the strongest part to gain the most speed you can. Winds work the same way when racing. When in a bay, the closer to shore you are, the warm winds drive the wind onshore. A mere - 3 knots of wind can make all the difference. Being in the middle of the bay could make you lose ground.
Long time sailboat racers have beaten me many times. I recall on one occasion being certain I was going to win. A sailboat was turning as if it was heading back. I was passing the very last buoy before the finish line. Was I ever tricked! That sailboat found stronger winds and beat me to the finish line. That was an important lesson learned. Over time, you master the techniques and it becomes automatic. I learned the hard way and faced much frustration, but, ultimately, when I figured it all out, there was plenty of excitement. Short races lasting a few hours turned to races one week long.
Along the way, I've encountered some very high wind conditions. The race didn't start that way, but along the line I've seen sailors extracted by helicopters. Once I won a trophy simply because I managed to drift the best - there was no wind for hours and I lucked out thanks to either my deep keel or wide beam. Learning to master my racing skills in my sailboat took time and experience, but eventually you learn how to reach top speeds without straining your crew or your boat. That's all part of discovering your boat's point of sail. When you figure that out, sailing becomes natural, effortless and automatic.
About the Author:
Captain Douglas Malat is a co-creator of YachtAuthority.com where you will find the ideal sailboat for your next sailboat race
0 comments:
Post a Comment