What a beautiful day! Yesterday started out with the course being skewed to the right meaning you sailed more on port tack than on starboard. The starboard end of the line was also heavily favored. So my game plan was to start at the starboard end of the starting line as close to the boat as possible. Usually I don't like to start near the boat end due to more boats and more things seem to go wrong but it seemed that if I was not at least the third or second boat from the committee boat that I would not be able to get on to port tack quick enough. The first two races port tack was the longer tack. I usually try to sail the longer tack as soon as possible after the start. Races 4,5&6 the starboard end was still favored but the race course was now skewed to the left, due to me moving the marks, stupid move. Which means that the longer tack was starboard tack. Now it was even more important to start near the boat as the farther you start down the line the further behind you start. The one place I seemed to catch the most of boats was the transition at the windward mark. I tried to make sure before I got to the mark that I had my mainsheet clear and ready to get out and loosen my vang. I also tried to sail just a little bit above (about a half a boatlength beyond the windward mark) and then start my turn downwind. The most important part is having the ability to get you mainsheet out quick. At the windward mark I seemed to usually get an inside overlap of the boat ahead of me which usually makes the run a bit easier. This move is not as effective in lighter air, which is a common mistake I make. This is because the boats coming to windward on the starboard layline blanket the inside move. Congratulations to Team #3 Teale/Alsalam/Barron on winning Day 1 of Team scoring by a third of a point! Everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving and see you on the water. -Erich Hesse |
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