BEST OF 2015 – “Prepared to win. Optimize the medium and maneuver.”

Let us help ourselves with a metaphor to introduce this second lesson devoted to analyzing the crucial aspects of winning races.Sailing is a sport in which the technical medium is of paramount importance, where not only the performance of the individual matters.
As in music: you can be a talented musician but if the instrument you play is not tuned, the end result will be bad. So is the sport of sailing: so let’s go over firstly how to best tune our instrument, the boat, and secondly how to improve the technical ability of our musician, the crew, to handle their instrument.

In boat optimization (setting) there are four basic aspects: gliding ability (1); optimization and proper weight placement on board (2); instrumentation calibration (3); and deck ergonomics (4). On the other hand, with regard to the crew’s ability to bring the boat to its best (handling): the knowledge of maneuvers of each crew member (5); the synergy of roles on board (6); the ability to react to unforeseen events (7); and the different methodologies of boat handling (8).

1. CHOOSING ANTIFOULING
The gliding ability of the living work is the first key aspect. As well as the elimination of any possible friction, improved hydrodynamic flows, and the fit (symmetry) of the fin and rudder, the first step is to choose the right antifouling. The best choice is a carbon antifouling (like Speed Carbon), given the right way with several coats on the hull and passes with sandpaper. A job definitely to be entrusted to a specialized site.

2. OPTIMIZATION AND ARRANGEMENT OF WEIGHTS ON BOARD
That of weight is something that must be treated with the utmost care. In addition to the elimination of any unnecessary weight, the placement of what is instead essential (sails, rigging, etc.) will make a difference on the trim and performance of your boat. Concentrating weight down and in the right position will decrease pitching and rolling and help straightening.

3. CALIBRATION OF INSTRUMENTS
In racing, the instruments are responsible for providing data that the navigator will communicate to the tactician to process decisions about future choices. Tools are an indispensable aid to get continuous feedback on how we are carrying the boat, as well as to construct empirical polars on speed at all wind angles and strengths.

Instrumentation is the certainty of our performance and an aid to refining adjustments. That is why it is good that this is perfectly calibrated, otherwise it is better not to use it: it would only provide misleading information.

4. ERGONOMICS OF THE DECK

Needless to say, in racing every current maneuver must be as simple and as recognizable as possible. The deck plan should be streamlined and lightened with an eye to smoothness and stiffness (lack of elasticity and dispersion of forces). The recognizability of each line will make each maneuver better and more timely, which is why it is important that the colors of halyards and sheets are different.

5. KNOWLEDGE OF MANEUVERS
To use our medium in the best possible way, it will be necessary to work in such a way that each crew member is clear about the procedures and steps of each maneuver that affects him or her. During the training phases, it will prove useful to make notes in a notebook of all the steps so that you can memorize them with confidence.

6. SYNERGY OF ROLES
Having memorized the procedures, each crew member, will move on to the next phase, which is the synergy between the different positions on board: the maneuvers of the drizzler or tailers, will have to be perfectly “amalgamated” with that of the bowmen. This synergy is achieved by optimizing communication. Once the maneuvers are amalgamated, one can consider speeding up the time of their implementation. Remembering a rule: a maneuver made in haste is not fast.

7. RECOVERING MANEUVERS
That is, recovery maneuvers. During a regatta, not everything always goes right. This paragraph is about the ability to respond to setbacks and mistakes.

It is the case of penalties (360° or 720°), or the breaking of a halyard, or a start in OCS, or the need to tack to get out of the cover of a group of opponents (slowing down or leaning to be able to tack) or even a strake. In the boat, the one who makes the fewest mistakes and the one who recovers mistakes the fastest wins.

8. TYPES OF CONDUCTING
There are different ways to steer the boat that are best defined in training so you don’t get caught unprepared in racing. For example, when you are forced to heave sharply under spinnaker to respond to an attack from downwind, or when you find yourself leading the boat across the wind with white sails (you often lose positions in the last tow before the finish); or in “hi” or “low” upwind mode (to blow an opponent upwind or to run to a windward leap), Or under gennaker, when choosing to glide the boat or conversely to sail slowly, preferring the shortest course.
Taken from the May 2015 GdV