File - Canadian Wayfarer Association

tack. Don't forget to look over your aft shoulder (especially when on starboard) just before you
tack. There's nothing worse in this situation, than having to tack twice in succession. If there's
a boat there, and he's too close, just bear away to create a gap (and speed) and then, after
tacking, duck his stern.
2. Boat Speed
As you all know, boat speed is always important, but perhaps not as essential in shifty conditions.
It's only in steady winds that it really comes into its own.
Remember that there is going to be much less wind and more of a confused sea in the congested
start area. So, as you approach the line, you have to ease off from your pre-start settings -
settings made in a smoother sea and stronger winds. This rule applies even to the front
markers, because the wind lifts away from the surface as it approaches the massed fleet. Then,
as the fleet spreads out, start to increase the loadings again. Take extra special care to keep
the boat level, as heeling forces your sails into the backwind of the leeward boats. Watch out
for fore and aft trim - perhaps sitting slightly forward in the lighter airs and moving aft as the
fleet spreads out. Remember to constantly monitor speed by comparing yourself with other
boats. The golden rules are:
• Make leeches tighter (without flattening sails) to improve pointing;
• Open out leeches and flatten sails to get more speed.
3. Getting Into 'Sync' With Windshifts
Most of the sailing you do is in shifty conditions where the wind oscillates about the mean. So, as
you clear the line, begin using the information learnt in pre-race practices. What is the wind
doing compared with the mean? Is the wind heading or lifting?
If you are on a significant header, tack if you can - even if it means ducking a few stems and
losing some ground in the short term. You'll be ahead of the boats you had to duck, when the
wind heads back and you tack again onto the new lift. If you can't tack, don't worry too much.
Just sail through the header, take the next lift and then wait for the next header before going.
Easy to say, but much harder to do. What usually happens is that you spot the header but can't
tack because of boats on your windward quarter. You start to fret, and as your sailing goes down
the tubes, the situation is made much worse than it really needs to be. A much better solution
would be to shrug your shoulders (leave the fretting to others) and cope with what you've got.
4. Going The Right Way
Perhaps more accurately, this should be entitled "Getting Ready to Go the Right Way". In fact,
this is often overlooked in the urgency of a short term gain. For example, in a gently bending
breeze, many sailors hang on and hang on to the outside of the bend rather than tack and duck
transoms. However, as it will pay to get on the inside of this windbend, it is vital to tack onto the
header, again ducking sterns if necessary. Remember that because you are sailing into the bend,
you'll soon be ahead of everyone you duck.
The same tactics, interestingly enough, should be adopted in tidal situations where the need to
get out of (or into) the current overcomes virtually everything else.
• If you are going the right way, insisting on your starboard rights and forcing port tack boats
to tack onto your leebow is absolutely ridiculous. Just think how you will feel as you tack
away. By the same token, always duck the starboard boat if you are on port and going the
right way.
• If you are on the wrong tack however, try your hardest to force the other one onto the
wrong tack. The port tacker will have to be made to leebow you so that you can tack off. The
starboard tacker will have to be leebowed vigorously to force him to tack onto the wrong
tack. So, it's a pretty demanding time for you. But if you get it right, the rewards are
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