Day 1 Increasing Tacks Drill:
We started the day with the increasing tacks drill and I have the following comments:
1. When you are entering the top mark on port tack make sure you take your VANG and CUNNINGHAM off before the tack. Tacking without the vang on isn’t great so make sure to sail a little past the mark so that you don’t hit it with your mainsail post tack.
2. DO NOT SAIL PAST LAYLINES. Sailing past laylines only allows other sailor who are behind you “back in the game”. Either tack right on the layline or slightly below it so that you “shut the door” on other sailors. They will be forced to duck you because if they tack below you they will have to force you above a close hauled course before rounding the mark. In 6-12 knots it is very easy to “SHOOT” the weather mark (that is luffing up at the last minute to get around the mark) so tacking slightly below the layline in these conditions is best. The windy it gets, the harder it is to shoot the mark.
3. When you are sailing towards the bottom mark is it very important to get your head out of the boat and communicate with the boats around you. If you think you have room, call for it and be aggressive to make sure you get it.
4. When you round the leeward mark, don’t start hiking out without the sail pulled in all the way. If you hike out without the sail pulled in you will roll the boat to weather and this is TERRIBLE. Ideally, you will have the sail fully sheeted in so that you can hike out at the same time, but if you happen to have the sail too far out when you round, sheet it in while sitting on the deck then start hiking out when the sail starts to full. A constant leeward heel while rounding the leeward mark it best.
5. A boat tacking from port to starboard breaks the rule of “tacking too close” if the starboard tack boat has to change it’s course before the tacking boat has fully completed the tack (ie. their sail is full on the other side). You guys were breaking this rule a lot out there.
6. When you are tacking in medium air make sure to JUMP out into your hiking strap and powerfully flatten the boat by driving your shoulders towards the ground. Again, check out THESE TACKS
DAY 1 SPECIFIC COMMENTS:
SAILOR1 — Your tacks were great – keep flattening very hard. It is important you hike hard ALL THE TIME! Practise your TIME and DISTANCE at the start because it was very inconsistent. How are you going to tell yourself to hike hard in the regatta?
SAILOR2 — You need to put more energy into your tacks. Give the boat more roll and flatten it more aggressively. Your time and distance became very good in the starting drill but you didn’t do that in the races. Why not?
SAILOR3 – I caught you pinching a lot today. Why? Keep the sail full and fast upwind. Don’t be nice! Close the door on people by tacking on the laylines… don’t over stand! You had great technique downwind but were sometimes covered.
ALL OF YOU NEED TO REMEMBER TO TAKE OFF YOUR CUNNINGHAM BEFORE THE TOP MARK!!!
SAILOR1 owes me 1 chocolate bar!
Coach
BONUS CAMP FOOTAGE:
