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Keel Boat sailing –
Specifically (Sonar)
Preparation
considerations;
1) Crew weight:
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Sonars have no means for
hiking so if the need arises you must have enough weight
to keep the helm balanced.
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You can use sail controls to
de-power the boat but less effectively than a “planning”
hull (i.e. Lasers, V-15s) where crew weight approaches
hull weight.
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When crew weights are
relatively equal, sail trim and boat trim (weight
steering) are accentuated.
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4 or 5 crew members are
normally needed to approach 700#. A J22 in comparison,
carry 605# and allow legs over the side. “Legs over the
side vs. not” is at minimum~40% more weight outboard.
This example at 100+ lbs., is conservative, therefore
the call for 700# is a conservatively light benchmark.
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Crew work is key. Boat
handling, sail trim, coordination and communication are
all within the Team’s control and taking control of the
factors within is vital.
o
Planned Practice is integral
to gain confidence and move toward mastery of the
variables within control. Plan to respond to
different “known situation” that have affected past
performance positively or negatively.
o
The Goal of Practice is to
turn situations like i.e. starting, strategy and
rounding marks into desired “tactical reactions” or
involuntary responses to positive (visualized desirable)
outcomes.
2) Boat preparation
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A water kept boat with bottom
paint must be cleaned the day of or at worst day before
a regatta. Most would put it on the hoist the morning
of or send a diver in.
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Bottom cleaning is worth it.
Not as much for raw speed, as a fair boat kept in the
water is probably very close ~2-3% (and could be better)
than the speed of a boat kept on the trailer, but more
often if a boat is behind this kind of information can
be grossly distracting, (in one’s head) and the crew
would never realize this obstacle.
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Whether the bottom is a factor
is TBD, by observation, but the plan should be to clean
the boat if the racing matters.
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Sails are always important.
Confidence in their condition and effectiveness is the
second most important obstacle to beware.
3) Strategy on the
race course and race day
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Wake up and know what you are
going to think about “on Purpose.”
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Often we think about things
that are irrelevant and therefore distracting to that
which is important.
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Eat well (whatever that means
to different people) as it is common to skip food or
water and this is another very insidious way to be “not
quite on (my) one’s game today.”
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Everyday has its own
“prescription” but it goes without saying that the
“TEAM” must:
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Show up ready to be no place,
else on time.
o
Get the boat prepared to race,
breakdown free.
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Be receptive to the
environment. Observe the wind in the trees, on the
water, in the clouds up high. Recognize the tide line
on the poles/dock and if there is moisture above (water
falling / Ebbing) or if it is dry (raising tide / Flood)
o
Keep the senses of smell,
hearing, |
