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Start Tactics: How do I not get stuffed? |
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jeffers
Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3048 |
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Topic: Start Tactics: How do I not get stuffed? Posted: 22 Jul 10 at 5:54pm |
What I generally do is position myself below a slower boat that I know will outpoint me on the first beat and try to avoid letting a boat that can outpoint me get in below me. This is in Handicap races when i am sailing the 8.1 and about the only thing at Hunts that can outpace me upwind is a Phantom, I tend to avoid them like the plague! In a fleet race it is all about creating yourself a space on the line and protecting it. The trick is to not be there too early or too late. Also remind any boat that come up from below you and luffs up that they have to give you time (and space) to respond. So if you are pretty much stationary on the line they cannot push you up they have to allow you room to get enough boat speed to the rudder works. The other thing I tend to do in a fleet race is keep moving (unless it is a packed line) and dive in to gap with about 20 s to go and hit the line at full speed. This can punch you out the front and it to clear air really well. I must point out that because I am at the heavier end of the spectrum for a Laser I do tend to not point quite so high as the flyweights unless it is blowing but go for boatspeed instead which (usually) more than makes up for the extra distance I have to sail. If the line is short and the course relatively square sometimes you can start at the non favoured end (or away from the favoured end) and in clear air which makes a much bigger difference than winning the correct end. I do this a lot in club racing but not at an open as the standard is much higher. |
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Paul
---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
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JRW1019
Groupie Joined: 15 Apr 10 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 61 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 22 Jul 10 at 10:59pm |
If you do find yourself on the line earlier than you
expected with everyone behind you you need to protect your position. If there is a gap below you ensure that you look behind and stop anyone getting too close to you in that gap, that involve bearing away very slightly or pushing the boom out, but whatever you can do to protect the space to leeward then try it. If you are in the opposite situation trying to find a gap, coming along behind the fleet on port and tacking into a gap can work quite well as the boat to windward of the gap has less they can do about shutting you out. The trouble with starting late and trying to find a gap with less time to go is that at the favoured end space may be at a premium and gaps are hard to come by. I would imagine 4000's accelerate quite quickly so it may pay to be reasonably close to the line earlyish |
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RS200 1019/1154
Firefly 3082 Ajax 14 |
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grimupnorth
Groupie Joined: 08 Dec 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 48 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 24 Jul 10 at 11:04am |
The 4000 is a very tough boat to handle in pre-start,
especially if you're used to a boat with soft sails that is comfortable sailing 'almost stopped' - we learned this very dramatically the other day doing club race training as the only 4000 among lots of lasers! I presume you've read all the stuff on the L4k website cos I have seen you posting there ;-) One approach is to keep some speed on and plan a start based on time-over distance; either by sailing up to the line on a slowish close reach and protecting your lane as you go; or come in from the left on port and hope to find a lane to tack into. Otherwise you need (like we do!) to find ways of slowing almost to a stop, which is v v difficult - there is always the possibility of the boat heading up into irons and then tacking, so the crew needs to have the lazy jib sheet in hand ready to back the sail and flip the boat back round. Coming to a complete stop involves backing the main and learning then how to get the boat moving again. What makes your life extra difficult is the influence of the extremely long L4K daggerboard - when flow over it breaks down at low speed, the boat becomes very hard to control. Learning how to do a 'bail out & gybe round' routine under control is probably useful too :-) We feel your pain! |
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redback
Really should get out more Joined: 16 Mar 04 Location: Tunbridge Wells Online Status: Offline Posts: 1502 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jul 10 at 11:12am |
Actually the 4000 doesn't accelerate that fast because 1.
its heavy and 2. it has to get up to quite a high speed which takes time. I think you may have realised that you are sitting on the line, better to come in fast, duck all the slow boats and you'll be in clear air before you know it. |
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grimupnorth
Groupie Joined: 08 Dec 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 48 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jul 10 at 4:58pm |
Also . . . check out the 'Higher & Faster' DVD for some
pre-start techniques. Then look at the results tally for Alistair Richardson & Peter Greenhalgh, realise that they are making it look very easy, and go for a nice cup of tea and a quiet lie down :-) |
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ellistine
Really should get out more Joined: 06 Mar 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 762 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jul 10 at 5:12pm |
I'm glad you said that. I was starting to think it was me! |
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LarFinn
Newbie Joined: 14 Apr 10 Location: Roadford Lake, Devon Online Status: Offline Posts: 38 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 13 Sep 10 at 6:54pm |
I've just posted a load of videos to You Tube from this weekend Finn Masters at Roadford Lake. 6 of the 8 are about 2 minutes long starting from just before the 1 minute to go horn. Well worth a watch to see the different tactics. Fleet size was 15, so busy but not overcrowded. I was on the Committee boat so all the action is close up but I was about 5 foot back from the line - i.e. not looking straight down the line.
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Andi
Finn GBR75 |
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dave101
Newbie Joined: 27 Oct 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 21 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 13 Feb 11 at 8:28am |
Last year I did an open meeting where everyone lined up on the start line early, waited on the start line for a while and accelerated just before the start gun. From what I read that is the correct way to start. Since that open meeting I have been trying to do the same thing myself. However I have trouble stopping the boat at the right point, and when I do try to stop the boat tends to sneak forward/backwards or go into ions.
Does anyone have any tips on approach position and timing, and the best way to hold the boat (angle to wind, centerboard position etc.)? |
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Bryn_14
Posting king Joined: 26 Nov 10 Location: GB Online Status: Offline Posts: 113 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 13 Feb 11 at 11:38am |
What boat do you sail? It has quite a big effect on timings and start strategies IMHO
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dave101
Newbie Joined: 27 Oct 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 21 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 13 Feb 11 at 6:06pm |
I'm sailing a Laser
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