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Going left on upwind has paid off on all races. |
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Notl
Newbie Joined: 29 Jul 12 Online Status: Offline Posts: 15 |
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Topic: Going left on upwind has paid off on all races. Posted: 04 Aug 12 at 5:14pm |
Has anyone noticed going left on the upwind leg has paid off on all the races?
It seems a no brainer to keep left but the Brits keep going right an then have to claw back places. Is anyone in the British team aware? Sitting watching all the races from home it is very obvious. |
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G.R.F.
Really should get out more Joined: 10 Aug 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 4028 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 04 Aug 12 at 6:04pm |
I do seriously wonder if they spend as much time on tactics as they do on nutrition, psychology, core fitness etc. There have been lots of elementary blunders, bad start technique, poor course decision taking, not what you might expect at this level.
Then again I've been accused of balcony sailing already by my youngers and allegedly betters...
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rodney
Really should get out more Joined: 26 Feb 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 915 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 04 Aug 12 at 6:14pm |
Oh dear! her indoors has said I shouldn't have done that! Your views aren't funny, honest Graeme!
Edited by rodney - 04 Aug 12 at 6:17pm |
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Rodney Cobb
Suntouched Sailboats Limited http://www.suntouched.co.uk [EMAIL=rodney@suntouched.co.uk">rodney@suntouched.co.uk |
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G.R.F.
Really should get out more Joined: 10 Aug 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 4028 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 04 Aug 12 at 6:23pm |
You're entitled to your views rodders, I'm not offended, dinghy walllers have never yet paid any mind to what us windsurfers know about sailing, you'd be the first who did.
Would you like to know why, generally, going left pays at Weymouth? (In a South -South West airstream that is)
Edited by G.R.F. - 04 Aug 12 at 6:32pm |
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rodney
Really should get out more Joined: 26 Feb 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 915 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 04 Aug 12 at 6:58pm |
You also are entitled to your views. I have sailed against most of the Finn sailors at one time or another over the years and have to say when up against them, on the water, you realize just how good they are - starts, tactics and boat speed. I have to admit that it doesn't look like that on TV but I am thinking that watching is easy.
Left or Right at Weymouth depends on which course, wind direction, type of wind, (gradient or thermal), time of day, state of the tide and which way the majority of the fleet is heading. Springs and neaps also will affect the strategy to be adopted. Be warned, when you do a regatta in Weymouth next, don't rely on the left always paying cos it wont. I have probably sailed about 15 x 5 day regattas there so know a little about the place in a huge range of conditions and wind directions. I do agree that the left has been best most of this week. What is your take on it Graeme?
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Rodney Cobb
Suntouched Sailboats Limited http://www.suntouched.co.uk [EMAIL=rodney@suntouched.co.uk">rodney@suntouched.co.uk |
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G.R.F.
Really should get out more Joined: 10 Aug 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 4028 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 04 Aug 12 at 9:59pm |
As we all know, there is no finite answer to stuff like this, but, generally the effect of the wind lifting and tumbling over Chesil Bank, in a South Westerly, to my mind draws in more lifts from the cleaner air to the left of Portland Island wrapping round, and that projects right down into weymouth bay, that said the occasional puff from the right, or trend right after a rain squall can't be ruled out.
One thing that should be ruled out by your boy though is going for the left buoy, then tacking right, under all the dirty air of the oncoming fleet, then coming back left again to do it all over, sorry whatever you might say, not many windsurfers at the front of our fleets would do that, in their right minds that is. Also, by it's nature, the Finn is a very limited class and everyone knows big heavy blokes have no tactical idea at all until the wind fires up the little anemometer whirly thing between their ears that drives their brain.
Edited by G.R.F. - 04 Aug 12 at 10:02pm |
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rodney
Really should get out more Joined: 26 Feb 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 915 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 04 Aug 12 at 10:35pm |
Firstly your argument assumes that the wind is from the SW which s not always the case. Secondly much of the racing is some 5 miles from Portland so little or no effect there although, if you are talking the Nothe, I agree that there will be some influence there from all of the surrounding obstructions.
I missed Friday's racing due to work priorities so I can't answer for the comment on crossing running boats. Yes, all Finn sailors are thick BUT I would put money on any of these guys p*****g all over you anywhere and anytime. So if they are thick just work out for yourself what that would suggest
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Rodney Cobb
Suntouched Sailboats Limited http://www.suntouched.co.uk [EMAIL=rodney@suntouched.co.uk">rodney@suntouched.co.uk |
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G.R.F.
Really should get out more Joined: 10 Aug 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 4028 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 04 Aug 12 at 10:42pm |
Maybe in a dinghy, but not in a million years on a board, and you know what, the more i sail this little EPS thing the more some of those board skills transfer... Oh and the last time I raced at Weymouth in a Nationals fleet way bigger than those, I won, and my daughter also won, the girl she beat? Bryony Shaw. The first time I raced in Weymouth 20 years before that, I also won, just so you know.. Edited by G.R.F. - 04 Aug 12 at 10:51pm |
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Medway Maniac
Really should get out more Joined: 13 May 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2788 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 05 Aug 12 at 1:06am |
Certainly paid to bang corners at the Wayfarer Worlds in SW-ish winds two years ago; left or right depending on which side of Portland the wind was blowing from. We wasted the first race trying to tack on shifts before the penny dropped; thereafter it was lay-lines all the way.
For that reason, I too was surprised at Ben's early strategy. But the medal race will be something else!
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rodney
Really should get out more Joined: 26 Feb 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 915 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 05 Aug 12 at 8:11am |
One thing that should be ruled out by your boy
though is going for the left buoy, then tacking right, under all the dirty air
of the oncoming fleet, then coming back left again to do it all over, sorry
whatever you might say, not many windsurfers at the front of our fleets would
do that, in their right minds that is. Try this scenario:- ·
Fleet of 60 boats. ·
Boat X in about 30th position
heading for the gate. ·
Starboard mark at gate about 20 metres further
to windward than port mark. ·
More pressure on the right up the beat so right
is the favoured side. ·
A string of port tack boats heading right from
the port gate mark. ·
Boats behind compressing as they close on the gate. Should boat X join the string of boats heading right from
the port mark or round the starboard mark, tack and cross through the running
boats looking for a clear lane once it is clear of the running fleet? BTW I have never questioned GRF's skills on a sailboard and am pleased that he has transferred his enthusiasm to dinghy sailing. Have his legendary sailboard skills transferred to dinghies? Perhaps we will see at the Forumites Open Meeting (if we get any interest). |
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Rodney Cobb
Suntouched Sailboats Limited http://www.suntouched.co.uk [EMAIL=rodney@suntouched.co.uk">rodney@suntouched.co.uk |
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