Jib sheets

Great idea, Garry.  I'll use it with some of the newer racers at Bough Beech.

Sue

You only need to know about 3 basic rules and some common sense to start racing.

If the start line is crowded start about 10 seconds back from every one else. Easiest way is at the startboard end of the line after everyone is lining up reach down to leeward behind everyone and then as the gun goes harden up into a space. You will be at the back, but not too far back. You can then follow the fleet round, so you get a course to steer and you can see how many of the slower boats you can overtake. pictures worth a thousand words (no rude comments about my artistic skills please )




I would advise anyone starting racing until they have built up their confidence to:

• Leave a couple of boat lengths between you and anyone to leeward
• and the essential rules - Same tack windward boat keeps clear
• Port gives way to starboard
• At a mark give the inside boat plenty of room and until you're happy with close quarters handling go wide (or slowdown)rather than trapped in the middle of a bunch (in fact if a big bunch is at a mark slow is often faster even for experienced racers)

You could also buy an understanding the rules book - Bryan Willis is fairly straightforward but there are lots available. Don't buy the actual rules because you can download them for free and if you're not familar with the interpretations they'll seem like gobblydegook anyway.

You could also get one of the better sailors at your club to helm for a few races for you so you get a feel for what's going on. Anticipation is the key to avoiding incidents (and, as I'm sure Redback will confirm, the faster your boat the more you have to anticipate).

Edited by Garry

Talking as someone who always races and almost never cruises (you couldn't in a 4000 anyway).  I'm always keen to encourage people to race and very tolerant of their mistakes.  Cruising is OK but there is nothing like the pressure of competition to drive yourself to higher levels of achievement, and frankly achievement is what gives the greatest satisfaction.

So Headfry, please race, you've bought a beautiful racing machine, I'm sure other racers will be helpful and tolerant and you will enjoy the boat so much more.

though continuous jib sheets have advantages, it also comes down to personal preferance (i prefer seperate jib sheets).

Also I tend to hike holding onto my sheets so that I have somehting to pull back on and if worst comes to worst you can uncleat everything. If you havce continuous sheets it is easy to get hold of the 'leeward' sheet as it is attached to the end of the one you have next to you.