Mixed class starting strategies
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3448
Printed Date: 02 Aug 25 at 7:35pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Mixed class starting strategies
Posted By: k_kirk
Subject: Mixed class starting strategies
Date Posted: 01 Oct 07 at 7:28am
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Hi, I have a quick question. Hope you can help me yet again. I occasionally participate in club races in tthe 29erXX and given the club only has Lasers & Bytes in the Dinghy Open class thats mostly what I race against. Mostly sailing on my own, I find it difficult to hold the start line by backing the main or jib etc so trying alternate techniques to get the best start possible. The fact that the Lasers & Bytes just sit there pre-start isn't helping me in finding space to punch through but thats what I try to do. I go on a reach back & forth along the line pattern few boat lengths away from the start line, time my arrival and just as the others are crossing the line heat it up into clausehall and head towards the line. Most of the time I get stuck behind them etc. What techniques work for you in similar situations? Thanks for your help. ------------- http://gaijinonfoils.blogspot.com/ - Gaijin on Foils |
Replies:
Posted By: ChrisJ
Date Posted: 01 Oct 07 at 9:13am
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How long are the start lines? How biased are they to one end or the other? You might find that its well worth starting at the "wrong" end in clear wind, just so you can start at speed and get clear. The other option is to identify the people who finish towards the back of the fleet, and make sure you start next to them! They will always leave more of a gap and be less aggressive on the start lines than those that finish at the front. |
Posted By: English Dave
Date Posted: 01 Oct 07 at 11:18am
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This is a similar problem to wrighty's ( http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3363&PN=3 - http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3 363&PN=3 ) Best advice, assuming a windward start is to do a port-hand flyer, ducking the whole starboard fleet if necessary. You'll be in clear air and get up to your max speed and height. By the time you reach the top mark, the Lasers will be long gone. ------------- English Dave http://www.ballyholme.com - Ballyholme Yacht Club (You'd think I'd be better at it by now) Hurricane 5.9 SX RS700 |
Posted By: Guest
Date Posted: 01 Oct 07 at 11:23am
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Just start on port; pop through a gap or duck the fleet and put the bow down. ------------- |
Posted By: m_liddell
Date Posted: 01 Oct 07 at 12:39pm
| A great way of slowing the 29er down by the line is sinking the transom, just don't overdo it! |
Posted By: mike ellis
Date Posted: 01 Oct 07 at 5:04pm
in the 600 i stick the rack in the water but the 9er doesnt have racks does it? ------------- 600 732, will call it Sticks and Stones when i get round to it. Also International 14, 1318 |
Posted By: k_kirk
Date Posted: 01 Oct 07 at 5:32pm
Start line is very short. Course is small as well. Optimized to run 4 races in one afternoon. Good advice. Thanks
Yikes.. How did I miss that thread. Sorry for the repetition.
Will try it. I know this sure slows me down when I do it unintentionally. Thanks for all the advice everyone. Something new to try next time. ------------- http://gaijinonfoils.blogspot.com/ - Gaijin on Foils |
Posted By: redback
Date Posted: 01 Oct 07 at 11:52pm
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The trouble with starting on port in a low standard fleet it that there's always boats on starboard starting late. The conventional advice is to sail along well below the line on port and tack into a gap. |
Posted By: moomin
Date Posted: 02 Oct 07 at 9:05am
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Another option for those whos priority is clean air is come in behind the front row on Starbord at the committee boat end with speed and be the first to tack onto Port for clean air. ------------- Moomin |
Posted By: mike ellis
Date Posted: 02 Oct 07 at 5:32pm
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you'd be lucky to get through the fleet though, remember, "a boat clear behind shall attempt to stay clear behind" so you cant barge through an invisible gap between all the lasers who are stuffing each other up. ------------- 600 732, will call it Sticks and Stones when i get round to it. Also International 14, 1318 |
Posted By: Ian99
Date Posted: 02 Oct 07 at 9:06pm
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I'd always start on port in planing conditions with that mix of boats if you're in a boat that just goes sideways when stopped. If you come hammering in on a reach on port under the slow or stopped lasers, you'll only need a gap of about a boat width and a half to get through. Even if it all goes wrong and there isn't a gap and you end up going behind the committee boat, the loss isn't that great as a tack back onto starboard and then onto port around the committee boat's bow and you're out into clear wind pretty quickly. I used this technique quite a bit in club races in the B14, and it usually worked even though the wings made it over 10 feet wide! It does scare the laser sailors a bit though to see you heading for a gap they wouldn't be able to tack through  Just don't try it in a long boat .... it certainly wouldn't work for an FD as although almost as fast, it will take nearly twice as long to cover its own length as it's nearly twice as long as a 29er!! |
Posted By: mike ellis
Date Posted: 03 Oct 07 at 6:46pm
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a boat width and a half for me is more than a boat length, 7ft wide, 15ish ft long. ------------- 600 732, will call it Sticks and Stones when i get round to it. Also International 14, 1318 |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 03 Oct 07 at 7:16pm
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I'm not that good at maths, but even I can see the flaw in this calculation... ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: mike ellis
Date Posted: 03 Oct 07 at 8:49pm
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yes alright, i finnished with double maths today, forgive me. ------------- 600 732, will call it Sticks and Stones when i get round to it. Also International 14, 1318 |
Posted By: Chas 505
Date Posted: 04 Oct 07 at 12:23pm
------------- Life is too short. Work Hard; Play Hard; Sail a 505 |