Approaching the windward mark

Originally posted by Stefan Lloyd Originally posted by Scooby_simon I guess an on-board GPS would help to identify when you had got back on close hauled ? Not really. I've used GPS a lot in keelboats and racing yachts and none of them have recorded a detailed history of where you have been. It's not what they are for. Nor are they that accurate in practice regarding instantaneous speed and direction (as opposed to position, which is usually accurate to a few 10s of metres and sometimes better ).

 

What are you using.  Mar Garmin V has a 1 second sample rate and provides excellent plots of what I've been doing.

In that case you have to keep clear of the boat behind as you tack and also once you are on port. This is why starboard-hand windward marks are used in team racing - they provide an overtaking opportunity. Not so good in fleet racing.

From what I understand  ..... the leading boat is required to keep clear of the 2nd boat whilst tacking, therefore the solution would be to sail up to head-to-wind (do not allow the sails to tack) and hope that
1. the 2nd boat can't sail between you and the mark
2. the 2nd boat would be forced to sail to leeward of the you - enabling you to tack
If neither of those work, then you may have to wait until the 2nd boat tacks around the mark, then follow (worst case scenario)

Originally posted by flat is fast we were both on the lay line but you had to tack round the mark. we were sailing towards it on starboard and then you had to round it on starboard.

I still don't follow you - round it on starboard or to starboard? If on starboard, why did you need to tack?

we were both on the lay line but you had to tack round the mark. we were sailing towards it on starboard and then you had to round it on starboard.