Racing at an unfamiliar venue
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=12170
Printed Date: 08 Jul 25 at 10:27am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Racing at an unfamiliar venue
Posted By: jamesrose
Subject: Racing at an unfamiliar venue
Date Posted: 28 Sep 15 at 6:21pm
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Hi all,
Novice question ! What's the easiest way to remember a course for a race over a few miles at an unfamiliar venue ? Do people use handheld GPS devices, phone apps or good old pen and paper ? I'm looking to race a boat at a venue where the courses can be a bit more complicated than I think I will be able to remember off the top of my head so I'm looking for a better solution ! Thanks |
Replies:
Posted By: ClubRacer
Date Posted: 28 Sep 15 at 6:36pm
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chinagraph pencil draw it straight onto the deck If you know the course prior to the event you can just laminate a piece of paper and stick that down GPS devices are typically banned in most dinghy classes depending on what you sail
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Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 28 Sep 15 at 6:55pm
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Most venues will provide either a compass bearing to the windward mark or (if you a lucky) a lead boat. For places that used fixed marks it is a good idea to get a map of the area and mark them on it and laminate it and stick it to the deck somewhere then use a chinagraph pencil to draw out the courses. ------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: NickA
Date Posted: 28 Sep 15 at 9:29pm
Follow the boat that's in front ... first time at an unfamiliar venue, it probably won't be you!  ------------- Javelin 558 Contender 2574 |
Posted By: fab100
Date Posted: 29 Sep 15 at 9:15am
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Rather than chinagraph pencils, I prefer a waterproof paper pad; tape a sheet cut from it to the deck and use a standard pencil. Also useful for noting close-hauled compass headings over timed intervals ------------- http://clubsailor.co.uk/wp/club-sailor-from-back-to-front/" rel="nofollow - Great book for Club Sailors here |
Posted By: Null
Date Posted: 29 Sep 15 at 9:53am
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Do you really do that Clive? By that i mean noting close-hauled compass headings over timed intervals? I dont think i ever saw anyone in the Olympics doing it, on a club course or at a national champs.
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Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 29 Sep 15 at 10:32am
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I can imagine noting the compass angle rounding the leeward mark, so having a reference for the next lap, but where does the spare pair of hands needed to write stuff down come from? ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: fab100
Date Posted: 29 Sep 15 at 1:09pm
I have been known to, yes (the notion came from Mark Rushalls's excellent book). When I get lazy and don't, I regret it. I've also decided readings in tactic mode is insufficiently granular (and getting the tacking angle right is a PITA too) so have reverted to proper bearings - so more numbers to remember. Mind you, the way I sailed at Torbay recently, flipping a coin or tacking when legs hurt would have worked better. Some people don't use a compass at all - but sadly I'm not that talented. And have become too much of a pond sailor (cue abuse from grr) having grown up on the salty stuff that goes up and down and in and out
------------- http://clubsailor.co.uk/wp/club-sailor-from-back-to-front/" rel="nofollow - Great book for Club Sailors here |
Posted By: getafix
Date Posted: 29 Sep 15 at 2:13pm
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Couple of suggestions stick silver or white bodge tape on the hull and use a permanent marker chinagraph or waterproof paper make it the crews responsibility |
Posted By: davidyacht
Date Posted: 29 Sep 15 at 4:58pm
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I stick some wide white pvc tape on each side deck. Stanley do some very neat permanent markers, have one in my PFD and one in the halyard bag. Write down courses and bearings. This works fine. In my pond sailing days would scribble the course on the back of my hand in biro. Like Clive now use tactic as compass rather than tactical, it is very easy to lose the plot in tactical, especially after a big shift that may have come in between beats. Have seen Mark's plots for compass bearings, but it in reality you need a lot of discipline to do this, I tend to write a few bearings on either tack to get a mean bearing ... Hasn't won me any championships though! ------------- Happily living in the past |
Posted By: iiiiitick
Date Posted: 29 Sep 15 at 5:33pm
| As one ages it becomes more and more difficult to write in Biro on ones arm (lack of skin tension) so I use masking tape with the course written on. I only sail at home and there are always plenty of boats to follow in my case! |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 29 Sep 15 at 8:22pm
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I use masking tape stuck either to the dry suit or the middle of the boat, it only happens down the lake where they use 9 buoys rounded port or starboard, so no need for compass. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: fab100
Date Posted: 29 Sep 15 at 11:40pm
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The trouble with masking tape is that, if it does not get peeled off the boat after the race, it seems to become impossible to move. At Frensham I write on my hand if I need to, but my Laser is looking tatty (OK even tattier) from where I've loaned it out and people have left bleeping masking tape on it
------------- http://clubsailor.co.uk/wp/club-sailor-from-back-to-front/" rel="nofollow - Great book for Club Sailors here |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 30 Sep 15 at 11:49am
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Especially when you keep attaching tape upon tape upon tape upon tape.. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: The Moo
Date Posted: 30 Sep 15 at 1:44pm
| Our Club provides electrician's tape and biros in the race box...very civilised! Doesn't seem to leave any noticeable residue and gets recycled afterwards to cover split pins and rings etc! |