I'm currently at the blunt end of the handicap fleet (and I would be very happy with the top 50% never mind the top 20%) so I'd like to discuss the priorities for a mid fleet sailor. Eric Twiname seemed to hit the nail on the head in his book "Start To Win" so what did you do to get yourself up into the top 50%?

Anyway a few thoughts for the tail end Charlie :-

I'd say that most people, even really good sailors don't train and practice anywhere near enough - for very good reasons such as work, homelife etc where we're time-poor.  In these cases, class choice is massively important, as some boats genuinely reward 'good sailing' technique, as opposed to difficult 'niche' skills and methods.

When I moved in to the Finn I found that I could compete to a reasonable standard (in the middle third of the fleet-ish) fairly quickly by just sailing it 'well', ie just using the 5-Essentials as well as I could.  As I now look to make improvements rig setup, wave and pumping technique will get more important, and kit quality such as mast, foil and sail condition will help me progress ( I hope!).

FTFY 

Good point though (I assume you mean it in the sense of sailing a working example of a proven class rather than a GRF "anything wooden, more than 20 mins old, weighing more than your wetsuit or I don't like it" sort of way).

I've often thought it would be interesting to get into a boat and lock off everything but the tiller and three strings and then race it hard. So perhaps concentrating 90%+ on the tiller, crew weight, sheets and mainsail twist controller (ie traveller or vang) would give the best results. Obviously if the wind has kicked .in 15 knots more then you may grab some cunningham etc, but the point is not to worry whether it's been pulled down 3" or 5", but instead to just trim and hike through each gust more efficiently.

Start by concentrating on one aspect say tacking (as the biggest gains and losses at club level are usually on the windward leg). Then move on the keeping the boat at the right angle to the wind. Then move on to mark roundings (it is staggering how much you can lose on a mark rounding). Then laylines (althought his might fall in to place as part of your being at the correct angle work).

Then move on to the offwind work.

Of course if you sail on the lumpy stuff you might need to bring some wave sailing technique in sooner rather than later. 

Above all speak to your peers, especially the guys at the front of your fleet.

Oh and make sure your boat is set up correctly and that your controls work. Far too many people try to learn in boats that just don't work. Imagine l;earning to drive in a car with a dodgy clutch or a sticky accelerator or dodgy brakes.....

The other thing is not getting the basics nailed. You can be in the top 20% by just doing them very well.

Being on the line, at the right end

Not sailing in dirty air

keeping the boat flat

sail set up

sailing the shortest distance to the next mark

Shortest is not always quickest. Sailing proper course to the next mark is more accurate.

Eric Twiname was/is indeed a god and I truly believe if every club racer was only allowed one sailing book it has to be "Start To Win"

Be in the ball park for the optimum weight for you chosen class.

Nothing wrong with sailing with an inexperienced crew, but it is worth having a regular crew.

Get reasonably fit.

Embrace any coaching that is available.

Use your class tuning guides.

Calibrate your settings.

Observe the routing of the guys with local knowledge.

Sail flat.

Sail often.

Sail the start and some of the first beat before the start of the race ... form a plan.

Keep a notebook.

Or know your opposition so you know who you can start to windward of and not get stuffed over. Traffic management in a mixed fleet is always key especially in a slower boat.

Good point. I know all the people in my fleet and in handicap races at my club - who starts well, who points high, who luffs downwind etc.

BTW. I'm with you on the tide on the lee bow thing, whatever the maths says it does work, well it does for me when I employ it and the others don't and it ain't superior skill because at least half are faster than me.

when short membry syndrome strikes peopel forget the boats that either didn;t sell or lost out in a competition  ( Parker 404  anyone  or any of the other designs that lost out to the 405 in the mid90s 'intermediate' youth double hander trials)

and books like Twiname  or  various other texts  that have stood the test of time  are  still useful , as they  get  tweaked and edited  to take account of rule changes but the  basics haven't changed 

'perfect is the enemy of good'   is something to remember  when talking about performing a skill ...  you have to reach a point where  perfect delivery  of  a particualr part of the skill  become counter productive in that is  distracts from other things.

in a mixed fleet where you know to a degree  the competitors you  can have a plan to take account of that ...  there is precisiely no point in trying to  start immediately to windward of something like a national 12 or merlin  that is known for  it;s ability to  point and  keep going ...  

but if you can outpoint someone else  let them start to windward of you as long as you can get outthe trap  in a timely manner they will soon find thems  squeezed out ...