Speed Off the Line

I had it totally laid out for me on Sunday just how crap I am off the line, went off alongside another Solution only one sailed by somebody who knows how to do it. Just when you think you're nearly there, these past few weeks getting my arse handed to me every which way down the lake after a lazy summer of easy sea sailing and finally the sun came out a bit, I'm back in the wetsuit, so no excuse about being trussed up in a dry suit and gloves ruining my style. A wide open start line and still I binned it.

So hints and tips please, the trouble is I know what to do, I just can't make the bloody boat do it. I'm doing every stupid wrong thing, banging straight into a lee bow and dropping back, not getting my nose out far enough fast enough, this week really wound me up.

Best place to start would be an analysis of what you did wrong, my guess is that the other Solution was closer to the line than you, that you were too close to the Solution, that you didn't have fast off the line settings and probably was forced into pinching  rather than footing into the gap to leeward that you should have established before the start.

[QUOTE=davidyacht] Best place to start would be an analysis of what you did wrong, my guess is that the other Solution was closer to the line than you, that you were too close to the Solution, that you didn't have fast off the line settings and probably was forced into pinching  rather than footing into the gap to leeward that you should have established before the start.

Here's some ideas for you then

Look at the way in which the lead boat rolls and flattens the boat to steer from his close reaching course to the close hauled course, right on the gun. He had a good start, but was under no pressure at all from the fleet. I suppose the one good thing is that you weren't as late as the rest of them!