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yellowhammer
Far too distracted from work Joined: 08 May 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 270 |
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Topic: Starting Posted: 12 Dec 05 at 12:36pm |
Being a responsible adult I've started a new thread, but this relates to dicussion on http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1 286, which ranks starting as possibly the most important factor in doing well at events Please, please, please can I have some top tips for starting well ... mainly hitting the line on the gun with boatspeed ... two man trapeze boat, inland still water ... I never get the timing right
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Laser 3000 @ Leigh & Lowton SC
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Stefan Lloyd
Really should get out more Joined: 03 Aug 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1599 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 12 Dec 05 at 12:51pm |
If you have any opportunity to go to a coaching session that allows you to practice 10-20 starts in a day, your timing will improve. I find the timing quite easy in a small fleet (say 10 boats). It is starting in a large and aggressive fleet that I find harder. |
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grimupnorth
Groupie Joined: 08 Dec 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 48 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 12 Dec 05 at 1:27pm |
I'm absolutely not an expert, but let me share what I learned when I was being taught this in coaching sessions (in fully-battened trapezey boats) - Useful basic start-handling exercise #1 - imagine a rectangular box 2 lengths deep, one edge of which is the start line, the other edge is 2 lengths back. Practice getting yourself inside the box, on any tack, but under control, 10 seconds before a start signal, and stay there. Sounds ludicrously simple, but hard to do at first in a high-performance boat. You could do a version of this on your own, just using a mark - aim to position yourself within 2 lengths to leeward, close-hauled, to a countdown. - Useful exercise #2 - do short-cycle starts over & over again - find a friend who will set a short line and run '2min-1min-go' starts, and get them to tell you just how close to the line you are every time - Boat handling when semi-stalled, to hold a position close to the line - this is easy in a heavy boat with soft sails & short battens; much harder in a lightweight boat with fully-battened mylars. There were some fiendish exercises in Y&Y earlier this year for practicing this, A key skill is avoiding the 'flip' where the boat tacks involuntarily - to avoid this, the crew needs to be alert and have the lazy jibsheet in their hand all the time for a quick 'backing' - watch the 'higher & faster' video for some other starting techniques, including double-tacking and sailing backwards HTH |
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Scooby_simon
Really should get out more Joined: 02 Apr 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2415 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 12 Dec 05 at 1:44pm |
As above, also learn how your fleet starts; is there someone who will always try and kill the port tacker ? Learn to keep your boat still (the box exercise is a killer) Are there any special tricks in your class (can you make the boat stall bu sheeting in V Hard and backing the (fully battend) mainsail. Can you make the boat go sideways ? Etc. |
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Guest
Newbie Joined: 21 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 0 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 12 Dec 05 at 4:03pm |
I think the key is to visualise a plan then do it; rather than letting the start happen to you ... Rick |
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Bumble
Far too distracted from work Joined: 12 Nov 05 Location: Taiwan Online Status: Offline Posts: 302 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 12 Dec 05 at 4:41pm |
I don't know about twin trapezes but my RS600 is close, right? So I find, compared to the Scorpion, you can accelerate very quickly...... 2 boat lengths to top speed. So all the fleet is lining up, you fly in on a close port tack reach, tack into a big hole 5 secs from the gun, then reach down fast as you can till your in clear air..... then your on for a great beat............ works for me.
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Guest
Newbie Joined: 21 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 0 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 12 Dec 05 at 6:57pm |
Dream on bumble ... 2 boat lengths to full speed ... As for big gaps they are not ALWAYS there ... Rick |
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Harry44981!
Really should get out more Joined: 26 Aug 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 736 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 12 Dec 05 at 7:16pm |
In the toppers with consistantly 120+ boats at national qualifiers, and up to 150 boats on a line at the nats and inlands (with 4 flights) starting is the most important part of a race, a bad one is practically the end of your race. The things I've learn't are:
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Guest
Newbie Joined: 21 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 0 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 12 Dec 05 at 7:18pm |
If you do all that then you'll have a pretty good chance of a good start. Rick |
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Scooby_simon
Really should get out more Joined: 02 Apr 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2415 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 12 Dec 05 at 7:41pm |
As above you need to plan your start and plan your defenses to what people might try in you. Which end of the line do you want (and how am I going to defend it?)
Do I have a boat that can point high, if so you can create a gap below you by squeesing up but you then have to ensure someone does then not grab your nice gap below you. Can you tack quickly? You also need to understand the fleet you are in - is there a "stuffer" who will always sail people into irons even if it is slow for them too etc..... |
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Wanna learn to Ski - PM me..
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