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J24 (Sail No. 4239) Dartmouth |
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Start Tactics: How do I not get stuffed? |
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JRW1019
Groupie Joined: 15 Apr 10 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 61 |
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Topic: Start Tactics: How do I not get stuffed? Posted: 22 Jul 10 at 10:59pm |
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If you do find yourself on the line earlier than you
expected with everyone behind you you need to protect your position. If there is a gap below you ensure that you look behind and stop anyone getting too close to you in that gap, that involve bearing away very slightly or pushing the boom out, but whatever you can do to protect the space to leeward then try it. If you are in the opposite situation trying to find a gap, coming along behind the fleet on port and tacking into a gap can work quite well as the boat to windward of the gap has less they can do about shutting you out. The trouble with starting late and trying to find a gap with less time to go is that at the favoured end space may be at a premium and gaps are hard to come by. I would imagine 4000's accelerate quite quickly so it may pay to be reasonably close to the line earlyish |
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RS200 1019/1154
Firefly 3082 Ajax 14 |
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jeffers
Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3048 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 22 Jul 10 at 5:54pm | |
What I generally do is position myself below a slower boat that I know will outpoint me on the first beat and try to avoid letting a boat that can outpoint me get in below me. This is in Handicap races when i am sailing the 8.1 and about the only thing at Hunts that can outpace me upwind is a Phantom, I tend to avoid them like the plague! In a fleet race it is all about creating yourself a space on the line and protecting it. The trick is to not be there too early or too late. Also remind any boat that come up from below you and luffs up that they have to give you time (and space) to respond. So if you are pretty much stationary on the line they cannot push you up they have to allow you room to get enough boat speed to the rudder works. The other thing I tend to do in a fleet race is keep moving (unless it is a packed line) and dive in to gap with about 20 s to go and hit the line at full speed. This can punch you out the front and it to clear air really well. I must point out that because I am at the heavier end of the spectrum for a Laser I do tend to not point quite so high as the flyweights unless it is blowing but go for boatspeed instead which (usually) more than makes up for the extra distance I have to sail. If the line is short and the course relatively square sometimes you can start at the non favoured end (or away from the favoured end) and in clear air which makes a much bigger difference than winning the correct end. I do this a lot in club racing but not at an open as the standard is much higher. |
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Paul
---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
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ellistine
Really should get out more Joined: 06 Mar 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 762 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 22 Jul 10 at 4:04pm | |
Three, sometimes four 4000's but part of a handicap race so
generally 20 or so other boats. Perhaps I need to work on my timing and approach a bit later and faster. |
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tgruitt
Really should get out more Joined: 02 Dec 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2479 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 22 Jul 10 at 3:57pm | |
If the fleet find out you are bad at starting then they will be queuing up to start next to you, it makes it an easy option for them. Just try and find a gap with room below you to bear off into, there can't be that many L4000's on the line. |
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Needs to sail more...
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ellistine
Really should get out more Joined: 06 Mar 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 762 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 22 Jul 10 at 3:49pm | |
Quite possibly. Infact, more than likely. Not a bad point. Presumably keep it moving then? |
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AlexM
Really should get out more Joined: 10 Jan 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 857 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 22 Jul 10 at 3:44pm | |
are you getting to the line to early? And sitting there like a duck
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JimC
Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6648 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 22 Jul 10 at 3:35pm | |
Be the one doing it to them [grin]. Not something I personally have to think about too much, but its an area covered in most basic racing coaching sessions, see if you can get on a club level course if there's no 4 Tonner coaching available... |
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ellistine
Really should get out more Joined: 06 Mar 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 762 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 22 Jul 10 at 3:33pm | |
That's what I don't get. I am always trying to get into a
position to do the pushing but always end up getting pushed. |
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ham4sand
Far too distracted from work Joined: 27 Jul 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 452 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 22 Jul 10 at 3:19pm | |
next race try and be the ones using the rights, always keep
an eye out to leeward and try and perfect holding position |
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John Hamilton
cherub 2645 - cheese before bedtime cherub 3209 - anatidaephobia laser 176847 - kiss this |
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ellistine
Really should get out more Joined: 06 Mar 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 762 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 22 Jul 10 at 3:18pm | |
Yep all 4000s. They don't out point us when sailing but
they do like to use their rights to push us up on the approach to the start line. Creates them a nice gap to bear away into and leaves us ducking the boom trying to stop the bloody thing tacking! |
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