Articles
FJUS Bylaws and Regulations (updated May, 2002)
This
is a link to a trailer and bolster diagram for anyone who is interested.
There are more than a few guides out there on how to go fast, here are our versions. The first guide, on this page, is Basic Racing Strategies. If you would like to go to another subject, please click on the link:
Basic Racing Strategies
Courtesy Fleet 65, Fremont, CA
1. Get your boat correctly rigged using the measurements from a boat that is a proven winner under all conditions. We have articles written by Steve Klotz and others. Be sure to employ the "KISS Principle"!
2. When preparing to start, get the time started on your watch correctly and check out your time with as many observations of the committee as you can, such as at the drop at one minute and the blue shape. Work out a system between skipper and crew to count down the time and get to the line on time.
3. Get the correct course. The course must be signaled no later than five minutes before the start (Warning Signal) (blue shape). Be sure to course has not changed for your class.
4. Objectives: (a) Start on time, (b) at the favored end of the line. (c) out of the influence of other boats- in other words- in clear air.
Timing- practice!!! To be on time, you must practice; failure to practice means you will be late. Both aboard need a watch with a countdown timer.
The favored end is usually the one nearest the wind. While a square line makes the sailing distance equal for everyone, most lines are not “square”- they tend to be skewed to favor a starboard tack start (protects the Committee Boat!).
In clear air.
You must also consider the interference of other starting boats. Be aggressive, even if it means being over the line early once in a while.
Know the rules about starting. This is one of the most important parts of the race. In a small fleet it's important; in a very large fleet, you'll never recover from a bad start. Count the time down as mentioned above.
5. The first leg (beat)
Stay on the lifted tack in the center of the course. Avoid flyers and the corners.
Sit together to lighten up the ends of the boat.
Learn to watch your angle of sailing compared to the weather mark and other competitors. Mark something on the shore to see if you're being lifted (can point higher toward the mark) or headed (the other tack points higher toward the mark).
Tack on headers. Eventually, you want to be able to see what's happening to the whole fleet relative to the weather mark and the wind. This takes time to develop and is a perceptual process. Watch the competition- if the rest of the fleet- ahead of you- tacks, chances are good there is a header that is coming your way.
6. The first mark
Plan your rounding of the weather mark with the rightofway rules in mind.
Round quickly and get out of the interference of other boats.
Set the main and jib, then hoist the chute.
Raise the centerboard, ease the cunningham, and set the vang, if necessary.
Watch your weight distribution. Sit on opposite sides of the boat with the crew to windward and the skipper to leeward.
Jibe when necessary
7. The reach:
Sail the fastest course to the next mark, usually the rhumb line, but protect your wind. Don't let anyone sail over you. Luff , if necessary (you have to luff so as to give the other boat “room and opportunity to keep clear”). But, don't be timid.
If you round in a crowd, go high to set the chute, then sail low- you will pick up at the end of the leg. If you try to sail “over" the other boats, they will simply luff you up (see above!)
Plan your reach so that you are on the inside at the jibe mark. This gives you the rightofway. Note: you have to be inside (overlapped) at the moment the boat ahead’s bow crosses an imaginary two boat-length circle of the mark- then you have the right of way. Ask for “room!”, including room to jibe, if necessary.
Learn to think this through beforehand and know the rules and problems.
8. When going into the leeward mark, take down your chute early with enough time to avoid a disaster. If you gamble big, you might gain 10 feet or you might also lose three boats or more. It's hard to go upwind on the next leg with the chute up and/or fouled.
9. Get back on the lifted tack as soon as possible. Figure out which tack is lifted before you get into the mark rounding to know which way you want to go. Check other boats ahead of you- are the staying on port, or tacking to starboard?
10. If this is the final leg, be conservative.
If you want to conserve your position, stay between your nearest competition and the finish line. “Cover”- stay between the boats behind and the line- go to the same side of the course as they do. DO NOT split off from the fleet- your objective is to beat them- not necessarily to beat them “big”.
if you're way behind and want to gamble, take a well calculated flyer if there's some reason to think it will work.
Finish at the end of the finish line that is lowest to the wind (usually the opposite end from the one that was favored at the start). Finish at an end- treat the line as if it were a windward mark to be rounded with the lower mark on the required side.
11. If you have a “windward-leeward-windward” to go- repeat the first leg- but don’t get off to one
side or the other- sail in the middle of the course. Remember to cover on the last beat (above).