Beginner's Guide To
Racing
Racing
In this guide, the checkers of sailboat racing as the starting point down the path to the 3-D chess game of sailboat racing at a high level will be covered. This is one of the great things about sailboat racing, the more you know and understand at one level, the more enticing the next level is.
A sailboat race can be broken down into component parts and these will be briefly discussed so that you gain some familiarity and comfort with each part.
The Big Picture
A race is intended to test a sailor’s skill in getting their boat around a set of marks in a given order as fast as possible. By correctly anticipating how the wind will vary in direction and strength, a sailor can reduce the distance or improve the boat’s speed. And sometimes they are the blind squirrel and just guess right. The simplest course is from the starting line to a mark directly upwind of the starting line. From there you go to a mark that is directly downwind from the first mark. After you go around that mark, you head back upwind to the finishing line.
A sailboat race can be broken down into component parts and these will be briefly discussed so that you gain some familiarity and comfort with each part.
The Big Picture
A race is intended to test a sailor’s skill in getting their boat around a set of marks in a given order as fast as possible. By correctly anticipating how the wind will vary in direction and strength, a sailor can reduce the distance or improve the boat’s speed. And sometimes they are the blind squirrel and just guess right. The simplest course is from the starting line to a mark directly upwind of the starting line. From there you go to a mark that is directly downwind from the first mark. After you go around that mark, you head back upwind to the finishing line.
Figure 1: Simple Windward-Leeward Course
A race is managed by the PRO (principle race officer, pronounced P-R-O). Among the many responsibilities of the PRO are controlling the starting sequence, watching the starting line to make sure everyone starts properly, and recording the finishing order.
Before Getting Started
Competitor's meetings are held prior to the day's racing. The PRO reminds everyone to sign in, gives the order of starts, the time the first shape will be raised, and any special instructions pertaining to the racing will be discussed. If any of the instructions are unclear, this is the time to speak up as there is always someone else who is also confused. In the race box there are course sheets showing the general location of the course marks by number and the different possible courses. Each course is identified by a number and lists the order the marks are to be passed and on which side of your boat. The PRO will select and announce the course for each race before the starting sequence begins.
Additionally, there are two documents, the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions, that govern the racing. These are where you can find all the official information about the racing. You can get copies of these at the competitor's meeting.
The Start
This is where it all begins. Boats start by passing between two points, usually between a floating mark and an orange flag on the signal vessel, and crossing the imaginary line between them as soon as they can after the starting signal has been made. To help you know when the starting signal is going to happen there is a three-minute timing sequence. (Note this is a change unique to the Fremont Sailing Club from the standard five minute sequence, but saves time between races.) The time remaining until the start is signaled using a series of flags raised and lowered at specific times. The raising and lowering of each flag is accompanied by a sound signal. The first flag that is displayed is the class flag. This flag identifies the next class that will start. This flag is raised precisely 3 minutes before the class is to start. One minute later (two minutes before the start) the P flag (blue background with a white square) is raised. One minute later (one minute before the start) the P flag is lowered. One minute later (the start of the race) the class flag is lowered and the boats may then cross the starting line and sail to the first mark of the course.
Before Getting Started
Competitor's meetings are held prior to the day's racing. The PRO reminds everyone to sign in, gives the order of starts, the time the first shape will be raised, and any special instructions pertaining to the racing will be discussed. If any of the instructions are unclear, this is the time to speak up as there is always someone else who is also confused. In the race box there are course sheets showing the general location of the course marks by number and the different possible courses. Each course is identified by a number and lists the order the marks are to be passed and on which side of your boat. The PRO will select and announce the course for each race before the starting sequence begins.
Additionally, there are two documents, the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions, that govern the racing. These are where you can find all the official information about the racing. You can get copies of these at the competitor's meeting.
The Start
This is where it all begins. Boats start by passing between two points, usually between a floating mark and an orange flag on the signal vessel, and crossing the imaginary line between them as soon as they can after the starting signal has been made. To help you know when the starting signal is going to happen there is a three-minute timing sequence. (Note this is a change unique to the Fremont Sailing Club from the standard five minute sequence, but saves time between races.) The time remaining until the start is signaled using a series of flags raised and lowered at specific times. The raising and lowering of each flag is accompanied by a sound signal. The first flag that is displayed is the class flag. This flag identifies the next class that will start. This flag is raised precisely 3 minutes before the class is to start. One minute later (two minutes before the start) the P flag (blue background with a white square) is raised. One minute later (one minute before the start) the P flag is lowered. One minute later (the start of the race) the class flag is lowered and the boats may then cross the starting line and sail to the first mark of the course.
Time Until Start |
Flags |
3 minutes |
Race Committee raises the class flag |
2 minutes |
Race Committee raises the P flag |
1 minute |
Race Committee drops the P flag |
Start |
Race Committee drops the class flag |
During the minutes before the start, you will see boats jockeying for the best position on the starting line. What they are trying to do is be on the line when the starting signal is made and going as fast as possible, heading as close as possible towards the first mark.
If you happen to be told you have started early, you must turn back, go back over the starting line, and restart properly. And while you are doing this you are not allowed to interfere with any of the boats that have started properly.
If you happen to be told you have started early, you must turn back, go back over the starting line, and restart properly. And while you are doing this you are not allowed to interfere with any of the boats that have started properly.
Figure 2: The start. The starting signal has sounded when the boats are in position 2
To paraphrase the Dread Pirate Roberts:
The battle of wits has begun, it ends when we have both sailed the course and get to the finish line
and find out who is right… and who is dead.
and find out who is right… and who is dead.
The First Windward Beat
Once the chaos of the start settles down, the boats will spread out, each headed in the direction they think will get them to the windward mark as fast as possible. Because you can’t sail straight upwind, you will be tacking back and forth, zig-zagging to get to the mark. A good general strategy is to always be sailing on the longer tack towards the mark. Another good strategy is to make sure you are not sailing in another boat’s wind shadow. You want to be sailing in wind that is not disturbed by other boats. Around the middle of the leg, the boats will be as scattered as they will be on this leg.
Once the chaos of the start settles down, the boats will spread out, each headed in the direction they think will get them to the windward mark as fast as possible. Because you can’t sail straight upwind, you will be tacking back and forth, zig-zagging to get to the mark. A good general strategy is to always be sailing on the longer tack towards the mark. Another good strategy is to make sure you are not sailing in another boat’s wind shadow. You want to be sailing in wind that is not disturbed by other boats. Around the middle of the leg, the boats will be as scattered as they will be on this leg.
Figure 3: The first beat to the windward mark
The Windward Mark
At the end of the first windward leg is the windward mark. All the boats will converge at this point as they try finish the first leg. There are a lot of boat to boat interactions at the windward mark. The key strategy is to get around the mark with a minimum of distraction. The most common mistake is focus on the mark and ignore the big picture. Your goal is to get around the windward mark as easily as possible and start the next leg to the leeward mark. It is generally better to sail a little extra distance and not to force your way close to the mark, but to keep up your speed and get around the mark. If you do happen to hit the mark, you must take a one-turn penalty after getting clear of the other boats.
At the end of the first windward leg is the windward mark. All the boats will converge at this point as they try finish the first leg. There are a lot of boat to boat interactions at the windward mark. The key strategy is to get around the mark with a minimum of distraction. The most common mistake is focus on the mark and ignore the big picture. Your goal is to get around the windward mark as easily as possible and start the next leg to the leeward mark. It is generally better to sail a little extra distance and not to force your way close to the mark, but to keep up your speed and get around the mark. If you do happen to hit the mark, you must take a one-turn penalty after getting clear of the other boats.
Figure 4: The windward mark
The Leeward Run
The run from the windward mark to the leeward mark is similar to the beat to the windward mark. Once around the mark, boats will spread out, looking to find the best course to get to the leeward mark as fast as possible. While it may think it looks a lot like a parade, large gains and losses can happen on the run. The boats can accelerate quickly and reach higher speeds compared to the other boats if they get a puff of breeze that the other boats don’t get. If you are behind at the windward mark, you can quickly make up distance on the run. Just like on the beat, not being in the wind shadow of another boat is critical. Sailing on the longer gybe first is generally the best option.
The run from the windward mark to the leeward mark is similar to the beat to the windward mark. Once around the mark, boats will spread out, looking to find the best course to get to the leeward mark as fast as possible. While it may think it looks a lot like a parade, large gains and losses can happen on the run. The boats can accelerate quickly and reach higher speeds compared to the other boats if they get a puff of breeze that the other boats don’t get. If you are behind at the windward mark, you can quickly make up distance on the run. Just like on the beat, not being in the wind shadow of another boat is critical. Sailing on the longer gybe first is generally the best option.
Figure 5: The run to the leeward mark
The Leeward Mark
Just like at the windward mark, the boats will converge on the leeward mark and the boat to boat maneuvers can be quite close. The key thing is to remember that you want to get around the mark as fast as possible without getting tangled up with the other boats. This can often mean taking the long way around a cluster of boats rather than becoming a part of the cluster.
Just like at the windward mark, the boats will converge on the leeward mark and the boat to boat maneuvers can be quite close. The key thing is to remember that you want to get around the mark as fast as possible without getting tangled up with the other boats. This can often mean taking the long way around a cluster of boats rather than becoming a part of the cluster.
Figure 6: The leeward mark
The Finish
After getting around the leeward mark, it is now a sprint to the finish line. Unlike the marks, which are points to go around the finish line, like the starting line, is an imaginary line between a mark in the water and a flag on the signal boat. Unless the PRO has managed to put the marks perfectly at right angles to the wind, the distance from the leeward mark to each of the marks will be slightly different. This means that you want to try to figure out which mark is closer to you and head for that mark. Again, you can’t sail directly upwind so you will be zig-zagging back and forth. Once any part of your hull has crossed the finish line you are done. You don’t even have to completely cross the line.
After getting around the leeward mark, it is now a sprint to the finish line. Unlike the marks, which are points to go around the finish line, like the starting line, is an imaginary line between a mark in the water and a flag on the signal boat. Unless the PRO has managed to put the marks perfectly at right angles to the wind, the distance from the leeward mark to each of the marks will be slightly different. This means that you want to try to figure out which mark is closer to you and head for that mark. Again, you can’t sail directly upwind so you will be zig-zagging back and forth. Once any part of your hull has crossed the finish line you are done. You don’t even have to completely cross the line.
Figure 7: The finish
You have now completed your first race, hopefully the first of many. It’s time to take a breath, replay the race in your head and think about what you could have done differently to get around the course faster. You can also quiz the other racers to find out what they saw on the racecourse and why they did what they did. They will be happy to share their knowledge.