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Thorn in your side...

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/25/2011 : 12:28:06

Every fleet has 1 or 2 fast boats. These are teh guys to beat, the ones that drive you batty. The one you must unpuzzle if you are going to finish at the top.

In our home fleet it is a Pearson Flyer. Low PHRF, well sailed, always way ahead of the fleet.

In the interclub series where I sail against boats with handicaps closer to my own, it is a Tanzer 22 - I can't decide whether it is the skipper or the boat that I am racing though since there are 3 T-22s at my home club and I can usually beat all of them except this guy.

At teh end of the season last year a Shark showed up that also made for trouble for me.

What are the boats that are always waaaaay up at the front in your races?

"Iris"
1984 FK/SR #4040
http://frosthaus.blogspot.com/

Take a minute to register your boat with the association!!
http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/owner_questionnaire.htm

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2011 : 14:50:20

Is the Tanzer (Newfie Screach?) beating you to the line, or just correcting over you? Maybe one of your ratings is "off".

Around here, I think line honors generally go to an Open 50. His PHRF is a big negative number, so he gives a lot--to everyone.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 03/25/2011 14:57:12

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2011 : 14:57:20

The Tanzer and I are usually really close at the line. Usually within swearing range - like a couple boatlengths.

Edited by - on

klassi1
1st Mate

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88 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2011 : 18:11:14

Unfortunately, I'm usually the one in front and give time to all but 2 or 3 other boats. I have to sail fast and make no mistakes. My nemisis is a very well sailed C-25 and an Oday 32. There is also a C22 that sails in our fleet occassionally, if I can see him, he has corrected over me.

PS. Prospector - The winches are available if you are interested.

Edited by - klassi1 on 03/25/2011 18:23:52

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2011 : 07:00:19

I am one of two boats in our 20 boat fleet under 30' that races consistantly. If I happen to beat them off the line I will very soon be staring at their transoms. Knowing this, I have tended over the years to disregard my competion altogether after the start and just sail my boat as fast as I can make it go in the conditions at the time. I've won our club championship once and tied once, but generally finish around 5th. I've had numerous 2ds and 3rds in our beer can races which are much shorter courses and our Lake Superior races which are much longer (averaging around 20 miles per race).

I now race single handed the majority of the time so placing near the top is almost impossible. I am content, at age 62, to merely get out with other boats and run the bouys.

Our top boats are a Santa Cruz 40, a 28' Tartan Piper (very nice/fast), a Laser 28, and a 30' C&C Redwing. My biggest competition is a Hunter 356 and a Seidelman 25.

Edited by - aeckhart on 03/30/2011 07:22:02

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2011 : 08:28:26

Your nemesis is most probably beating you because he's sailing more efficiently than you, or making fewer mistakes than you, or he has prepped his boat better than you. You need to figure out which is the reason, and focus your efforts.

I would start examining boat prep. Is your bottom and keel as smooth, fast and clean as his? Do you scrub it before each race? Are his sails significantly better than yours? Is his boat rigged in a way that makes sail handling more efficient? etc.

Next, identify your mistakes. Most of us make lots of little ones, but only one or two really big, painful ones during a race. The little mistakes might cost you a few seconds time, but big mistakes can be measured in minutes, and those are killing you. Eliminating the big mistakes (such as tacking on a header, or committing a foul that requires a penalty) is usually fairly easy, and your finishing position will improve enormously. Eliminating the little ones will be more difficult, but will usually put you in contention for a win.

If you fly a chute, learn to get it up and flying quickly after a mark rounding, so that it begins drawing while your opponents are struggling to eliminate an hourglass or other problem. It's a joy to see your boat powering away while your opponent is drifting slowly, screaming at his crew.

Finally, chase the leader and watch how he trims his sails, when he decides to tack, how he sets up to round a mark, and let him teach you how to beat him. Study every movement of all your crew members and figure out where they are being inefficient, and how they can eliminate wasted motions.

It sounds self-evident, but the only way to win is to learn to sail better than the others. It can be done. Even the best sailors are making mistakes. You don't have to sail perfectly to beat them. You just have to sail better than them on a given day.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 03/30/2011 08:36:26

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2011 : 10:43:36

As usual Steve is quite correct!
Look at minor mistakes this way:- suppose you make 3 bad tacks in a race, probably costing you a total of 20 secs. At 4 knots that's a loss of 4 x 1.7 x 20 = 136 feet (almost 5 1/2 boatlengths)over a guy who is racing well.

Edited by - Derek Crawford on 03/30/2011 10:44:57

SailCO26
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2011 : 10:52:24

Or said another way:
No one sails any race perfectly. He who wins usually made the fewest mistakes.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2011 : 11:40:08

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by SailCO26
 ...He who wins usually made the fewest mistakes.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">...or anticipated the shift. (Or in this area, knew in detail where the current would be running fastest or slowest, and calculated the set and drift to the marks properly.)

Edited by - on

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.