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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Charitable Advice: First Time Racer?

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Nistro
Deckhand

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1 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/21/2003 : 12:19:23

Hi,

I'm racing a Cat 25 for the first time on Tuesday. Like many cruiser people, I know how to keep a boat sailing. However, optimizing speed is something I still need to learn. I've read the tips on this website, but any other suggestions, rules of thumb, etc., would be most appreciated.

Thanks,

N.

Edited by - on

Dave B
Admiral

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Mali
863 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2003 : 12:55:33

A few simple suggestions:

1. Recruit an experienced racer as your "tactician/trimmer", or even as skipper for your first couple of races.

2. Failing that, find out which boats have good records, and emulate them (without getting into any starting line duels). Hang back a little and do what the leaders do, without getting in their way.

3. Read up on sailing rules, including the local race committee's instructions. Know what "overlap" means and the rules for rounding marks. Again, give everyone plenty of room at least until you've done this a few times.

4. Feel good if you don't finish dead-last, and have fun even if you do! Not only are you a new racing skipper, but your boat is probably not set up or equipped to be its most competitive. You can decide over time how much you want to put into both factors.

Have fun!

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 #5032 "Passage" SR/FK/Dinette/Honda in SW CT

Edited by - on

Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2003 : 13:16:30

I try hard to always keep in mind that there will only be one first place winner. But, that there are always several small winning events during any race. Things like:
Did I get a good start? Good boatspeed and clear air?
Was I able to keep another boat from passing me to weather and stealing my good clear air?
Was I able to pass a boat ahead of me?
Was each mark rounding smooth and coordinated? Could I set up my rounding so-as to pass a boat ahead at the rounding?
Did I keep the boat moving all the time and avoid sailing into holes?
Did I watch a faster competitor to see what he was doing?

And, unless your club is pretty unusual, ALWAYS remember that there isn't much money on the line for prizes. So, make sure that you and especially your crew have fun and learn something new each time out.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2003 : 15:08:59

Many a race is determined at the starting line . . . we always get to the start line early and practice starts with our own count down timer. I too am convinced that having fun is a key ingredient to winning . . .

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3323 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2003 : 15:40:42

Remember - it's always great fun to race (or should be!) To win just makes it a bit fun-nier!!<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Derek

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3dc30b3127cce942c608d6f1e0000001010" border=0>
TRFK#2262"This Side Up"

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Dave B
Admiral

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Mali
863 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2003 : 16:50:10

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Remember - it's always great fun to race (or should be!)...
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>
I wish all skippers thought that way... I've crewed for a couple who didn't, and in addition to putting up with their foul moods, I had to chew on my tongue and not say what I thought they should be doing differently. Then, I had to try to ignore the mild insinuation that I had something to do with the result--also ignoring that I probably did. <img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle> Oh well, I live in the land of the overachievers...

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 #5032 "Passage" SR/FK/Dinette/Honda in SW CT

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3323 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2003 : 18:21:35

Dave - I once went out with a guy to help him (with another crewman) with sail trim. After his 3rd bout of invective directed at my incompetence (remember - I went out to help him!) I took off my gloves, told him to sail the fcking boat himself, went below and took a nap!
Derek

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3dc30b3127cce942c608d6f1e0000001010" border=0>
TRFK#2262"This Side Up"

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2003 : 20:56:26

We had a great group that crewed for a Doc out of Cleveland for something like 1 and 23/24ths seasons. During the second to last race of our second season the Doc was an absolute tyrant <img src=icon_smile_angry.gif border=0 align=middle> . That was the last time he saw or heard from any of us. Too bad too as we had cleaned our competitor's clocks the entire season.

You gotta have fun . . .

Edited by - on

Dave B
Admiral

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Mali
863 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2003 : 22:17:46

OJ... You had to mention an MD... My worst experience crewing was for a surgeon on his C&C 36. He may have saved lives on the operating table, but he didn't worry much about them on his boat. It took me a while to forgive the friend who invited me to join her boyfriend on that crew. I like the idea from another thread--maneuvering for water balloon bombardments! <img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 #5032 "Passage" SR/FK/Dinette/Honda in SW CT

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2003 : 11:33:50

Thinking about the tyrants I've sailed with, I had the very devilish thought of getting the tyrant dsq'd. My thought was to dive overboard, especially near the finish line and fairly close to the committee boat. Ask them for a ride in. <img src=icon_smile_evil.gif border=0 align=middle>

Can't believe I'm even thinking this way.

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2003 : 11:37:08

A couple of thoughts that are preety important.

1. On weather legs sail the favored tack, the one that will take you closest to the mark. My gps is set to tell me the bearing to the next mark - the favored tack is the one that is smaller, probably less than 45 degrees.

2. If wind conditions are light watch for wind on the water, or no wind on the water ahead of you. You want to avoid the no wind situations, and stay in the wind situations.

Good luck tonight, have a great time and remember the key thing is to have fun.

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2003 : 15:35:47

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

Hi,

I'm racing a Cat 25 for the first time on Tuesday. Like many cruiser people, I know how to keep a boat sailing. However, optimizing speed is something I still need to learn. I've read the tips on this website, but any other suggestions, rules of thumb, etc., would be most appreciated.

Thanks,

N.

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

For your first time out racing:

Follow someone at the start, but if you are in a big fleet, give lots of room.

Don't stray off into the corners, stay in the middle of the course

Unless there is another C-25, don't try and compare yourself to others early on - you'll get frustrated. Use this race to get a feel what a race is like. Make small goals, like making a clean rounding or not coming in last. Gradually elevate your goals with your skills.

Most of all - Enjoy

D. Wolff - "The Flying Wasp" #401 sr/sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 National Assn.
<img src="http://www.flags.com/dreamimages/Flags/measurer.jpg" border=0>

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2003 : 13:42:04

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
My worst experience crewing was for a surgeon on his C&C 36.
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Hey! maybe they were related, mine had a C&C 33!

One funny story he shared; he was filling out a form to reserve an operating room and one of the quesitons was "Reason for surgery:" and he almost wrote in "new spinnaker" <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> !

Edited by - OJ on 07/24/2003 09:11:17

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Dave B
Admiral

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Mali
863 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2003 : 10:21:29

HEY NISTRO...

How'd it go? Did you have any fun? Beat any boats? Run into anybody? Do any 360s?

We're looking forward to a follow-up! <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

Dave Bristle, 1985 C-25 #5032 "Passage" SR/FK/Dinette/Honda in SW CT

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