Time on the water is the single most important factor in getting good at racing. You can't teach it. You just have to go do it... a lot.
That said, there are a few things that I can offer to somebody thinking of racing that may help. Please add your 2 cents because I am certainly no expert.
First: Read the sailing instructions and understand the course(s). There are few ragingly fast sailors we know who are famous for leading the fleet to the wrong marks: "I may be lost, but I'm making good time"!
Go out early and see if what you rigged is working, especially if winds are offshore. Adjustable-on-the-fly rigging is really handy if conditions are going to be variable (like just about everyday at Lanier). If people are planing on the reaches, you want to be sure you have enough sail to do the same. So rig big unless that will make you out of control. (Falling is slow)..
Before the start, look down the line and find something on shore that lines up with the ends. That way when you approach the line you can tell exactly where you are. You want to be right on the line, at the favored end, moving at full speed in clear air at the gun. (No problemo, right?). There several ways to figure out which end of the line is 'favored'. The way I think of it is simply the end that the wind is coming from more. If the race committee is sharp, the line will be square to the wind so there is no favored end and you simply need to find a spot where you will have clear air.
The start sequence is simple. (Each time a flag goes up or down, a horn also sounds). At 5 minutes until the start, the Class Flag goes up. A minute later the "P" flag goes up. At one minute until the start, that flag comes down. At the start, the class flag comes down.
The upwind legs are where most races are won or lost. The key to it is understanding 'lifts' and 'headers'. You are lifted when you find you can suddenly make better progress upwind on a tack. On the other hand if you find yourself bearing off to keep your speed up, you are in a header and it's time to tack. It sounds simple, and it often is, but there can be a lot of sublety to it... "is this a big enough shift to tack on? or maybe this is just a brief shift and the wind will come back to where it was, or will tacking put me on the 'wrong' side of the course?" You should tack more in light wind and less when it's windy since so much speed will be lost in heavy air. Time on the water will help sort out all this.
You want to approach the upwind mark from the right side since boards coming into it from that side will be on starboard tack. They have the right of way over a board coming in from the left. Remember: "right hand forward has the right of way". It's okay to hit marks in windsurfing but especially at the weather mark, don't round so close that your centerboard or fin will snag the anchor line. (Believe me, this can sho be a mess).
I retract my centerboard downwind for less drag, unless there is a lot of chop and light wind. In that case the board seems more stable with the centerboard down. It is easier for me to pump in these conditions if the board is down. Pumping is legal but don't kill yourself doing it and make it unfun. Going downwind, keep looking back for new wind lines and go to them if it makes sense. Lifts and headers work in reverse here. In light wind go pretty much straight to the mark. In more wind, you will get there faster by jibing and zig-zaging downwind to keep your speed up. Remember vectors?
If you want to stay ahead of somebody you may want to "cover" them. Do that by tacking when they tack so that you are staying in the same air with them. The farther they get from you, the more they could benefit from a lift that you miss. This is the strategery stuff that makes it interesting and leads to long discussions after the race about what worked or didn't.
Our little race at Lanier is a notoriously friendly one. We don't even plan for a protest committee anymore since it's been years since we needed one. If there are enough people wanting it, we will have a separate start for newbies who could also sail a shorter course
more to come
Good points Chris.
Time on the water is the best advice. When you can get to a point where sailing is "instinct" ( you dont need to think about how you are standing, where to put your feet, where to hold the boom, how to hold the sail, how to pump, etc. ) then you will be faster! You can watch the race and plan your race and how to get to the marks first instead of why you are slower than the racers in front of you.
The start line. Where Chris states to go to the ends of the start line and sight a point on the land for reference, do this. Both ends. What happens is that people will line up in a half circle every time at the start. If you are close to the ends you will be good, but if you are in the middle you will be way behind the actual line. I have seen this time and time again. Some will be more than 2 to 3 boardlengths behind the line at the start when they are in the middle of the line.
Strragety is key also. Chris talks about vectors. I have seen many racers go way out past the "lay lines". these are the outside lines to each mark. Going too far before you turn is very slow. When going upwind try tacking up the middle sometimes, it is good practice and you can judge better when you can make the mark if you are closer to it. Downwind also, if the wind is light remember, the shortest path is the fastest. If you can plane then reach to the downwind mark. Again jibe often for practice and it is easier to know when you can make the mark if you are closer...
Please ask questions, here and out on the water. It is always fun to help everyone get better and faster
I find alot of this very interesting. I started windsurfing about 2.5 years ago and still seem to be learning something every day. I find the start of the races to be frusterating to say the least. Im not sure what you mean about being first or last just not in the middle. At the start of most of the races I have been in there seems to be one great big lump right behind the boat at the start. Should I start to bully myself in the mix. You know the whole sportsmanship idea kind of gets lost. It seems like there is an unwritten rule that who ever has the spot first just sits and waits? Any suggestions? By the way I was at Shell point last weekend and did see some weed patches!!!
That does happen when one end of the line is very favored and it's a pet peeve of mine that the race committee will let that happen. They have created a race in which one person is ahead of everybody at the start. Fairness is their first job and if they mess up the start line, they have blown it in the worst place possible.
If that happens, it's best to get away from the jumble and find clear air. Chances are the pack will get all balled up on each other's bad air and people who start in clear air will soon be ahead of them. It can be frustrating, but keep thinking. and know that a lot can happen before it's over.
I think some people start near the boat out of habit... they have just "always done it that way", but it can matter a lot in the final outcome. It's easier to stay ahead than it is to come from behind.
By first or last and not in the middle I am saying that it is good to start next to the boat or the other end of the starting line. You will usually be ahead of those in the middle due to the "starting line sag" The start line looks like a half circle with the middle of the line further away from the actual start line.
Should you sit on the line or barge through? Depends on the wind, your ability, and courage. Practice, practice, practice is the best answer. As your confidence builds you can challenge the better racers.
The start is Very aggressive in big races. It can make or break the race.
Key points for the start;
* Know the rules! Know what you can and can not do on the line before and after the start.
* You want to have clear air during or shortly after the start.
* You want to be moving when the start gun goes off. ( or be able to pump up really fast )
* you want to clear other racers as quick as possible after the start. ( racing in a group is slower than out by yourself )
* Being over early can be a bonus, also you learn how to time the start better. ( I have won several races after having to re-start. The fleet starts to starboard, I re-start on port, clear air, better wind, first or second to the windward mark. It also gets your adrenalin flowing and you sail faster!! )
* If someone parks next to the boat too early they will usually drift away before the gun, if you are ready for that you can fly in right at the start! ( just watch for someone else doing the same thing )
Have you ever watched America Cup match racing starts? They are incredibly strategic. Listen to the announcers describe what is going on.. really wild manuvers to win off the line.
The line sags in the middle because there's no way to look from the middle at the boat and then the pin end and see how far you are from the line. But, if you have been clever enough to sight down the line before hand, you can be right in the middle knowing you're not over and clear ahead of all the saggers (who will be saying "that guy's got to be over the line").
"Windsurfing:The Skills of the Game" by Ben Oakley
A good reference book that discusses all this and more (like a matrix of centerboard and mast position as a function of pointing angle and wind force). It also has diagrams and pictures that help a lot, including some of a much younger Peter Hart (with long hair).
It also referes to a dingy racing book as being the "Bible" for racing strategy. I can't remember the name off hand. Relates sailing to the upwind mark as "trying to avoid obstacles" or something like that. I'll have to look that up and post again.
http://www.amazon.com/Windsurfing-Skills-Game-S/dp/1852238305
Bill H.
Update: The book is "Start to Win" by Eric Twiname. To see who is Eric Twiname, see below. I ordered a used copy from Amazon for $1.19.
http://www.cadetclass.org.uk/eric_twiname.htm
Bill Herderich
imho, you are better off being in the sag then queued up behind the committe boat waiting your turn to go over the line. As long as you have clean air, you only give up a few boat lengths. When you get caught up at the committee boat, you lose a bunch of boat lengths, get dirty air from every boat/board in front of you (plus the committe boat itself) and you are toast before the race is a minute old.
you MUST get clear air as soon as possible. Sailboat/windsurfing racing is very different than most racing in that once you are behind, it is difficult to impossible to catch (sometimes you get lucky downwind but that's the exception). Unlike car racing where you can start a couple of lengths behind and shadow everyone, if you start behind here, not only are you behind but because of the dirty air (turbulent air coming off everyone ahead of you) your potential speed is significantly less. You are behind AND going slower - a great combination to watch everyone else sail away.
Oddly enough, it can be faster to be over early and start again (usually pin end) than get caught up behind the traffic jam behind the committe boat (see the clear air discussion above). Being over early isn't the end of the world but being 5 boat lengths behind the line when the gun goes off in crappy air almost is.
Great book, btw, Bill.
During my 12+ years of racing in the novice fleet I have experienced the following:
Masterful windsurfers are truly generous and will always offer meaningful racing advice and assistance in rigging.
If you haven't adhered to the "time on the water" rule mentioned above you will be at times embarrassed and chagrined. However, the masters will still appreciate your participation and desire to improve as they want to build the sport so that there are more people who enjoy it as much as they do.
This is true even if your equipment is out dated or down right shoddy.
As you do improve you will appreciate how trully masterful these people are and how much they want you to experience the sport as they do.
If you are not prepared to compete to be the fastest but want to use racing as a method to improve your sailing. participate and you will be supported.
Having a common interest in windsurfing creates real frirendships that last despite differences in abilities.
The moment your rig seems set up correctly, the wind seems to be blowing within reason and you seem to be gliding over a welcoming body of water, you will remember why you do this. This lasts until it doesn't.
Improving your windsuring skill offers the possibility that this experience will be better and last longer.
Striving for things to be better and last longer is the purpose of life, until you find a better purpose. Which I have never found.
Webguy, didnt like the way I said that ???
BTW why is this in "kiting"?
My fault entirely- I guess I read the other question without fully taking into account your explanation. We are saying the same thing but that we both say it probably helps to emphasize how important it is.
It's just painful to see the gun go off and new sailors timidly trying to start from up in the balcony. I know that they don't want to get in anyone's way, break the rules, etc but some who've raced a few times still do it not realizing what a deep hole that it digs.
The best thing about college racing where you do a ton of races in a day is that you start and start and start some more. (One big reason for so many races is to rotate all the teams through all the host's boats so no one is stuck with a dog.) Most regattas have maybe 3-4 races so you don't get much of a chance to practice. At any level of racing, you find that there are very small differences in boat speed so being able to get a couple of lengths on your peers and sail in clear air is a huge bonus.
When I trained with the USA team we spent entire days practicing starts. Major Hall video taped them and during dinner we studied the tapes and talked about what went right and what went wrong. Up the next morning and to practice starts again.
Yes that is how important starts are!
I hope all this doesn't make racing seem even more daunting. The whole idea of starting this thread was to instill the idea: "That sounds like fun (and not as imtimidating as I thought)".
You don't need to train with the US team (or anybody) to get the jist of starting and the rest of this stuff. I hope we will see some new faces on the the water in 3 weeks.
CV
Sorry, did not mean to take it so far...
Its all about the fun, thats why I started and thats why i quit when I did. The fun was gone at the upper levels.
Now its all about having fun again !!!!!!
We need more new faces
CV will we have a vintage race soon?
So, let me add the perspective of a brand new sailor; at least at the time of last year's regatta. I went thru the 2005 LTW clinic, then bought a used Start and a couple of used sails. I had sailed maybe 6 times by October. I showed up at the regatta thinking that I would watch the races and have a good meal.
I sailed out to the edge of the course to watch the first race and while there a couple of the LLSC members talked me into racing in the next heat.
I'm glad they did. I had an absolute blast. Sailing a course forces you to do certain things that sailing back and forth on a reach doesn't require. I learned a lot from sailing the upwind tacks and downwind runs; and from watching the fast guys up close (as they screamed by).
I would encourage anyone who can sail from point to point under control to consider entering the regatta. It’s a good idea to understand who has the right of way since you’ll be sailing in closer quarters than normal, but if you just hang back a little at the start you can ignore most of the starting line tactics and confusion.
And even if you don't enter the race you should show up to enjoy the fun and food. Chris and all the great people at the LLSC put on a top-notch event.