Comments on: To The Windward Mark: Advanced Tactics http://www.carbonsugar.com/racing/to-the-windward-mark-advanced-tactics/ A weblog about high performance windsurfing. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:13:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: CarbonSugar.com : To The Leeward Mark: Advanced Tactics http://www.carbonsugar.com/racing/to-the-windward-mark-advanced-tactics/#comment-1302 CarbonSugar.com : To The Leeward Mark: Advanced Tactics Mon, 19 May 2008 11:44:57 +0000 http://www.carbonsugar.com/racing/to-the-windward-mark-advanced-tactics/#comment-1302 [...] Posted on 19 May, 2008     Print This Article Now that you’ve made it to the windward mark, you have reached the final section of the lap/race approaching the final drag to the finish. The [...] [...] Posted on 19 May, 2008     Print This Article Now that you’ve made it to the windward mark, you have reached the final section of the lap/race approaching the final drag to the finish. The [...]

]]> By: CarbonSugar.com : Everything You Should Know About FW Fins. http://www.carbonsugar.com/racing/to-the-windward-mark-advanced-tactics/#comment-685 CarbonSugar.com : Everything You Should Know About FW Fins. Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:49:48 +0000 http://www.carbonsugar.com/racing/to-the-windward-mark-advanced-tactics/#comment-685 [...] one who appreciates the rules of ‘2-boat tuning’ and doesn’t just put you in the hopeless position all the time. You need to swap positions regularly when you run to make sure your position [...] [...] one who appreciates the rules of ‘2-boat tuning’ and doesn’t just put you in the hopeless position all the time. You need to swap positions regularly when you run to make sure your position [...]

]]> By: The Learning Plateau and how to climb off (Part II) - CarbonSugar.com http://www.carbonsugar.com/racing/to-the-windward-mark-advanced-tactics/#comment-292 The Learning Plateau and how to climb off (Part II) - CarbonSugar.com Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:21:23 +0000 http://www.carbonsugar.com/racing/to-the-windward-mark-advanced-tactics/#comment-292 [...] initiate planing out of the start or out of manoeuvres means you will always be sailing in the dirty winds created by others. Technique is vital for being able to get out of the pack and get yourself into [...] [...] initiate planing out of the start or out of manoeuvres means you will always be sailing in the dirty winds created by others. Technique is vital for being able to get out of the pack and get yourself into [...]

]]> By: The Learning Plateau and how to climb off (Part I) - CarbonSugar.com http://www.carbonsugar.com/racing/to-the-windward-mark-advanced-tactics/#comment-216 The Learning Plateau and how to climb off (Part I) - CarbonSugar.com Thu, 13 Mar 2008 07:34:38 +0000 http://www.carbonsugar.com/racing/to-the-windward-mark-advanced-tactics/#comment-216 [...] and effectively out of each tack? So that you can get out of dirty air and not find yourself in the hopeless position? Are you able to gybe your board and keep it on the plane even in marginal conditions? If not, stop [...] [...] and effectively out of each tack? So that you can get out of dirty air and not find yourself in the hopeless position? Are you able to gybe your board and keep it on the plane even in marginal conditions? If not, stop [...]

]]> By: Sean OBrien http://www.carbonsugar.com/racing/to-the-windward-mark-advanced-tactics/#comment-212 Sean OBrien Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:34:27 +0000 http://www.carbonsugar.com/racing/to-the-windward-mark-advanced-tactics/#comment-212 @ Steve GBR135 - What JW says is correct regarding the ability of the leading boat to tack (within the rules). This gives you another way to attack from the hopeless position. If you are close enough to the leading boat then you can force him to sail over the layline as he wouldn't be able to tack without impeding your course upwind. This scenario is most likely experienced coming out of the startline on starboard where the fleet is close together. If you are in fact the leading boat, your options are usually to try and point obscenely high and force the following boat to tack off or go below you or to foot off a little downwind to get some speed and distance between you and then tack and go below him on the new tack. If you are the leading boat and there is room to tack then tacking before the boat behind you is usually the best option as if he tacks at a similar time you can quickly get him straight back into the hopeless position and if you are on the layline then they following boat will have a very hard time keeping with you to the top mark (or next layline). As the following boat, I always believe it is best to tack at the same time as the leading boat and hope you can tack faster than him and get into the safe leeward position. If you decide to stay on the same tack you almost need to sail 100m further to get clean air from him when you are on the next tack and if on that next tack there is a significant life, that leading boat will most likely swallow your extra 100m before you even have time to sheet in as he's in the new wind quicker than you are. The best example of this is a course that's left hand favoured and everyone sails out of the startline on starboard then tacks onto port almost heading to the top mark. Unless you tack at the same time as the leading boat you might have to sail OVER the layline to get into clear air which is a very slow way to go around a course. @ Steve GBR135 - What JW says is correct regarding the ability of the leading boat to tack (within the rules).

This gives you another way to attack from the hopeless position. If you are close enough to the leading boat then you can force him to sail over the layline as he wouldn’t be able to tack without impeding your course upwind. This scenario is most likely experienced coming out of the startline on starboard where the fleet is close together.

If you are in fact the leading boat, your options are usually to try and point obscenely high and force the following boat to tack off or go below you or to foot off a little downwind to get some speed and distance between you and then tack and go below him on the new tack.

If you are the leading boat and there is room to tack then tacking before the boat behind you is usually the best option as if he tacks at a similar time you can quickly get him straight back into the hopeless position and if you are on the layline then they following boat will have a very hard time keeping with you to the top mark (or next layline).

As the following boat, I always believe it is best to tack at the same time as the leading boat and hope you can tack faster than him and get into the safe leeward position. If you decide to stay on the same tack you almost need to sail 100m further to get clean air from him when you are on the next tack and if on that next tack there is a significant life, that leading boat will most likely swallow your extra 100m before you even have time to sheet in as he’s in the new wind quicker than you are.

The best example of this is a course that’s left hand favoured and everyone sails out of the startline on starboard then tacks onto port almost heading to the top mark. Unless you tack at the same time as the leading boat you might have to sail OVER the layline to get into clear air which is a very slow way to go around a course.

]]> By: JW http://www.carbonsugar.com/racing/to-the-windward-mark-advanced-tactics/#comment-172 JW Tue, 04 Mar 2008 07:36:12 +0000 http://www.carbonsugar.com/racing/to-the-windward-mark-advanced-tactics/#comment-172 Long upwind legs are better for tactics, if the upwind is shortenend the appealing formula tactics fade, that would be a pitty cause then we will be sailing in a parade more, then we battle for up and downwind meters. Also on the downwind it is best not to have a gate (when tactics is your thing) cause then one can decide it's own course and benefit more form the shifts. On the other side a gate makes for more manouvres which in itself is more attractive cause that is also a part of the game. Isn't it just great this up- and downwind raceformat :) So much to learn and always an opportunity after a mistake as where in other formats one mistake means you are out of the race....... Long upwind legs are better for tactics, if the upwind is shortenend the appealing formula tactics fade, that would be a pitty cause then we will be sailing in a parade more, then we battle for up and downwind meters.

Also on the downwind it is best not to have a gate (when tactics is your thing) cause then one can decide it’s own course and benefit more form the shifts. On the other side a gate makes for more manouvres which in itself is more attractive cause that is also a part of the game.

Isn’t it just great this up- and downwind raceformat :) So much to learn and always an opportunity after a mistake as where in other formats one mistake means you are out of the race…….

]]> By: JW http://www.carbonsugar.com/racing/to-the-windward-mark-advanced-tactics/#comment-171 JW Tue, 04 Mar 2008 07:13:37 +0000 http://www.carbonsugar.com/racing/to-the-windward-mark-advanced-tactics/#comment-171 During manouvres you need to stay clear from other sailors. So the leading boat may not tack in diagram C, cause he can not do so and not hinder the other boat. There is one exception, if they together run into an island or other not moving object the leading boat must be allowed to tack. In all other cases the following boat may even take the leading boat (far) over the lay line as well. In battles for final ranking this is sometimes done while others pass them to take the race they only focus on each other just to prevent winning the race. Only option for the leading boat here is to try and get above the following sailor or just for afew seconds stop and let the following boat pass after which he can tack and go further on the next tack. One thing though, the formula saling is so damm fast that these tactics are not that common as one can see them in slower boats or longboard racing. This is the same for windshifts, faster boats lose more ground on the manouvre then they lose on sailing on at the less attractive side of the shift. So there where a longboard (especially in sub planning mode) will take to take advantage of the windshift a formula sailor will continue on his tack to keep up the pace as much as possible. The benefit of the shift must be equal or greater then the loss on the manouvre. So beiing able to quick manouvres will make the oppotunity to benefit from shifts greater. With the tendency to shorten the upwind leg the tacking for windshift will be even less attractive cause the time consuming tack will take to much time whil the upwind leg is to short to be able to benefit enhough from the shift before rounding the mark. Just my 2 cents. During manouvres you need to stay clear from other sailors. So the leading boat may not tack in diagram C, cause he can not do so and not hinder the other boat.
There is one exception, if they together run into an island or other not moving object the leading boat must be allowed to tack. In all other cases the following boat may even take the leading boat (far) over the lay line as well.
In battles for final ranking this is sometimes done while others pass them to take the race they only focus on each other just to prevent winning the race.

Only option for the leading boat here is to try and get above the following sailor or just for afew seconds stop and let the following boat pass after which he can tack and go further on the next tack.

One thing though, the formula saling is so damm fast that these tactics are not that common as one can see them in slower boats or longboard racing. This is the same for windshifts, faster boats lose more ground on the manouvre then they lose on sailing on at the less attractive side of the shift. So there where a longboard (especially in sub planning mode) will take to take advantage of the windshift a formula sailor will continue on his tack to keep up the pace as much as possible. The benefit of the shift must be equal or greater then the loss on the manouvre. So beiing able to quick manouvres will make the oppotunity to benefit from shifts greater.

With the tendency to shorten the upwind leg the tacking for windshift will be even less attractive cause the time consuming tack will take to much time whil the upwind leg is to short to be able to benefit enhough from the shift before rounding the mark.

Just my 2 cents.

]]> By: Steve GBR135 http://www.carbonsugar.com/racing/to-the-windward-mark-advanced-tactics/#comment-168 Steve GBR135 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:25:39 +0000 http://www.carbonsugar.com/racing/to-the-windward-mark-advanced-tactics/#comment-168 Sean, Another great article - thanks for the insight. Question though - what about the 'right of way rules'? In your hopeless posiiton (diagram C) can the leading board tack into the trailing board's path? (I know they are both on starboard) Sean,
Another great article - thanks for the insight.
Question though - what about the ‘right of way rules’? In your hopeless posiiton (diagram C) can the leading board tack into the trailing board’s path? (I know they are both on starboard)

]]> By: Sean OBrien http://www.carbonsugar.com/racing/to-the-windward-mark-advanced-tactics/#comment-164 Sean OBrien Mon, 03 Mar 2008 08:23:04 +0000 http://www.carbonsugar.com/racing/to-the-windward-mark-advanced-tactics/#comment-164 16 knots?! Wow, I'll just bring my 12m, no need for any other sails when I come to Holland this year! haha. Is that just for the Regio Cups or all the events? At the racing series we do in Sydney, we only do slalom when its perfect. The target is 20 knots, but it has to be a super consistent 20 knots at a venue that lends itself to great slalom racing - ie, if its even slightly gusty, we'll be racing formula in 30 knots. Generally speaking, we've only done slalom twice this summer but both times it was in 25-30 knots: full power on 6.7m's! I'm not sure what the best formula is for slalom in a regional setting. We have unlimited gear rules here in Aus and even allow people to sail their formula kit in the slalom if they don't have any other boards. There's been interest to bring in a 2 sail rule for formula here in Aus, now that the sails are so efficient you can use a 10.7m as largest and be very competitive in lightwinds - but I wonder if that just makes the gap between regional/international level too big. When you've been sailing all season with a 10.7m and then get on a startline with 100 guys in Santa Pola in 6 knots you are probably not going to get on the plane without a 12m. The 2 sail rule would bug me, because I would still buy 3 sails to compete in Europe and it would mean I can't tune the 3rd sail in during the Australian season, to be ready for Europe :-/ 16 knots?!

Wow, I’ll just bring my 12m, no need for any other sails when I come to Holland this year! haha. Is that just for the Regio Cups or all the events?

At the racing series we do in Sydney, we only do slalom when its perfect. The target is 20 knots, but it has to be a super consistent 20 knots at a venue that lends itself to great slalom racing - ie, if its even slightly gusty, we’ll be racing formula in 30 knots. Generally speaking, we’ve only done slalom twice this summer but both times it was in 25-30 knots: full power on 6.7m’s!

I’m not sure what the best formula is for slalom in a regional setting. We have unlimited gear rules here in Aus and even allow people to sail their formula kit in the slalom if they don’t have any other boards.

There’s been interest to bring in a 2 sail rule for formula here in Aus, now that the sails are so efficient you can use a 10.7m as largest and be very competitive in lightwinds - but I wonder if that just makes the gap between regional/international level too big. When you’ve been sailing all season with a 10.7m and then get on a startline with 100 guys in Santa Pola in 6 knots you are probably not going to get on the plane without a 12m. The 2 sail rule would bug me, because I would still buy 3 sails to compete in Europe and it would mean I can’t tune the 3rd sail in during the Australian season, to be ready for Europe :-/

]]> By: JW http://www.carbonsugar.com/racing/to-the-windward-mark-advanced-tactics/#comment-162 JW Mon, 03 Mar 2008 07:27:07 +0000 http://www.carbonsugar.com/racing/to-the-windward-mark-advanced-tactics/#comment-162 All arguments of not having formula around anymore may be valid, still I believe it also has something to do with seeiing the opportunity to get us mortals back into buying lots of slalom gear again. Most sailors like to have two boards to cover a big range. In previous years this was one of the reasons to start formats like 42 or 31 (sails-board). NOw PWA is up to 36 and slowely they hope we will also buy more sails and boards?? I still think that trying to do with fewer boards at PWA also will make the R&D move to more allround then specialiced boards. In the end that will be better for us mortals. yes? In Holland we now have a format that we do formula upto 16 knots and from that up we do slalom. As most compromises this also has it's negative sides but at least the disciplines have a natural overlapp. Personally I find it a bit sad to mis formula in the stronger winds but the compromise is ok. There is no limit on gear though... which here in Holland is no big problem so far. Maybe in the future a 63 format (but then including formula) would be a good alternative. Almost always able to compete (as soon as planing is possible) and no overload on equipment. well, just my 2 cents. Happy sailing to all of you. All arguments of not having formula around anymore may be valid, still I believe it also has something to do with seeiing the opportunity to get us mortals back into buying lots of slalom gear again. Most sailors like to have two boards to cover a big range. In previous years this was one of the reasons to start formats like 42 or 31 (sails-board). NOw PWA is up to 36 and slowely they hope we will also buy more sails and boards??
I still think that trying to do with fewer boards at PWA also will make the R&D move to more allround then specialiced boards. In the end that will be better for us mortals. yes?

In Holland we now have a format that we do formula upto 16 knots and from that up we do slalom. As most compromises this also has it’s negative sides but at least the disciplines have a natural overlapp. Personally I find it a bit sad to mis formula in the stronger winds but the compromise is ok.
There is no limit on gear though… which here in Holland is no big problem so far. Maybe in the future a 63 format (but then including formula) would be a good alternative. Almost always able to compete (as soon as planing is possible) and no overload on equipment. well, just my 2 cents.

Happy sailing to all of you.

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