1. Practice Endlessly
Harbor racing in the world of sailing is one of the most common forms of competition. Racing in a local harbor is something that most people can get involved with and not have to take on the dangers and extended periods of time that offshore racing or blue-water racing can require. These races occur on the weekends and are no more than two days long. Many boat classes are involved and they compete against boats their own size. The sailing waters are level for everyone. The keys to winning in these kinds of competitions are leadership, working as a team, practice and how well you can function as a unit. The only way to develop in these areas is to practice all the time. Become a well-oiled machine.
2. Togetherness as One
Become a cohesive unit. Anticipation and knowledge of how others will react and what they will do make a crew move as one unit. The only way this kind of togetherness occurs is to sail together all the time and get to know your crewmates in all kinds of situations. The idea of practicing all the time is so that the crew faces the same wind conditions that they will encounter on a race day. They all have to be prepared for all kinds of wind conditions. The crew needs to develop the confidence in the captain and he needs to know that when he gives an order they will not hesitate. Hesitation can determine the difference between winning and losing. Often races are lost by merely tenths of a second.
3. Everything in Its Place
The sailboat must be prepared for racing at all times. There is a defined layout and storage system for the sails and gear. Stow all the sails so that they can't foul when run out and facilitate changes in an efficient manner. Coil and stow lines to avoid tangles so they don't snag any other rigging. Probably the biggest preparation required is to possess perfect communication between the captain and his crew. Above all else, safety must be the greatest concern. One concept that is commonly lost is that this is all for fun.
Member Comments