Boat handling for rounding the windward mark and offset mark - part 1.

 

By Andrew Kerr

 

This is the first of two articles on rounding the windward mark and offset mark.  In this article we will look at the boat handling skills a team needs to practice and develop, in the second article we will look at tactics we can use at these marks.

 

The 2008 class Championships in Eugene (and many other events all over the country) are likely to feature a large fleet - 30 to 45 boats.  Given the fleet size there, is a good chance that the race committee will look to use an offset mark to reduce congestion at the windward mark.

 

With that in mind take every opportunity for your team to practice rounding a mark, sail on a reach for a short distance and then bear away and set the spinnaker.

 

Even if your team does not anticipate sailing with an offset mark this season, the vast majority of the information below will still help your team be smoother at the windward mark rounding.

 

Approaching the windward mark:

 

• Hike hard coming in to the mark so the boat is flat and fast!

 

• When the bow person sets the pole hike especially hard and if possible pull the pole topping lift up from the hiking position

 

• If it is a long sail to the offset mark then delay setting the pole until you have rounded the windward mark to minimize disruption – particularly in heavy or very light conditions - the caveat to this is if you can set the spinnaker between the marks.

 

• Ease the vang a couple of inches (be sure to recelat it !) to help pre-set the mainsail leech tension for downwind sailing and also to help the boat bear away by opening the mainsail leech.

 

• The Jib/ Genoa trimmer really wants to focus on perfect trim of the sail and not be distracted – particularly important if sailing in dirty air from another boat or getting lifted into the mark requiring the Genoa to be eased for max speed.

 

• Top skippers keep the boat going fast at all times – keep the boat rolling and be sure not to pinch too much, have the crew keep calling out waves and puffs all the way into the mark so you can be anticipating the elements. This is a chance to extend on boats behind you and catch boats ahead, boat length by boat length.

 

Between the windward mark and the offset mark – sail fast!!

 

As a coach I observe and video tape a lot of races and one of the common threads is the gains and losses for teams when sailing between the marks – particularly in the extremes of conditions – very light or heavy air.

 

Key elements for sailing fast between the marks are:

 

• Trimming the sails well – keep the Genoa tell tales flowing – this does mean easing it and when it is time to set the middle grabs the clew of the sail and holds it inboard to facilitate the spinnaker going up smoothly.

 

• Particularly when it is breezy – sailing the boat flat and not allowing excessive heel.

 

• When it is light – minimizing movement and being smooth will maintain momentum and speed.

 

• Determine how much pre feed on the spinnaker foot you want – if it is light then gently feed the foot out so that it doesn’t disrupt the Genoa, if it is breezy then you may want to delay until the boat is around the offset mark and flat and pointed downwind so that the foot of the sail does not get out of control. In medium conditions you likely will be able to pre feed most of the way but be careful of the sail touching the offset mark.

 

• Take an opportunity in light/ moderate conditions to ease the Cunningham all the way off and the windward aft lower. 

 

• The bow person can point to the offset mark to help the skipper gauge where it is as well as the middle looking to leeward helping keep track of it.

 

Setting the spinnaker between the marks:

 

With the wind shifting to the right and your team getting lifted on starboard tack going into the mark there may be an opportunity to set between the marks, here is a check list for this:

 

• Make sure you get a good visual on where the offset mark is – it is easy to lose sight of it when setting the spinnaker!

 

• If there is a boat to leeward of you and slightly ahead of you (preventing you from bearing away) - head high and then bear away and go behind them – this will give you the ability to set and get inside and be able to jibe at the offset – you don’t want to be pinned outside them.

 

• Be sure that the leeward twing is all the way off and the windward twing all the way on.

 

• Caution – if the twing line is too long it can scoop the offset mark – have them long enough but not too long!

 

• Pull the guy back so that the pole is about 6 to 9 inches off the forestay – the guy will stretch this much on a reach when the spinnaker fills.

 

• Luff the spinnaker if necessary to get the spinnaker halyard all the way to the top and then sheet in.

 

• If breezy – delay pulling the Genoa down to keep the weight on the high side until the boat has flattened out. In this instance if you have the spinnaker and Genoa up at the same time be sure to keep the Genoa sheet well eased to allow the spinnaker to fly – if it is slightly over trimmed the sails forms a vacuum of stall and collapses the spinnaker.

 

• When bearing off at the offset mark ease the spinnaker sheet first and that will make squaring the pole much faster and easier.

 

Extra’s extras, extra’s!

 

• Put a mark on the vang so you know how much to ease it to set the mainsail
• Leech tension with the top baton parallel to the boom once you are downwind.

 

• Mark the topping lift so that the pole is set to the correct height.

 

• Mark the spinnaker halyard so you know when it is fully hoisted.

 

• Do a practice bear away set and mark the spinnaker sheet & cleat it when the pole is squared and the sail full. This pre set mark will allow you to focus on pulling back the guy on the set and free a hand up with the spinnaker filling nicely.

 

Conclusion:

 

All the above is well worth practicing – there are good gains to be had here for your team and over the course of a series the points gained will add up. In our next article we will examine some tactics your team can use at the windward and offset mark.

 

Good sailing!