October 03, 2018 3 min read
George Cousins is a freelance sailing/race coach and a Sailing Chandlery sponsored sailor. In this series of articles he is covering his Sailing Rules of Thumb walking us through the race course and what you should be trying to do.
In the previous two articles we outlined how to develop a pre race routine and how to achieve a good start, now we will focus on the first beat. Hopefully you will have some idea of which side will pay and this will have influenced which end of the line to start. However it may be unclear which side will pay during the first beat only becoming apparent on the subsequent laps, therefore sail a conservative first beat avoiding the laylines.
If you lose your lane off the start you must tack off immediately. Distance lost just after the start will have a compounded effect later up the beat so you must get clear, ducking starboard boats can work well especially if the right side of the beat looks to be favoured.
Unless you are very sure of a side try to stay well within the laylines. Remember laylines can shift with a progressive wind shift as well as tide/current making the laylines skewed. E.g. in a wind-over tide situation the laylines become narrower making an over stand more likely and vice versa. A second example, in a Northerly wind with current going from East to West the laylines become skewed making it more likely to over stand on the Port layline but harder to lay the mark on Starboard tack. Top sailors are mindful of this and use this knowledge to inform their strategy and tactics.
By staying beneath the laylines you can use every windshift to your advantage, often called playing the percentages. Conversely if you are on the layline and get headed you have no choice but to continue on which is bad.
If you have a good start and are sailing in clear air try to sail your own race, being confident in your boat speed and the numbers on your digital sailing compass, but always stay in touch with the fleet. A good rule of thumb is to be on the same tack as the majority of the fleet. Avoid sailing away from the fleet. If you are sure the left will pay but the fleet has gone right you must follow the fleet but position yourself to the left of the fleet.
If you are in the lead or in a strong position stay between the windward mark and those boats behind you. This makes it very hard for other boats to pass you and will consolidate your position. By doing this and staying between the laylines you consolidate you position while being able to capitalise on any wind shift.
Big gains and losses can be made at the final approach to the mark. In large fleets there will be a raft of starboard tack boats on the Starboard layline, so there is opportunity to come in late on port but this is risky. Avoid tacking within the 3 boat lengths of the mark as the rules (Rule 18) will not be on your side.
Before you round the mark ensure you mainsheet is not tangled and apply the information you learnt up the beat first beat to the down wind. E.g. favourable tide upwind will become unfavourable down wind. If the left of the beat payed because of more pressure then it is likely that same side will pay downwind as well.
Read the previous article in the series - Sailing Rules of Thumb: Rule #2 The Start
Read the next article in the series - Sailing Rules of Thumb: Rules #4 The Reach
Read the other articles in the series, Sailing Rules of Thumb.
Sign up for more great articles like this and receive a unique first order discount code. Share your birthday too and we'll send you a gift for your special day.
Comments will be approved before showing up.
These are surprisingly difficult to find in chandleries which is surprising as they’re very useful for attaching boat hooks/deck brushes to the handrail. Low tech but good quality.
Good product, prompt delivery. I've tried various options for securing the clew to the boom but none are as effective or easy to release as this strap.
Very quick and user friendly service. Would recommend and will use again.
I had it sent to my son, who will bring it to the US with him next month, so I cant write a review until I get it!
I needed this small pin urgently for a sail training night, and it arrived in good time
Amazing service, the staff got our order in with no issue and quick delivery. The replica mast are a perfect alternative.
Excellent service. Arrived very quickly. Highly recommend, have used Sailing Chandlery several times - always quick and efficient.
I have the 270 boots 2020, But these 170 boots are great, much easier to get on and off and very grippy and comfortable
Great range of products, very efficient service, item arrived well packed and on time
Really strong, does what it needs to!
Great product, does the job for a good price
Perfect product at good price and fast delivery. Thank you.
Best spring/summer hiking wetsuit.
As per usual the Sailing Chandlery team got these to me in a flash! Amazing service!!!
I have previously used the Superwarm version of this hiker and it was brilliant!
I purchased these as I get far too hot in my winter hikers during the sweaty summer months!
Only used once so far, but were warm enough in 15 degrees C and worked exactly as expected!
Good size handle, comfortable grip. I find I have to go down a size in needle than that advised for the rope I’m splicing.
Fantastic service and reasonable prices