⛵️ Fast Dispatch - Getting You Back on the Water ⛵️
⛵️ Fast Dispatch - Getting You Back on the Water ⛵️
Trusted For 12 Years
Over 46,000+ Orders Shipped
90 Day Risk Free Returns
Over 4,000 5 Star Reviews
Price Match Promise
🚚 Fast Dispatch and a 5 Star Rated Service You Can Count On ✅
December 11, 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 final article of the series we will discuss how to consolidate your position and ways to self coach.
In the later stages of a race if you are in a good position then consolidate your standing by staying between the fleet and the windward mark. This allows you to work the percentages and it makes it very hard for boats behind to overtake you. In shifty conditions stay between the laylines to capitalise on shifts.
Apply what you have observed from the previous laps of the race. Did the leaders get to the front because of boat speed or was it their strategy on the course.
If the wind is shifting progressively one way, or there is a big disparity in tide across the course then it is likely that the side which paid in the previous races and laps will continue to pay. However be aware that the tide can change mid race! Accordingly have a good sailing watch which allows you to tell the time. Prior to launching make a mental note of what time the tide will turn or bring out laminated tidal atlas extracts if the venue is complicated. Spring tides turn quicker than neaps generally speaking meaning less slack water.
If you are near the back of the fleet then you can afford to take bigger risks compared to the leaders. Remember even if you are at the back to never give up. Keep plugging away and allow those in front to make mistakes. Continue to use your digital sailing compass because tracking the shifts will help in subsequent races.
Self Coaching: After each race do a quick analysis. Did the leaders win because they were faster in terms of boat speed, or was it their tactics and strategy? Which side was favoured up the first and second beats and the downwind? Were there any clues in terms of cloud patterns or local topography which suggested the wind would shift in a particular way. Could your start have been better? Were you aggressive enough on the line and did you get transits and measure line bias which was outlines in the first two articles of this series?
Once these questions have been answered it can inform how you approach races in the future and can act as good motivation for your training by giving you specific things to work on. For example; if your boat speed is good but you are missing shifts then practice sailing with your head out of the boat and invest in a compass. Conversely if you are tracking shifts well but boat speed is poor, then spend some time tuning up prior to races.
Read the previous article in the series - Sailing Rules of Thumb: Rule #5 The Run
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.
quick and easy to deal with prompt delivery on order will use again
We ordered a 100m reel of sheet rope for our sailing club's training fleet of Toppers and Fevas. It runs through the blocks very easily and is great to hold. The children on the courses love it!
Great little piece of kit, use it for giving me an idea of wind direction in the marina on my narrowboat!!
Great harness, really comfortable, looks to be good quality and well made.
Great service from Sailing Chandlery.
Delivery was super quick after bank holiday, and product is just as described. Super convenient pockets inside a comfy backpack kitbag so great and practical for walking to/from dinghy parks
Just a small item, a bung! The super quick delivery got me back on the water. Thank you.
Good rope for low load jobs - easy to splice, smooth and flexible.
Perfectly layed out numbers
WIP have really pulled out all the stops on this impact vest to suit all forms of hi-performance watersports. Feels great on, good snug fit - no restrictions to movement and doesn't impact on trapezing like a lot of buoyancy aids. A very well made, high quality vest that has everything you need to keep you safe on the water.
Purchased for my old Albacore sailing dinghy. This is a well made quality cover with straps and clips that look like they’ll last many years. I no longer have to bail out the boat before sailing!
Found the staff at Sailing Chandlery most helpful to a no-yachtsman with flags to fly to cheer the day.
It may seem strange but my husband purchased this item as he was making me some wooden bunting for our outside space. The range of colours was fab and the rope is ideal for our needs.
Easy to order and arrived quickly….great service
Made with good quality material and sizing is accurate. Comfortable to wear with plenty of secure pocket space. Buoyancy aid arrived promptly and securely wrapped.
Waterproof, spacious and different ways to carry it
Perfect arrived on time....
Save up to 40%on your next order.