You will also see boats that embrace the opportunity, think for themselves, and take advantage of the situations presented to gain places, gain ground on other boats, or time on handicap.
This article aims to highlight some of the key factors behind your reaching decision-making, and some of the plays that you might utilise to make the most of them.
THE BIG PICTURE
In a closely packed one-design fleet, finding a clear lane and avoiding being luffed or rolled will be the main priorities. But even so, opportunities to break away from the chain gang may come up. Starting the leg with a clear view of what would be the fastest route down the reach in the absence of the other boats will give you the best chance of taking these opportunities.
SAIL THE SHORTEST COURSE
Generally, the shortest course between two points is a straight-line route. A defensive fleet always tends to get sucked into a “great circle route” as they attack and defend by luffing to windward of the rhumb line. Even with no distractions, most helmsmen will naturally sail a detour to windward of the rhumb line, losing time and distance. A reach across the tidal set makes sailing extra distance even more likely.
Practise sailing the rhumb line by picking up a transit on a piece of land behind the mark. If the land moves left against the mark, steer further right, and vice versa. Use the transit, even when you are committed to defending your line, to give you an indication of just how fast the fleet is sucking you away from the rhumb line.
Denne historien er fra February 2020-utgaven av Yachts & Yachting.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra February 2020-utgaven av Yachts & Yachting.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Super, smashing, great
How do you stand out in one of the most competitive sectors of boat building? Sam Jefferson steps aboard the Dufour 390 to find out
ST PETER PORT - GUERNSEY 49°27.19'N, 002°32.00'W
This haven on Guernsey is the ideal starting point to explore the beauty of the Channel Islands, as Emma Bamford discovers
Round the Island Q&A
Dave Atkinson, director of the Round the Island Race, now postponed until the autumn, explains some decisions and breaks down misconceptions about the race in a revealing chat with Rupert Holmes.
The rest is Istria
Nicola Beykirch headed to Venice in search of a cheap winter berth and endured the hardship of sailing the length of the Croatian coast en route
Grinding to a halt
Sent home from warm-weather training in Sardinia amid Covid-19 restrictions, grinder Freddie Carr updates us on what is now for INEOS TEAM UK and the America’s Cup
From a distance
Rob Peake looks at what ‘sailing’ we can do via distance learning courses and online regattas
Flying the flag
Her rise through the ranks has been meteoric and her helm Charlotte Dobson calls her ‘an absolute weapon’. Rob Peake meets 49erFX crew Sakia Tidey
Eire on a shoestring
The Irish sea deserves respect, but the rewards of a summer cruise can be great, as Don Smith notes
Ace Your Club Race
Quirky courses and mixed fleets - Mark Rushall talks tactics and sorts strategy for club race situations
WIZARDS IN OZ
After Ainslie’s spectacular series debut, ROB KOTHE speaks to SailGP skippers on the lessons learned in Sydney, and finds out what’s next from Russell Coutts
