The slower your boat becomes, the more important it is to have the boat at full speed before the actual start. But not only is it important to be at full speed, it is very important to have the boat sailing at close hauled.
In a track and field, it is illegal to have a running start. However, in sailing it is not illegal to be moving forward before the start. In fact, if you don’t use this to your advantage, you will be left behind.
Do a couple practice starts in the conditions you will be sailing in before the actual race. Record the amount of time it takes to get up to full speed and the angle of a closehauld course. This way you know exactly when to accelerate and how the start will go down. Don’t make sailing a guessing game when it doesn’t have to be.
Jake
/ 08/28/09Could you do one on the swoop and go?