30' Sailboat Racing
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
By Douglas Malat
There was a time when I thought the only thing I could do with my 30 sailboat was go in and out of bays. When I discovered sailboat racing I found out how wrong I was.
I found racing sailing in my area and it gave me purpose on the weekends. I got friends for crew and set-off to win one. Some sailboat races are around buoys, some around islands, but in either case you have to know your tides and winds. These are your main concerns, because with tides you want to know where it runs strong and also light.
If you have to go up against the tide in a race, it's better to stick to the lighter side. When the tide is on your side, you want to keep in the strongest part to gain the most speed you can. Winds work the same way when racing. When in a bay, the closer to shore you are, the warm winds drive the wind onshore. A mere - 3 knots of wind can make all the difference. Being in the middle of the bay could make you lose ground.
Long time sailboat racers have beaten me many times. I recall on one occasion being certain I was going to win. A sailboat was turning as if it was heading back. I was passing the very last buoy before the finish line. Was I ever tricked! That sailboat found stronger winds and beat me to the finish line. That was an important lesson learned. Over time, you master the techniques and it becomes automatic. I learned the hard way and faced much frustration, but, ultimately, when I figured it all out, there was plenty of excitement. Short races lasting a few hours turned to races one week long.
There have been times when the winds turned wild along the race. I've witnessed injured sailors being rescued by helicopters. Other times, there was no wind at all. I won a race by drifting along, thanks to my deep keel or wide beam. No matter the conditions, the more you race the more you figure out how to win in any conditions. The key is figuring out your boat's point of sail - that's when your boat is most comfortable. That's when racing becomes effortless for the boat and the crew. Then it's just like riding a bicycle - you just sit back and enjoy the ride.
I found racing sailing in my area and it gave me purpose on the weekends. I got friends for crew and set-off to win one. Some sailboat races are around buoys, some around islands, but in either case you have to know your tides and winds. These are your main concerns, because with tides you want to know where it runs strong and also light.
If you have to go up against the tide in a race, it's better to stick to the lighter side. When the tide is on your side, you want to keep in the strongest part to gain the most speed you can. Winds work the same way when racing. When in a bay, the closer to shore you are, the warm winds drive the wind onshore. A mere - 3 knots of wind can make all the difference. Being in the middle of the bay could make you lose ground.
Long time sailboat racers have beaten me many times. I recall on one occasion being certain I was going to win. A sailboat was turning as if it was heading back. I was passing the very last buoy before the finish line. Was I ever tricked! That sailboat found stronger winds and beat me to the finish line. That was an important lesson learned. Over time, you master the techniques and it becomes automatic. I learned the hard way and faced much frustration, but, ultimately, when I figured it all out, there was plenty of excitement. Short races lasting a few hours turned to races one week long.
There have been times when the winds turned wild along the race. I've witnessed injured sailors being rescued by helicopters. Other times, there was no wind at all. I won a race by drifting along, thanks to my deep keel or wide beam. No matter the conditions, the more you race the more you figure out how to win in any conditions. The key is figuring out your boat's point of sail - that's when your boat is most comfortable. That's when racing becomes effortless for the boat and the crew. Then it's just like riding a bicycle - you just sit back and enjoy the ride.
About the Author:
Captain Douglas Malat is a co-creator of YachtAuthority.com, a website where you will find great selections of racing sailboats for sale in your area.
Posted byBertie at 3:32 AM
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