2003-2004 InterClub Results, IC Clinic
December 28, 2004

Annapolis ICers,

It turned out to be a nice day for the four teams that showed up for the IC clinic yesterday. Temperatures were in the 50's, there was plenty of sun, and the wind filled from the south just in time for some racing. The teams were: Carl Coscia and Stephanie Stone (obviously a little light!), Greg Leonard and Martin Hermidia, Bryan Russell and Jill Williamson, and 4 different Lange's (Jonathan, Phil, Joe, and Derek).

I checked both Greg's and Carl's boat, and made tuning and rigging suggestions. We then had a 30 minute discussion on the SSA steps. Topics included race preparation, awareness on the course, roles of skipper and crew, staying in phase, and many others I can't recall now. The wind filled in just at about 1245 and we headed out for some tacking drills. Jesse coached from the whaler, and hopped in each boat to demonstrate roll tacks.

The ICs then joined in the racing with the Lasers, getting off 4 starts in a light southerly of perhaps 4-6 knots.

We had a debrief after sailing, and everyone provided some feedback on what they had learned.

Here are some observations and suggestions based on this clinic, and watching the back-half of the fleet for a number of years:

1. Get into race-mode when you get to the club (or perhaps before), not when the gun goes off. Find the routine that best gets you in your "zone". Performance zones are personal, and different people perform best under varying levels of stimulus. If you want to imporve your results, figure out at what level you perform your best, then try to get to this level each time as you prepare for a race day. There was a great article in Sailing World on this subject last month. Also, see Dr. Jerry May's articles on the US Sailing Olympic Team newselletter. Excellent stuff.
2. Check the weather and the current before sailing. For instance, a westerly breeze with a hard flood or ebb can change your strategy dramatically if the leeward mark is set in the river current.
3. Start racing when you hit the water. Sail fast to the course, make sure your rig is set right (e.g. lumpy out? - try more forestay and a looser outhaul). Do a few tacks and jibes to get loose. Look up the course - where are the puffs coming from? In a NWer, we can have puffs from the Severn (more northerly) and Spa Creek (more westerly). Determine your race strategy before the gun goes off.
4. Crews are way more than ballast. Yes, you need to balance the boat right all the time, and help make crisp tacks and jibes. But, you also need to anticipate the moves. Things can happen pretty quickly, and the skipper doesn't always have time to tell you when they will turn the boat. Be prepared to move! If you see a puff coming, or a line of starboard tackers aproaching upwind, you might be in for a tack. Downwind, there may be a big puff that requires board down BEFORE if hits you. Are you ready? Also, maybe you are going to sail through a pack of Lasers going upwind. Anticipate this by putting the board down before evasive action is required. You can't steer without the board down! Are you trimming the vang? Get ready to put the vang on when the puffs hits, or ease it off quickly in the lulls. Anticiaption is key for crews too!
5. "Reserve" your spot on the line early. In a small fleet, you can afford to make a nice timed run at full speed to the line. But, in a larger fleet you can forget the Vanderbilt start! At the IC Nationals, most boats start luffing near the line around 45 secnds to 1 minute. You will never get a spot on the line if you can't successfully maneuver your boat downspeed. ICs are difficult to start because you don't have a headsail to pull ythe bow down after a luff. A loose vang will help reduce the bow-up moment. Also, be careful not to come to a stop while into the wind. If you are going to stop the boat, try and do it with the bow pointed off the wind so you can sheet in and go. These are skills often lacking by the back end of the fleet.
6. Sail the lifted tack. Seems obvious, but too many people sail the headed tack. Simply ask yourself if you are pointed closer to the mark on the tack you are sailing. It should be pretty obvious if you are. If you are stuffed at the start, tack only to get clear air, then get right back in phase. If it's windy, just hang in there because the bad air won't slow you down much. Increase your awareness and try and be the first to tack into the new breeze to get clear air on the new lifted tack. Then, stay in phase and carefully pick your next lane.
7. Be smooth in your roundings. If you have no time to sheet in the sail, hand it to the crew. Come out of the rounding tight so you don't leave any room for someone to pin you from tacking.
8. In most cases, point the bow at the mark sailing downwind. Loosen the vang in light and moderate air. Fight for the inside when nearing the mark. Too many people roll over and aren't aggressive enough seeking an inside overlap.
9. Determine the best end of the finish line when you round the leeward mark. Which end is furthest downwind? Which end has the better breeze?

Jesse