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YOUR FIRST RACE
Don’t forget that, beginner or not, you will be a very welcome addition to the fleet. Those who usually do well, the ‘hot shots’, will be only too pleased to come home having beaten a larger fleet. Those nearer the back of the fleet will welcome the chance to beat someone! Don’t be disappointed if you are last – just give it a go! Do remember that, particularly in the heat of the start, some competitors can get a bit excited and may shout at you if they think you are infringing the rules. Don’t let this worry you; they may not have had time to realise you are a beginner and you’ll probably find that back in the clubhouse they are quite decent. But do speak to them about any such incident afterwards, particularly if you are unsure of which rule you may have infringed. It’s a good chance to learn as well as make friends.
Now, how should you approach the race? First you must read the sailing instructions or at the very least speak to a friend and establish the essential information (it’s not a good idea to expect to follow everyone else). The course referred to in this chapter will be a triangular one with the sequence beat-reach-reach-beat-run-beat, often called the triangle/sausage course. In practice you are likely to encounter more complicated courses at your local club. Nevertheless, the triangle/ sausage described covers all the relevant points of sailing. (A diagram of this course is given on page 5).
To begin with you need to know the startline. This will be an imaginary line between two points and is often limited in length by extra marker buoys. Typically, the startline is defined as a line between the mast on a committee boat and a buoy, with a limit mark near the committee boat. This inner distance limit mark is not necessarily on the line, but boats must not pass between it and the committee boat. The committee boat may be replaced by an onshore mast or pole, which may be portable or permanent.
Next you need to know the course: the order in which the buoys are to be rounded and on which side they are to be passed. If a mark is to be left to port then you are required to pass around it on its right-hand side (anticlockwise) leaving the buoy on your left. If you have any doubt where to go, make yourself a course card, put it in a clear plastic bag and tape it to the boat.
You also need to know the number of laps to be sailed and where the finish is. During the race you must watch the committee boat: if code flag S is flown it means the course is being shortened−perhaps because the wind is falling light.
Finally you must know the time of the start. Do try to get on the water in plenty of time: this is the most common failing of beginner and expert alike. Time always seems to go faster than you expect and arriving at the start without sorting out your strategy can be a costly mistake.
THE START
You can expect the start to be upwind (to windward), so plan to start on starboard tack about one third of the way down the line from the starboard end. (Later we will discuss how to choose the favoured end but, for the moment, assuming a line of 60 metres (200 feet) or less, the first-timer should do as suggested.) Try a few practice runs, timing yourself to get an idea how far you travel in, say, 60 seconds. If the wind is light try to keep close to the line in case it drops further, leaving you stranded. This is of particular importance if there is any current taking you away from the line. Watch out for the warning signal. This will be a sound signal accompanied by your class flag and is usually five minutes before the start. Start your stopwatch on this signal and check it at the preparatory signal four minutes before the start. Remember that the racing rules come into force after this second signal so keep a good look out (as you should at all times).
From your previous trial runs you will have established how far you can expect to travel in one minute. Try to be somewhere near this one-minute distance from the line at about one and a half minutes before the start. This will allow you to slow your approach as you get closer to the line. The easiest way to slow up is to ease the sails until they are half flapping, sheeting them in again when more speed is needed.
