Zugriffe: 342

The typical traffic pattern for a first beat sees a large concentration of boats early in the race (on the starting line) which spreads out as the fleet sails up the course, and each boat follows their respective strategy as best they can. Gains and losses are made on the beat due to differences in wind direction, wind velocity, and/or current strength. The degree of gain or loss caused by one of these variables is generally greater when there is more separation between boats. For example, a five-degree shift that occurs halfway up a beat will result in a relatively large gain for those on the left side of the course, since the fleet will be the most spread out at this point.

However, things change at the top of the beat, when the fleet is forced to converge at a single point, the windward mark. Many find course management in this portion of the race confusing and stressful, for there is an abundance of boats in a very small area, and decisions must be made quickly. However, strategy at the top of a beat actually becomes straightforward, due to the close proximity of all the boats. A few guidelines can make this part of the race very simple.

Why is strategy simpler at the top of the beat?
    A five-degree left shift at the end of a beat is not as significant as the five-degree left shift that occurred in the middle of the beat because the fleet is closer together. The advantage gained by any windshift, velocity change, or current variance, will be the smallest in this part of the race. Thus, these things deserve less attention. Environment changes should not be totally dismissed at the end of an upwind leg, but try putting the following two thoughts first in your mind when you arrive at this section of the race course,

1) Sail in Clear Air
As always, sailing in a clear lane should be a high priority. Sailboat racing is a game of inches, especially at the end of a beat. Anytime you are not sailing in clear air, you are losing valuable distance to those who are.

2) Get to the Starboard Layline First
The top portions of the windward leg can often be considered a race to the starboard layline. Your goal here is to be on starboard during your final crossing situation with the boats around you. For a port-tack boat approaching a starboard tacker who is on the layline, one foot short of crossing is the same as one boatlength behind, since they must fully duck the starboard tacker boat, then tack to windward and behind on the layline.

So if all else is equal, you should always try to lead boats to the starboard layline. For example, you are on starboard tack, near the windward mark, and you are not on the layline. You have a group of three port tackers approaching. The conservative move here is to tack to leeward and ahead of this group of boats and lead them to the starboard layline. You will then be the first boat in this group on starboard tack, on the layline. Provided your tack is made directly on the layline, any boat that has a crossing situation with you will be forced to duck and tack to leeward and behind.

Consider what happens if you do the opposite move now. You are again on starboard tack at the top of the windward leg, but not on the layline. The same group of three port tackers approaches you, and they all duck you. If any one of these boats gains one foot before you cross paths again, they will be ahead of you. Why? Because they will now be on starboard and you will be on port. They will have right of way during your last crossing, and since they gained just one foot, you will have to duck them, and tack to windward and behind.

This does not mean the one should blindly sail for the starboard layline. There may be some advantage near the port layline that presents an opportunity for a significant gain. But before going after that tasty puff on the port layline, make sure you can come back across without getting into much traffic. If the seats are already filling up on the starboard layline, that puff is probably not worth sailing for. Chances are, any gain made by sailing to favorable breeze on the port layline will be washed out when you have to duck several boats on the starboard layline while looking for a hole to tack into. Furthermore, if you are not one of the top seven boats in the fleet, it is often disastrous to sail to the port layline due to traffic and bad air from those who have already rounded the windward mark and are now sailing downwind on starboard tack.

Generally, when arriving at high traffic areas like the windward mark, it pays to simplify one's strategy by putting environmental factors (wind shifts, velocity changes, or current) in the back of one's head. Thinking purely in terms of boat to boat positioning will clarify the situation by minimizing your risks.

by
Stan Schreyer