Choose Your Own Path

Choose the path that you will follow.
Follow the path that you choose.

That's sailboat racing. It revolves around strategy and tactics.

Sure boat speed is important, but hell, all ya gotta do is sail the boat on a verge of a luff with proper weight positioning in the existing conditions. Old ladies can do that (my old lady can do that). Hey, we got a big weekend coming up but the coaches aren't going to put a division out there that we think can't at very least hang with the majority of the group. The boat speed will be fine.

Sure boat handling makes a difference, but all ya gotta do is be consistent with the skills you have. The coaches aren't going to put a division out there that we think can't at very least hang with the majority of the group. The boat handling will be fine.

Sure starting position can be huge, but....oh, never mind, let's just keep it at that, "starting position is huge".


So consider this...

Choose the Path that you will follow:

Focus and study the existing conditions.
Develop a game plan based on observation and basic racing principles.
What are the wind characteristics at the time?
Is it shifty, steady, puffy, fan puffy, plain random, consistent in randomness, extreme heavy, extreme light, etc.? How does that change your game plan? Do you pan to tack more, or less? Can you play fan puffs up the middle? Is boat handling paramount because of extreme breeze, up or down? Can a preferred side be perceived?
Yeah, we're going to sail the lifted tack and work the lane (side) of our choosing.
But what lane will we decide?
And will it be working that inside lane, closer to the middle,
or is there a reason to play the fringe a little more;
due to a breeze-line, current, or some other perceivable condition(s).
That's perceivable condition(s), not imaginary or wishful thinking.
Strategy... you can't make it up as you go along.
Not exactly anyway, because that's more in the line of tactics.
And you can't get caught up in "reverse strategy",
which is, "now that I'm here, as long as the wind does this,
I'm gonna be awesome". That's no strategy at all.
Choose the path you will follow.


Follow the path that you choose:

Don't let others dictate your choices.
Yeah, I know that's hard from the start.
Unless you nail a good start. Okay, so nail a good start.
You've heard it before, beat your neighbors.
Or at least be bow even and able to hold your lane.
Then sail your own race with attention to sailing the "shortest distance".
Make the "string" as short as possible
(the string being the physical path your boat takes up the beat).
Pay attention to your final destination and do not stray from it.
Sail your own race and follow the path that you choose.
And don't fall victim to 30 Degree Disease.


-Coach