Once upon a time, I thought there was nothing more to do with a 30' sailboat other than sail around the bays. Then I discovered sailboat racing and it rocked my world.
Racing sailing completely changed my weekends and the way I felt about my sailboat. I converted my friends into crew members and got set to win races. Sometimes races were around buoys and others were around island, but either way, it was important to be familiar with the tides and winds. Understanding tides and winds is key to winning the race
At times, you'll find yourself up against the tide. Then you'll want to find the lighter side of the tide. When the tide is with you, you'll want to find the strongest part to give you a boost in speed. The same goes for the winds. Closer to shore, the warm land generates winds that blow onshore. It's better to ride with them than to sail in the middle of the bay where the winds are not as strong. A mere 3 knots difference can be all you need to beat out your competitors.
When I first started racing, the more experienced racers stole a trophy from me many times. One time, we had a close call pulling past the last buoy to the finish line when a sailboat turned away to find stronger winds and quickly zipped past us. Over time, you learn more and more about racing; where to pick up extra speed and how to put your sails to work for you. My racing days were both exciting and frustrating. Races lasted a few hours to a few days. Always a challenge.
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.
Racing sailing completely changed my weekends and the way I felt about my sailboat. I converted my friends into crew members and got set to win races. Sometimes races were around buoys and others were around island, but either way, it was important to be familiar with the tides and winds. Understanding tides and winds is key to winning the race
At times, you'll find yourself up against the tide. Then you'll want to find the lighter side of the tide. When the tide is with you, you'll want to find the strongest part to give you a boost in speed. The same goes for the winds. Closer to shore, the warm land generates winds that blow onshore. It's better to ride with them than to sail in the middle of the bay where the winds are not as strong. A mere 3 knots difference can be all you need to beat out your competitors.
When I first started racing, the more experienced racers stole a trophy from me many times. One time, we had a close call pulling past the last buoy to the finish line when a sailboat turned away to find stronger winds and quickly zipped past us. Over time, you learn more and more about racing; where to pick up extra speed and how to put your sails to work for you. My racing days were both exciting and frustrating. Races lasted a few hours to a few days. Always a challenge.
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 where you will find great selections of the 30 sailboat
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