Advice for Cowes Week newbie?

[MissFitz]

First of all, a big thank you to the mods for the new forum, very thrilled to have something specifically for racers.

Secondly, I am finally going to break my Cowes Week duck this year & was wondering if anyone had any helpful tips, for on or off the water. I'm 41, so anything that involves more than three pints or staying up past 1am would be a stretch, but all other suggestions gratefully received!

 

[flaming]

Congrats! Despite all the hate that Cowes gets these days, it's still a hell of an event, and better than 8 days at work!

On the water
- Plan ahead, unlike most racing it's not all ww/lw, so know what the wind angle of the next leg will be, and make the call for what sail you'll want well in advance.
- Get on the water in plenty of time - especially if you're starting off a committee boat line, as they have a habit of being miles away.
- Long races, plan to have some sort of food / energy bars available.
- Make sure you have a swimming costume available for the inevitable wind delay
- Read the SIs! Cowes have a habit of throwing a weird thing in. Normally discovered by a whole lot of DSQs. One year it was the definition of the IDM was different from every other regatta ever.
- Get a copy of winning tactics and winning tides
- Pre program your GPS with every mark, don't assume that they won't send you round no mans land fort, cos they will...

Off the water.
- Enjoy the atmosphere, it can be pretty good fun, but make sure you venture beyond the beer tent, the pubs are also excellent during Cowes.
- There's a great ice-cream shop about 5 doors up from the regatta office for those days when you're off the water too early to just start drinking / are still hungover.

 

[lw395]

If you are in a late start, watch some of the early starts from the Squadron.
What boat?
On small boats, there can be lots of waves, you get very wet. Wetter than sailing a dinghy. Wetter than scuba diving in fact!
It can be very cold.
Don't skimp on the clothing if it's above F3. A dry top with a neck seal is a good option.

It sometimes pays to know what courses other fleets are doing.

If you are lucky enough to be let loose on unlimited free champagne after a hard day on the water, try not to cause any divorces......
The food ashore can be expensive and rubbish. Cooking a few decent meals in the crew house goes down well.

 

[MissFitz]

What boat?

J109, sadly not mine but a great boat with a good chance of being well-placed, just hoping I can keep up with the pace. Which reminds me to start another thread.......

 

[Keen_Ed]

J109, sadly not mine but a great boat with a good chance of being well-placed, just hoping I can keep up with the pace. Which reminds me to start another thread.......

What's your job going to be?

 

[MissFitz]

Trimmer.

 

[Keen_Ed]

Watch - don't be late for team meetings etc
Small dry bag for extra layers
Hat& sunscreen. Lip sunscreen.
Gloves. 2 or 3 pairs is good. Wash & dry them out.
Sunnies
I like having my own water bottle.
Read the SIs. They go up on the website a couple of weeks before.
Liver

 

[flaming]

Trimmer.

Trimmer on J109...

Best advice is to convince the skipper that the number 3 is quicker slightly lower down the wind range than he thinks... My main memory of trimming on a 109 is that the number 2 is a right bastard at the top of its wind range. And make sure that your mast man is helping flick the jib past the shrouds on the tacks, and recruit the biggest person you can find to tail for you.

Other than that, have fun! Not going this year, and I'm now feeling slightly jealous!

 

[Keen_Ed]

http://www.yachtingworld.com/cowes-week/10-most-common-cowes-week-mistakes-65642?ybw
http://www.yachtingworld.com/cowes-week/how-to-win-at-cowes-week-65668