Cruisers' skills for boy racers

[oldbilbo]

Noted from PBO News that 22 y.o. Jack Bouttell, of Artemis Offshore Racing, ( http://www.artemisoffshoreacademy.com/squad/view/jack_bouttell ) comments....

'I've made lots of little modifications to my boat to make life easier like..... adjusting the tiller height so I can steer with my bottom while gybing!'

Ah, it's grand to see that some of the hard-learned cutting-edge sailing skills this old-timer has used year in, year out, for decades are still valued by up-and-coming 'take no prisoners' young blades.

Then there's the trad navigator's skill of production of a dozen halfway decent G&Ts in a bouncing galley, then getting them intact in one trip up on deck and distributed to the guys and gals sitting the boat out.

There's a lot of practical seamanship, well-known to the likes of Des Sleightholme, Geoff Pack and Roger Taylor, that can't be learned in singlehanded sailing..... no, racing!

What else does the team think he still has to learn from the protégés of Mike Peyton among us....?

 

[Tomahawk]

How to enjoy the peace and quiet of a muddy backwater whilst waiting for the tide....

 

[Searush]

I always carry a set of stumps, bat & ball for the occasional short cut that fails.

 

[armchairsailor]

I always carry a set of stumps, bat & ball for the occasional short cut that fails.

LOL, I can tell you cruise the Straits!

 

[monkfish24]

I always scour the charity shops for sailing books, one of my best buys has been a 1960's book about how to improve your yacht.

Do you know what? even though that the book is twice as old as I am, it's just as relevant now. Funny that eh?

 

[LittleSister]

Some years ago, I was lent a Enterprise dinghy and turned up back at the reservoir sailing club to test her after fixing a leak. It was a very windy day, races were in progress and people were capsizing all over the place (before and after races, too). My crew (a friend's son) bottled out when he saw the carnage on the water.

A small crowd gathered, with much sucking of teeth as I rigged her with mainsail only. They told me it would be unbalanced. I explained that I was doing so as I'd be sailing single-handed (I thought the advantage of less sail would outweigh the imbalance.). More sucking of teeth and rolling of eyes. Mention was made of the safety boat being fully occupied with rescuing capsized racers.

I had begun to doubt my own ability/wisdom, but launched anyway. Spilling the wind from the sail to suit, I happily sailed the length and breadth of the reservoir sitting inside the boat (not on the gunwhale) completely under control, and watching boat after boat going over around me. I began to regret not having got here early enough to register for the races - it seemed I could have got myself a good place just jilling along and avoiding capsizing.

I was (and still am) surprised, but the only explanation I could think of was that, being a racing club, most people only knew how to sail flat out, and didn't know how to go slow or deal with being overcanvassed.

 

[oldbilbo]

I was (and still am) surprised.... most people only knew how to sail flat out, and didn't know how to go slow or deal with being overcanvassed.

Really good offshore racers - those who consistently place in the top 3 or 4 - know how to sail their boats slow AND fast, in light weather and foul. They know when to go for it and when to hold back a bit. They can fix broken things, and keep their boats out of the press frenzy, except maybe when they win.

No, despite what the UKSA would have you believe, there's no short cut you can buy, no 'quick fix'. You need to have put the time in, under your belt, and learned stuff from all that.... and continue learning.

There's a difference between being a 'boy wonder apprentice' and a well-seasoned journeyman.