Racing Advice

[AndCur]

Hi Folks

Could the racers out there advise on this one. On the final beat we approach the mark we are in the inside with another Achilles 24 on the outside both boats are now level. From there to the finish its a short reach of 200 yards then a gybe round the last mark and 50 yards to the finish. So we round the mark the other A24 is now on the outside and has the wind so pushed ahead and beats us by a boat length. What should I have done to keep the lead?

 

[William_H]

Normally an inside berth on the mark should leave you a boat length or more in front, if the other guy has taken the longer path around you and the buoy. One would expect then that the other guy even though he is windward boat is far enough back for it not to matter.
So I imagine that it was in the rounding that something went wrong. A slow tack by your crew perhaps. More practice needed.
Once the other guy is abeam you and to windward on a reach you are pretty much sunk unless in the gybe you end up windward boat but you only had 50 yeards to get in front.
I certainly don't think you should give up that covetted inside berth on the windward mark. You just need to make the most of it.
Having said that it is a sport and anything can happen by way of bad luck or lucky gust for the opposition. It may all be different next time.
Just enjoy good racing olewill PS I love this stuff close in battles with firends. My little boat is particularly agile but not as fast as the bigger boats. Makes a lot of fun. (every summer Sunday afternoon.

 

[Daydream believer]

On the reach you could have luffed him up a bit.
By the gybe mark you could have effectively pushed him well out so he had further to go.
You would then gybe to suit yourself & covered him on the home run assuming it was a complete change of tack this pushing him further out
In theory he would be to the lea of you but if you pushed him far enough over you would get a course home which would not be down wind but with the wind more off the beam giving you chance o cover him & have a faster leg for the last bit rather than a dead run

 

[flaming]

When your focus is beating just the boat closest to you, this is boat on boat tactics, rather than strategy, or boat on fleet tactics.

The simplest way of beating another boat is to stay between them and the finish line, and keep clean air.

If they steal your wind, they will pass you. Fight like mad to keep clean air. If they're coming past to windward, luff them. All the way to head to wind if you have to. (Note, this ONLY applies if beating this one particular boat is the imperative, don't lose sight of the overall race)

 

[AndCur]

Cheers Guys. I now know what my mistake was. Should have luffed the other boat up. Wont make the mistake again.

 

[flaming]

And one day you'll be the one lining up the pass. Then make sure you make it difficult for the other boat to get to you, aiming to pass just to windward will never work against an experienced opponent.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

I'm with William H on this one. If you were freeing off to round the first mark then there isnt a huge amount you can do since you are already in his windshadow and losing ground. You can try to luff him but when eventually you have to free off he will still be very close (depending on how fast he reacts) and to windward of you. Obvious question is how did you get alongside each other - was he the overtaking boat or did you try to overtake him in his lee? The latter would be silly.

If you have to tack at this mark then you need to stay out a bit and tack in ( ie closest to the mark after the tack), in which case as william says you should secure a boat lengths advantage or at least get clear air after the mark.

 

[Daydream believer]

I'm with William H on this one. If you were freeing off to round the first mark then there isnt a huge amount you can do since you are already in his windshadow and losing ground. You can try to luff him but when eventually you have to free off he will still be very close (depending on how fast he reacts) and to windward of you. Obvious question is how did you get alongside each other - was he the overtaking boat or did you try to overtake him in his lee? The latter would be silly.

If you have to tack at this mark then you need to stay out a bit and tack in ( ie closest to the mark after the tack), in which case as william says you should secure a boat lengths advantage or at least get clear air after the mark.

Op said gybed so he should have been able to take the other boats wind
If he pushed the boat a long way out he would have room to head on a reach & not pt luffed out of the finish line if he got luffed after the gybe. Remember he only had 50 m to go after gybing
It helps to let the other boat keep a small overlap at the gybe mark so he cannot get round inside & you cover him on the last leg. If he is on the outside he cannot take your wind on the last run as you will be to windward after the gybe