Argentine Optimist
Notes, tips, papers to help you improve your optimist sailing technique.
Note: this is not the Argentine Association website AOA ! To go
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www.optimist-argentina.org
Who write this ? Diego Ravecca
Argentine optimist coach
The starting line: part I
You need a good start to complete a good race. Take advantage at the starting line is not the only reason. The start define our upwind tactic.
Concepts
The start:
1. Define wich side of the course we will sail.
2. We can take distance advantage starting first.
1. Define the course side.
Starting on port side of the starting line (buoy), it is probably we
should race to the left side of the windward leg course (reach side).
The race development will conduce us to that side even if we like to
go to the other side.
If we start on starboard side (Race Commitee side), it is probably we
race to the right side of the course.
There are exceptions of course. When a side of the starting line is very
favorable, making a good start on this side will give us too much advantage
and we will decide where to go.
2. We can take advantage starting first.
This is the obvious advantage in a start but you must think that is a
momentary advantage. It is 100% effective because every inch you win
in a start you are ahead the others. It is not like a windward leg
advantage, not real since you cross ahead your competitor.
Strategy
This two points must be carefully analized before the race. The decision
you choose is the base for a good windward leg. Collected errors will
be the result at this point, and we probably finish on a layline praying
for a 30 degree wind shift.
From the analysis we´ll take some decisions and call this “strategy”.
It is a plan, an idea about the windward leg future, what we will do
and where we will want to be at every moment.
First, we must put in balance the plus and minus of every starting point.
For example, if we are in a plain race course (no shifty), where no
side are better, we can say that the initial starting advantage will
be very important. Our tactic will be play shifts and sail fast.
When the weight are balanced we´ll find a estable contradiction:
tactic says “go right”, starting line says “go left” and
we don´t know where will we take more advantage. In those cases
I´ll recomend to take the initial advantage of the starting line.
Then play shifts and use your sixth sense.
Goodbye
I hope you have enojoy this, if you have any coments or you need any kind of information, please write me or leave me a message to info@optimist.com.ar .
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Optimist Tips
- Optimist sailing techniques (boat handling)
- Optimist sail trimming
- Tactics at the starting line (Part I)
- Tactics at the starting line (Part II)
- Heavy wind sailing
- The current influence on race courses
- Sailing downwind strategies
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