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A Racing Primer A Beginner's Guide to Getting onto the Racecourse By Bill Mattson |
| Since I started racing in 1997, I observed a disturbing trend at regattas. Participation is declining. Not a significant decline, but a decline nonetheless. Maybe some racers just don't have time for events anymore. Maybe some don't even have time to sail much anymore. |
| Of those who do sail, I've noticed an increase in racing interest. This interest has been expressed on Internet forums, as well as by other sailors I have met. "How do I get into this racing thing?" This article attempts to answer that very question. This is by no means a resource for helping you win races. It will not delve into the fine points of tactics and strategy. (There are plenty of resources out there for that information.) |
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This is simply a guide to help get folks who are interested in racing their boats to
actually get out and race their boats. Maybe we can help turn the decline around.
My racing experience is limited to the Hobie 16; raced in North American Hobie Class Association (NAHCA) sanctioned events, and some multi-hull open class events. Most all Hobie events are weekend events held Saturday through Sunday. Races generally end around four or five on Sunday, to facilitate those who have a lengthy drive home and need to work the next morning. Most will facilitate camping, and some include dinners and even live music. The events are social as much as they are competitive, and once you've been to a few, you will recognize a lot of faces at every event you attend. I can truly say that racing my Hobie has produced some of the most enjoyable sailing experiences I've had with it. Required Skills Before you consider racing your boat, you should have relatively good boat handling skills. Aside from general sailing skills, you should be able to park your boat in one place, get it out of irons, and tack reasonably well. This skill level is enough to get you into the game. Of course, the more advanced you are, the better you will do. Nevertheless, one way to advance your skills quickly is to start racing. You will be able to easily gauge your performance against the other boats, and observe the more advanced skippers. The Hobie racing crowd is a friendly one. There are always skippers who will help you setup and tune your boat, and offer tips (even on the water). Hobie racing offers four skill levels: Novice fleet, C fleet, B fleet, and A fleet. This allows you to race against competitors who are at or near your own skill level. In my experience, if you have decent sailing skills you can start in C fleet. Required Equipment The racing rules state that both skipper and crew require a personal flotation device (PFD). If racing in North America, the rules state that your boat requires a Comptip. A comp tip is a fiber glass section of mast starting just above the hounds (where the shrouds attach) and ending at the masthead. Newer boats have Comptips. Older boats have "all aluminum" masts. If you have an "all aluminum" mast, the rules allow you one regatta without the Comptip. The next regatta you attend requires that you either have the Comptip, or proof that you have ordered one. The part costs about $250 and can be installed by your local Hobie dealer. The installation requires that the top of your "all aluminum" mast be cut off and the Comptip installed in its place. Should you have a nice leak free "all aluminum" mast, you may elect to buy a used mast to have a Comptip installed on. Reality check: Most regatta organizers and participants always need more boats. It is very unlikely you will be turned away if you don't have a Comptip. But you did not hear that here. You will also, need a colored ribbon attached to the leech (rear) of your main sail to denote what fleet you are in: Novice: No ribbon C Fleet: Yellow ribbon on second batten from the boom. B Fleet: Blue ribbon on first batten from the boom. A Fleet: Red ribbon on the rear of the boom. Some events require North American Hobie Class Association (NAHCA) membership. See www.nahca.org for details. Some events offer discounts to US Sailing members. See www.ussailng.org for details. You will need a watch with a countdown timer, which should be worn by your crew. This watch will be needed for the start sequence. In addition, a "course sticker" is necessary, since it will show you what course you will be running (more on this later). Also, there are stickers that show the various flags that may be displayed on the committee boat. Get some sort of bridle fly, or audiotape applied to your bridle for determining wind direction. This is especially useful when going downwind. There are the other usual items such as sunglasses, sunblock, and a wetsuit, should the conditions warrant one. In some venues, beach wheels may be required to move your boat to the water. In this case, there will be numerous sets available to borrow if you don't have a set of your own. Finally, make sure you have liability insurance before you enter your boat in a race. This is a relatively small expense (around $60 per year). This is much cheaper than broadsiding a spanking new Hobie Fox, then having to pay for it out of pocket. Contact your homeowners or automobile insurance carrier for boat liability coverage. Boat Setup For C fleet racing, just about any age boat will do the job. It is a good idea to get to the regatta early if you are new to racing. The Hobie racing crowd is a very helpful one. If you tell people you are new and need some help you are going to get plenty of assistance. If you have an older boat, you may wish to rake your mast back for betting pointing, as well as tune your rudders. The On The Wire archives contain information on this projects. Contact the editor if you cannot locate this information. The Course |
| The course layout includes a start/finish line, and three marks. The start/finish line is a committee boat and a small marker buoy. Some race committees may elect to have a start line on one side of the boat and a finish line on the other. "A" mark is directly upwind of the start/finish line. "B" mark is on the port (left) side of the course, and is usually located 90 to 105 abeam of "A" mark. "C" mark is directly downwind of the start/finish line. Each mark is left to port. That is, as you round the mark it is on the port side of your boat. In some cases, "C" mark may be a "gate", which is two buoys. In this case, you approach the gate downwind, pass between the marks, then exit to either side thus rounding one of the buoys. |
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Note that there are different course numbers, each of which have you rounding the marks in a particular order and/or number of times. The courses are: |
| Course No | Course | . | Finish | Options |
| 1 | (S) A C A | (F) | Downwind | 1 G |
| 2 | (S) A C A C A | (F) | Downwind | 2 G |
| 3 | (S) A C A B C | (F) | Upwind | . |
| 4 | (S) A B C A C | (F) | Upwind | . |
| 5 | (S) A C | (F) | Upwind | 5 G |
| 6 | (S) A C A C | (F) | Upwind | 6 G |
| 7 | (S) A C A B C A C | (F) | Upwind | . |
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There are course stickers available at sailing supply outlets such as Murrays (www.murrays.com), which can be applied to your boat for reference on the water. | |
| Since on the water conditions will dictate what course will be chosen by the race committee (RC), the course number will be displayed on the committee boat before each race. Conventions will vary, but if you are racing a Hobie 16 in C fleet, your sign may look similar to the one at the right. | 
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In this case, you will be using course number three. This course dictates that you first round A mark, then
C, then A, then B, then C, then finish. (This route is shown on the diagram at left.)
Hobie Class rules state that an official regatta must have at least four races during the whole event. In good wind, it is typical to see approximately four races on Saturday and three races on Sunday. |
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Right-of-Way |
| Before getting into the rules of the road, some definitions are in order. When underway, a boat is on either a starboard tack or a port tack. A boat is on a starboard tack when the wind is coming from her right or starboard side. A boat is on a port tack when the wind is coming from her port or left side. |
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| Here are the basic rules of the road: |
| When boats are on different tacks, the boat on the starboard tack has the right-of-way. In this case, Frank has the right of way. |
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| When boats are on the same tack, and "overlapped", the boat downwind has the right-of-way. In this case, Frank has the right of way. |
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| If boats are not overlapped, the boat "clear ahead" has the right-of-way. In this case, Bill has the right of way. |
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When approaching an obstruction, the outside boat shall provide room for the inside boat to clear the
obstruction.
There are numerous small variations to these rules, particularly in the area of marks and obstructions. The complete rules are available at the NAHCA website at www.nahca.org. However, the rules I have covered above should get you through your first event okay, providing you do not get overly aggressive. In any case, you should avoid contact with other boats regardless of your rights. The Start The sailboat racing start is one of the most challenging and exciting parts of sailboat racing. Good starts require concentration, timing, quick judgement, and good boat handling skills. Start sequences will vary by event. The race committee (RC) will explain the starting sequence at the skipper's meeting, which is held Saturday morning before racing begins. First, you will need to know when your class starts. A typical class start would be: Hobie Foxes Hobie 20s Hobie 18s and 17s Hobie 16 A Hobie 16 B and C Hobie 14 Note that in this case, the Hobie 16 B and C fleeters start together. Sometimes C fleeters will get their own start, but many times there are not enough C's to warrant this. As of March 2001, there are two starting sequences available. In the table below, the "Time" column refers to minutes before the start. RRS 26 |
| Meaning | Visual | Motion | Sound | Time |
| Warning Signal | Class flag | Hoisted | One | 5 min |
| Preparatory Signal | International code flag P, I, Z or Black flag | Hoisted | One | 4 min |
| One Minute Signal | International code flag P, I, Z or Black flag | Lowered | One | 1 min |
| Starting Signal | Class flag | Lowered | One | 0 |
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System 2 |
| Meaning | Visual | Motion | Sound | Time |
| Warning Signal | yellow or white flag | Hoisted | one | 10 min |
| Lowered | 6 min | |||
| Preparatory Signal | Blue flag | Hoisted | One | 5 min |
| One Minute Signal | Blue flag | Lowered | 1 min | |
| Starting Signal | Red flag | Hoisted | One | 0 |
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All flags and horns are operated on the committee boat, at the start line. You are most likely to encounter the System 2 sequence. In this sequence, a yellow or white flag is raised and a horn is sounded. After 4 minutes, it is lowered. One minute after it is lowered, a blue flag is raised and a horn is sounded. |
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Four
minutes later, the blue flag is lowered and you have one minute before the start. The red flag is then raised,
a horn is sounded, and the race is on!
Remember the starting order of the classes and fleets. In the aforementioned example, the Hobie Foxes will start first. Soon, you'll see the progression of each class start. When you see the Hobie 16 As start, you know you're class is next. Before the Hobie 16 C sequence, your "countdown timer" equipped watch should be set for 5 minutes. Have your boat in position where you can see the signals on the committee boat. When the blue flag is raised, start the timer. At your earliest opportunity, check the course number you will be running. A very common mistake is not checking the course number. Then when you are out on the racecourse, you don't know where you are going, once you round A mark. In this case, you can always follow the other boats. However, it can be a real shame if you find yourself in the lead, and don't know what the course number is. Don't ask me how I know, I just know. I used to try to remember to check the number as I came over the line during the start. However, there are so many distractions during a start (timing your approach, watching other boats, etc), it was easy to forget. So, again, check the course number as soon as it is displayed. A note on rolling starts: Sometimes the RC will elect to use rolling starts, in which the start of one race is part of the preparatory for the next race. The sequence will vary by event. For instance, considering the aforementioned class starting order, your blue flag may be raised exactly one minute after the Hobie 16 A's start. In this case, there would be no "warning signal" flag for anyone except the first class to start. With 5 minutes to the start, things may look a bit chaotic. Your competitors will be going in different directions. Some will be making practice runs across the start line to determine if the course is starboard favored, or port favored. Some may be considering a port start, which is a risky maneuver, since you have no right-of-way against all the starboard tack boats on the line. Do not attempt to start on a port tack if you are new to racing. At about two or 3 minutes to go, boats will start to group up, just downwind and to starboard of the committee boat. With 1 minute to go, boats should be on their way to the line. As the start time approaches, there will be a lot of yelling going on. Remember, downwind boats have the right-of-way in an overlap situation. Just before a start, there are many overlaps. A skipper yelling "HEAD UP! HEAD UP!" is giving notice to an upwind boat to head up further into the wind. A common rookie mistake is to avoid going over the line early by heading down onto other boats. This is called "barging" and is not legal. If you are on the line, and a skipper is downwind of you telling you to "HEAD UP", you may have to cross the line to stay within the rules. I would recommend following the pack to the line if it is your first race. You would be in a position to observe the other boats, learn more about the process, and reduce your risks of a collision or foul. As you get experience, you may elect to get right into the pack. You may decide to do this by the third race of the day, or maybe just wait for a future regatta. |
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Then the red flag is raised, you are racing. If you were close to the line, you should glance at the committee
boat for a "individual recall" flag. If displayed, at least one boat was over the line early. If you are where
over the line early, you need to sail back down under the line, then restart.
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| If a general recall occurs, so many boats were over the line early that the RC has elected to restart the race. In this case, return to the starting area, and wait for the sequence to begin again. Some RCs will announce "All Clear" on a bullhorn after the start. This lets everyone know that no recalls were called. |
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Once the race is started, you begin your upwind tacking to A mark. Initially, all boats will be together on a starboard tack, except boats, which may have elected to start on port. Soon, boats will begin tacking to port, while others will continue on starboard. Strategy and tactics now come into play as boats tack for clean air or an otherwise more favorable position. This is where sailboat racing is a bit different from other vehicle racing. Within minutes, you may be alone as everyone has tacked off at different times. Actually, you may even be alone because everyone is pulling away from you. In this case, don't get discouraged. Just carry on and do the best you can. You will get better at each regatta you attend. I guarantee it. Although you may find yourself alone, you won't be for long as you now encounter boats on different tacks. Remember, there were four races started before yours, so there are a bunch of boats on the water heading in different directions. Be diligent about checking under your boom for other boats. If you are on a starboard tack, and are approaching a boat on port, hail "STARBOARD!" to warn them. Yell loud. This is a courtesy to let them know you are there. . If you are on a port tack and hear someone hail "STARBOARD!", look for the boat and be prepared to react. Another thing to watch for in this case is the starboard boat waving you on. In some cases it may be disadvantageous for the other boat (who may be in a different class) to have you tack at that point. In this case, the skipper has elected to allow you to pass in front. At some point, you will make your final tack to starboard to "lay" the mark. The line on which you sail this tack to round the mark is called the "layline". Tack too early, and you either cannot make the mark, or must "pinch" high into the wind to do so. Tack too late, and you've wasted time travelling a further distance. It takes discipline to not tack too early, especially if you are behind and are trying to catch up, or are leading by a close margin. Getting onto the layline early has the advantage of getting onto a starboard tack and having rights as you approach the mark. Alternatively, getting to the layline late (or closer to the mark) can have you on a port tack and encountering a parade of boats on starboard. This is a dicey situation, especially for the new racer. There are additional rules that come into play at the mark, all of which are covered in The Racing Rules of Sailing. Unless you are very sure of your rights as well as your boat handling skill, swing wide at crowded marks. Mixing it up with other boats at the mark can be very exciting, but there will be plenty of time for that later when you are really sure of what you are doing. Once around A mark, you will either head off on a beam reach to B mark, or start heading downwind to C mark. Alternatively, you may not know what to do as you now recall that you did not look at the course number. Remember, if going to C mark, your cat is very slow going direct downwind. It sails much faster with some apparent wind in the sails. A good point of sail downwind is one that keeps your wind indicator at 90 degrees apparent wind. |
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So that nice clean racing diagram looks a bit different when we trace your boat's path on the course.
It is important to note that the start finish line may be closed during the race. This means you cannot cross the line unless you are starting or finishing. Should this be the case, it is usually mentioned at the skipper's meeting. If it is not, you may elect to ask the RC if the line will be closed. |
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At the downwind mark, or C mark, you must round the mark leaving it to your port side.
In the case of a "gate", or two marks, you must pass between the marks, then you may exit to either side. Rounding C mark can be challenging for the beginner, since you must now immediately trim your boat for upwind sailing. Centering the traveller, sheeting in, and steering all at the same time can be difficult. You may elect to center the traveller just before reaching the mark to give yourself one less thing to do as you make the rounding. |
 Diagram of a gate, or maybe my next T Shirt design |
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Depending on the course, you are now on your way back to A mark or to the finish line. As you are finishing a race, you need sail over the line established by the committee boat and a buoy. If there is a separate starting line and finishing line on each side of the boat, make sure you cross on the correct side. You may hear your sail numbers being recited on the committee boat. This is to record your boat's position in the race. If you are first, you will hear a horn, denoting that you have won. On the other extreme, if you are really behind and delaying the subsequent racing, you may be "finished on the course". In this case, a chase boat will approach you on the course to let you know you are finished, and you may proceed back to the group of boats to await your next start.  While waiting for your next start, be patient with the race committee. While there are times where you will be starting right away, other times you can wait quite a while. The race committee may be moving marks, waiting for other boats to finish, or dealing with other things that prevent a race from starting. For you, it's a nice time to relax, get a snack (if you've packed something), and chat with nearby sailors. One important point about waiting for the next race is the rule that states a boat racing has the right-of-way over a boat that is not. While you may be waiting, another class may still be racing (usually coming downwind). If you see a boat or boats coming into your area, you may want to get out of the way. If it does not look like you have time to do so, it may be better just to sit where you are and not make any sudden moves. This way, the racing boat can make minor adjustments early to avoid you. At the end of the racing day, most boats will start hitting the beach at around the same time. If you don't have beach wheels, find a pair that is not being used. If you have a set, you may have to wait while someone else is using them. This is usually how it works at regattas I attend, and it is a pretty good system. While you wait for available wheels, help other sailors push their boats. It's a courtesy to them, plus you can grab their wheels when you're done. If it's Saturday, you now lower your sails, stow your gear, get cleaned up, and then find the party and/or dinner. Wherever the gathering is, you may see the race results posted, which will tell you where you stand. If it's Sunday, you now need to get your boat derigged and on the trailer, get cleaned up, then attend the trophy presentation. Attending the presentation is not a requirement, but is a good idea if you have the time. You can show your support for the winners, get a chance to meet more sailors, and hear some of the "battle stories". At some point, you are going to have to attend to collect your trophy!!! Racing is not for everyone. However, giving it a try may open up a whole new world to you. Your skills will advance as competition pushes you. Also, you will have a group of skilled sailors to help you. Ask questions on the beach. Observe the other boats on the water. Try not to be discouraged if you are left in the dust. At first, you will not believe how fast other boats are, and how high they can point. Later on, you will not believe how you are doing the same. This is where it really gets fun. Bill Mattson mattson@earthlink.net Additional resources on sailboat racing: On The Wire Archives US Sailing North American Hobie Class Association (NAHCA) International Hobie Class Association (IHCA) Art Engel's Rules Pages Cat-alist.com Catamaran Racing: From Start to Finish; Phil Berman; Paperback Catamaran Racing : For the 90's Rick White, Mary Wells / Paperback High Performance Sailing; Frank Bethwaite; Paperback Back to Features |