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Current issue #119 - Light Air Downwind
Recent Articles
- ISSUE 119
- ISSUE 117 – Find time to make better decisions
- ISSUE 112 – Rules of Thumb
- ISSUE 114 – Mainsail Sail Controls
- ISSUE 119 - Light Air Speed Downwind
- ISSUE 116: Attack Your Speed Problem!
- ISSUE 118: Laylines
- ISSUE 113: The philosophy of one-versus-one
ISSUE 116: Attack Your Speed Problem!
No sailor or boat is fast all the time. Because there are so many variables in sailboat racing and because wind conditions change constantly, having consistently good speed can be elusive, no matter how hard you work at it. Going slow occasionally is part of the game, but if this happens more than once in a while you may have a dreaded case of “the slows.”
We all know how bad it feels to be slower than everyone else. It’s impossible to hold a lane off the starting line, difficult to look smart tactically or strategically, tempting to bang the corners and generally frustrating whenever you are near other boats (which is most of the time until they all get ahead of you!).
The worst thing about “the slows” is not knowing why you are being passed. It would be one thing if you understood the problem because then you could take steps to fix it. But it’s tough when the problem is mysterious and you’re not sure what to do next.
Even the very best sailors in the world get “the slows” now and then. However, they are usually able to solve their speed problems quickly and that’s why they’re successful. They may be slow for a windward leg, or even for a day or two, but they are good at figuring out what’s wrong and then getting their groove back.
On the other hand, many sailors catch “the slows” for a whole season (or even longer!). For these racers, going faster is the number one thing that will improve their race results and make racing more fun. To improve their speed, the first step is figuring out why they are slow. Then it will be relatively easy to find a cure. That process is what this issue is all about. •
No sailor or boat is fast all the time. Because there are so many variables in sailboat racing and because wind conditions change constantly, having consistently good speed can be elusive, no matter how hard you work at it. Going slow occasionally is part of the game, but if this happens more than once in a while you may have a dreaded case of “the slows.”
We all know how bad it feels to be slower than everyone else. It’s impossible to hold a lane off the starting line, difficult to look smart tactically or strategically, tempting to bang the corners and generally frustrating whenever you are near other boats (which is most of the time until they all get ahead of you!).
The worst thing about “the slows” is not knowing why you are being passed. It would be one thing if you understood the problem because then you could take steps to fix it. But it’s tough when the problem is mysterious and you’re not sure what to do next.
Even the very best sailors in the world get “the slows” now and then. However, they are usually able to solve their speed problems quickly and that’s why they’re successful. They may be slow for a windward leg, or even for a day or two, but they are good at figuring out what’s wrong and then getting their groove back.
On the other hand, many sailors catch “the slows” for a whole season (or even longer!). For these racers, going faster is the number one thing that will improve their race results and make racing more fun. To improve their speed, the first step is figuring out why they are slow. Then it will be relatively easy to find a cure. That process is what this issue is all about.
