Archive for the ‘Sailing Techniques’ Category
October 18th, 2011 | 
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Advances in sailing technology have given rise to boats that appear to sail into the wind. But while they do come close, they can’t—physics simply doesn’t allow it. To move forward in this position, you have to be moving faster than the wind, which isn’t possible considering you rely on the wind for propulsion. Boats create the illusion of sailing upwind by zigzagging across the headwind at close angles, which when viewed from a distance can sometimes appear straight. This technique is known as “tacking.” If you want to learn how to sail into the wind, this is what you’re really aiming for.
In tacking, you let the boat travel at an angle from its desired direction for a distance, then you swing the boom of the sail and travel at the opposite angle. If you start by traveling to the right of your course, you swing across to the left, then back to the right, and so on. You therefore cross the wind’s path from time to time. This allows you to use the wind from other directions, which earlier methods did not allow. It also makes it look like you are sailing into the wind, although you are actually cutting across it.
How do you move forward while moving at an angle from the wind—sometimes even at right angles? This has something to do with the boat’s keel, which remains underwater. It creates drag as the boat moves along, so that it doesn’t easily follow the push of the wind. The wind is pushing the boat in its direction, but the keel, aligned with the boat’s center, keeps trying to push the boat in the path it’s facing (i.e. forward). These two forces result in the boat moving in a tacking direction. Traveling at a 90-degree angle is called using a half-wind, and it’s commonly used to reduce the influence of the wind and be able to maneuver more tightly.
Being able to tack effectively relies largely on your boat’s construction, specifically the hull, keel, and sail. The triangular sails commonly used today are much better for travelling at an angle than the square sails used in older days. These sails, along with a narrow hull for better precision, allow for good maneuverability in strong winds, and more importantly, in areas with no favourable winds. As explained above, a large keel provides drag and therefore stability when sailing at an angle.
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How come sailing is not an NCAA sport?
The Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) is the governing body of intercollegiate sailing, not the NCAA. Early in the 20th century a group of savvy business types got together and founded an organization purely devoted to competitive sailing at the collegiate level (the Inter-Collegiate Yacht Racing Association). In this manner, sailors ensured that they could govern their own sport rather than some ex-basketball coach who couldn’t care less about a bunch of sailors. Most importantly to college sailors, the ICSA hosts the North American championships each year to determine which college is, in fact, #1.
O.K., so the ICSA governs the national scene, but who runs the show on the local level?
Under the ICSA lie seven member districts that are determined geographically. These include the Northeastern (NEISA), Middle Atlantic (MAISA), South Atlantic (SAISA), Southeastern (SEISA), Midwestern (MCSA), Pacific Coast (PCIYRA), and Northwestern (NWICSA) districts. They each have their own executive board, much like state government versus federal.
O.K., where do I bring my boat?
College sailing is made as simple as possible by design. Host schools provide all of the necessary equipment except for personal gear such as life jackets, boots, and spray suits. All the collegiate sailor has to do is show up. Note: this means the perfect college sailor can hop onto any boat and make it go. One weekend you might sail in a 420 at Navy and the next weekend you might sail in a Flying Junior at Connecticut College.
What different levels of competition exist?
Varsity – The varsity regattas are called “major intersectionals” because they include colleges from each of the national districts. The size of the events range from 10-20 schools depending on the host schools facilities. These regattas have the highest level of skill and competition and are open to any college sailor regardless of sex or class. Intersectionals are always for trophies and major prestige. The results in this circuit alone are what make up the national rankings.
Minor Varsity
These regattas are held solely within the local district and are restricted to competitor teams from within that district. Competition can still be at a very high level as team’s 3rd and 4th skippers/crews sail at these events.
Women’s
These regattas are open to only women. There are both local and major intersectional women’s events. Also the women have their own national rankings.
Freshman
any frosch sailor. That is, anyone who is in their- first year of college.
Keel boats
This far smaller circuit is held in “Big Boats”. “Big boat” events involve boats other than centerboard dinghies. (Some collegiate regattas use J-22′s, J-24′s, Shields, E-22′s, Luders etc. . .)
Wait a minute, this sounds like a lot of people, how many events are there?
On an average weekend as few as two or as many as ten regattas may be scheduled. This is one of the most exciting things about college sailing – everyone (not just the rock stars) get a chance to sail and not just once twice, but actually quite frequently! Of course, money is always the last word, and going to regattas takes lots of it! So the bigger your budget, the more regattas you get to attend.
How does a typical regatta work?
The number of entrants and races are determined by the number of boats owned by the host school. For instance, St. Mary’s has 18 FJ’s. Therefore a regatta at St. Mary’s might have 18 colleges race 18 races in each of two divisions. Generally collegiate regattas have two divisions, an A div. and B division. (Although some special events have more.) The two divisions take turns sailing: First A sails two races then B sails two. The divisions keep switching back and forth until each school has sailed in every boat thereby eliminating any chance that the boat and not the talent of the team will determine the outcome. Finally the scores from each division are added together and the team with the lowest combined score wins.
How does a college team prepare for weekend regattas?
Although every team is different, a typical week of practice might go like the following:
All circuits practice together as one team. Each day has a new theme which is emphasized through a variety of drills thrown in to keep practice exciting, spontaneous, challenging, and fun. A typical collegiate practice is rigorous. The coach will start out with a drill which help warm up boat handling skills and get the skipper and crew working together. It takes time to get the sailors minds off schoolwork and into sailing; these drills facilitate such a transition. Think of them as both physical and mental exercise. (Such drills include rudderless sailing, blindfold sailing, constant gybing/tacking, figure eights, etc . . .) One day each week is devoted solely to racing and practice results are tabulated to help determine the starting sailors. Team racing is also emphasized one day a week where team members have to work together as a unit. One of the most helpful drills is the “crew race” – where the skipper and crew switch places; this is very successful and popular because each person learns to appreciate the difficulty and expertise it takes to succeed at their partners job. Practice runs Monday through Thursday (Friday is reserved for traveling) from 2:45 until sunset.
The season is active in the Fall from Labor Day until Christmas and in the Spring from February 1 to mid-June when the Collegiate North American Championships are held.
The National Rankings
The final aspect of sailing that probably lies first in all sailor’s minds is the National Rankings. The rankings are published in Sailing World magazine twice a semester and are voted on by a panel of three coaches. During the season these coaches assess the performance of teams and rank them accordingly, one through twenty (for varsity) and one through 15 for the women.