Racing: Overview | Tactics/Strategy | Rules | Sail Trim | Getting Started
There are many types of sailboat racing. Match racing like the America's Cup. Team Racing like many schools prefer. Olympic courses, long distance rances, etc.
To the left is a picture of the logical sequence (i.e. not the boat's true path through the water) of a typical race. (click for larger image). In Area III (Southern Lake Michigan),
where Mikaze races, most weekend races are "Windward-Leeward" races. The course is set up with inflatable buoys just minutes before
the start so that the windward mark is directly upwind from the start. The boats then race up to the windward
mark, around it (leaving it on the port side), down to the leeward mark (often near the start), then up and down again (4 legs)
and a finish downwind near the starting line. This type of racing allows for more passing, impactful tactics,
and more strategic options.
Typically our courses are about 1nm long, and we race 4 legs, however it all depends on the wind. Lower wind, shorter course. Sometimes we do 3 legs, or other times we do 6. Sometimes we do trapezoids, and other time we do a long distance race from one port to another.
To start the race there is a defined sequence of flag signals and sounds. The basic start consists of a 5-minute warning (a class flag is raised and a gun is shot), a 4-minute warning (a second flag (the "P" flag) is raised and a second sound is made), a 1-minute warning (the "P" flag is lowered and sound made), and then the start (class flag lowered and the gun sounded again).
Typically our courses are about 1nm long, and we race 4 legs, however it all depends on the wind. Lower wind, shorter course. Sometimes we do 3 legs, or other times we do 6. Sometimes we do trapezoids, and other time we do a long distance race from one port to another.
To start the race there is a defined sequence of flag signals and sounds. The basic start consists of a 5-minute warning (a class flag is raised and a gun is shot), a 4-minute warning (a second flag (the "P" flag) is raised and a second sound is made), a 1-minute warning (the "P" flag is lowered and sound made), and then the start (class flag lowered and the gun sounded again).
We can't sail right into the wind, but we can sail at about 45 degrees off the wind, going up and across the wind. So
we start off going one way, then we turn through the wind (tack) to put the wind on the other side, and continue tacking until we
get to the windward mark. Once around the mark we go downwind. While we can sail directly downwind, it isn't necessarily the fastest and also it
can be dangerous if you accidentally gybe (turn so the wind crosses the stern of the boat). On upwind legs, if
you are ahead of someone, you can set up directly windward of them and give them bad wind. Once you go downwind, the
tables are turned and now those behind you can block your wind and try to catch up. This is why windward-leeward courses
are preferred by many.
