Jon Emmett talks tactics

The first of several selections from Jon Emmett's new book, 'Be Your Own Sailing Coach'

Olympic campaigner and sailing coach, Jon Emmett has launched a new book, available in the shops today priced at £14.99.

‘Be Your Own Sailing Coach’ is a book intended to help sailors get the best from their racing and provides information on how to set up a campaign and much more. Running to almost 300 pages this is a lengthy tome that covers, in detail, every aspect of a fully competitive campaign. Below, we have a look at the first part of an extract talking tactics.

What are Boat-to-Boat Tactics?

First let us define tactics: this is the way you react to the boats around you, looking at the ‘small picture’. Team racing is an area of the sport which is all about boat-to-boat tactics, because boats are directly pitted against each other and there are lots of short races. Team racing is an excellent method of improving tactical awareness. All sailors who need to improve their boat-to-boat skills are advised to do some team racing.

A good understanding of the racing rules is essential for good tactics (see Chapter 9). In fleet racing, rules are often used defensively, but in team racing they can be used very aggressively. Just knowing what your rights are in any given situation is crucial. In a tight one-on-one situation good tactics have decided medal positions on more than one occasion. All who want to improve their tactical sailing should practise short course racing with lots of boats. This means there are many boat-to-boat situations. Training is an ideal time to do this, as you can complete more short races in a day than perhaps you would in a month of club racing.

It is also essential to have good boat handling skills, because if these are poor they may well limit your tactical options. This overview assumes that you have the required boat handling skills and appropriate rig setting for the race in question. Before you start working on your tactics, ensure that your boat handling is up to scratch (see Chapter 6).

In some races you have to beat a particular boat (perhaps in the final race of a regatta). Here your boat-to-boat tactics are vital, especially if it is a short race, and this may even affect the way you tune your boat. You should consider your tactical options at every point. Effectively this means having a mental tactical dartboard so you know what is the most important factor and how much importance or risk you can attach to it.



Upwind Tactics

The most basic upwind tactic is to cover the opposition. This works most effectively when the fleet is well spread out and there are only a few boats which can attack your position. This does not work well in crowded situations. If you come out of the start leading 100 boats you can not possibly cover them all (and by concentrating on one boat you may let 99 others past!). However, on the final beat you can easily concentrate on the boat closest to you.

Cover

There are two types of cover:

Loose cover is where you are effectively staying between the chasing boat and the next mark but not giving them too much bad air (where the wind has come off your leach before reaching their sails). This means they are likely to carry on sailing.

Tight cover is where you are much closer and are really trying to slow the other boat down by maximising the amount of dirty air you give them. This may result in a tacking duel as the other boat tries to fi nd clean air.

Attack and Defence

Boat-to-boat tactics is reactive sailing. That is when one boat does something to you, and you need to react immediately. You may, for example, wish (for whatever reason) to keep to the right of a boat (to get the next shift, stay in better current, etc.), so
whenever it goes right, you go right.

Remember the boat behind (whether upwind or downwind) is always the attacker. It dictates when the lead boat must tack (to cover) and can therefore force it to tack onto headers, or, when downwind, can aggressively cover the boat in front. Playing ‘attacker/defender’ is a very good exercise, but it can get quite aggressive with two equally matched sailors, or quite disheartening for two mismatched sailors. It is always best to race with someone of similar abilities, ensuring that both sailors stay within the rules.

Leading the Fleet

When leading the race you must decide on your tactics to stay there: you may wish to allow the fleet to follow you.

To get the fleet to go right: Sail fast and free from the leeward mark. The chasing pack will think they have rounded on a better heading and be tempted to follow you.



To get the fleet to go left: Immediately after rounding the mark, put in a tack, then tack back, so as to give lots of dirt to the next boat. Try and cover the fleet tightly on port (giving them lots of dirt), but only cover loosely on starboard. Every time they try and go right, return to hard cover and hope they get the hint!

Tight cover them and tack every time they tack to keep them in as much dirty air as possible. (You need to be confident that your boat handling is at least as good, but preferably better than the closest boats). Keep as close as you dare! Each tack should lose them some ground (but will also lose you some ground). It rarely pays to cover someone tightly at the beginning of a race or regatta, as you will end up giving away too much ground to other boats.

Consistency

If you can, try and work more towards the side of the course you believe favoured, but stay between the fleet and the next mark of the course. If possible, try not to hit the lay lines too early (as this will limit your options).

Sail Your Own Race

If the conditions are very flukey, you may just have to get on with your own race. The wind may be very different just 20 yards away, and you could end up losing by trying to cover. However, if you are the fastest person in the fleet and winning, there is usually no reason for sailing your own race. You should apply at least a loose cover to the fleet, as there is no difference in the scoring between winning by an inch or by a mile.

When approaching the windward mark, make sure you do not allow room for other boats to tack inside you. You should be approaching the mark at full speed. Let the sail controls off at the last minute.

When rounding marks it is important to avoid sailing through the fleet and the dirty wind and water around them. At the windward mark try and pick a side to approach from when 4–6 boat lengths away (so you are not doing lots of tacks just below the windward mark). After rounding the downwind mark/gate try to avoid tacking into the boats still coming downwind.

Jon's book can be purchased online via Wiley.com here