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Words of Wisdom – 02-05-06 - Watching Mr. Ed - Steve
Ed seems to have a pretty repeatable pattern to frostbite racing.
Pre-start
• Check the course before the start to determine the start, current and
favored end
• Check and re-check line sight from outside or just inside the windward end
• Determine where you want to go and where you need to start to get there
• Set up in time to ensure you will have a spot in the front row
• Do whatever you can to defend your hole
• Start bow-out on the guy next to you
First Beat
• Go fast to get into the front row (in heavy air this means HIKE)
• Make sure you play the little shifts – you need to take the lifts while
not pinching
• Once in the front row execute on your plan – making sure you have a breeze
lane
• If you can force people to go the wrong way while allowing yourself to go
the right way, do so
• Constantly adjust your controls to maximize speed and pointing – vang on
for puffs, off in lulls – same with the cunningham
• Sail the boat flat and make sure the board is down
Reaches
• Set yourself up to get the next big puff and get the inside overlap where
possible
• Don’t heel to windward on the reach – it is slow
• Keep your fore-aft trim correct, forward in the lulls, back in the gusts
• Don’t fall asleep and let people roll you to windward.
• Pay attention to your telltales – there are major opportunities to gain by
correct trim
Runs
• Sail with your weight as close to the middle of the boat as possible –
this balances the boat for rhythmic movement
• Use your wind indicator and telltales to be sure you are either reaching
or by the lee – dead downwind is painfully slow
• By the lee – ease your vang to free the leech and unbend the mast
promoting reverse flow
• Reaching up – snug the vang and bend the mast to promote regular flow
• If you get out of control put the board down a bit and snug the vang a bit
Final Beats
• Round the leeward mark that is upwind of the other all else being equal
• Don’t overstand the finish line – tack when you get to the layline of the
downwind end
I’m sure there are tons more little tricks that Ed could share with us, but
these are some of the things I have noticed over time.
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