General Observations
It was another European worlds sailed in
generally light conditions. Most of the time the wind was around 8-10 knots. More often than
not the entire fleet was under-pressured with crews bent kneed. Wind got to 14knots on
last beat in race 4 but never once in the whole regatta were we looking to dump pressure.
Competition was undoubtedly the best
ever, with
157 entries including all the best guys from every country. Very easy to have 100 boats in
front of you if you stuff up a first work. The top 10 boats showed their class and it was
obvious after a few races we were racing for a spot hopefully in the teens. As it turned
out 20th wasn’t too bad, we perhaps under-achieved by 5-10 places but it
could easily have been back in the 40’s, 50’s or 60’s if we had a few bad ones.
Australian’s clearly struggle in the
lighter European conditions. The top Aussie boats there,
Ports, Carter, Dunnie and
ourselves have all adopted Proctor masts etc. but we have not had enough top competition
to get the best out of the rigs. Realistically the best two performers in lighter
conditions over the last year in Australia (Ports and ourselves) were still not
competitive with the top 10 boats.
We never really got to see what would
happen if there was a bit more breeze. I have the feeling that all Aussie’s would
have been naturally another 5-10 places higher in the ranking. On the few occasions we
were fully pressured we felt comfortable upwind against even the top 10. I also feel that
the Yanks who were clearly superior in the 10 knot range would not have had it all their
own way if there was any more breeze. Guys like Bergstrom and Schonherr, Upton-Brown and
Pinnell were all poking their noses out in front on the odd occasion there was a bit more
pressure.
Starts
What an experience! It was normal to have
boats right on your lee-bow and on your hip only feet away. We generally started 2 minutes
up the line and were able to establish ourselves in the front row after the first 2
minutes of sailing- mission one accomplished! You had to be able to hang in on starboard
for another 5 minutes and this is where it got interesting. What tended to happen was all
the top 10 boats were starting between 1-3 minutes. I remember on one start eventually
being squeezed out by Ebbe Rosen (probably highest pointing boat in fleet) who started 30 seconds
earlier while trying not to get rolled by Andy Beeckman (probably fastest boat in
the fleet)
who started 30 seconds later. We eventually lost out but not before 20 boats either side
of us were spat out first.
Lessons learned – you have to be
able to find the high gear without compromising too much speed. We found we could always
get off most people’s hip, but often were worried about the next boat rolling you,
which doesn’t seem to be as much of a problem in smaller fleets. We never really
solved this dilemma, I think we just lack time in the boat with big fleets around us.
First Works
We generally had enough pace to hang in
the top 10-20 up the first work. A general pattern emerged with all the top boats
getting out cleanly after having started in the 1-3 minute period. Andy Beeckman clearly
had more pace in 10 knots and led around a lot of top marks. Howie was always in there and
sailed smart to always round in the top half dozen. The difference between top 10 and 40
at the first mark was only a small shift or bit of extra pressure, something too small to
register on the compass or see on the water (at least for mere mortals like us).
I remember saying to Mike in race 2 with
only 200 metres to the top mark that we were in good shape directly downwind from
the mark and
well inside the top ten. Nothing silly, just stay on the shifts with top guys and we will
round well and be away. An ever so slight shift from the right allowed 30 boats to come in
quick and suddenly we were back in the 40’s!
Lesson learned – well, hope you're
quick, bloody difficult if you can’t stay in the front row. Unless you are clearly
one of the top few boats approaching the first mark you have to guess a side for the final
approach and hope you are right, being conservative does not seem to pay in big fleets.
The last shift when all the boats are converging on the top mark is a nightmare and the
difference between say 10th and 40th place.
Upwind Generally
The top 10 boats clearly had an edge. It
is no fluke when the same boats establish themselves all the time at the front. We were
able to match most of the top 10 most of the time when we managed to get away cleanly and
not stuff up. We would eventually lose out, and in hindsight it was probably when the
pressure died a bit and we had to respond to a boat coming up under our lee-bow. In
Australia we are one of the highest boats in the fleet and never really experience having
to respond to this situation. The best guys always seemed to have a high gear and were
able to find it when necessary. When the pressure was on and I could lean back in the
harness we were in the money and were definitely top 10 material, this was also the time
when Schonherr in particular was fast.
Lesson learned – We felt we
weren’t far off overall. We felt most of the difference could be attributed to time
in the boat with good competition close around, knowing instinctively which rope to pull
in a situation. The typical defense when under pressure from a boat to leeward is pull on
forestay. This keeps you off the boat to leeward but in big fleets there is always
somebody on top going fast and likely to punish you if you fall a few boat-lengths back.
We never really found an answer to this and to this day Mike is scratching his head not
knowing which rope to pull or let off when looking for height when I was bent kneed on the
gunwale.
Reaches
Well, there weren’t any tight ones,
that’s for sure. Downwind is where the regatta was won by Howie. He was always
applying pressure on the boats around and making ground and places. The top guys just looked
smoother in the boat and seemed to be able to slip away, especially when it was free.
We carried a copy of the standard Ullman
in most races. We found our pace comparable to those around us and we could defend even
against the very best if attacked. It felt like with a bit more pressure we would have
been in the overtaking lane taking plenty of boats. At times when it was light and we were
trying to get down we felt vulnerable. Generally the kites being used seemed a bit larger
than ours. We tried our bigger Musto one day and it definitely helped, however it takes
away defending the high overtaking lane if needed. In hindsight we should have used the
bigger Musto more, but I think we lived in hope of more pressure and tighter angles.
Lesson learned – in 10 knots there
in only one lane, high! The first dozen boats basically sailed the rhumb-lines going up
and down a bit on the pressure. Boats following had to do whatever was required to stay in
the high lane, which often meant sailing a lot of extra distance. Boats that dived low on
any reach generally got screwed, just too many sails blanketing you to get any reliable
air.
Runs
Again, this is where the really good guys
show through. The top guys were capable of pulling out 50–100 metres on a run. They
don’t look to be going faster or deeper, but at the end you realise a boat you
thought you could grab on the next work if you pick a couple of shifts has slipped out of
reach. We probably passed as many boats as passed us, this is not good enough if you are
back in the 20’s–40’s and looking for finishes higher up.
I didn’t see anybody attempt tacking downwind, there
was never enough pressure.
All top Europeans and Yanks have the
skipper steering from leeward. This lets the crew trim and pump the most powerful sail
from a more comfortable position. The skipper can see what’s happening from behind
better and is more likely to sense a shift. We knew this would be a problem before the
regatta but decided it was too late to change. In Australia there is generally a bit more
pressure and it is a bit more gusty. This is when having the skipper to windward works.
Lesson learned – we have to bite the
bullet in Australia and use every opportunity to practice the reverse way.
Thoughts on Equipment/Rigging
The Yanks all had their stays half-way
between forestay and spinnaker exits. I think they were sailing with reasonable rig
tensions. Why were they quicker?? – probably the Waterat has a slightly better shape
for light air than the Rondar and the high aspect boards also would be at their best when
it’s light.
The Brits and Europeans generally had
their stays up around or slightly above the spinnaker exit. One feels that Upton-Brown and
Pinnell (plus a few more Brits) would have enjoyed more pressure.
Most boats in the top 10 were using
Kevlar mains. The only advantage I can see is weight, but the kilo or so difference is not
the reason they were in front. I think they just had bigger budgets (or egos), because the
Kevlar will certainly wear out first.
Generally all the guys in the top 10 had
controls for just about everything. I’ve never seen so much spaghetti! The top guys
seem to know how to use it. I think however they put a lot more hours on the water against
good competition than the Aussies.
Unfortunately I think we need to follow
this trend. These guys are squeezing a bit more out of their boats when it really counts.
I’ll be working on Mike to put on adjustable jib fairleads to replace the in-out
tracks we currently use when the boat gets back (at least I’ll have something new to
play with on my end of the boat!)
See you all on the water!
Geoff Lange (AUS 8280)
