RYA Tactics
The perfect Tactical xmas present for your helm or crew
Personally signed by the author
RYA Tactics by Mark Rushall sheds a new light on the complexities of sailboat racing. No other sport requires the combination of so many elements – preparation, strategy, speed, tuning and most importantly tactics. However, it’s good tactics which can so often be that elusive missing skill.
As one of the sports top tacticians and coaches, and 2006 RYA Squad Coach of the Year, Mark’s book will help you sail better and improve your results. With easy to follow and logical diagrams, this book breaks new ground in presenting this essential and complex element of our sport.
“Covering almost every conceivable tactical situation, the book is a real tour de force by Rushall….yet comprises one of the easiest to read tactical situation books we have come across.” The Daily Sail, 1 May 07
“This book has come about from years of sailing and coaching at the highest level by an extremely analytical person. Mark …. is one of those annoying people who learnt from every sailing / coaching experience and has built an extensive memory bank of tactical scenarios and understanding.”
Chips Howarth, Fireball World Champion 2005
Tactics is the most comprehensive and accessible guide to racing yet. Providing an awesome and unique insight of sailboat tactics, it breaks down the race to tell you exactly what to think about, how and when to do it, and most importantly, why you should be doing it! No matter what your level of racing experience, you’ll have something to learn from Mark Rushall….”
Georgie Corlett, Editor, Dinghy Sailing Magazine
Start your 2008 season ready prepared and don’t go afloat without having read RYA Tactics.
Order your personally signed copy from www.rushall.net or for UK delivery send a cheque for £16 including P&P to:
Mark Rushall Tactics
Watermark Offices, 8 Lumley Gardens, Lumley Road, Emsworth, Hants, PO10 8AG, UK
International orders – please email tactics@rushall.net and postage rates will be advised.
Also available from www.rya.org.uk and most leading chandleries and book stores.
ENDS
Dinghy Sailing
On a Neilson dinghy sailing holiday, everyone is welcome, from complete beginners to enthusiastic improvers and accomplished experts looking for sunshine and the best conditions. Our approach to dinghy sailing tuition, and the type and quantity of equipment varies from club to club, ensuring that whatever your needs we have a holiday to suit your requirements perfectly.
Sailing means many things to different people. Some like to potter around over crystal clear waters while others crave the excitement of zooming across the waves on a high performance skiff.
Whatever your level of experience, the sense of freedom that comes from sailing is hard to beat. We offer the best boats, instructors and sailing areas together with free RYA training courses, enabling you to step aboard and take advantage of our 25 years of sailing experience.
Dinghy Sailing Tuition
National Sailing Scheme
We work closely with the RYA in developing the National Sailing Scheme. This progressive approach to tuition provides a tried-and-tested way to learn to sail. Holidays shouldn’t feel like school, so we endeavour to make everything from your first taster to high performance race techniques, as much fun as possible!
Start Sailing - Level 1
Great for those new to learn to sail holidays, Level 1 provides a comprehensive introduction to dinghy sailing. It is designed to get you on the water using modern, single-handed dinghies and requires no previous experience.
The course covers a wide variety of skills to enable you to sail confidently such as; wind awareness, rigging basics, knots and sailing theory.
Start Sailing is available in all of our centres.
Basic Skills - Level 2
Level 2 aims to fine-tune the skills and boat handling manoeuvres learnt at Level 1. The course sets out the foundations of sailing with the aim of producing competent light wind sailors who are able to sail and make informed decisions in good conditions.
You can expect to learn more advanced techniques in a variety of craft including; rigging according to weather conditions, coming alongside a moored boat, capsize recovery and essential safety background.
Try Finikounda – Great for the progressing beginner. Holiday sailing at it’s best!
Seamanship Skills
Moving on from Basic Skills, the main focus of this course is fine-tuning skills already learnt and boat handling manoeuvres, whilst increasing your self-reliance and decision making skills.
Day Sailing
We are able to endorse most sections of this course, enabling competent sailors to confidently plan and execute a safe day cruise, aspects covered include pilotage, interpretation of charts and use of GPS.
Finikounda is the main place to go for day sailing.
Sailing with Spinnakers
Sailing with Spinnakers teaches you how to sail a dinghy rigged with an asymmetric or symmetric spinnaker and some trapezing.
Try Porto Heli for a fantastic destination for a sailing holiday with tuition.
Start Racing
You will learn to race a variety of craft from single handers to performance boats. The aim is to gain a good understanding of the rules and techniques of racing, including the course and starting sequence, boat preparation, tactics and racing rules.
Performance Sailing
This is an advanced course for experienced sailors using high performance craft and covers a range of sessions including rigging, tuning, teamwork, trapezing, hiking, tacking and downwind sailing.
Porto Heli is the ideal place for performance sailing.
Dinghy Sailing Equipment
Advances in design and technology have continued to make dinghy sailing easier and more enjoyable than ever before. We've selected tghe best craft from leading British manufacturers Laser and RS, equipping our clubs with a range of kit to suit local wind and conditions.
Laser Funboats
Stable, safe and fun! Perfect for children. Available in all centres except Dahab
Laser Pico
A perfect beginners’ boat with easy-to-use controls. Available in all centres
Laser 1
The classic Olympic class single hander. Exciting sailing. Available in all centres except Vassiliki
Laser 2000
A popular boat for families and friends looking for a stable hull but no shortage of features.
Available in Halkidiki, Sivota, Ortakent, Finikounda and Porto Heli,
Laser 3000
A performance machine ideally suited to teenagers and lighter crews. Fast action with a spinnaker and trapeze. Available in Finikounda
Laser Bahia
A stable and spacious cockpit with space for up to 5 adults, together with a light hull and large gennaker makes a great day sail and cruising boat, with a performance edge.
Available in Lemnos and Lesvos
Laser 4000
Serious fun in the fast lane. A high performance skiff with adjustable racks and a large sail area. With tuition and practice, the 4000 flies. Available in Finikounda and Porto Heli
Laser Stratos
A good size family cruiser, the Stratos is ideal for day sailing, combining stability and performance features.Available in Lemnos, Lesvos, Halkidiki, Finikounda and Porto Heli
Laser Vago XD
Unmatched handling, versatility and exhilarating performance are harnessed by Laser in a unique modern design with high spec sails and trapeze. Available in Lemnos, Lesvos and Dahab
Dart 16
A popular catamaran equally at home pottering around on a day sail or on a trapezing joyride. The Dart 16 is a firm favourite in our centres. Available in all centres
Optimist
The definitive youth racer, the Optimist has traditionally been the first step on the road to success for competitive young sailors. Available in Porto Heli and Finikounda
RS Feva
A versatile dinghy, introducing several advanced features on a user friendly craft suited to younger sailors.Available in Finikounda, Porto Heli, Lemnos and Lesvos
RS 200
An easy to sail dinghy that brings the excitement of asymmetric sailing to everybody, including lighter sailors and youngsters. Available in Porto Heli
RS 400
LDC’s modern classic, a hiking asymmetric. The ultimate choice for the ambitious improver.
Available in Porto Heli
RS 500
Exciting performance with a simple user friendly layout and easy handling.Available in Porto Heli
RS 800
An exciting high performance skiff with twin trapeze that is remarkably easy for competent sailors to master.Available in Porto Heli and Finikounda
29er
A fast, exciting ride, the 29er is a high performance boat ideally suited to light weight sailors and youth racing.Available in Porto Heli
Children and Sailing Holidays
Hot Shots provides RYA tuition for 8-12 year olds whilst Starfish, Sea Urchins, Surfbusters and Sharksters provide fun for younger children and those less inclined to get out on the water.
Hot Shots
The water based activity club, for those that want it all: sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, snorkelling and plenty of sunshine, Hot Shots is the place to be.
Our fully qualified instructors help your youngsters master new skills and get first timers confident in no time at all. In-fact all our RYA qualified instructors will help your Hot Shots improve quickly, with the RYA Youth Sailing Awards, available to those who want to prove their skills.
When not out on the water, Hot Shots enjoy loads of land-based activities and making new friends has never been easier.
If your children are particularly interested in dinghy sailing, they will benefit from choosing a resort that specialises in that particular activity, such as Porto Heli
Hot Shots is open to all children ages 8-12 years and is available for a supplement of £80-£150 per week with the second week half price.
Where to go
Hot Shots is avilable in Lemnos, Finikounda, Vassiliki, Porto Heli and Dahab.
When not in our clubs, children under the age of 13 are welcome to windsurf with their parents. Children must be 13 years or over before they can join the adult windsurfing programme.
Sail Training Courses
Yacht Training Courses
It’s not as hard as you might imagine to pick up the skills to navigate a yacht around the Mediterranean coastline. With our tried and tested courses and fantastic yacht trainers, you will be sailing with confidence in no time at all. We offer a number of courses to suit all ages and abilities.
Introduction to Yachting - four days
A course designed to be fun but informative, equipping complete beginners with the knowledge and skills necessary to skipper their own yacht on flotilla.
The syllabus we follow is based on the RYA Keelboat Level 2 certificate. After having completed the course, followed by a second week on flotilla, most new sailors will be awarded their RYA Level 2 certificate.
The skills needed can be learnt in four days with tuition from our Royal Yachting Association qualified instructors. Whilst covering the necessary manoeuvres you will be hopping from pontoon to quayside to bay to harbour. Occasionally stopping for picnics, taverna lunches or swimming, there will be time to digest all that you are learning at a relaxed but steady pace.
A maximum of five guests will train per yacht with an instructor.
At the end of your course you’ll feel confident and competent enough to skipper your own yacht within a flotilla environment. Your lead crew will be aware of your training and will be on hand to offer their full support during your week afloat.
Brush-Up Course - two days
Ideal for those with a basic or fading knowledge of sailing, or experienced dinghy sailors looking to make the step to big boat sailing. This course is tailored around your existing experience and looks to build your ability to sail confidently once more. You will spend two days with one of our RYA instructors who will assist you in practising and reviewing the skills you wish to improve.
The Brush-Up course can also be suitable for confident, advanced dinghy sailors who sail regularly at a high level. This course enables you to transfer your well-practised dinghy skills onto a larger class of boat. Beginner or intermediate dinghy sailors should book the Introduction to Yachting course.
Private Courses - Ideal for Families
Our Private Introduction to Yachting and Brush-Up courses are designed for groups or families who wish to learn together, on the same yacht, up to a maximum of five people. The course content is the same as detailed previously but you are guaranteed to be learning as one group without having to share your training yacht with another party.
The added advantage of a private course is that we can welcome 13 to 15 year olds aboard when accompanied by a parent. Younger sailors will relish the opportunity to learn with their family as a forerunner to the flotilla week of their holiday.
Private courses are priced per yacht at four times the cost of the individual course.
One Week Learn to Sail
If you can only get away on holiday for one week or spending two weeks learning to sail is not an option for you, then our One week Learn to Sail holiday is a perfect solution - half the week will be spent at one of our yacht bases living on your yacht whilst learning to sail on the Introduction to Yachting course. For the second part of the week, you will join your fellow sailors on flotilla.
Dinghy Sailing Equipment
When you go on a Neilson sailing holiday with tuition, every club is recognised as a RYA Training Centre. Each of our clubs is regularly inspected for standards of tuition, facilities and equipment and all must have qualified staff, suitable boats and adequate safety cover ensuring quality sailing tuition. Holidays with us will have you carving through the seas in no time!
We always include RYA tuition and courses in the cost of your holiday, whether you are a first timer aiming for your RYA Level 1 certificate, or an expert working on your performance sailing.
National Sailing Scheme
We work closely with the RYA in developing the National Sailing Scheme. This progressive approach to tuition provides a tried-and-tested way to learn to sail. Holidays shouldn’t feel like school, so we endeavour to make everything from your first taster to high performance race techniques, as much fun as possible!
Start Sailing - Level 1
Great for those new to learn to sail holidays, Level 1 provides a comprehensive introduction to dinghy sailing. It is designed to get you on the water using modern, single-handed dinghies and requires no previous experience.
The course covers a wide variety of skills to enable you to sail confidently such as; wind awareness, rigging basics, knots and sailing theory.
Start Sailing is available in all of our centres.
Basic Skills - Level 2
Level 2 aims to fine-tune the skills and boat handling manoeuvres learnt at Level 1. The course sets out the foundations of sailing with the aim of producing competent light wind sailors who are able to sail and make informed decisions in good conditions.
You can expect to learn more advanced techniques in a variety of craft including; rigging according to weather conditions, coming alongside a moored boat, capsize recovery and essential safety background.
Try Finikounda – Great for the progressing beginner. Holiday sailing at it’s best!
Seamanship Skills
Moving on from Basic Skills, the main focus of this course is fine-tuning skills already learnt and boat handling manoeuvres, whilst increasing your self-reliance and decision making skills.
Day Sailing
We are able to endorse most sections of this course, enabling competent sailors to confidently plan and execute a safe day cruise, aspects covered include pilotage, interpretation of charts and use of GPS.
Finikounda is the main place to go for day sailing.
Sailing with Spinnakers
Sailing with Spinnakers teaches you how to sail a dinghy rigged with an asymmetric or symmetric spinnaker and some trapezing.
Try Porto Heli for a fantastic destination for a sailing holiday with tuition.
Start Racing
You will learn to race a variety of craft from single handers to performance boats. The aim is to gain a good understanding of the rules and techniques of racing, including the course and starting sequence, boat preparation, tactics and racing rules.
Performance Sailing
This is an advanced course for experienced sailors using high performance craft and covers a range of sessions including rigging, tuning, teamwork, trapezing, hiking, tacking and downwind sailing.
Porto Heli is the ideal place for performance sailing.
Family Sailing Holiday Report
| Children and grown-ups get to play all day on this Sail, Surf and Cycle holiday. Last August the family Parker headed for the sun as David Parker reports. | |
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Finnikounda, in Greece's south-west Peloponnese, is an ideal location for a family activity holiday. If you want to encourage anyone to go sailing, this is the place to do it. The hotel is next to the beach, the boats are on the beach, and the village is a short walk away along the beach. And just above the beach is the swimming pool. It's a very nice beach by the way.
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The activities on offer are dingy sailing, windsurfing and mountain biking. There are children clubs which cater for babies and youngsters up to 13, and there' s tuition for all the activities on offer. RYA qualified instructors supervise the sailing and windsurfing and you will, if you want to, finish this holiday with an RYA qualification.
This is also a very safe place for a family holiday. As one guest put it, "the reason we came back this year is that this is the safest place I know to bring my children and where they can have the freedom to do their own thing."
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| Club land | |
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This type of activity holiday has a great deal to offer singles, couples and families. We looked at it mainly from the latter perspective and the children's' clubs were a major factor for many families when deciding on this particular holiday.
The Starfish Club is for little ones four months to two years, costs £150 per week and the club aims for a service of one qualified nanny (NNEB or equivalent) per two children. It's an optional extra and the basic cost of taking a child under two on one of these holidays is an administration fee of £25.
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The Sea Urchins Club, which caters for two to five-year-olds, and the Surfbusters Club (5-13 years) run 9.30-5.30, six days a week, and are free. For a supplement of £90 (£135 for two weeks) there's also an optional Hot Shots Club for those 8-13 year olds who want to learn to sail or windsurf. Qualified instructors who can take the youngsters through to RYA Junior awards run this.
Babysitting services are available and children's' trips are organised in the evenings once a week if parents want a night out alone.
Our own children Elena 5, Jack 4 and Amy 2 were in the Sea Urchins, the youngest group. We thought this was an exceptionally good club capably run by Sue Maidment who took time to get to know the children and gain their confidence from the start.
The crèche is well equipped, cool and spacious. Our children couldn't wait to get to the club every morning where they had alot of fun and were extremely well looked after. |
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Part of the daily routine includes swimming in the pool and in the sea, going to the park and having ice creams and treats in the village. The crèche has off-road pushchairs including a single and double buggy. For 'quieter' times in Sea Urchins - and to get out of the sun - there are videos to watch or creative indoor activities such as making fancy dress costumes.
There's one development we'd like to see and that's a play park on site at the hotel- i.e. a climbing frame/slide/swings. This would be a real advantage because in the heat of the day it can be quite a long walk to the park in the village.
Some parents felt that, initially, youngsters who could swim and who weren't in Hot Shots weren't getting out on the water enough. Marion and Guy Jones from Winchester have two children, Hannah 10 and Liam 8. Guy commented: "The first week here our children went out onto the water once. We complained about this which took the edge of the first week. It's only since the beginning of the second week that they've actually been doing what we thought they'd be doing all along. The staff now seem to be putting an awful lot of effort in with the children and they seem to be enjoying themselves a lot more."
But all the parents we spoke to agreed on one vital aspect of this beautiful location with its non-tidal waters. The hotel, beach and village felt very safe for children day and night. In southern Greece you can also rely on the weather and shorts and tea-shirts are all you'll need.
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| Busy relaxing | |
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While the children are being looked after, the adults can take full advantage of the RYA tuition at this RYA approved centre. Nigel and Suzanne Brown have two sons Nicolas 10 and Andrew 4.
Suzanne particularly liked the informal hands on approach of the holiday. "With other charter companies we've been with they rig everything up for you and send you
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off, then de-rig it. The benefit of the RYA courses is that they make you do things for yourselves which means you learn more."
Nigel also pointed out that at this centre everything is extremely convenient. "I like it all being together - at other places we've seen that the hotel is away from the beach or the sailing centre." Also because everything is close-by it's easy to keep an eye on the children if you wanted to pop in and out of the clubs between sailing sessions On this holiday you can qualify for your level one and level two dinghy sailing or level one and level two windsurfing. The youngsters in the Hotshots club can get RYA Junior levels stages 1-3.
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| Boats for all | |
| The centre is well equipped with over thirty boats, fifty windsurf boards (plus seventy rigs) and twenty mountain bikes. I counted twelve Picos, six Laser 1s, two Laser 3000s, one Laser 2000, two Topper Buzzes, one Hobie 16, two Dart 16s, two 505s, one Laser Stratos and three Wayfarers, plus a 2000 and a Hobie under repair. Although quite old, the Wayfarers are all serviceable, and most of the other boats are new and reasonably well maintained. | |
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Groups on courses take priority for boats, but in practice we found that there were plenty to go round, and all the guests were usually able to sail what they wanted to. I managed to sail all the boats during our fortnight, and most enjoyed the Hobie and the Wayfarer - my wife, Jenny, preferred the Picos. |
| The variety of the activities on offer also means older children can go off and do their own thing giving them independence while still being on a family holiday. Nathan and Ingrid Blau with son Stephen aged 14 came to Finnikounda last year. This is the first | |
| place they've ever been to twice. They're particularly impressed with the standard of tuition here and the fact that there's something for everybody. "But if you don't like the activities you can still have a standard beach holiday," said Nathan. As parents they felt happy for their son to go into the town at night with other youngsters. "You can let young teenagers loose and not worry," said Ingrid, "it's the ideal thing about Finnikounda." |
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| For Terry and Collette Francis with sons Martin 19 and Peter 16 it was also a return trip to Finnikounda from the previous year. The main reason they also came back was because of the safety of the resort. The centre's moved up the beach since they were last here which they say has reduced the sailing area and launching area - which can get a bit congested. They recommend putting a lookout tower on stilts - the 'Beach Boss' is at sea level and a raised observation point would expand their field of view. There are, though, enough support and rescue boats on site and sufficient staff to man them. | |
| Dedicated staff | |
| One thing all the holidaymakers we spoke to enthused about was the terrific staff Neilson had running the activities. "I'm amazed at the outstanding quality of the people who run this," said Mark Blatchly on holiday with his wife Julia. "The staff are genuinely | |
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enthusiastic and really do love being here and being helpful."
Julia thought the holiday would be a good way to introduce her husband to watersports. He became a proficient windsurfer during his time here and both enjoyed the mountain biking. They told us as soon as they got back they wanted to book the same holiday for next year.
However, as a GP Julia highlighted one |
| problem brought up several times during our interviews. "For people who need | |
| antibiotics or any form of medical attention it's virtually a whole day out to one of the larger towns," she said. "There have been two or three people who needed changes in their medication. It might be useful to have medical expertise visit the site." With the vigorous activities on offer a physiotherapist or masseur would have certainly have been a very popular visitor to this hotel. |  |
| I hurt my ribs one day and most people could proudly show you a few cuts and bruises from the day's activities, some had cuts which got infected. Pico-knees were a favourite - not a Chinese dog but something to do with sand in the bottom of a little yellow boat. Julia had badly blistered hands from trying to hoist jamming spinnakers. Neilson point out in their brochures that it's a good idea to bring sailing gloves. Also we'd recommend that before going out in any of the boats you check them thoroughly. Equipment gets used heavily and is not always left by previous users in prime condition. | |
| The daily routine | |
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The day usually begins with a mountain bike organised for eight o'clock in the morning. Then there's a briefing at ten o'clock after breakfast. Following this people meet up with their instructors for theory talks and to organise the morning's activities which usually go on until 12.30.
To get the full flavour of the holiday, Jenny did an RYA level one dinghy course, while I took level two. Some of the theory talks
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were brilliant, the staff using inventive ways to liven up subjects. Once you've seen a bucket of water poured over someone's head to demonstrate sail theory you won't forget it.
After lunch at two o'clock there's another briefing, followed by an afternoon's sailing and tuition with another bike ride at 5.30. There's never any pressure forcing anyone to be anywhere at any time. It's all extremely relaxed and you can drop in and out of groups as you wish. Most people found it beneficial to join a group and stick with it. Built into the schedule are free days, Wednesday and Sundays, when you can put into practice new skills or try and refine rusty ones ... or just read and laze by the pool.
There's also taster sessions where you can try an activity with an instructor to see if you like it. Fridays offered a daysail to a beach, and a picnic, which I joined on the second week with a Wayfarer, taking along a couple who hadn't sailed before - we had an excellent sail.
On Saturdays there's normally a regatta, but ours was cancelled because of strong winds - apparently a rare occurrence. Steady 'cross shore' winds rule here, which is good for most dinghy sailing and windsurfing - if anything the breezes area little light for the more experienced windsurfers.
Not only are the staff dedicated instructors during tuition periods, they also work hard organising evening trips, après sail activities and entertainment such as lighthearted "booze and betting regattas" on the beach.
In general there was a bit of a feeling that while the energetic Neilson staff couldn't do enough for you, the hotel didn't exhibit the same level of motivation, and niggling problems took a long time to get fixed.
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Most people were happy with their rooms but felt an extra £20 per week for a fridge was a bit over the top. Guests felt some rooms lacked storage. We also found the hotel expensive for food and drinks. For special occasions, such as welcoming
new people in or saying goodbye to the leavers, special meals were organised. However, for a family these tended to be a much more expensive night than going into the town. For example a Fanta and portion of chips for the children at one of these set meals cost £3.00 each! We found you could rely on getting better substantially better value taking the short walk along the beach. Finikounda itself was described to us as being "just the right size and just the right distance away." This sums it up perfectly
as it's small enough to retain its charm of being a Greek village by the sea but large enough to offer a reasonable selection of shops, restaurants, tavernas and bars. Take time to explore the restaurants - We'd recommended Pyscho's, Joannhe's |
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or Mama Tunas - at the latter they'll invite you into the kitchen so you can see what's on the menu. They make children very welcome. The village also has two very good bakeries (great for snacks), a supermarket and smaller shops along the main street.
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| Take to the hills | |
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The mountain biking is run by Clive Andrews and Simon Evamy and you've got to have a go at this. And watch out for the Clive and Simon show at a mountain near you. These guys should take their bike talks on tour. They are an extremely entertaining double act. If you've been beaten up by a Pico all day, setting off into the Greek hills is the perfect antidote. My own regret on this holiday is that my rib injury prevented me doing more mountain biking than I actually did.
We saw all shapes and sizes, all ages and persuasions going on the mountain bike rides. If they can get you on a bike they'll find you somewhere to ride it. The equipment is first rate, and the bikes were much better than most of the holiday makers had been used to back home.
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There are beginner rides, intermediate rides or day rides to towns like Methoni and Koroni. The average ride is between 5/10 miles, the longer ones work out at 25-30 miles. Rides could be tailored to any particular group.
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The rides are a great way to explore the countryside and villages by the sea. "We get people who come along for the sailing and end up going home and buying a mountain bike'" said Clive. (He's right - on our return to the UK I bought a mountain bike.) The schedule is arranged so you don't have to choose between biking and sailing, you can do both. If you don't want to go on an organised ride then you can borrow the bikes and do your own thing.
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You don't need to be super fit for these rides either but as Clive points out "If you've got a little bit of fitness there are more rides which you might enjoy. Just bike to work a few times before you come here and get a few miles in. " The pace is dictated by the slowest in the group and there are café stops along the way.
And it's often not who you'd expect who like to venture off-road into the hills. "You get quite a lot of teenagers coming along who might be up for the mountain biking," said Clive, "then their mums have a look. And they say 'No mum - you won't enjoy this,' but the mums have a go and absolutely falling in love with it."
So take your pick. You can Surf, Sail or Cycle. But whichever activity you go for there's one thing you can rely on in southern Greece - gorgeous weather. The trouble is those warm, clear waters are going to completely spoil you for sailing back home …
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Performance Profiling
Performance Profiling
Rob Andrews shows you how to focus your training to improve your racing results.
For additional information, read Your Best Year Ever in the April 2003 issue of SailRacer
The Performance Profiling approach provides a structure for assessing which areas are most important to your sailing, and your relative strengths in the high priority areas. The aim is to break down your sailing in to all the relevant component parts, based on the level that you compete at and the type of boat that you sail.
In an ideal world we would break these down into the following areas:
- Equipment
- Technique
- Strategy and Tactics
- General skills
- Target Areas
- Mental skills
- Others
So for instance the fitness demands on the club racing Laser sailor will be very different to the fitness demands on someone in the same class trying to do well at the National Championship. I personally feel that it is important for you to devise your own set of areas, as then it will fully reflect YOUR sailing. Even more important, if you sail in a team, is to include the entire crew in this process. This will ensure that you are all working towards common goals, and it will also throw up differences of opinion in the thoughts and perception of the crew. These need to be addressed and discussed as it is hard to work on boathandling skills if you do not have the commitment of the entire crew.
Once you have devised, and agreed, the content of each area, it is time to look at:
- The importance of each item, scored 1 -10 (where 10 is very important and 1 is low importance). Note this should be in relation to your goals.
- How your performance rates in each of the areas (scored on a 1-10 scale again)
During this process, you can again expect to have differences of opinion between crew members. It may appear time consuming, but I am afraid that this discussion is an imperative part of getting the most out of your Profile. The returns in crew cohesion and specific practice will give you a performance edge, and will be well worth the time initially spent on the Profile. Below is a sample profile for a dinghy, which will give you some idea of what to include in each area.
Now that you have a specific boat Profile, what information are we looking for? The areas that have been scored 7 -10 in importance are key to making fast improvements. Search for any of these areas where the boat performance score is seven or less. The lower the performance number, the bigger your potential gain on the race track.
Now that you have identified the specific elements that you need to work on, you just have to decide on the best way to deliver the improvement. Some of the gains will be boathandling related, some will need specific equipment, some may need extra studying or help and some may simply see you going down the gym as the fitness element may be holding you back.
Sample Performance Profile - modify to suit your goals and your class EQUIPMENT
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Importance |
Performance Score |
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Hull |
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Foils |
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Mainsail |
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Jib |
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Spinnaker |
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Tuning No / settings |
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TECHNIQUE
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Starting |
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Acceleration |
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Mark rounding |
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Pressure boathandling |
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Tacking |
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Gybing |
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Spinnaker hoist |
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score Importance and Your Performance on a scale of 1-10 (10 is high/good)
Henri Lloyd Dinghy & Sportsboat Collection 2008
Henri Lloyd used their intensive marine clothing industry knowledge whilst working alongside the world’s best dinghy and inshore racing sailors to produce a new Dinghy & Sportsboat Range which was launched in 2007, known as the Stealth Dinghy Collection.
This exclusive collection ranging from Rash Vests and Buoyancy Aids to Dry suits, was developed and designed alongside our range ambassadors Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield and through Henri Lloyd’s association with Sportboats, including the Melges 24 and Laser SB3 classes. The knowledge gained through Henri Lloyd’s association with the America’s Cup has also been an invaluable contribution towards the technical development of this range.
Named Stealth, the products have been designed to give the wearer the extra edge needed while competing against other sailors in racing environments. Certain items within the range have been adapted with more technically advanced features to enhance the performance of the garment – creating the category Stealth Pro.
For 2008 the range has been extended to include a new Women’s Spray Top, Junior Dry Suit and a selection of Rash Vests.
The hero product within this range is the Women’s TP1 Stealth Smock. This product is a technical replica of the men’s version, but has been designed and tailored to fit the female figure. The smock is constructed from Henri Lloyd’s own technical TP1 fabric, which is 100% waterproof and windproof, it is also breathable and is also very lightweight, therefore easing movement around the boat. Additional features include Dartex cuffs and neck seal, fully adjustable neoprene waist band and a fast draining quick access front stow and sleeve pocket.
The Junior TP1 Stealth Dry Suit has exactly the same design, features and attention to detail as the adult’s version, but for 2008 both suits have been further developed and certain features have evolved. The neck and cuff seals have been upgraded to a 3mm neoprene to help with insulation and durability. The seals have been thermally bonded to the fabric therefore improving comfort and fit. The Dry Suit design also benefits from bat wing waist adjusters and internal braces for a more customised fit, whilst the seat and knee areas have been reinforced with 500D condura, reducing wear and increasing longevity.
Also new for 2008 are the Stealth Rash Vests. The contoured fit rash vests have been designed to give additional protection whilst on the water and have the benefit of being extremely quick drying. They can be worn with your hiking shorts or can help prevent chaffing and aid insulation when worn under a wetsuit. This 4 way super stretch top can also be worn over a buoyancy vest to close down loose straps and reduce friction. With a UPF factor of 30+ they will provide essential protection against the sun's harmful rays and are available in long, short sleeve, and women’s and junior sizes.
A collection of Henri Lloyd accessories required while dinghy sailing including gloves, balaclavas, hats and neck gaiters completes the range.
How do I upload results from SailWave
I am using SailWave to score our racing, and want to upload the results to SailRacer ?
Dinghy Sailing in the Midlands
OK a bit cold this time of year
, but I am looking for ideaas for presents for my partner.
New to Dinghy Sailing
I am looking to start Dinghy Sailing in the new year, will I learn anything by going to the boat show ?, or are there any good sailing magazines to read ?
Catamaran Sailing
Is catamaran sailing better than dinghy sailing?
Yacht Charter
Although I love dinghy sailing, thought I would try some yachting. Some friends are looking at bareboat charter.
Laser 4.7, Radial or Laser Standard
Thinking about a new sailing dinghy after my Topper Lasers seem to be the most popular, but am I best with 4.7 or Radial, what about the Olympic one
Sail 100 to SailRacer
I am sure everybody has specific attribute or quality distinguish me from anyone else. For me, WoW Power Leveling,I think perseverance is my specific attribute. World Of Warcraft gold
Going through my past, WoW Power Leveling,I could see my perseverance was not inherited from my parents whom obviously different from me on this point, and I remember when I was young I never put my heart into one thing for a long time, today did this, tomorrow that, can’t have got one thing satisfied,WoW Power Leveling, so I was the useless one in the other’s eyes. WoW Power Leveling
When I was in high school, I was appointed as the leader of sports in our class. In fact, I did not know why I would be a leader of sports since I did not have sports strength. ,At the first year our school held an annual sports meeting, I joined it, actually I did not want to, but no choice, because I was a leader,World Of Warcraft power leveling and I chose the 3000m racing. Unfortunately, I won the last one, oh, my god, my face lost up,so sorry I felt. After that I made a resolution to practice it, every morning at 5 o’clock, I got up to run, just like this did it every day, no matter raining or snowing, I never gave it up.
age of conan power leveling,
No pain no gain! This saying was totally right. I won the three successive championships of 3000m racing at our school sports meeting. I was so proud of myself. And more importantly, WoW Gold,seeing it now is that my character had been changed, but that time I did not realize it, just did I knew when I chose something I would struggle to perform it till it was accomplished.
Now I chose to improve English, I never worry about the result, I just knew learning a language need a long time, so I do it everyday, and even I would have left GLV.
WoW Gold
No pain no gain
Portsmouth Yardstick Scheme – what is it?
The PYS is set of guidelines and recommendations from the RYA to help clubs provide its members with fairer racing. It allows boats of difference types and performances to race together using some basic configuration denominators. Part of the recommendations published by the RYA include the Portsmouth Number list which gives allocates numbers to boats dependant on the amount of data received, which in turn gives clubs different levels of confidence when using those numbers. The scheme runs entirely on club data and without the club data the numbers published by the RYA become less meaningful.
Benchmarking – why have I never heard of it befo
The term benchmarking is a new concept which the RYA have launched as part of the website initiative. However the overall concept has been instilled in the PYS pretty much since its conception over 50 years ago by using the term “yardstick”. Traditionally the advice given by the RYA was to find a known performer within a fleet of boats, a yardstick, against which other boats could be assessed to. The yardstick was very often a reliable boat and the RYA recommendations showed that clubs should ideally look to use either a Primary Yardstick or a Secondary Yardstick against which to carry out the fleet assessment.
However, as the number of types of boats increased and as the PYS branched out to cater for the Cruising side of club racing, some clubs were left without either a PY or SY to adjust against, or in some cases any boat that had a published number in the PN list.
To counter this the website has benefitted from a slight change in the system where instead of asking the club to pick a PY or SY for the assessment, it now looks known performers within the fleet. For example, a single Laser, whilst being a very stable PY, may not be the best boat to assess against as it is only one boat and as a single hander is open to wider performance changes. Therefore a club may wish to consider using an RS 400 for example, which as a SY would not be chosen under the old scheme. The website will also cater for those fleets without any boats published on the PN list as it will pick and recommend benchmarks to the club based on results. The club can always override the suggested benchmarks if it so chooses.
For more on the Benchmarking concept, please refer either to the Website Manual or contact the RYA Technical office.
Why does my club need to adjust numbers?
The PN list published by the RYA is a guidance list to clubs. The advice given by the RYA has always been such that if the Portsmouth Numbers as published do not work for your club, then that club SHOULD change those numbers to ensure fair racing. Any clubs should always be careful when changing numbers to make sure that they are not adjusting a single person (crew skill factor) rather than the performance of the boat. Also to make sure that any data that it bases that adjustment on is considered and fair. Ideally a club should not adjust numbers after only 2 races in similar conditions etc, as well as taking into account local factors such as tidal gates and depth issues.
IT is only by adjusting those numbers that a club will start to get more meaningful results from the website which can then in turn be put back into the club racing system.
{{Other uses}} {{refimprovedate=January 2010}} File:aircraft.racing.arp.jpg
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Air racing: Hungarian aerobatics pilot Peter Besenyei at speed in his Extra 300 at an air race in EnglandFile:Kambala, he-buffalo race at Vandar village, Udupi Dist., Kar. India.jpg
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Kambala, he-buffaloe racing at Vandar village, Udupi dist.,India A sport '''race''' is a competition of speed, against an objective criterion, usually a clock or to a specific point. The competitors in a race try to complete a given task in the shortest amount of time. Typically this involves traversing some distance, but it can be any other task involving speed to reach a specific goal. A race may be run continuously from start to finish or may be made of several segments called heats, Race stage
stages or legs. A heat is usually run over the same course at different times. A stage is a shorter section of a much longer course or a Individual time trial
time trial. Early records of races are evident on pottery from ancient Greece, which depicted running men vying for first place. A chariot racing
chariot race is described in Homer's ''Iliad''. ==Forms of racing== {{See
List of forms of racing}} File:Rekla_Race,_Avaniyapuram,_Madurai.jpg
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Bullock cart-racing in Tamil Nadu, India. Running a distance is the most basic form of racing, but races may be conducted in vehicles, such as boat racing (disambiguation)
boats, Auto racing
cars and Air racing
aircraft, or with animals such as Horse racing
horses or Dog racing
dogs. Other forms of racing are by Bicycle racing
cycle, ski racing (disambiguation)
skis, kicksled, Speed skating
skates or Wheelchair racing
wheelchair. In a relay race members of a team take turns in racing parts of a circuit or performing a certain racing form. A race can also involve any other type of goal like eating. A common race involving eating is a hot dog eating race, where contestants try to eat more hot dogs than the other racers. Racing can also be done in more humoristic and entertaining ways such as the Sausage Race and the Red Bull Trolley Grand Prix. Racing can be entertained from around the world. ==Etymology== The word ''race'' comes from a Old Norse
Norse word.<ref>{{cite web
title=Online Etymology Dictionary
url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=race
publisher=Online Etymology Dictionary
accessdate=28 June 2010}}</ref> This Norse word arrived in France during the invading of Normandy and gave the word ''raz'' which means "swift water" in Brittany, as in a mill race; it can be found in "Pointe du Raz" (the most western point of France, in Brittany), and "''raz-de-marée''" (tsunami). The word race to mean a "contest of speed" was first recorded in the 1510s.<ref>{{cite web
url= http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=race&allowed_in_frame=0
title=Race
publisher=Online Etymology Dictionary
accessdate=July 13, 2012}}</ref> A race and its name are often associated with the place of origin, the means of transport and the distance of the race. As a couple of examples, see the Dakar Rally or the Athens marathon. ==See also== {{Wiktionary
racing}} * Pace race * Sport * Gambling * Totalisator * Pacemaker (track)
Pacemaker * Nuclear arms race * Space Race * Racing game ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.bar-tek-motorsport.de/Team-equipment_idQQ1ZZmodeQQartlistZZcatQQ2 Racing teams] {{Racing}} Category:Racing sports
it:Corsa (sport)