Always have an Exit Strategy

This winter one important area of improvement has been how we exit the weather mark. The major mistake most teams make is they are far too focused on the boats around them and getting the kite set, and not aware of where they are going down the next leg. The problematic strategy of getting the boat set up, then figuring out where we are going, can handcuff you for the whole run if you are not careful.

Like many things in sailing, having a good weather mark rounding is all about preparation. You need to know what the plan is before you round so the tactician can make one simple, all important call: set high, or set low. If the call is set high, the crew needs to be patient making sure that the boats behind have turned down before the set so the team can hold a lane on starboard. If the call is set low, the crew needs to get the kite up right away and be ready for a jibe if needed.

How do you know what the right call is in the chaos that normally accompanies a weather mark rounding? Good preparation. On the last tack into the weather mark the crew should look down wind for the weather mark, generally you should be able to see if it is right or left of head to wind. The skipper should let the crew know if the wind is in right or left phase. These two facts will tell you what the long jibe is.

Second, while on the layline or offset the crew should look for the wind. Is there more pressure on the right or left? Are there any puffs in the next 30 seconds that will help exit the mark? As you pass the weather mark, check for current.

Finally, know your competition. Are the boats around you bunched up or is there a good gap to set? Will the boats around you fight high? Are you overlapped? Putting these simple facts together should tell you how you want to exit the mark, and with a good exit strategy, you will have the jump on your competition.

Some examples:

Star South American Championships – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Back in November at the South American Championships, Andrew Campbell and I rounded the first mark in the top three with a good gap behind us. We set low, sailing a heading half way between the boats ahead of us and VMG. Torben Grael set high behind us, knowing that the current made the downwind leg starboard jibe dominant. We had plenty of clear air at first, but as the boats above us got into the more favorable current we lost our lane, got frustrated, jibed out, and finished 14th.

Etchels Jag Series 1 – Miami, FL
Having learned the lesson, the next opportunity to put it to practice was in the 45 boat Etchels fleet in Miami in December. Being one of the most competitive and evenly matched fleets, everyone gets to the weather mark at the same time. This creates the problem of a high traffic fight for clear lanes, as well as a terrible “cone of death” under the weather mark. Our team had shared the lesson from Rio and we were very patient on the set, reaching high over a large pack of boats and were able to sail away in clear air passing more than a dozen boats in the first part of the run.

Star World Championships – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Back in Rio, Andrew and I were not going to make the same mistakes twice and with the help of coach Ed Adams, knew the current, and wind situations and had a plan for the run long before we got to the weather mark. It was essential to hold on starboard so I, as the crew, looked aft around the offset and did not set the pole until the boat behind us bore away and set. We gave up a little distance, but never got rolled. The patience prevailed and we were always able to pass the boats that were forced to jibe out early.

Etchels FL Stat Championships – Miami, FL
This past weekend the mark roundings were famously congested with some major collisions. Your rounding essentially dictated your entire run as there were very few clear lanes to be found. In the shifty conditions out of the NW on day two, Team Widespread Panic had four very good sets, two high and two low that were the difference between a top 15 finish and a top 30 finish. As the tactician, I was able to find the mark on the last tack, look for wind on the offset and make a clear call to our skipper. Our improvements at the weather mark resulted in Dr. Steve's best finish ever at a Jag Cup Regatta.

Next up is the Bacardi Cup which begins Monday in Miami. Andrew will finish up with Ninkasi on Sunday and jump right into the Star. We are looking forward to a great week!