Top Tips

 

RS TOP TIPS

Racing in Medium Winds Inland

• Keep the boat flat at all times
• Start in the front row!
• Use plenty of kicker upwind to aid pointing and power control.
• Slacken the jib cunningham to aid pointing.
• Continuously watch for shifts, bends and areas of greater pressure.
• Seek clear wind whenever possible.
• Adjust the power in the rig to suit your weight and the conditions - aim to be fully hiked as soon as possible, but guard against being overpowered too soon.
• Make the most of any gust downwind to initiate/maintain planing - significant alterations of course will be required in marginal conditions.

Racing in Light Winds Inland

• Use heel and sheet tension to steer the boat - use minimum rudder.
• Sit forward to minimise drag.
• Watch for wind filling-in in specific areas of the course - make sure you’re there!
• Crew must sit to windward down-wind, so they can see the kite, and constantly communicates pressure in kite to helm.
• Sit as still as possible and move around the boat slowly - sudden movements will slow/stop the boat.
• If there’s enough wind to fill the kite, heel to windward downwind. This helps expose the kite to the wind, as gravity pulls it out from behind the main.
• If it’s really light, consider dropping the kite and running straight to the mark. Otherwise you lose too much ground sailing high to fill the kite.
• Upwind crew slackens jib-sheet about an inch to maintain the slot between the main and jib.
• Concentrate on keeping the cockpit dry.

Racing in the Nationals

• Do not be intimidated by the event, size of the fleet, rock-stars, etc.
• Do not start next to a fast boat.
• Consistency is the key to a good overall result - nationals have been won without
  a single race win.
• Do not re-tune your boat or make significant changes to the way you sail
  immediately before the nationals.
• Research the venue - weather, tides, geography, etc. - and sail there beforehand if possible.
• Allow plenty of time to reach the race area - ideally enough to sail a lap of the
  course before the start.
• Thoroughly prepare your boat beforehand - otherwise, at best, it’ll affect your concentration and, at worst, you’ll lose a full day through gear failure.
• Nationals = long days on the water. Take plenty of food, drink, sun cream, etc.
• Agree with your crew beforehand on the racing/social balance for the event - for most people it’s difficult to max-out on both!