Sep 11 2016
Pico race debrief
Debrief
Pico race: 10/09/2016 Saturday, start at 16:30
It was windy, onshore wind, big, rolling waves, wind around 20 miles/hour, but relatively steady. The weather was cloudy, but to my surprise eager cadets arrived and rigged. We had 6 boats signed up for racing.
On the briefing we planned 2 races, 2 laps each. I emphasised the recommended waiting area and start technique, which we discussed a few times previously (training with Nick, it is on YouTube as well). At the end we planned to do a drill, asking the boats to come and stop at our committee boat, Polly. I gave a hint that it is going to be worth paying a visit.
We set up the triangular course between the distance mark and the slipway. I was on Polly with Dominic, Toby and Jeremy were on the RIB.
Polly was running well for a while, but just when I wanted to adjust the gybe mark, she started to play tricks on me and refused to assist further. We put her on the mooring nearby using her as the committee boat.
Toby and Jeremy were busy to look after capsized boats, there were many.
At the end we started the race. Cadets enjoyed reaching in the preparatory time, kept moving, but did not really manage to control their position and speed. We did not see anyone following the recommended technique.
Boats were all struggling to make progress upwind. We could call this near survival conditions, and good upwind progress was certainly not an easy task. I think not sheeting in enough has let most sailors down, they started to gain speed in reaching, but then stopped dead once turned a little more upwind. This is all easy to say so from the motorboat, of course, I am sure you would have been amused to see me trying to demonstrate this in a Pico. The right technique is to gently sheet in, keeping the boat upright, at the same time turn upwind and hike hard to get some speed. Of course the waves do not help, one has to play them right.
I think everyone was busy with trying to survive, and not much attention could be paid to the course, some missed the start line, others kept reaching back and forth. No one managed to complete the two laps and many boats failed to do a proper start. Some boats were trying hard and nearly managed to do one lap.
Turning downwind was a further challenge. I keep moaning about handling the mainsheet, but the common problem was sheeting in too much downwind. Reaching went well, but bearing down was impossible, as the boats were healing and heading up. They could barely go further down than beam reach. I am not saying that this is easy, I used to feel very uneasy and not in control in similar conditions. Sitting well back and when the pressure comes, leaning back hard, easing the mainsheet and actively balancing the boat with constantly shifting your body weight, playing with the mainsheet and rudder – you must keep the boat upright. You can not really sit comfortably downwind and relax, you have to work hard. Then it is easier to bear down, and suddenly you find yourself riding on the waves with amazing speed.
At the end all felt exhausted and wet. One boat managed to lay by Polly with gentle control, really well done. After a short discussion came a small bit of a reward.
Well done, all, really, I am sure you all had an amazing experience. Struggling to control the boat feels really disappointing, but this is the way to gain confidence and learn the skills. Next time it will feel easier.
Learning points:
– starting technique, where is the waiting area
– Laying by to an other boat is a very similar technique to starting, just the end is different, at the start you want to cross the line on time with maximum speed, when laying by, you want to go slowly and stop at the right time.
– Points of sailing, sail setting in different conditions
– Steering the boat should not be done with the rudder alone.
You can steer very efficiently with the sails (think about the windsurfers) and by heeling the boat (think about the board surfers on big waves, or when riding the snowboard)
– laying by the committee boat enables conversation and can be very rewarding.
Congratulations to the winners and runner ups of our Pico spring and summer series, results are posted on the board in the clubhouse. Prize giving is planned later, at the end of the season. At present different options are being considered.
Next week, Scott (Barracudas) is going to run the Pico Race: 18th of September, Sunday. I have to work unfortunately.
Start is planned for 12:00 pm.
Further plans for the rest of the season:
Autumn Pico race dates:
29 August
9:50 Mon
Autumn 1 & 2
10 September
16:30 Sat
Autumn 3 & 4
18 September
12:00 Sun
Autumn 5 & 6
2 October
12:00 Sun
Autumn 7 & 8
Pico Race Training planned for the
24 September, Saturday 16:30
with Nick Alston and me
See you on the water:
Andras
Andras Gal
Pico Class Captain
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