2014 Boomerang Regatta Report

2014 Boomerang Regatta Report

We had a light and sunny Boomerang weekend at LYC. The Boomerang shaped course was a first for many, and the light and shifty conditions in the ICW, made course and wind awareness an important consideration. 

I had the privilege of coaching the Green and Yellow fleet for the second half of the day on Saturday.  I noticed lots of improvement by many of our sailors.I also saw some areas that we need to work on.

1.)    Starts

a.      Get a line sight and be on the line. This is important in most conditions, but especially in light air.

b.      One thing all of the green fleeters need to work on is holding a spot on the line and then timing with the acceleration at GO.

c.       Having a good start allows you to sail in the pressure first. Be in control, don’t let the fleet control you!

2.)    Game Plan

a.       Have a game plane for the first leg.

b.      Use other fleets that already started as a gauge.

c.       Don’t just follow boats around the course but sail your own race and connect the dots. This is all pre-race research that should be done in the beginning of the starting sequence.

3.)    Course Awareness.

a.       Always have a gauge of where the next mark is and make sure you are sailing your fastest course to the mark.

4.)    Current

a.       Understanding the current and how to use it to your advantage around the course.

b.      It is a good idea to look at a chart before sailing any venue and check the tide. Current is stronger in the channel and deeper water.

5.)    Boat speed, boat speed, boat speed!

a.       Stay tuned in to whether or not your boat is being sailed to its fastest potential. Many of you were sailing upwind heeled to windward in a lull.

b.      Body positioning (weight low and forward) is important in light air.

c.       Sail trim. Never pinching upwind and never over trimmed.

6.)    Attitude

a.       Having a positive mind set can go a long way and is critical for succeeding at most sports. If you are in the back of the fleet don’t get frustrated, but take something from it. Do not criticize your mistakes, but rather make them constructive. Ask yourself after every race, ‘what could I have done differently?’, then apply it to the next race. 

I want to congratulate everyone for a job well done at Boomerang. Keep up the hard work and make the most of your time at practice!

There are lots of events to look forward to this spring, so let’s apply what we learned from Boomerang to our future sailing goals.

Special thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Welker, Mrs. Gillette and PRO Past Commodore Wright for running a fabulous event.

Boomerang pictures can be found on John Payne’s website-Boomerang Photos

Have a great week,

Julia Melton