Raceboard handling - the basics

1. KEY POINTS

• - Be decisive.
• - Do not give up.
• - Use the art of visualisation.
• - Be observant.
• - Trust yourself. If you think that there is a lift go with it.

2. UPWIND

• - Railing the board is critical – push the leeward rail down to create an edge for the board to push against.
• - Stance – straight body with shoulders back.
• - Dagger fully down in light to moderate winds. May need to rake slightly in windy conditions if the board over rails.
• - Make sure that you always have a transit line to monitor your knock and lift performance against.
• - Track fully forward unless overpowered conditions then you may need to bring back slightly.

3. TACKING

• - Focus on quick tacks – make each of the elements to the tack decisively but smoothly.
• - Rake rig right back to get the board through the eye of the wind fast.
• - Take two steps to get around the mast.
• - Use back then front foot pressure
• - Power up on the opposite tack quickly and smoothly. In light conditions give the rig a few pumps to get underway quickly.

4. TOP MARK ROUNDING
Once you have made it to the top mark there are a number of things that you need to do before you either head downwind. These vary depending upon the wind conditions and your direction.

Reaching in light winds sequence of events

• A. Go around buoy.
• B. Fold up daggerboard.
• C. Pull mast track back.
• D. Let out outhaul to maximise sail depth.

Reaching in moderate conditions

• A. Go around buoy.
• B. Fold up daggerboard.
• C. Leave mast track forward to allow the board to pick up speed before pulling back the track. May only pul back half or three quarters of the way.
• D. Let out outhaul to maximise sail depth.

Reaching in light conditions

• A. Leave daggerboard down or slightly racked
• B. Leave track forward
• C. Let out outhaul to maximise sail depth.

If you are going around the top mark and are coming on to a run it is likely to be light conditions. In this case you would leave the track forward and retract your daggerboard. However, it can be left partially down for stability.

5. REACHING

• - Stance as upwind – square to rig and lean out with a straight body
• - Use footstraps and your feet to keep the board level.
• - Weight to the back of the board with nose bouncing over the waves.
• - Look ahead to destination and where the mark is or where you plan to gybe.
• - In chop be careful to keep the board on top of the waves rather than piecing through the back of the waves.
• - Speed is the key so make sure that you continually adjust your, feet position, track and sail shape to maximise this.

6. JYBING
Light to moderate winds – the daggerboard gybe is the most appropriate as the board pivots on the dagger.

• - Use big rig movements
• - Weight to windward rail and then move back
• - Move forward on completion of the gybe to avoid over rotation.
• - Remember to concentrate

In moderate to fresh winds the carve or planning gybe is the most appropriate

• - Enter gybe at full speed.
• - Determination is the key – you can not do it half heartedly so show no fear.
• - Engage or put weight on the leeward rail and keep that pressure their right into the gybe.
• - Make a smooth arc.
• - Move forward to flatten the board out.
• - Rotate the sail after you have gone through the eye of the wind.

7. BOTTOM MARK ROUNDING

• - Do not come in at to acute an angle - give your self room.
• - Maintain full speed.
• - Before you get to the mark review wind conditions and other boards that may have rounded the mark to determine which tack you will take once you have rounded the mark.
• - Always run the track forward before you get around the mark.
• - If windy point up on the fin and then drop the daggerboard.
• - If moderate get daggerboard down immediately after rounding.
• - If light conditions the track is likely to be forward and the dagger down.
• - Adjust outhaul once around mark and underway.
• - Take your transit immediately to ascertain lift and knock situation.