Sailboat Racing for Cruising Sailors

An NNSA  clinic for skippers and crews on their boats

April 5, 2008

This half day clinic will be a fun way to ramp up for the 2008 season.  We will begin with a classroom session to discuss the essentials of getting around the race course, then, with all participants armed with a VHF radio we will head out to the race course to do practice starts in our own boats.  There will be a coach on the water giving tips and pointers over the radio making sure everyone has a clear understanding of the start.  It will be a little bit of work and lot of fun with the emphasis on team building and de-mystifying the starting line.

Agenda:

0930    Registration

1000    Racing overview/crew coordination

1020    The starting line

1030    The start sequence

1040    Upwind tactics and techniques

1050    Downwind tactics and techniques

1100    Rig boats and head out to Willoughby Bay

1145    1^st starting sequence

1200    2^nd starting sequence

1215    3^rd starting sequence followed by 10 tacks

            ***Eat lunch on the way back down to the starting line***

1315    Warning for practice race

1316    Preparatory for practice race

1320    Start for practice race

1500    Swim call, wading pool, beers, hamburgers, post race analysis at the sailing center

What to bring:

A good attitude- Be ready to learn and ready to laugh at yourself and others.  Yelling at crew members is strictly prohibited and will result in the coach boarding your boat and throwing you overboard.

Crew members- Wives, kids, friends…The more your crew understands, the more they will enjoy racing.  Knowledge = fun.

Lunch, drinks, and sunscreen- You’ve got to take care of creature comforts to win!

Cost: $5.00 per boat plus $1 per crew member, to offset food and fuel.

Questions:  Call Ryan McCrillis at (757)581-7851