Sail Boat Racing
by Colin Lee

It seems that there are many owners of sailing boats that are reluctant to take part in local racing events.

In many ways we all take part in racing, albeit unofficial, unregulated with no start, no finish and no handicapping!

You know the scene, you have just passed the fairway and about quarter of a mile ahead there is another yacht, he has turned the engine off, which you did ages before, and you are catching him up. You start adjusting the trim of the sails to get that extra bit of speed, you sit the crew out on the weather rail, and sure enough you slowly overhaul him. Of course, the other skipper is at this moment totally unaware of you intentions and is blithely pottering along. But, suddenly he sees you drawing alongside and he starts tweaking and resetting. Trying to get that extra ounce of speed. Of course, the one that reaches puffin first has the personal satisfaction of beating the other boat, but then he may have a faster handicap anyway!

So, how does racing differ?

Well, we all start at the same time from the same place, at least that is the intention, a good racing skipper is crossing the line as the gun goes off (with a little bit of luck). We are given a course to sail which is dependant on the wind direction, but the course should include a beat, a reach and a run, not necessarily in that order. All races are sailed in accordance with the RYA rules, which is to ensure there are no collisions and other problems. It is of course possible to use the rules to your advantage so a good working knowledge is very useful.

All boats have a handicap, a figure based on the boat length and sail area which is used against your final elapsed time, so in theory, everyone boat's finishing time should be about the same.

But of course it isn't. Each individual's ability is different, local knowledge varies and it is possible that your handicap is advantageous, at least that is what all the other skippers claim when you happen to win!

It still gives you an enormous sense of satisfaction when you are first over the line whether or not you have won on handicap- this really goes back to the unofficial race to puffin that we have all had at some time or other.

Anyway, the maxim is, give it a go. You may be surprised just how enjoyable yacht racing really is.

Colin Lee
September 1999