Lots of Little Things

There are lots of things that have been happening lately that really don't fall into any particular category or post. Here we go:

1. Sit forward - a lot of you are still too far back in the boat (skippers and crews), particularly when it gets light


2. Press - yesterday, I saw a lot of skippers with their bums on the rails while the crews were to leeward. Get your weight together and press the boat flat.


3. Talk - crews need to talk to skippers and vice versa. However, crews may need a little prompting. Skippers remember to ask: where's the wind, how's my height and speed, where's the mark, what combo are we in, etc.


4. Jib Trim - on reaches, crews are over-trimmed. Make sure you are playing the tell tales the entire time. If you are on a deep reach, and both tell tales are hanging straight down, then you need to talk about pressure. If there is no pressure in the jib and it's stalled, then the skipper needs to either head up or go to a wing.


5. Up-Wind Trim - most of you are not playing the main enough up wind. I see the rudders making adjustments that could be more effectively handled with weight and sails. Think about it before you move the tiller. Skippers, also don't forget to tell your crew what you're doing with the sails. They have to play the jib too.


6. Flat is Fast - boats are not flat. This is up and down wind. Crews and skippers aren't smooth enough with the press, and skippers need to talk to crews more on the reaches about keeping the boats flat. Remember, on a reach, even a little weather heel is good. This means that the boat goes to flat when the puff hits.


7. Break it Down and Make it Plane - we used to talk about this in college. You are all missing key planing opportunities down wind. If you could time a pump and shift your weight correctly on the waves, you would be planing. Remember, too, that the board needs to be up and you have to be trimmed as well.


8. Don't Get Caught on the Quarter Wake - this happened yesterday. When boats are reaching, you cannot pass the boat ahead if you are on their wake. You have to find a way to punch through it.