1. Boat Control
Both skippers and crews need to watch this video. Pay attention to what they are talking about with using the sails to trim the boat.
- Skippers, watch the guys in yellow life jackets (NOT the guy in Red) with regard to their foot placement and how they use the sails to steer rather than their rudders.
- Crews, take a look at jib trim as well as how they are rolling the boats aggressively.
2. Roll Tacks
This video has tacks from some of the best college boats in the country. The footage was shot during the Trux - one of the more competitive intersectionals. There is some Laser footage as well. SKIPPERS pay attention to the hand exchange in those clips as well as to how aggressively they flatten out the boat. There is also some great FJ tacks in the last part of the video.
3. Wing to Wing Jibes
EVERYONE should watch this again: Technique Tuesday - wing to wing jibes. It will open in a new windows. Here's what you need to pay attention to.
- Skippers, watch the exchange as well as how Ben (skipper) keeps the boat headed down wind without over steering.
- Crews, the only thing that I disagree with is that the crew does not first grab the sheet through the lead before taking it from the skipper. However, watch how she snaps the jib through the wing. Shorter crews, if you want to try having a foot forward of the partners when sailing wing on wing, that's fine. If you are over 5'6", bad idea! You'll have too much weight forward.
- Jib Trim - At about 1:58 in the video, watch the timing of the jib snap. You will see it again at 2:26.
- Tiller Exchange - There is a great example at 2:36. Watch how the skipper drills the boat flat off of the traveler bar.
- Steering & Weight - At 3:45, watch the full sequence to see how the boat goes from a wing to a wing. Look at the timing, the heel, the control that the skipper maintains with the main, and how the boat stays sailing down wind the entire time.
