Surprise training: Rounding the leeward mark

This weekend, Michal K organized the first Surprise race training. The idea is to give us the chance to improve our skills in racing and so make us more competitive in next year's external regattas. This Saturday, we spent a couple of hours on the water practising how to round the leeward mark. The wind took its time arriving but by 3pm was Bft3 - perfect conditions.

More time for reflection - waiting for the wind to arrive (pic: AK)

There are two main issues to think about: the approach and how to douse the spi.

The approach: According the RYA's Tactics, one should round the mark smoothly, like a U rather than a V. This gives you the "best chance of sailing out of the leebow of the boats ahead, while slowing the boats behind and leaves you free to tack at will." What we couldn't practice was how to approach the mark with respect to the other boats. Where you have many boats, it may be better to take the outside route, particularly in light winds (to avoid queues) or very strong winds (avoid struggling boats ahead).

Smooth and wide rounding of the mark

Dousing the spi: ideally you want to drop the spi on the windward (port) side so that it is on the correct side for rounding the upwind mark, where you round the mark to the port. To do this you, adjust your course near the mark to a dead run (from the broad reach you were on), remove the pole, unfurl the jib, drop the spi. Not forgetting to tighten the vang before the mark (easy to forget once you are round).

At a recent regatta, I saw boats coming to the mark on the starboard tack, dropping the pole, early, unfurling the jib (i think), flying the spi without the pole, dropping it and rounding the mark with a jibe. The theory being that you have priority over the boats on the port tack - I still have a question - what would happen if boats are approaching on opposite tacks - would the port tack boats have to let the starboard ones go first? 

If you are interested in training and committed to attending regularly, you can sign up under the External Regatta section of the YCC page.