TopTip2020 #22 - The Windward Mark - by Paul McMahon, IRL
TopTip2020 #21
The Windward Mark
by Paul McMahon, IRE
Paul McMahon is one of the leading lights in the growing Irish RS Aero fleet, finishing 4th at last year's 60+ entry RS Aero 7 European Championships in Italy. Paul shares his experience of approaching those often crowded windward marks;
'The Windward Mark
In RS Aero racing we round a lot of marks so its important to be able to do this well. Here are a few things to look out for when approaching the Windward Mark;
- Don’t hit the lay line too early, once you are on the lay line your options are gone.
- Be wary of the port tack approach (Rule 18.2), its high risk and at a busy mark often doesn’t pay.
- Try not to overlay, progress to windward is slower and hence more expensive than reaching or running.
- Mainsheet - make sure it's free to run and not tangled.
- Take a second before the mark to find the next mark and spot any obstacles or issues (you should also have a strategy in mind at this stage).
- My process for the turn at the windward mark; (1) Cunningham off (2) Kicker off (3a) Mainsheet off, *Dump and Pump*. (3b) Bear away, weight back when its windy (4) Set daggerboard to correct height (5) outhaul off.
- Showing Low' (this is what we called it in IRE) basically it’s a trick that you can use against a port tack boat to protect against a lee bow situation and useful when on a starboard lay line. As the port tack boat approaches bear-away maybe 5° or so, this will close the distance between you and the port tack boat. Port tack guy should tack earlier, as soon as he/she starts to turn point back up to your close-hauled angle. This should give you a bit more space on the other boat, the speed gained from the bear away will also give you a jump forward on the tacking boat. As a plus, he will also now be acting as a blocker for you. **but don’t bear away too much you still need to lay the mark!
Paul McMahon, IRE '
We look forward to visiting Ireland for our first major event there as a fleet. Sadly with the first RS Aero Irish Open at Dun Laoghaire now postponed from May we will have to wait a little....
Reply14/04/2020 23:51:00
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