forum | Top Tips | TopTip2020 #54 - Fast to the Front of the Fleet - Attila Banyai, HUN

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Home >> Top Tips >> TopTip2020 #54 - Fast to the Front of the Fleet - Attila Banyai, HUN

TopTip2020 #54

Fast to the Front of the Fleet

Attila Banyai, HUN

Attila Banyai of Hungary received his new RS Aero about a month before our RS Aero Europeans at Garda in 2019. As one of our younger competitors he worked very hard during that month to learn the RS Aero and practice sailing it ready for the Championships. His efforts were successful and he won the RS Aero 5 European title! Here he shares his insight into his preparations;

' Fast to the Front of the Fleet

Hello Guys, I am going to share my TopTips of how to reach the front of the fleet. There are several things to consider...

Preparation: So, the first thing is, you should first build your RS Aero together, where there is no wind, so it is only you and maybe a partner helping you rigging the boat. First have a look in the social media for opinions on how best to rig an RS Aero or follow the online Rigging Manual on the Class website Documents Page. Then, I let the boat stay for one night in a wind safe spot. Then the sail can relax itself from being rolled and its shape changes a lot from how it looked the day before. As an alternative you could also roll it the other way or go sailing. This is very important because when you receive your sail rolled and you unroll it on the ground, the bottom and the top will lift up quite high, so that’s why let it relax for one night or so. Having given your sail some free time, wearing in the new ropes to remove any kinks or new slipperiness. After these things, your boat is ready to be sailed.

Practice: The moment you go out sailing, try to make sure that there are no more than 5-6 knots of wind, otherwise it will only be a hiking day for you. When you get out onto the water, try to make save that you feel the balance of the boat. I think a big mistake a lot of people do, is that they start off with the manoeuvres. The first point is to build up a feeling, how the boat reacts to bigger waves, to some harder pulls on the mainsheet, etc. Afterwards, try out some movements with your body meaning, what happens e.g. when you move your upper body forward, when there is a big wave coming.

Be Open Minded: The problem is there is never one specific method, which is good for everyone. When someone wants to go at a lower angle with more speed in upwind, needs a completely different sail setting and a much different movement than someone who wants to go maybe slower but higher. The guy who wants to go like the more faster but lower way, needs to tilt his body forward on the waves so he can pass through the waves and not loose speed. On the other hand, the guy sailing the more slower put higher way, needs to always pull the sail on himself, so he gets like that pump into the sail, which gives him always a little power to pinch a bit more.

Manoeuvres: Then, you can start learning the tacks, gybes or whatever. A few capsizes might happen, but it takes a few days to get used to;

how much rudder you need to use,
how fast you need to get onto the other side, and
how to hold your speed through the manoeuvre.

Event Preparation: But somewhere you need to show what you have learnt, and what you should show at the competition. So, at most of the competition you need to be really focused. When you get up in the morning, you should not be in hurry. There are lots of food you can eat, but try to eat protein, which you most of the time will need, also try to drink something which contains vitamins, and try to eat some bread or anything in which you find starch, so you have something that your body can burn if it needs to. Try to make three things sure;

that you haven’t forgot anything in your room
that your boat is complete
that you are not late.

Racing: When you go onto the water at an event try to stay cool and do not panic about what will happen. When you know approximately where the racecourse is going to be located, go there and sail one time to the left side and one time to the right of the first upwind section (see TopTip2020 #50). While you are sailing to one of the sides, try to set your sail for the first upwind and to look if the wind is shifting. If yes, have a look if there is some kind of rhythm between the shifts. That is very important, because like that you can estimate much easier where the approximate “real” lay line is, and not just the “actual” one, which is the lay line in that moment depending on the shift. When you have done these things, go and check the line. Basically, just have a look if you should start on the right or on the left. Then try to also calculate within that decision the wind shifts you had a look at before. Then just start from the spot you have calculated yourself, and depending on the situation, sail on the best VMG. Have a look at the gusts and be really active and focused to get up to the first upwind mark first.

From there, just keep on concentrating and sail fast, so the others behind you will never be able to catch you!

Best Wishes from Hungary, Attila :-) '

RS Aero 5 Europeans podium

22/05/2020 20:55:00
Peter Barton
Posts: 4681

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