I really don't know where to start with this topic. Two young couples from FL purchased a boat together and they were interested in a practice routine for cruisers. Practice is a good idea if you want to become proficient at anything. Sounds like a simple question to answer but it isn't. Some sports are intellectual and physical - sailing is all intellectual.
Years ago, when I lived in So Ca, two groups of gals approached me. One was from Shoreline YC in Long Beach and wanted to compete in the Newport to Ensenada race. The other was a group of gals that were competing in Newport Beach Beer Can races and were sick of guys mocking them because they came in last.
Both group of gals started off by asking if I had any advise -- a Marine rifle team instructor words at Twenty Nine Palms came to mind. "The match ( insert race) is won on the practice range before the match (insert race) even starts". Actually that applies to any endeavor you're attempting to accomplish. The practice routine depends on the sailors level of expertise - just like with any sport. Both gal teams knew how to sail the boats but they lacked organization and most importantly a leader. With the Newport Beach group it turned out the present leader wasn't the boat owner and driver. The first thing I determined was who should do what. Both boats were masthead rigs so the sail trim "shot caller" was the jib trimmer. We then sailed the actual course and endeavored to get the most out of the sails on each keg. I timed each leg - So Ca conditions don't vary much especially in a harbor like Newport Beach. After about 6 session they became pretty good and time was shaved on each leg. After their next race the guys stopped mocking them.
Obviously, I couldn't practice sail the Newport-Ensenada course but it's all downhill so after getting the crew positions organized we worked on that point of sail. They came in 3rd in their division.
So, the practice routine depends on your level of sail trim knowledge. If you don't have a basic understanding of sail trim and what each of the sail trim controls for the main & jib are adjusting you're wasting your time practicing. It would be like watching a golf match and deciding that you wanted to take up the game so you borrowed a driver and went to the range - and got nowhere.
So how did I answer the question from the two cruiser couples in FL? I told them there is no practice routine for cruisers. Instead you're refining your skills. It's not like today I think I'll go sailing and practice the use of the traveler. It's more like you're closehauled and you tweak the controls, assuming you know what controls to tweak and what to look for, to get a more efficiency out of your sails.
Do any of you cruisers or racers want to share your practice routine?
.
Years ago, when I lived in So Ca, two groups of gals approached me. One was from Shoreline YC in Long Beach and wanted to compete in the Newport to Ensenada race. The other was a group of gals that were competing in Newport Beach Beer Can races and were sick of guys mocking them because they came in last.
Both group of gals started off by asking if I had any advise -- a Marine rifle team instructor words at Twenty Nine Palms came to mind. "The match ( insert race) is won on the practice range before the match (insert race) even starts". Actually that applies to any endeavor you're attempting to accomplish. The practice routine depends on the sailors level of expertise - just like with any sport. Both gal teams knew how to sail the boats but they lacked organization and most importantly a leader. With the Newport Beach group it turned out the present leader wasn't the boat owner and driver. The first thing I determined was who should do what. Both boats were masthead rigs so the sail trim "shot caller" was the jib trimmer. We then sailed the actual course and endeavored to get the most out of the sails on each keg. I timed each leg - So Ca conditions don't vary much especially in a harbor like Newport Beach. After about 6 session they became pretty good and time was shaved on each leg. After their next race the guys stopped mocking them.
Obviously, I couldn't practice sail the Newport-Ensenada course but it's all downhill so after getting the crew positions organized we worked on that point of sail. They came in 3rd in their division.
So, the practice routine depends on your level of sail trim knowledge. If you don't have a basic understanding of sail trim and what each of the sail trim controls for the main & jib are adjusting you're wasting your time practicing. It would be like watching a golf match and deciding that you wanted to take up the game so you borrowed a driver and went to the range - and got nowhere.
So how did I answer the question from the two cruiser couples in FL? I told them there is no practice routine for cruisers. Instead you're refining your skills. It's not like today I think I'll go sailing and practice the use of the traveler. It's more like you're closehauled and you tweak the controls, assuming you know what controls to tweak and what to look for, to get a more efficiency out of your sails.
Do any of you cruisers or racers want to share your practice routine?
.