You and a sailing buddy are out for a day sail. A boat similar to yours crosses about 100 yards aft of you, tacks onto your course and begins to gain on you. What would you do? (Created by Gary Wyngarden)
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Check trim so as to point higher, etc.
If beating and with perfect trim and sail shape, consider to slightly hook the leech to windward so as to sail a higher angle so that the overtaking boat doesnt 'roll over' me and cause me to get blanketed. If I do it right and 'shoot' him the right amount of turbulance from a slightly hooked to weather mainsail leech, he will have greater difficulty in passing me to leeward. Overtaking boat on same angle course is the 'give-way' vessel; and, that makes me the the 'stand-on' boat .... I simply hold proper course and let the other boat do the maneuvering.
If beating and with perfect trim and sail shape, consider to slightly hook the leech to windward so as to sail a higher angle so that the overtaking boat doesnt 'roll over' me and cause me to get blanketed. If I do it right and 'shoot' him the right amount of turbulance from a slightly hooked to weather mainsail leech, he will have greater difficulty in passing me to leeward. Overtaking boat on same angle course is the 'give-way' vessel; and, that makes me the the 'stand-on' boat .... I simply hold proper course and let the other boat do the maneuvering.
What to do...
Assuming you feel the need for an informal race, and assuming you feel the other boat is faster you need to do something. Just holding course allows the other boat to adjust and fine tune his boat and overtake you. So you need to fine tune your boat. I believe that even the best sailors (America's Cup class) are not sailing at 100% of their potential boat speed most of the time and us more casual sailors can always improve our speed. Look for the little things, no lines in the water, not too much weather helm, not pinching too high, sails set correctly up and down the luff (not just one place) are all possibilities. Next it is worth noting that speed on a sailboat does not change instantly and that it takes minutes to see the effect of small changes. Keep working the boat and doing what is right for you. What you DO NOT do is keep watching the other boat. Instead only glance at him occasionally or better yet assign a crew to do that. Your job is close at hand on your boat. If go fast is your game at hand play all your cards. And when all else fails, loose graciously and LEARN.
Assuming you feel the need for an informal race, and assuming you feel the other boat is faster you need to do something. Just holding course allows the other boat to adjust and fine tune his boat and overtake you. So you need to fine tune your boat. I believe that even the best sailors (America's Cup class) are not sailing at 100% of their potential boat speed most of the time and us more casual sailors can always improve our speed. Look for the little things, no lines in the water, not too much weather helm, not pinching too high, sails set correctly up and down the luff (not just one place) are all possibilities. Next it is worth noting that speed on a sailboat does not change instantly and that it takes minutes to see the effect of small changes. Keep working the boat and doing what is right for you. What you DO NOT do is keep watching the other boat. Instead only glance at him occasionally or better yet assign a crew to do that. Your job is close at hand on your boat. If go fast is your game at hand play all your cards. And when all else fails, loose graciously and LEARN.
Trim & GO!
If it's a boat like mine and leaving me behind, I'm not going as fast as I can! Trim and Go... OR- Give my Lady a kiss and wave good-bye! If it's not fun, the weather is bad or something else is wrong. John
If it's a boat like mine and leaving me behind, I'm not going as fast as I can! Trim and Go... OR- Give my Lady a kiss and wave good-bye! If it's not fun, the weather is bad or something else is wrong. John
happened yesterday
Only it wasnot a similar boat. Mine is a 37' Irwin cutter, his was a Bennetatau, about 36' or larger. We had all sails upa nd were healing 30 degrees. He had his two sails upa nd was healing about 20. He couldn't catch up, but stayed even. Made me think about my next boat! I did flutter the sails a few times. Well the jib anyway. That allowed him to catch up. It was all in good fun. Another boat did the same an hour before and told us we were doing 8 knots.
Only it wasnot a similar boat. Mine is a 37' Irwin cutter, his was a Bennetatau, about 36' or larger. We had all sails upa nd were healing 30 degrees. He had his two sails upa nd was healing about 20. He couldn't catch up, but stayed even. Made me think about my next boat! I did flutter the sails a few times. Well the jib anyway. That allowed him to catch up. It was all in good fun. Another boat did the same an hour before and told us we were doing 8 knots.
Sailboat vs overtaking right of way
Rich is correct. Even though the sailboat right of way rules state that when boats are on the same tack the windward boat must give way the overtaking boat rule has precidence. So I guess when he tries to pass to windward there is no question as to who is doing the manuvering but when he passes to leeward and hits your turbulance and starts to fall behind is he still the overtaking boat?
Rich is correct. Even though the sailboat right of way rules state that when boats are on the same tack the windward boat must give way the overtaking boat rule has precidence. So I guess when he tries to pass to windward there is no question as to who is doing the manuvering but when he passes to leeward and hits your turbulance and starts to fall behind is he still the overtaking boat?
RACE!!!!!!
I would ease the sails till he got about 2 boat lengths behind mine, then start trimming in to gather enertia, as his bow got to about 3 or 4 points off my bow I would go to full race trim, pick a mark about 1 mile away and have an impromptu 1 design race. If I made the mark first I would turn.
I would ease the sails till he got about 2 boat lengths behind mine, then start trimming in to gather enertia, as his bow got to about 3 or 4 points off my bow I would go to full race trim, pick a mark about 1 mile away and have an impromptu 1 design race. If I made the mark first I would turn.
The Spirit of Competition!
Who was it who said, "Whenever two similar boats are going in the same direction, one will assuredly try to out-sail the other!" It's in the blood of all who enjoy the sport of sailing! Bill on STARGAZER
Who was it who said, "Whenever two similar boats are going in the same direction, one will assuredly try to out-sail the other!" It's in the blood of all who enjoy the sport of sailing! Bill on STARGAZER
Answer the wife's question
After passing a couple of boats on our first BVI charter my wife asked me when is it that a sailor is not racing? My response: When you ask him as he has just been passed by another boat!
After passing a couple of boats on our first BVI charter my wife asked me when is it that a sailor is not racing? My response: When you ask him as he has just been passed by another boat!
Why RACE of course
I love when this happens, But I do it with almost any overtaking sailboat. Trim my sails and go! But this is the unspoken rule at my yatch club where we are the river. But if the other boat is coming up on you and starts to luff his jib than they just want to chat. So yeah race it is!
I love when this happens, But I do it with almost any overtaking sailboat. Trim my sails and go! But this is the unspoken rule at my yatch club where we are the river. But if the other boat is coming up on you and starts to luff his jib than they just want to chat. So yeah race it is!
Make it as hard as possible for him to pass me
Of course since he's overtaking that makes me the stand-on vessel so I have to maintain course. That doesn't mean I have to make it easy for him to pass me. Autopilot off, trim those sails, & see what we're both make of. Then wave & smile when he finally passes. (It IS amazing how having another boat on the same course with you brings out the competative side of a sailor. I'm not a very competetive person usually & I certainly don't race (or want to), but I do love seeing if I can outsmart the other boats heading towards the bridge & get there first or catch-up with that other boat up ahead...)
Of course since he's overtaking that makes me the stand-on vessel so I have to maintain course. That doesn't mean I have to make it easy for him to pass me. Autopilot off, trim those sails, & see what we're both make of. Then wave & smile when he finally passes. (It IS amazing how having another boat on the same course with you brings out the competative side of a sailor. I'm not a very competetive person usually & I certainly don't race (or want to), but I do love seeing if I can outsmart the other boats heading towards the bridge & get there first or catch-up with that other boat up ahead...)
I realize.........
...that this is not a fair comparison. Sailing a close reach in 5 or 6 knots true. Here comes Blue Yankee (R/P 66) looking like a freight train. She must have been doing 10 knots with a HUGE code zero up. She passed to weather of us at about 200ft. The wind shadow must have lasted for 2 minutes. We were spinnaker reaching with no possibility to get high enough to climb to weather of this monster. If you have to get rolled, this is a great excuse for sailing too slow!
...that this is not a fair comparison. Sailing a close reach in 5 or 6 knots true. Here comes Blue Yankee (R/P 66) looking like a freight train. She must have been doing 10 knots with a HUGE code zero up. She passed to weather of us at about 200ft. The wind shadow must have lasted for 2 minutes. We were spinnaker reaching with no possibility to get high enough to climb to weather of this monster. If you have to get rolled, this is a great excuse for sailing too slow!
Are we racing or cruising?
I would certainly see to my trim, but I wouldn't use any racing tactics. I'm not going to do anything to purposely take his wind, etc. I'm not going to do anything which would force the other boat to alter his course. That doesn't mean that I won't try to speed up my boat. If the other guy is about the same size and type, I must be doing something wrong. It's time to learn. If the other guy used the rules of the road to force me to maneuver, I would let him know that I wasn't happy about it.
I would certainly see to my trim, but I wouldn't use any racing tactics. I'm not going to do anything to purposely take his wind, etc. I'm not going to do anything which would force the other boat to alter his course. That doesn't mean that I won't try to speed up my boat. If the other guy is about the same size and type, I must be doing something wrong. It's time to learn. If the other guy used the rules of the road to force me to maneuver, I would let him know that I wasn't happy about it.
How similar is "similar"?
I've been racing for almost 40 years so I just can't help myself in situations like this. I had an O'Day 26 many years ago (moderately-heavily loaded for short coastal cruising) and I used to LOVE beating J-24s being sailed by rookies. Trimmed properly, they should have beat me every time. Cals and Hunters in my size range only saw my transom, a Tartan 28 was a close match and a Catalina 30 always beat me. So, each to their own when it comes to defining "similar". Sail in bad trim? Never. Lines hanging in the water? Are you kidding???? Pinch high in order to blanket the chaser in an informal race? Never. Give them full courtesy if they are really overtaking me? Always. My wife also asked me (20 years ago) when I could go sailing and not be racing (informally). I told her: "When I'm an old geezer and driving a single-screw trawler"! I owned a 40' tri for a few years and that sort of ended my inclination to race informally because there was NO competition around here. I sold it only because I didn't want to pay for a double slip but it was kinda fun passing folks at 18 knots... Cheers,
I've been racing for almost 40 years so I just can't help myself in situations like this. I had an O'Day 26 many years ago (moderately-heavily loaded for short coastal cruising) and I used to LOVE beating J-24s being sailed by rookies. Trimmed properly, they should have beat me every time. Cals and Hunters in my size range only saw my transom, a Tartan 28 was a close match and a Catalina 30 always beat me. So, each to their own when it comes to defining "similar". Sail in bad trim? Never. Lines hanging in the water? Are you kidding???? Pinch high in order to blanket the chaser in an informal race? Never. Give them full courtesy if they are really overtaking me? Always. My wife also asked me (20 years ago) when I could go sailing and not be racing (informally). I told her: "When I'm an old geezer and driving a single-screw trawler"! I owned a 40' tri for a few years and that sort of ended my inclination to race informally because there was NO competition around here. I sold it only because I didn't want to pay for a double slip but it was kinda fun passing folks at 18 knots... Cheers,
let the centerboard down if not already & trim
I would not bother to fall off to keep him from passing on my lee, just try to outpoint him. Most sailers will feel challanged & trim if being overtaken I started off in the 16' Comet fleet so I have a full set of telltalls on my 28'cruiser. I like to sail the boat faster vs. slower.
I would not bother to fall off to keep him from passing on my lee, just try to outpoint him. Most sailers will feel challanged & trim if being overtaken I started off in the 16' Comet fleet so I have a full set of telltalls on my 28'cruiser. I like to sail the boat faster vs. slower.
Take a picture
and tell everybody I passed this guy with ease Just kidding...I could care less. I rarely ever get passed except for when I don't have much sail up because I'm taking it easy but in the few times it does happen, I'm cool with it. I know my sail trim and there is no need to prove it to others. Now if this guy had a hot babe on board showing skin, I might try to speed up so I could enjoy the view a bit longer
and tell everybody I passed this guy with ease
Just kidding...I could care less. I rarely ever get passed except for when I don't have much sail up because I'm taking it easy but in the few times it does happen, I'm cool with it. I know my sail trim and there is no need to prove it to others. Now if this guy had a hot babe on board showing skin, I might try to speed up so I could enjoy the view a bit longer Check on his sails
Does he have more sail out than you? If so give up... If he does not check on his sail trim. Is it the same as your? If not adjust to match his. He who is not willing to learn is dumb. If you try all this and he still passes you tip your hat to the better man.
Does he have more sail out than you? If so give up... If he does not check on his sail trim. Is it the same as your? If not adjust to match his. He who is not willing to learn is dumb. If you try all this and he still passes you tip your hat to the better man.
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