NS14 Racing Tip 07 - The First Beat

[@cameronpierce9426]

Great series of videos--thank you. Two basic questions: 1) What's the advantage of planning to sail a short tack into a knock off the line? I've always presumed that it's better to start with the lift, and then tack when it knocks (i.e., hopefully tack into another lift)--if this doesn't happen, then I have to sail into a knock, as you were planning to do off the start anyhow, so I've lost nothing. 2) I've always wondered if perhaps there's no great loss to overlay the mark a little--reckoning that I'll be able to come at it with more speed on a close reach (rather than close-hauled), and so compensate for the extra distance? thanks, Cameron

[@geebee3d]

Cameron Pierce ....I realize I am about 2 years late to the party, but I will give it a go. If you take a short tack knock off the start, you are sailing towards the favored side of the course. If you are familiar with the concept of ladder rungs while beating to weather, whenever the wind shifts toward the side of the course you are on, you gaining your opponent. If you take a knock for a short amount of time, then tack on to the lift, you will be closer to the layline than a boat that took the lift immediately after the start. When it comes to over standing the layline, usually this is done when you get there too early. If you get to the layline too soon and over stand, yes you can reach into the mark going fast, but it’s a crap shoot because if the wind shifts and you end up headed, you might have to tack again, or get back to the slower close hauled course. If you get lucky and get lifted you can reach in going fast, but I am sure there is a point where the extra speed is negated by the extra distance.

[@katherinemontgomery6744]

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[@katherinemontgomery6744]

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[@katherinemontgomery6744]

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