The bigger your fleet, the more boats there are to get in the way of your strategic gameplan. In order to stay on track, therefore, you need good boat-on-boat tactical moves.
In a small fleet, you may choose to maneuver tactically against one or two other boats, even early in a race. These moves let you follow your strategy, but they also help you beat those boats. With a big fleet, however, you can’t afford to mess with individual boats (unless it’s late in a race or series). You have to keep the big picture firmly in mind, and your tactics should be geared toward groups of boats, not just one or two.
For example, in a big fleet you should almost never tack on one other boat just to give them bad air. Instead, tack in the place that’s best for you relative to all the rest of your competitors.
Try to put yourself in strong positions relative to the bulk of the fleet rather than to single boats. If there is a pack of ten boats close behind you, give them a loose cover and stay between this group and the favored side of the course. Don’t worry about two or three boats that bang the other corner – you can’t cover everyone, and if you stay ahead of ten it won’t matter so
Minimize risk with tactics
In a small fleet, you can take a risk and still have a fair chance of recovering if it doesn’t work out. But in big fleets, mistakes are more costly. If you foul another boat and take a Two-Turns Penalty, for example, you might lose 25 boats (instead of just five in a small fleet)! It’s usually pretty hard to work your way back through 25 boats, so minimize risk and improve consistency. Here are some specific ideas:
• Anticipate! Looking ahead is important in any fleet size, but it’s especially critical in big fleets. When you are sailing on a course with so many other boats, you have to make lots of decisions, and often you don’t have many good options. The more you can anticipate (i.e. think in advance about) each situation, the better your choices (and therefore your results) will be.
In big fleets it’s good to be cautious about getting stuck in the middle of the beat. © Stephen R Cloutier
• Avoid the herd mentality! You will always have better boatspeed and more strategic options if you stay away from the pack as much as possible. Of course, when the entire fleet is obviously doing the right thing, you have to go with them. But don’t ever make a move just because it’s popular. If you disagree with the fleet or even if you’re 50-50, make the choice that takes you away from other boats. Sometimes, such as on the starting line or when you have a lane of clear air on the beat, it may actually pay to take the unfavored and unpopular option just to make sure you have space and speed.
• Give up a little. In a big fleet mistakes are costly, so reduce the risk you take. Often it’s better to give up your rights, or sail extra distance, to buy some insurance. For example, if you have a good lane of clear air on starboard tack and you like the left side, don’t ever yell “Starboard” at a boat that is approaching on port tack. The last thing you want is for that boat to lee-bow you – that will force you to tack and you may end up sailing in bad air or the wrong way for the rest of the beat. Instead, wave them across your bow; even though you have right of way, going behind them is a small price to ensure you are going the right way in clear air. At the windward mark, don’t tack exactly on the starboard- tack layline unless there aren’t any boats between you and the mark. The cost of overstanding slightly is much less than the distance you could lose by getting caught in a mess at a crowded mark. Give up a little to avoid losing a lot.
• Keep two options. Try not to sail yourself into a corner (literally or figuratively) where you have only one choice. For example, if you are thinking about cutting inside of a pack at the leeward mark, keep an escape route until you are sure there will be room for you. ■
This article originally appeared in David Dellenbaugh’s Speed & Smarts, The newsletter of how-to tips for racing sailors. If you want to sail faster and smarter, log onto SpeedandSmarts.com. A resident of Easton, CT, Dellenbaugh was tactician and starting helmsman for America3’s successful defense of the America’s Cup in 1992. He’s a Lightning World Champion, two-time Congressional Cup winner, seven-time Thistle National Champion, two-time winner of the Canada’s Cup, three-time Prince of Wales U.S. Match Racing Champion, and a winner of the U.S. Team Racing Championships for the Hinman Trophy.
