| The hardest competitive sailing of all, whether in the | | | | look out for other vessels, particularly if you're on port |
| ocean or inshore, is when there is very little wind. In a | | | | tack. Where you put the leeward weight in terms of |
| moderate wind most sailors can perform well. In a | | | | fore and aft depends on the sort of boat you are |
| strong wind fewer can. In a very strong wind, still | | | | sailing. But the principle usually is that the more the |
| fewer. But when the wind is really light is when the | | | | weight can be towards the stern, the more the |
| good sailors stand out. That's because not many can | | | | forward section can be lifted out of the water. This |
| do it. | | | | reduces the wetted area and therefore the drag. But if |
| There are some basic sailing techniques which will help | | | | the weight is too far aft it will affect the windward |
| improve your chances. Of the five ways listed here, | | | | ability. The only way to get the best of both worlds is |
| the most important is the last -- concentration. | | | | to practice. |
| 1. Ease off the backstay | | | | 4. Try to keep the boom still |
| This lets the masthead move forward and loosens the | | | | Each time the sails flap or slap they spill the wind and |
| forestay. Some years ago we were reminded of this | | | | lose their shape which is needed to catch the wind. |
| technique by a prize-winning Canadian dinghy sailor. | | | | Don't be afraid to sail low. This will help the sails hold |
| Using it, we sailed low but got the boat moving and | | | | their shape and as the boat picks up speed, however |
| sailed around the whole fleet, much to the amazement | | | | little, they can be trimmed on very gently which will |
| of the other crews. | | | | allow the boat closer to the apparent wind. |
| 2. Use a light sheet on the headsail | | | | 5. Concentrate |
| If you expect to be on one tack for a long time, say | | | | It will be much harder than usual as so little seems to |
| you're sailing offshore, only attach a single lightweight | | | | be happening but the better you and your crew |
| sheet to the headsail. If you have a No.1 light, obviously | | | | concentrate the more successful you will be. |
| that is the headsail to set. | | | | If you follow the advice above you will have plenty of |
| 3. Get everyone on board to sit to leeward | | | | reasons to concentrate because you will need to keep |
| This will help tilt the boat on to its designed lines. You | | | | each function at optimum performance for a race that |
| will, however, need to nominate someone to keep a | | | | will take longer than usual. |