Gofaster Tips

Here are a series of tips that you can take or leave, but I hope will help a few people go just a bit faster next time they race.

Know the Rules. Make sure you use the rules to your advantage, you can build you knowledge with the following books, available in every boat shop, lets face it we all need a rules book, either for the protest hearing or to make the point in the bar after the race.

Yacht Racing Rules for Sailors 1997-2000 by Mary Pera. Highly recommended
The Rules Book 1997-2000 Racing Rules by Eric Twiname and Bryan Willis. Very popular and well illustrated.
Understanding the Racing of Sailing Through 2000 by Dave Perry.

Or test yourself and your friends with 100 Best Racing Rules Quizzes : Based on the Racing Rules of Sailing, 1997-2000 by The United States Sailing Association.

Get Out There and Compete.  Believe me, once you have mastered the art of keeping your boat upright, the fastest way to progress is to go out and race. Don't make a nuisance of yourself, but do explain to others that you are just starting to race, and the support and encouragement you get will surprise you.
We all want to sail in bigger fleets and every new sailor is welcome, we all started somewhere! Racing will also give you two things. one, a sence of purpose, a reason to concentrate harder, and secondly,a measure of your progression.
Over the years I have seen many novices start racing and the rate at which they progress is astounding, they gain boat handling skills far quicker than anybody that just potters around and before long they are chalenging many experienced sailors.

Buy out of season. We all need to spend money on our sport at some time, it may be new ropes a new drysuit or boots or even a new boat.
But whatever you need try to look ahead and don't buy in haste, chandlers and other suppliers know that during the summer nobody wants to be off the water longer than necessary, so prices will naturally be higher, prices don't go up, but most things are sold at full retail.
During the winter months we can afford the time to shop around and use mail order so the prices go down, competition is fiercer and sales a plenty.
So plan ahead look for the bargains and buy when prices are low, even if the gear is not needed for a few months, you will be able to tell endless stories at the bar or how you saved 30% here and 40% there.
The above comments also apply to buying boats, especially secondhand.  People selling boats at the end of a season would far prefer to affload the boad before the winter, it means they do not have to carry out maintenance, and the boat is not taking up space.  You should be able to get more bargains in the winter.

Getting Ready for the Season. When the warmer months are approaching for many that means the time to get the boat ready.

However your boat was stored during the cold months, you must give it a thorough check up before launching it again.  An article on this subject could take many pages, but lets just highlight the important areas.
Check the hull for water damage.  This may have occured if water has been trapped anywhere, it will probably have frozen, expanded and caused damage, all repairs must be done so as to prevent further water penetration, and hence damage.  Check also the foils, these are regularly damaged and open areas must be sealed and returned to their original shape.

Check all fittings, do they still work? Are they secure? Tighten bolts etc. Pay particular attention to high load areas, rudder fittings ans mast step.  Check the rigging for dammage, even normal wear and tear could well have been ignored last year in the hurry to pack the boat away, if finances allow preventative maintenance is a good idea, replace all old wires and ropes.  Pay particular attention to the points where sheets ans halyards rub.

Check out the sails, let's hope they were stored clean and dry!  Are they damaged and require repair?  Check the ends of the batten pockets.  As a matter of course I would rig the boat at home before taking it to the club, this should ensure you have all the bits together and everything still works, take a toolkit the first time you go sailing, and don't launch 5 mins before the start, go for a sail first.  Don't forget your sailing gear, does the drysuit require new seals? And have your boots begun to perish? Did you store them somewhere dry? Have you outgrown your wetsuit? Many chandlers still have winter offers on.

If you're confident the boat will stay together check your documents, certificate, insurance, and pay your class and club fees.
Finally go sailing and have a great year!!