COPING WITH LIGHT AIR - PART I: STRATEGY AND TACTICS 7/9/04

Sailing in light air requires the recognition that the power source for the boat is both diminished and likely to be intermittent.  Strategies for dealing with light air are base on configuring the boat to accelerate quickly while tactics for light air focus on efforts for assessing the changing wind and making the best use of its available power.  Remember that during sanctioned regattas once one makes a choice for boat configuration most classes do not allow further changes during that event whether single or multiple day in length.

STRATEGIES:

1. Reduce boat mass as much as possible within the allowance of the appropriate class rule.  For fin keel boats switch to shorter fins with lightweight bulbs.  If changes to internal ballast are allowed, reduce ballast weight.  Use the smallest reasonable battery packs.
2. Reduce wetted surface as much as possible.  Some will switch to a very heavy wind vane for the purpose of inducing extra heeling of the hull.  It also allows gravity to work more effectively at pulling camber and shape into the body of the sails.  Smaller fun keels, smaller rudders.... anything to reduce the skin surface presented to the water.
3. Select tallest rig in the inventory.  This will allow the mainsail head to reach up into the faster flowing air that is found farther above the water in light air conditions.

TACTICS:

1. Use mainsail tell tales to monitor airflow over the upper half of the mainsail.  Attach one to the other after end of the top two battens.  In drifters the upper half of the mainsail is the only thing powering the boat.  Knowing that the sail is not stalled is more important than knowing the instantaneous direction of the relative wind
2. Watch other boats - their reactions are usually better indicators than a single wind vane atop your mast.  Keep your eyes on your surroundings.  Watching only your boat limits your ability to anticipate changes in the speed or direction of the wind.  Look to weather for signs of new wind, catspaw on the water, boats heeling.
3. Maintain boat speed.... speed is more important than direction... boat speed generates relative wind in and of itself.  Boat speed allows the rudder to be effective.
4. Minimize rudder movement.  Turning the boat causes immediate and damaging reductions in boat speed.
5. Conserve your gains.  Don't take changes.  Leave extra room at marks and extra space for other boats.  Mark hits or penalty turns in drifting conditions guarantee you'll finish at the back of the pack.

ABOVE ALL - BE PATIENT, ANTICIPATE, and SAIL CONSERVATIVELY!!