By Staff
waterhead.com
October 11, 2011

Sailboat racing, as a sport, is very exciting but demands a great deal of strategy.  Sailboat racing enthusiasts and competitors are not just competing against other sailboat racers and hoping to beat their times, you are also in a competition with the sailing knowledge and abilities you have acquired but you are also up against things that are outside of your control like the elements.  Here you will learn the fundamentals of sailboat racing so that you will become successful in this sport.

As previously mentioned, in order to become successful at sailboat racing, you must have sound knowledge about all matters concerning sailing.  As the skipper, you are the person who is in charge and has command of the vessel.  As a result, you should be well versed on a variety of different things such as, the actual sailboat, the weather, the water, the course you are to sail, and if you need a crew.  If you are a novice to sailing, and intend on skippering a sailboat, it is important to know the anatomy of a sailboat.  The parts of a sailboat include, the mast, the boom, cockpit, stern, rudder, keel, hull, and bow.  Perhaps the most important part of the sailboat and what actually differenciates a sailboat from any other vessel is the actual sails.

The Three Main Parts of a Sail
The Mainsail is attached to the mast and the boom and is the primary sail on a sailboat.  If you have a smaller sailboat, the mainsail may be the only sail that you have.
The Jib is a smaller sail, and has a triangular shape.  The jib is located in front of the mainsail.  If there is an overlapping of the front part of the mainsail, this jib is called a Genoa.
Spinnaker: This sail is typically very colorful and is primarily used for sailing downwind.  It is attached to the mast forward of the mainsail and is also referred to as a chute or kite.

Sailboat racing categories
Handicap:  This type of sailboat racing is a category of sailboat racing where boats of that have different types of sails compete against each other.  The race is scored based on the handicaps of each sailboat and are calculated at the start of the race or when the race concludes.  Examples of handicapping racing are the Bermuda Race, Commodore's Cup, Fastnet Race, Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.  The Portsmouth Yyardstick and the Performance Handicap Racing Fleet are the two handicap systems that are the most common.

Class: This is a more traditional race in that unlike the handicap category, where the boats have differing sails, in the class category, the boats are very much similar in a lot of regards and it is a matter of which boat crosses the finish fine first is the winner.   Examples of sailboats that compete in class sailboat racing are the 49er, Star, Laser, Contender, Thistle, and the RS Feva.

Within class, sailboat racing, there are other subdivisions such as the one-design class of sailboats.  These boats used in sailboat racing are virtually identical and the governing bodies are very specific when it comes to which sailboats will be allowed to race within this class.  Another subdivision within the class category is the box rule and this box-rule allows for strict parameters such as maximum sail area, minimum weight, and even maximum length.  This allows for the engineers and builders of sailboats meant for competition in sailboat racing, to create the fastest sailboat.  Examples of boats that adhere to the box rule are the boats that are used in the America's Cup, Barcelona World Race, and the Volvo Ocean Race.

Depending on the sailboat racing courses, if you will be sailing uphill or sailing downhill, it will require quite a bit of skill as well as strategy.  There are several factors that will determine how an individual will skipper the boat around the course.  A skilled skipper will be mindful of the course, windspeed, and direction at all times.   He or she will understand when to take a heading upwind along with, what angle is necessary in order to provide the most speed when going downwind.

Any skipper can sail downwind as sailing downwind is much more easy and oftentimes even more fun than work.   As the spinnaker is up and as long as the mainsail is in a broad reaching position, the sailboat should be able to utilize the wind in order to maximize speed so that you are moving faster along the water.  As the skipper, it is important that when you are steering the boat through the course, while sailboat racing, the boat speed is being noted especially in relation to the speed of the wind and direction.  Also, it is imperative that the boat remain pointed in a direction that encourages the most effective use of the wind.

Many skippers have compared sailing upwind, in sailboat racing, to driving a car up a mountain, with its twists and turns.  Although, using the wind in order to move the boat is a lot simpler than rowing, the problem is you cannot sail into the wind like you can going downhill.  In order to combat this issue, as a skipper, you have to learn to manuever the sailboat in a zigzag pattern in order to sail upwind.  This is called tacking.  The name tacking comes from the fact that because you are zigzagging along, subsequently you are performing a series of tacks otherwise called hairpin turns into the wind.  This is the measure of a good, skilled skipper; possessing the ability to sail upwind quickly.  Generally, in sailboat racing, there is an upwind leg that is included.

This article has mentioned a skipper as the primary person who is in charge of the vessel during sailboat racing.  There has also been mention of the fact that a skipper can have a crew.  Sailboat racing is usually a team sport. This crew is typically a ten to twenty personnel crew and the more persons who are members of the crew the bigger the boat.  The skipper is the person who is steering the sailboat during the race and he or she is calling out the orders to the crew members.  These persons are managing both the ropes and the sails.  The larger sailboats, which can cost upwards of a few million dollars are typically the sailboats used in the Syndy to Hobart Race or America's Cup sailboat racing campaigns.  Because of this, sailboat racing is one of the most expensive sports to participate in, the world over.  However, you do not have to own a large sailboat with a large crew in order to participate in some sailboat racing competitions.  There are smaller competitions in which a single person can compete in dinghy racing.  Interested persons can usually join some type of civic club or community sailing classes that may be offered by a local recreation organization.

Sailboat racing competitions generatlly take place in inland or coastal waters.  There are some oceanic races that take place such as the Volvo Ocean Race, the Vendee Globe, and the Velux 5 Oceans Race.  It is important to note that these races are extremely dangerous, require an immense amount of endurance and are potentially life threatening because the participants race for days on end with little to no rest.  Needless to say, these individuals are at the mercy of the elements and an unexpected storm or even equipment failure could leave a sailboat stranded for miles out on the ocean or worse yet the sailboat could capsize and sink.

The International Sailing Federation governs the sport of sailboat racing and there are basic racing rules of safety (RRS) that governs the conduct of any form of sailboat racing.  Although there are general rules that govern the sport, most of the rules are general etiquette rules such as no matter if you have the right of way, it is imperative that you avoid a collision whenever possible.  Most of the rules are designed to keep the sailboats from colliding with one another during a sailboat race; however, for the most part, sailboat racing is a self-regulated sport.  Competitors should adhere to the rules of sportsmanship while competing and if a competitor knowingly breaks a rule there are stiff penalties, which may include but are not limited to retirement from the sport of sailboat racing.