I was knocked out of competition at Gulfport because I didn't prepare properly! Anybody have a routine they would like to share?

I'm seriously considering a written check list. Would anyone care to contribute.

What happened?

The pin came out of the shackle that holds the standing rigging to the mast. A twist with a pair of pliers would have prevented it.

The thing is, I was fixated on tuning and didn't think about fundamentals.

The way I look at it, is there has to be a routine inspection regime.
Every other race I always inspect my hounds, sidestays and forestay.
For every race I try arrive atleast a day early, setup and try my best to sail. This will help me figure out minor bugs, specially after any modification.

Approach preparation as a pilot would before he flies his airplane. run past everything before you go out. Use pliers to tighten important fittings or tape them up.

For very important races like distance races. Pull the boat over and tie things like the jib directly to the top of the forestay. You really don't want those things to come loose halveway in the race when a squal comes through.

Wouter

Remember what Yogi Bera said? "50% of winning is 90% preparation." <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

We always take the boat out for a spin after rebuilding it (we have a breakdown trailer) at a regatta site. That way we notice anything odd or non-functional.
In my experience the best way to avoid mishaps is to do everything in the same sequence everytime. We dont have a checklist, but when rebuilding we both keep strictly to our respective tasks. Not a problem when one-up, but distraction from competitors or friends can be a source for goof ups. It is very easy to forget to secure a shacle or locksplint with tape when your friends keep pushing beer into your hand.

"50% of winning is 90% preparation." is more than true, even if you disregard training. Last year during the scandinavians we scored no less than two DNF's and a DNC due to lines and other expendables breaking. We knew everything that broke was suspect, but was to cheap and negligent to replace it. Last race the cover on both mainsheet and traveller line broke so we could not cleat them. Finishing the race was hard work..
We learnt the lesson tough, replace anything suspect..

so that's 45% preperation??

When I arrive at a regatta I try desperately not to talk to much to anyone until the boat is rigged. If I'm really early like the day before I might catch up with a few ppl but once I start rigging I try not to do much socialising until I'm finished.
I also like to follow a strict sequence to avoid missing something critical.

Going for a pre race sail is very necessary IMHO.

I've had to add this one to the mental list.

Check were the cat is, before leaving home.

He went for a 100km ride, and due to it being over 35C temperture could not be left in the car, so we had to drive straight back home.

John

Tim; do you guys still walk around the plane and kick the tires?

Did you hear the, supposedly true, story about the pilot who walked a passengers seeing eye dog of the plane. Other passengers mistook the dog for the pilot's and wouldn't reboard the flight!

Ohh yes, we still do walk arounds, and lots of other checks inside the **** as well. You would be amazed at some of the stuff we find that our mx. people over look. And some times we get into "discussions" about what is acceptable and what is not, when it comes to a grey area. Luckily the Captain is always right and we never have to take a plane we are not satisfied with. The same holds true for bad weather, as you can see by my experience last Friday in NYC. This has led to many flight cancellations and many pissed off passengers. You would be amazed at some of the idiots we have to deal with when it comes to cancelling a flight. I always tell them, "We can go with it -as is-, and maybe die, or we can wait a few hours for them to fix it and live, which would you prefer?" That usually shuts them up...usually, but not always.

We did have a Captain who got some backlash from the Chief Pilot for not taking an airplane because of a failed auto-throttle system. My answer to the Chief Pilot would have been, "You fly it, and I'll sit behind your desk, drink coffee, eat doughnuts and yell at pilots on the phone for being "too safe".

And the dog story, yes, I've heard it and seen it! Did you ever see that Jimmy Kimmel show clip where they dress up like pilots, go to the airport and get drunk in the bar, then push each other around on baggage carts? That one kills me!

<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Maybe this will get me in trouble but I think people are getting dumber by the minute. The quanitity of idiots in this world is amazing.
I think you should tell passengers that complain this "You go get all the training I have had, fly the number of hours I have then we will have the discussion about whether we should fly or not"

While I certainly feel that way at times, I usually tell them, "Well, why don't you just drive."

At today's gas prices there are few long distance trips you can drive for less than a plane ticket, to say nothing of the time saved and safety of air travel. The death toll on our highways was about 42,000 last year. The most dagerous part of your trip is getting to the airport, thanks to Pilots who will not put their lives (or yours) at risk.

But you know people love to bitch whenever they are not in total control of any delay type situation. It must be somebody's fault!! If you are standing there in a Pilot uniform...well, it must be YOUR fault! Yes, I made us late, because I have nothing better to do with my time but sit here listening to your Sh!t all day...

Hey, if it were up to me, we would always be 30 minutes early and everybody would be happy, and I'd get to the hotel (or home) that much sooner!

Tim, get a position as a pilot with any russian company, the passengers love you. The only reason I ever climbed aboard a russion aircraft was becouse I knew the pilot would not take off unless he was fairly certain he could bring it down again safely. The technical materials standard is not exactly.. comforting on domestic flights.

So Tim, tell us how you feel about bitchy passengers. LOL

Rolf, have you seen Russia's safety record? No thanks!

But getting back on topic, that of preparation, the FAA requires EVERY aircraft registered in the US to have an inspection once every 12 mo. or every 100 hours of flying time, which ever comes first. The mechanic that performs this annual inspection has to fill out a log book and sign it, with his license number. He makes sure everything is good to go or he will be talking to the FAA if there is a mechanical failure, and it could cost him his license, so they are usually very thorough.

If you take this same approach with your racing boat, inspect it every so many races, and at least once a year, you will find things that need to be replaced sooner, rather than after failure.

Yes it will cost you money and take some time. But every flight hour usually costs 10 hours of maintenance, that's the rule of thumb in aviation. Luckily when something on your boat breaks it doesn't lead to a sudden and violent death, usually.

But if I had a nickle for every time I stepped my mast with the spinnaker halyard on the wrong side...well, I'd still have a fast boat!

Robi, you see, I was "Born to be a Pilot!"

http://www.utube.com/watch?V=xkWnV29Vcxo

Well, I couldn't get it to post properly but if you go to UTube and search for Born to be a Pilot, you too can live the dream. Not the reality of course, but the dream.

Using composite trap lines makes me pay closer attantion to them obviously and while I am there I look closer at other things- like the hounds. Gotta be careful with spectra holding your butt out of the water and all. Since I kind of have a line (or rope <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ) fetish I pay close attention to those as well. I am developing a good collection of new line so I am eager to replace stuff when needed. The downhaul line will be the next to be replaced- it is the original line and if it breaks I have to take the mast step plate off. Crystaline 5/32 or 1/8 oughta do it <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Tim we inspect our aircraft every 24hours. Its called a pre-through or post flight inspection. We also have the calendar or hourly inspections. FUN TIMES!

And I am on the same boat as PTP. I have synth trap lines and I have to pay close attention to them now. I inspect them very thoroughly after every race. I have to replace a few lines myself. So it is good to inspect everything before and after each race day. If you think something can fail it will. Just replace it and avoid worrying or thinking about it out on the water.