What makes you fast on the race course? Please give me one or two tips on things you do or don't do that help you sail better than the average racer. What do you feel is the most important thing an average racer needs to concentrate on to improve his or her finishes?

Thanks,
John

Clean air is king. Don't sit in anybody's dirty air for too long if you can help it.

To get clean air, get a good start.

Hey John,
A great tactic -- get out ahead and stay there. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Rick

Keep yourself in a "this really is fun" state of mind, whenever I'm in a bad mood the boat is slower, and then my mood gets worse. Hmm, guess I'm not really sure what is cause and what is effect here. ;-)

sail fast. drink beer.

my go fast secret is alcohol. definitely alcohol.

Tad = slow

The start is what makes or breaks me. Whenever I get a good start, I always seem to perform better. Also, it helps to know all the right-of-way rules at the line and use them!
And in Jake's case, the only reason he can go fast is that super-cool tapered mainsheet I built for him

Trey
N20 314
Layline Rigging
www.velocitysailing.com

What makes me fast?? The "5 Ps". What?, you ask?? 30 years of PRIOR PREPARATION PREVENTS POOR PERFORMANCE. No one gets more ready for an event than I do!

ehhh,

Less weight........

What makes you slow: Having non functioning systems aboard, like a snuffer system that works only 60% or a downhaul hard to reach.

What makes you fast: concentration, knowledge and time on the water. Hard to get any more spesific without writing a book

Developa plan before the start after sailing the first half of the beat, sail smoothly, dont stop.

Funny, but at the Bay Week Regatta this year, I was rattling off bullets and way ahead of the pack. Someone sailed by and asked how I was doing it.
I said that was the scary part. I didn't have a clue what I was doing right. When I lose, I always know what I did wrong, but when you are way ahead, it is hard to figure out what you are doing right.

I did have excellent starts, thanks to our doing fleet races here at PIB twice a week and getting in at least 8-10 races per week.
Rick

Sailing fast is SO simple!!!
You just sail around the course eliminating more mistakes, than everyone else. There, done, winning is just the natural by product of "fewer mistakes". If you make no mistakes, then you are GOD (and you immediately disappear in a glow of bright light)

Little Chocolate Covered Donuts...

My crew plays the bongos to keep me in rhythm

yeah, but I'm not wearing the coconuts again... ever.

You mean those weren't coconuts in your shorts????

Prunes and dates together make me really fast, either that or very smelly!
(I remember a girl once who could turn around so fast to slap you on the face that she had to put her bra on backwards!!!)

I hate to say this--but DON'T RACE!!

IMHO most races are done in stultefyingly low winds -- booooooring!

Sail when the winds are good, and then do a good-natured "race" with your friends -- do a running start (beer can in hand) from the beach to your boats, launch, and OFF YOU GO!!

Fun, Exhilarating & Exciting!!