Last Saturday, April 16th, I had the opportunity to participate in a sailing class offered by Jim Young and hosted by the Bow Mar Yacht Club at the Bow Mar lake (aka Tule Lake) in Littleton. Jim Young has coached sailing teams for many years. He has coached teams in Pan American games as well as the Olympics. One of the members of the yacht club had been awarded the instruction by donating to the Colorado Sailing organization. Five boats including four Snipes and my Laser (pictured) participated. A Snipe is a two person sloop rigged boat that includes a main sail and a jib sail. My Snipe was not available due some hull damage and lack of crew so I got my Laser out. The Laser is fun to sail but it can be somewhat unstable especially in a jibe. Since it is a small boat you are close to the water and you can really feel how the wind and sail interact. I have been sailing for only about 6 years so I am still learning since I can only sail a few times a month during the summer. I have been able to participate in local regattas and races where I am steadily improving my skills and finishes.
Jim discussed his sailing history and described how boat handling is so important to racing. He wanted to stress boat handling more than racing tactics since if you can't handle the boat, you can't race. He answered many questions asked by the other members and then it was time to sail. The wind was brisk and chilly but not too bad for spring. Jim got into his motor boat and we launched our boats.
He set out a buoy or mark and he told us to sail turns to port around his boat and the mark. He would move his boat closer or further from the mark in order to increase the windward or leeward legs. As is common in Colorado, the wind shifted constantly which meant you had to constantly change your approach to the mark. You had to be aware of your boat and and the mark since this was changing. This forces you to sail "your own boat". Jim showed be a better way to sit in my boat that facilitated faster shifts to port and starboard and I tacked. Since the Laser does not have a keel, your body weight is vitally important to keeping the sail vertical. If you do not adjust quickly, you end up in the water.
We sailed within arms reach of each other as we jockeyed for position for the best tack at the mark. We made dozens of turns in the couple of hours we sailed. In a race you might make only 3 to 7 turns. After a couple of hours I was wrung out from the shifting and hiking. The Laser requires you to sit with your knees bent and under stress the entire time. There was no long down wind leg to stand and shake them out. Hiking requires holding the main and leveraging you weigh to counter act the wind in the sail. This can hammer your quadriceps. I have not been able to run for days since my quads hurt so bad.
Sailing requires concentration and attention to detail. You are constantly trying to determine the wind direction in order to trim your sails or tack or jibe to take advantage of shifts. In the right wind it can be as demanding as running.
Jim called it a day and we sailed for the beach. He answered more questions on techniques and tactics and I was impressed with his detailed knowledge of the aerodynamics of sailing. He presented sailing concepts clearly and succinctly. I hope to remember all I learned and to use it in more races this summer.
