Newport to Ensenada

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(No Transcript)
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2009 Newport to Ensenada Yacht
Race Pre-Race Seminar The Worlds
Largest International Yacht Race
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Sail Where the Wind Is

• For a few days and nights before the start, study
  what the wind is doing
• Listen to NOAA radio
• Visit weather sites on the Internet

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Racing Area
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National Weather ServiceA Great Forecast
COASTAL WATERS FROM SAN MATEO POINT TO THE
MEXICAN BORDER AND OUT 30 NM-315 PM PDT WED MAR
28 2007TONIGHT...WIND W 10 TO 15 KT...BECOMING
NW AFTER MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. SWELL
W 4 TO 6 FT AT 11 SECONDS. THU...WIND VARIABLE
LESS THAN 10 KT...BECOMING W 10 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. SWELL W 3 TO
4 FT AT 10 SECONDS. THU NIGHT...WIND NW 10 KT IN
THE EVENING... BECOMING VARIABLE LESS THAN 10 KT.
WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. SWELL W 2 TO 3 FT AT 10
SECONDS. FRI...WIND VARIABLE LESS THAN 10
KT...BECOMING W 10 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. WIND
WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. SWELL W 2 TO 3 FT. FRI
NIGHT...WIND NW 10 KT IN THE EVENING...BECOMING
VARIABLE LESS THAN 10 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR
LESS. SWELL W 2 TO 3 FT. SAT...WIND NW 10
KT...BECOMING E. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. SWELL W
2 TO 3 FT. PATCHY FOG. VISIBILITY 1 NM OR LESS IN
THE EVENING. SUN...WIND SW 10 KT. WIND WAVES 2
FT OR LESS. MIXED SWELL W 2 TO 3 FT AND S 3
FT. MON...WIND S 10 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS.
MIXED SWELL W 2 TO 3 FT AND S 4 FT.
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SailFlow.com10/12/07
Where would you sail ?
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Ensenada Weatherhttp//www.wunderground.com/globa
l/stations/76050.htmlMarch 29, 2007 330 PM
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Use Your GPS
START
CORONADO ISLANDS
Waypoint
Todos Santos Light
FINISH
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Ready !

• Crew Plan done
• Weather have studied
• Race Plan done
• Equipment ready
• GPS waypoints in

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Race Day Time To Go !
Push away from the dock early Check In early Go
to the Starting Area and find your Start Line
early Why ?
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Everybodys Going to MexicoIts A Real Traffic
Jam
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Check-In Boat
Pass by one of the Check-In boats and hail your
sail numberbe sure you get a response
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NOSA CHECK-IN BOATS
STARTING AREA
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Communication Before the Start

• Race announcements will be made on VHF Channel 6,
  beginning at 1130 AM.
• ATTENTION signal is scheduled for 1150.
• First WARNING is scheduled for 1155 and first
  START is scheduled for NOON.

• Failure of audible signal is no grounds for
  recourse.

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Two Start Lines
Center Boat
Inshore Wing Boat
Offshore Wing Boat
I
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Inshore Line
Offshore Line
Stand-Off Mark
Stand-Off Mark
Stand-Off Mark
NOSA swaps lines every year find your start
line as soon as you can watch out for traffic
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Locations of Signals
GUN
IMPORTANT - OCS signal for your class, sound vs.
flags
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Rule 26Starting System
SIGNAL FLAG/SOUND MINUTES WARNING Class Flag up,
1 sound 5 PREPARATORY P Flag up, 1
sound 4 ONE-MINUTE P Flag down, 1 long
sound 1 STARTING Class Flag down, 1 sound 0
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Modified Starting System
NO FLAGS UP FOR 5 MINUTES
SOUND
1150 ATTENTION
1155 WARNING
1205 WARNING
1200 START
1210 START
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Start Line

• 2-3 knot current may drive you over the line
• What is the favored end of the line ?
• Line skew
• Wind direction and strength
• Clearest air
• Least amount of congestion
• Do not get caught in an over-early situation
• It is VERY difficult to return and re-cross the
  line

HINT Line is skewed to give inshore end an
advantage
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BoomAnd Were Off(Now What ?)

• Concentrate on getting into clean air
• Boats in front, to side, and coming from behind
• Lift out of the traffic jam
• Everyone is doing it !
• Follow the leaders (for a while)
• Pick your course (your Race Plan) and trim to it

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Remember

• This is a long race (marathon versus a 5K)
• 125 miles of constant sail trimming
• Concentration is easily lost in the
  excitementand in early morning hours
• Race from waypoint to waypoint

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Its Called VMG(Velocity Made Good)
How fast am I going towards my destination
? Freeway or side streets ?
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Spinnaker Pole
Pole level for maximum extension
Pole up to create deeper sail shape for down-wind
Pole down to flatten luff of sail when sailing
closer to the wind
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Spinnaker Trim
OFFWIND Pole back Late Afternoon
CLOSE REACH Pole forward Mid-Afternoon
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An A for Trimming
NOTICE poles level, parallel with boom, boats
at good angle of heel
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An F
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Correct Trim Adjustment ?
Use your boats knot meter Or the GPS Check
before adjustment Check after adjustment Did
Adjustment increase or decrease boat speed
? REMEMBER - At night, you cant see the tell
tails !
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6 PM On Target ?
START
Oceanside by 6 PM
Coronado Is. By Midnight
Rosarito by 6 AM
Todos Santos by Noon
FINISH
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The Race Is Won At Night

• Concentrate !
• Rotate Helm and Crew
• Keep trimming
• Use the GPS (VMG)
• Its dark out there !
• You may become a little disoriented
• Keep the land to the left

Full Moon ?
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Watch For Running Lights25 of the Fleet are new
racersthey may not know the Rules
Cruising boat motoring ?
Racing boat on port tack ?
YOU
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Speaking of Lights

• Flashlights destroy night vision
• May be needed to untangle halyards
• Dont shine in crews eyes
• Interior cabin lights need red filters
• US Navy ships (and submarines) may be running dark

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Racing At Night

• Watch for tail-lights ahead (if they get
  brighter, there could be a hole)
• Plot your position regularly
• Follow your Race Plan
• Use your GPS
• Know where you are at all times
• Are you On-Target

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Going Too Slow ?Not On Target ?

• The 1 reason is the sails are trimmed in too
  much
• Particularly true in light air
• Remember the wind usually clocks aft
• Trim at Midnight is different than at 10 PM
• When In DoubtEase It Out
• Check the knot meter GPS

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Donuts Are Bad(Particularly At Night)

• In zero wind, dont get fooled by waves causing
  apparent wind
• You can generate apparent wind by steering in
  circles
• BUTyou arent moving down the course

Ensenada Donuts
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Remember VMG

• Are you moving the boat toward your destination
• Are you focused on where the wind is and how you
  will take advantage of it
• Race your best between 2-6 AM
• Gain distance on the competition
• This is when the race is won
• Target Rosarito Beach (or further) by sunrise

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Should I Motor ? (CRUZ boats only)
If boat speed is 2.0 knots or more, dont
motor The Engine Use Penalty will eat away any
gains you might achieve 1 hr motor 2 hrs
penalty
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Punta (Point) Salsipuedes

• Salsipuedes is a place name in the Spanish
  language meaning "leave if you can".
• Getting in too close to cut the corner will
  result in loss of wind and you may not get back
  out into clear wind.
• Stay well away from shore

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COURSE DECISION If you go left after Punta
Salsipuedes, you will be sailing dead-downwind
which is a slow point of sail Its often better
to keep heading toward Todos Santos and jibe later
WIND
Todos Santos
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Finishing During the Day

• Follow the faster boats finishing ahead of you
• Watch for spinnaker take-downs
• Use the NOSA GPS coordinates for the finish line
• If its windy, there is often a traffic jam at
  the finish

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Finishing at Night

• Ensenada is a BIG CITY. Dont be fooled into
  heading for the lights of El Sauzal
• The wind often drains down the cliffs at night to
  give a bit of an offshore breeze, but there are
  rocks and kelp near shore
• Look for the strobe lights on the Finish Boats
• Shine a light on your Sail Numbers

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REMEMBER Port yields to Starboard Running Lights
may blend with city lights
WIND
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• FINISH LINE
• (approximately)
• 31.50.500 N
• 116.38.350 W

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Finish Line

• Finish Line is between two yellow inflatable
  marks
• One or both Finish Boats may be on-station

OFFSHORE All day Saturday Sunday AM
INSHORE Friday PM All day Saturday
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Finish Boat
AMBER STROBE LIGHT located on each Finish
boat Friday night - only Inshore boat may be on
station Saturday night - both boats may be on
station
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Time To Celebrate !
I won this beer !
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Remember to Dress Nice !
Hi Mom !
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Web Resources

• National Geographic Sail Trim Simulation
• http//www.nationalgeographic.com/volvooceanrace/i
  nteractives/sailing/index.html
• Sailing and Racing Basics
• http//www.uiowa.edu/sail/skills/racing_basics/in
  dex1.shtml
• NOSA website
• www.nosa.org

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Good Luck !

• Sail Fast !
• The Race is Won at Night !
• A Trophy is Waiting for You !

My Trophy 2009
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2009 Sponsors