Top Yachting Tips for Geographe Bay Race Week

I bet you’re excited for this year’s annual yachting race regatta held in Western Australia. This event is on its eighth year now and they expect to attract 150 yachters. There will be eight division offered. This event is designed to test the competitor’s skills and sailing knowledge. Available facilities include: Car parking, First aid equipment, public telephone, shaded area, toilet facilities and shop.

The race will be on the morning and at night the party begins. Live entertainment will mostly be on night time together with twilight sailing, picnic race and band performances. But before entering the race, you must first know how to navigate a yacht and of course, have tactics and strategies.

Here are some tips to help you with your strategies and tactics in winning the race:

Strategies:

• On a short beat keep to the right - hand side of the course.
• Find out which way the current or tide is flowing.
• Head for deep water and the outside of bends when the tide is with you (the opposite when the tide is against you).If everything is equal, tack up a 60 - degree cone.
• Stay well inside the lay lines.
• Tack on headers.
• Sail towards the centers of wind bends.
• On a one - sided beat, sail the long leg first.
• When sailing cross - tide, point into the tide and use a transit to sail a straight course "over the land".
• Gybe on wind shifts.
• Choose the gybe that takes you most directly to the leeward mark.
• Keep strong tides under your lee bow.
• Go for the downwind end of the finish line.

Tactics:

• Avoid being blanketed.
• Avoid the hopeless position.
• Avoid being lee - bowed.
• Start near the forward (upwind) end of the start line.
• Ignore the position of the windward mark when deciding where to start (provided the first leg is a beat).Keep in the front rank before the start.
• Take a transit so you know when you are on the line.
• Keep between your opponent and the next mark.
• Off wind, keep your wind clear and try to sail straight for the next mark.

The best tip of all is to have fun and bask in the loveliness of the sea and all its beauty!

Hope you enjoyed the tips and information. Give it a try and see this exciting event under the hot summer heat. Enjoy the sailing and scenery of the beautiful Busselton, Western Australia on February 25, 2011 and will be ending on March 4, 2011. Nomination forms and information are available on this website: http://www.gbyc.com.au/ ~Motor Guide Team

References: www.about-australia.com/events/western-australia/australias-south-west/events/festival/geographe-bay-race-week/

www.yachtracing.com/fleets/phrf402.html

www.boating.co.nz/sailing/tactics.html

www.boating.co.nz/sailing/strategy.html