Practice and Practice.

Tack over tack back. One after the other. Only tacking back when you regain
full speed and are on the right course, with crew in the correct positions..
Time it!
Jibe over jibe back. Only jibing back once the crew have settled and you
have the boat on the correct course.
Pole out. Pole in. Repeat Repeat Repeat.

I think you get my point. Now thats the easy bit!!!

The hard bit will be tactics- Knowing when you are being Gassed or when you
should luff someone up for instance.

Downwind, the boat will take itself much of the time. Its only your tactics
that will get you there faster. Learn to "surf" waves.
Learn to sail the shifts. Bearing up in the lulls and bearing away in the
puffs. Your "proper course" is rarely the shortest distance between two
marks.

Sail trim. Remember the line
"When in Doubt , Let it out"
Teach it to your crew. Better yet. Find a crew with lot of racing
experience. Ask around the club, someone will know someone.

And without doubt the most important thing to remember, if you are going to
be the skipper, stay calm and cool at all times. Never yell, scream, swear
at your crew. Screaming and Freaking skippers send shockwaves of negativity
through a boat and will slow it down as the crew lose motivation over the
race or races.

We have a no "F" word policy on the boat. From the 5 minute gun unitll the
finish line the "F" word is banned.
You can only say it if you draw blood. Otherwise each "F" word is a shout at
the bar later. Not that we really care about swearing, we are a pretty
blokey bunch. But it helps to remind everyone to stay calm and not get
heated with each other.

Good luck

DP



"Richard" wrote in message
ps.com...
I want to tell you a short story to give you background, then ask for
your advice about entering a race series.

I have rearranged my schedule so that I can sail next June-October in
a Wednesday night "Beer-Can" race series. I'll be sailing a Catalina
250 or 27 in the "Cruiser" class. (No spinnakers)

I would like to implement a plan that does the following:

1. Put together a crew. (Or if I can put together two crews, we can
practice/race together to keep an edge on and learn together until
June.)

2. Begin practicing and learning on Wednesdays until June.

3. Compete and do well in the series.

My background/experience:
a. Completed beginner, intermediate and advanced U.S. Navy classes
(qualified to rent Cat 250's and Cat 27's.)
b. Crewed in a few races.
c. 100+ hours local sailing experience.

I have several books on racing and rules. I understand the basics of
rules, but right now, lose most rules in the heat of the moment. I've
ordered a bunch of sailing books.

I'm getting a feel for rigging and getting in a groove upwind, but
have no clue what I'm doing downwind. (If the strategy is anything but
head for the downwind mark, I'm not sure what course(s) to steer and
why.) I'm starting to build checklists for what to do at the dock, in
the hour before the race, etc. so I can get into a structure routine.

So..... My questions...

How do you like my plan?
What is your advice on things to do, include or avoid?
What can I do when there are no other boats around to find out how I'm
doing?