RACING THE WIND

The America’s Cup is sport’s oldest trophy and sailing’s greatest prize. Although conceived by sportsmen-according to its deed of gift, “as a perpetual challenge cup for a friendly competition between foreign countries”-its history is more acrimonious than harmonious. Most recently was the rogue challenge by New Zealand syndicate chief Michael Fay against the San Diego Yacht Clug with a 132-monohull, built to the maximum 90 feet at the waterline permitted by the governing deed of gift. That launched a bitter, 2 1/2 year court battle during which San Diego was forced to respond to Fay’s challenge-but with a 60-foot catamaran that won easily. The principals decided they had had enough of courtrooms and agreed to sail the next time in similar boats-hence, the International America’s Cup Class. 1. Headsail Trimmers One sits to port, the other to starboard, fine-tuning the trim of the headsails in conjunction with the grinders. Like the helmsman, must have “feel” for the performance of the boat. 2. Mainsail Trimmer Maintains optimum trim of the mainsail in concert with the helmsman, since the set of the mainsail affects the feel of the helm. Directs minute adjustments of the mainsail. 3. Tactician The skipper’s alter ego and his eyes outside the boat. Offers input on opponent’s position, movements and relative performance and suggests how to counteract them. 4. Navigator The computer man. Tracks performance of his boat as well as the opponent’s, especially in relation to the wind and the next mark. Tries to position the boat for anticipated wind changes. 5. Strategist Fourth member of the afterguard-along with helmsman, tactician and navigator-whose title and duties vary from boat to boat. Controls running backstays when tacking or jibing and offers in put on tactics and navigational problems. 6. Owner’s Representative The “17th man”, usually the owner or a sponsor. Not required but permitted to ride on boat, as long as he stays behind the helm and offers no input or assistance. May move from one side to the other as directed by the skipper. 7. Skipper / Helmsman The quarterback. Steers the boat and suggests or approves tactics, sail selection and other important decisions. Must understand functions of entire crew and have highly sensitive “feel” for the boat’s performance and how to optimize it. Must be cool, nervy, decisive and in command. 8. Grinders (4) The offensive linemen. Provide the muscle to turn the winch handles that mechanically assist the trimming of the sails under thousands of pounds of load. Also pitch in to help retrieve doused sails, cut away tangled sails and lines or any other dirty work required. 9. Pitman Makes sure control lines and sails are in constant state of order and readiness. Helps with halyards and winches. 10. Mastman Principal job is hoisting and lowering sails. Also helps out wherever needed in retrieving doused spinnmakers and other sails. 11. Sewerman No glory here. Spends much of the race below decks moving the enormous sails around during frequent changes. Makes sure all are ready to be hoisted on a moment’s notice. 12. Foredeck Assists bowman with sail handling and the spinnmaker pole, from the opposite end, and helps to pack and unpack sails during changes. Must have some of bowman’s agility but larger size for physical demands. 13. Bowman The acrobat. Duties include setting up headsail changes from the pitching foredeck, handling the spinnmaker pole and often being hauled up the mast to repair jammed halyards and the like.

WINNING TACTICS Tactics are based on the rules and the wind. When the direction of the wind changes, the boat that is closest to the new direction gains an advantage because its course to the next mark effectively becomes shorter. The boat with the lead and right-of-way also has an advantage, being able to control an opponent by placing him in the less favorable position. Pre-start confrontation Before the starting signal, the goal is to maneuver into a position that allows one boat to benefit by using the right-of-way rules to control the other boat’s actions. The circling maneuvers are sometimes an attempt to get on the opponent boat’s tail and so close that it is unable to maneuver without fouling. The trailing boat thus controls the timing and approach when crossing the starting line. Tacking duel Covering-staying directly between your opponent and the mark-is the first defense in a tacking duel. From this advantageous position you can continuously disrupt your opponent’s wind or tack directly onto his wind, known as a slam-dunk, forcing him to make undesirable maneuvers. Luffing your opponent Defending your lead from an opponent’s trying to overtake to windward by turning sharply into his path and causing him to turn even more sharply to avoid a collision. You may continue turning until your opponent is directly into the wind and his sails no longer fill, thus luffing. You have the right-of-way being the leeward boat on the same tack and any contact will be held as the fault of the overtaking boat. Upwind advantage The boat with right-of-way will try to control when both boats tack toward the mark to round, sometimes “herding” the other boat beyond its best course or forcing the other boat to follow in its disturbed wind, going slower. Downwind attack A good downwind battle is a race for the inside position at the mark. Leading boat must leave “room at the mark” for the inside boat provided the overlap is established before the leading boat enters the two-length circle.

AND THE BASIC RULES OF MATCH RACING Skippers must know the right-of-way rules instinctively. A wrong decision will draw a protest or- worse- cause a collision. The offended boat will display nautical code flag “Y”-red and yellow diagonal stripes. If the on-water umpires agree that a foul has been committed, they will order the offender to execute a 270-degree penalty turn. The maneuver usually means a lossof about three boat lengths. The boat then may continue to race. The umpires do not initiate calls. Rights before and at the start At a starting mark, an inside windward overlapping boat has no right to claim room when approaching the line to start. But after the starting signal the leeward boat is not entitled to squeeze the windward boat out at the mark by sailing either: 1. upwind of the course to the first mark or 2. directly into the wind. When any part of a boat, its sails, rigging, equipment or crew is on the course side of the start line at the starting signal the boat is a premature starter. Right-of-way in open water When neither boat is about to sail around a mark but are both in open water: 1. A boat on port tack keeps clear of a boat on starboard tack. 2. A windward boat keeps clear of a leeward boat. 3. A boat that is tacking or jibing keeps clear of one that isn’t. 4. A boat clear astern of another keeps clear of the one ahead when they are both on the same tack. The luffing rule When overtaking a boat from windward, the boat behind is obligated to stay clear and the boat to leeward and ahead may defend its position by turning sharply upwind, without warning. If there is a collision, the windward boat is to blame. However, in prestart maneuvering before the gun, luffs must be done slowly to allow the windward boat to keep clear. A leeward boat may not luff another if the helmsman of the windward boat, with the boats sailing parallel, can sight the mast of the leeward boat as he looks directly across his own boat from his normal helming position. Right-of-way at windward mark At a windward mark-that is a mark of the course that you have been tacking to reach-the basics are: 1. When on opposite tacks, take the mark away and apply the principles as in open water. 2. When on the same tack, the boat next to the mark must be given room to round the boat outside. 3. When a boat is tacking around the mark, it must keep clear of any following boat but any boat outside it must give it room. Right-of-way at an off-wind mark At an off-wind mark-that is one you have sailed to on a broad reach or run-the basics are: 1. The boat on the inside at the mark must be given room to round. The port and starboard ruledoes not apply here. 2. A boat that approaches the mark clear ahead of another has the right to jibe around the mark; the other boat must keep clear. 3. The boat on the inside must not round so wide that it sails into a boat that is giving it room. Source: “The Rules Book, The 1989-92 International Yacht Racing Rules explained,” Adlard Coles, 1992