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Spring
Keelboat
Racing Clinics
2008 Dates TBD
In the Spring of each
year, J
World San Francisco, the Performance Sailing School and Club, will
be hosting a series of special keelboat racing clinics on the waters of San Francisco Bay.
The intensive two day format is targeted at getting skippers and
crews up to speed for the racing season.
Keelboat
Racing
Weekend I - Advanced Boat Handling
The first weekend is all about sail
trim and sail handling, including lots of spinnaker techniques.
This is all about the mechanics of getting you around the course
faster. We'll talk about the how-and-why of shifting gears from point mode
to speed mode. We'll look at the fine points of sail shapes and
twist. Spinnaker techniques and sail handling (including sets, gybes,
and numerous takedowns) will be thoroughly discussed and practiced.
On board communication and workflow will be emphasized to insure
smooth maneuvers while racing.
This is the perfect
event to train new crew and/or to chip the rust off and get ready
for the new racing season. Tired of having messy takedowns?
Can't seem to get the boat up to speed quickly after a tack?
To much chatter on board distracting the helmsperson? We can
help.
We start at 9am Saturday with a two-hour boat orientation and crew
organization lecture. Then we sail for the rest of the day, followed
by a debrief and review of any video shot during the day. At 8am on
Sun there will be an optional informal break out session presenting
an overview of rig tune. The clinic continues with a 9am-11am chalk
talk, then back to the Bay for another full day of sailing!
Keelboat Race
Weekend II- Starting & Tactics
The second weekend will focus on starting,
strategy, and tactics. It doesn't matter what type
of larger keelboat you race, this is the best practice you can get
at close quarters racing! Lecture topics include starting, upwind
strategy, downwind tactics, mark roundings, and/or rules.
But the lectures are
only the beginning! All afternoon we'll be out on the water
with a coach on every boat... it's the best practice you can
get. We set up a starting line and run start after start, with
special drills designed to get your boathandling and tactics ready
for races! Sunday we run short courses, keeping the boats
close for mark roundings, upwind strategic games, tactical scenarios
downwind, and so forth. Learn how to be proactive on
the racecourse (rather than reactive!) and get ready to take
on all comers with confidence.
This is definitely the
fastest way to get fast!
The Boats
The keelboat clinics will be held in one-design J 105s, HOWEVER
sailors on keelboats of all sorts will realize tremendous benefits
from these programs! These boats are fast and responsive, with the
feel of a dinghy but the sail area and configuration of a larger
(40+ foot) boat. They are efficiently managed by a modest crew, and
everyone aboard has essential responsibilities. We rotate each team
member through all the positions during the clinic to insure that
everyone gains a deep knowledge of each position and the
corresponding contributions to the project of getting the boat
around the course faster. If you race J105s, this event is perfect
to take your skills to the next level. If you race another type of
keelboat, you will find that the knowledge of sail trim,
boathandling, strategy, tactics, and racing rules will be of
tremendous benefit.
The Coaches
Our coaching staff for this event will include current and
past/guest instructors who have competed and won at the highest
levels of national and international yacht racing. Of course, each
instructor has a deep understanding of the dynamics of the sport of
sailing. But more: every J World instructor is an exceptional coach.
We are able to quickly and efficiently asses skills and to determine
strengths and weaknesses. Our professional instructors are experts
at communicating their extensive knowledge in ways that make sense,
in ways that will help you learn the intricacies of yacht racing.
Registration
To register for these events, please call J
World San Francisco at 800-910-1101. Please keep in mind that space
is limited so early enrollment is encouraged. Nearby accommodations
are available. Evening sessions may be held at a nearby restaurant
or yacht club.
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