Wednesday Night Racing
April 22, 2009
It is Wednesday. If you live in Annapolis (or just about any other sailing town in America) that means that it is race night. Tonight happens to be the first Wednesday Night Race of the season – and I am excited. Casual beer can racing is fun. Great comraderie and a chance for most folks to blow off a little steam and hone their skills mid-week. It is great!
There are some tricks to doing well in a beer can race. Because the courses are often around government marks knowing the course is imperative to doing well. Several marks many miles away from one another may make up the course, and there is no promise that the course the last group to start is using is the same course you are doing. Fortunately the race committee provides everyone with the necessary information. But it is up to each competitor to read and use it.
In the case of the Annapolis Yacht Club they have published their Notice of Race (NOR) sailing instructions (SI’s) and amendments online. Results will be available there too!
So there aren’t any excuses for not knowing where to go, but it takes more than an understanding of the course to win on Wednesday. Smart sailing that keeps the fun quotient high, preserves crew, boat and sails for the more serious racing and a positive attitude are as critical to winning (and winning with a smile) as perfect tacks. I am certainly ready to have some fun and look forward to sharing stories from the first WNR later.
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I am the owner of Gale Force Sailing and write about all things related to coaching, instruction and team building. contact me>>
