Bully’s Coaching Notes from Kingston Sprinits 2025

Coaching notes Kingston Sprints

The sprint series format lends itself to starts and mark congestion.

I will concentrate on these and not too much on the boat speed aspect, the focus for a lot will be the upcoming Nationals which will be sailed in very different conditions, and we will get a little more venue vs trim specific as we arrive and sail in Geelong. I will focus on the sailors with aspirations for this feedback, if you have trouble deciphering my thoughts, go through it with your coach, it is much easier with a whiteboard. And thanks to Alice and Lulu for coming along!!a

Starts

For the most part was pretty good with most boats up on the line, the definition of a good start is not when we cross the line but 30 seconds after the start. Are we in clear air sailing fast in the direction we want to go? If we can tick those three boxes, then that’s a good start.

Clear air

The start is a micro race of three boats! You, the boat above you and the boat below you. We need to start as close as we can to the boat above us and a little bow forward on them so we can lee bow them off the line. If we have room under our bow and a gap to the boat below, we can use that space to really accelerate before the gun and shoot over the top of them and be one of those boats that jumps away. A lot of boats I saw waiting for the gun to go or the other boats sheeting on before reacting. This way you will get left behind in bad air, if we are sailing in bad air then every boat in clear air is sailing away from us. So be proactive and pull the trigger early.

Now, not everything goes perfect but if you find yourself getting gassed, tack away and dip as many boats as you need to get into clear air, then get back to your race plan! You can’t make gains in bad air (unless you are in the mother of all lifts with only a few boats ahead and the bulk of the fleet in less wind, then you will be gaining on the majority). But for the most part clear your air ASAP, even 20-30 secs before the gun goes, if you are in trouble bail out and use that time to reset up.

But try and keep up close to the line, in a sailing vessel we can slow down but can’t speed up to get to the start line.

Top mark, lots of overlaying!

This just gives away distance. But for the most part pretty good, a few indiscretions. But if in doubt with a protest situation, do your turns! On the spinnaker sets, I would like to see a lot of preset sheets (in the cleat), once the pole is up, which it often is before the mark. Then the crew pulls brace back and cleats in reaching hook, skipper pulls up halyard and pop, we have a set spinnaker! BUT make sure your boat is flat first and you position your boat (clear air again) if you drop down and one boat rolls over you; it is likely to become a procession.

On the reaches of the course, we all know the shortest (and thus fastest) distance is a straight line. But if we have boats immediately behind us, they can often force us to sail high to keep our air clear, you must do this! As mentioned, we don’t want to get rolled over.  If it just becomes ridiculous and you are getting taken way off course, then just bail out, minimising the loss is as important as maximising the gain! If you are in clear air or just behind a pack of boats and they go high, just sail for the mark and make big gains!!

Finally, the little beat to the finish. So much happens on this leg, mainly because we tense up and panic! Just keep it simple, clear air (have I mentioned that before) and sail fast (don’t constantly look around). Minimise the tacks and just sail the leg as any other.

Thanks for your coachability and see you in G’town.