This just in from ESPN’s CollegeSailNet:
“…The water-borne video camera crew races up hurriedly to the weather-offset mark to catch, on film, the first pack to round. This will be the final leg, as the finish is, of course, downwind! As the first several boats round the mark, the now-familiar 3’ sprit poles pop out of the bows of the Collegiate 4.4’s, the new college sailing dinghy (more on that boat later). Those watching the video feed on CollegeSailNet inside the boathouse see it all, and prepare to watch and analyze the downwind tacking sure to come as the fleet rounds the top marks.
On too tight a reach to set their A-Kites on the offset leg, the C-4.4’s sprint to the offset mark, waiting to hoist those asymmetrical spinnakers. As the first boats round, those on shore, straining to see the action first-hand, can now make out clearly who’s whom as the crews hoist their kites, grab the sheet, and balance out the boat as the kite fills and the boat jets downwind looking for puffs and clear air. Yes! Stanford’s Cardinal Kite is still in the lead, but Dartmouth’s big green is close behind! Amazing! With giant team logos on team-owned regatta sails, it is clear to all where the teams stand, and the fans watch in nervous anticipation as the C-4.4’s slice, dart, cross-gybes, and seemingly fly downwind. It’s a great day to be a college sailor! Back to you, Tucker….”
Imagine that. And why not?
College sailing is great just as it is. We love it. But, imagine how/if it could be better. Here are six reasons why college dinghy sailing should employ spinnakers in fleet racing (not team racing). We’ll leave it to you to let us know why not.
1. It makes sailing a lot more interesting. From spectating, to tactical sailing, options downwind (and maybe even on reaches), to crew involvement, the game of college fleet racing would be transformed to another level. Would A-Kites make fleet racing an ESPN favorite? No, but likely nothing will. It will however add far more interest in watching the game, and keep college sailing somewhat relevant to how sailboat racing is done. Excitement and speed blended with young athletic talent is a great thing. Displacement sailing dead downwind is not.
Courtesy of Quantum Sails, the College Asymmetrical would likely be the 4 or 6…?
2. More expensive? I bet many corporations would love to see their logo on pretty spinnakers. If you build it, people will come. Think corporate sponsorship. Raise awareness, raise interest. It is likely that major industry companies, especially sail makers would sponsor/build 500 spinnakers for wholesale or a lot less. Brand recognition on A-sails, employed by some of the best young sailors in the world in a college environment (the future of our sport), would be more than a little tempting.
3. More upkeep, more of a pain for coaches and stress on programs? Maybe, but we choose to do worthwhile things because they are hard, not because they are easy. Wouldn’t it be more than worth it?? And, be judicious. You don’t use the kites with the JV regattas unless conditions warrant. Furthermore, 70 boat 420 fleets with young teenagers seem to do just fine… why can’t older, better-educated college kids? A-sails will make college programs able to sail enjoyably in far more conditions. If 3-4 knots is the college sailing minimum wind, that (and anything under 10 knots) would be abundantly more fun, genuine, and tactical (and less kinetic) than wing-offing with an 8 oz. Dacron jib.
4. Spread fleets out more, give more boats more clear air, and alleviate crowded, ugly leeward mark rounding`s. Just as weather legs tend to spread the fleet and offer more clear air for all, with a-sails downwind would be just like upwind. In sum, racing would be tactical with a speed factor, more about performance sailing, and maybe even fewer boats bumping at leeward marks.
5. Develop well-rounded sailing skills for long run. How many college sailors want to lean over a rail, when they graduate, and hold a small 8 oz. triangle? Crews graduate college sailing knowing a lot. Adding A-sails to their arsenal would make them even better. A-sails would allow crews to do more, and potentially also learn more about sail trim, sailing angles, and have an even larger role in these departments. It would up the ante for crews and offer a higher bar. Furthermore, unless we’re missing something big here, it seems most modern race boats are employing A-sails. Forget about the Olympics, just imagine preparing out dinghy sailors to step into the one-design and handicap sailing world, ready to trim and drive with A-sails. If sailing is a lifetime sport, then A-sails are a big part of your racing present & future. Furthermore, college sailors will still learn to race with jibs downwind. Team racing will supply that, along with days when the wind is over 15 knots or more. Now we have well-rounded sailors who can do it all in a dinghy.
6. Add a LARGE amount of tactical considerations. Set the kite? Go high early and wait? Gybe now for angle, or pressure? Learn to sail deep downwind in pressure with the A-Kite and tighter angles in light air, understand more about performance sailing, and up the ante for experienced and inexperienced sailors alike.
What’s not to like?
Take a look at our poll, and vote if you like.
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