Coaching:
Telling them ain’t learning them. (From Gary Bodie’s grandfather)
“Make that kick,” instead of “Don’t miss.” (From Former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson)
“Sail clean,” instead of “Don’t foul.”
If you are not improving, you are going the other way (From former NHL coach Dave Lewis)
General Success:
The team that wins is not the most brilliant; it is the team that makes the fewest mistakes.
When the crew makes a mistake; it’s the skipper’s fault.
When the skipper makes a mistake; it’s the crew’s fault.
Sail from the dock to the starting line like it’s a race. (From Jonathan McKee)
Starting:
Pay close attention to the shifts, lulls and puffs on your final approach.
Find the line.
Start where the others are not.
Speed:
Mast forward for power, mast back for speed. (From Dave Ullman)
Speed through the turns is half the speed game in college sailing.
Over tack and hike immediately in the heading puff.
Whenever the boat is downspeed, such as pre-start, the crew steers with weight and trim.
Tacking when overpowered is slow, tacking when underpowered is fast.
Strategy:
Strategy is good, tactics are evil.
Play the favored side of the fleet, not the corner of the course.
Foot in the big lifts.
If you are in a 40 degree lift and you get a ten degree header, you are still lifted.
Aim your bow at the mark. (From former coach Joe Duplin)
Lateral Separation is better on the long run leg.
At a crowded weather mark, overlay the mark and the traffic.
Tactics:
When boat A hails “starboard” to boat B, boat C gains.
Never get fouled.
Sit down, danger lurks to leeward.
The passing lane is outside the wake.
At a crowded leeward mark, slow up to win.
Round the gate mark with the path of least resistance. (From Dave Ullman)
Current:
Unlike the wind; the current is a known variable.
100’ of drift in 1 minute equals 1 knot of current.
Overcompensate for current as others under compensate.
Team Racing:
The team that wins the most team races is not the best team racing team, it’s the best team.
Fleet racing principles, especially speed, wins 75% of team races.
First place alone does not make a winning combination.
Calling out the play not only tells the other team what to do, it tells them when to do it, as in immediately.
Soccer coach: Don’t wait for the ball to come to you, go to the ball.
Team racing coach: Don’t wait for the play to come to you, go to the play.
Pass your guy. (From former TR World champ Tim Wadlow)
To control your opponent’s boat, you must first control your own boat.
To control your opponent’s mind, you must first control your own mind.
Travel safety:
What time you arrive at a regatta is not a function of how fast you
drive, it is a function of what time you leave.
Avoid the three deadly D’s: Drunk, drowsy, distracted.
Personal risk management:
Never, ever break two laws simultaneously.
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