Dinghy Sailing with the Canadian Yachting Association – Silver Sail VI

Silver Sail VI – is an introduction to racing. Commencing with some sailing theory it looks at how the slot effects the drive of the mainsail under different points of sail, and how the size of the slot should be varied with the wind strength to give maximum drive, how to identify back winding, and how to adjust the sails to remove or minimize its effect, how the driving forces acting on the sail can be divided into side and forward components, and how these vary for beating, reaching and running and how the resisting forces acting on a boat’s daggerboard/centreboard and rudder act in relation to the sail forces when beating, reaching and running.

The apparent wind changes when gusts hit the sails and when waves slow or accelerate a boat and how to steer and trim sails to react to changes in apparent wind and how to correct the effects of the forces which cause a boat to heel. Section 2 looks at the rules of racing as laid down by the CYA and ISAF.

Section 3 considers racing signals and courses including the purpose of the Race Committee, the Notice of Race, the Sailing Instructions and the Protest Committee. Section 4 looks at tactics. On the water students will demonstrate as both skipper and crew while beating, reaching, running, roll tacking, roll gybing, bearing away and heading up. Identify signals displayed and sounded by the race committee boat.

Demonstrate the ability to be within one boat length or 5 seconds of a starting line at the starting signal in a race situation. Restart, after having been recalled for premature starting, as quickly as possible. Defend a position from another boat while on a beat – by luffing and back winding a boat attempting to pass until the mast abeam position has been attained and on a reach or run – by avoiding blanketing, by luffing or by assuming starboard tack. Demonstrate how to blanket and back wind a competitor to your advantage while on the same tack on the windward leg of a race course.And finally compile a racing record and log in a dinghy class showing you have completed a minimum of 15 scheduled races, 10 as a skipper in a class consisting of a minimum of five sailboats.

On completion of this section the candidate will be able to compete in a race with a sound understanding of the racing rules and perform the a fore mentioned tasks in wind strengths of up to 18 knots.