Laser Racing, Yeah!
Yes, I know. I was not supposed to race because I don’t know the racing rules. The thing is that since last Wednesday I have been thinking about it and I came to a decision. I would race, by following everyone else and I would stay out of everybody else’s way so I don’t do anything against the rules. So I did.
I arrived in the morning, they had sorted out the garage where the sails and everything else is kept and it was quite easy to rig one the club Lasers. I was given one of the brand new £130 kickers, I put my name down for both races, went out and without even knowing how to start the race I sailed towards the start line. I asked advice from a couple of people and basically I was told the Lasers start 3 minutes after the Merlin Rockets and I should stick close to the other Lasers and follow them.
In racing the start is a rolling start. Boats are not expected to stand still until the race starts. The organisers’ boat will hoot 3 minutes before the start. So the boats sail up and down close to the start line being aware of the time and when it’s time they set off. This is where the sailing watch comes in. A sailing watch has a countdown timer that starts beeping at 5 seconds to go, so you know when to cross the start line. As I said I would be following the other Lasers but in the same I would stay give way to all other boats. So I went close to the start line, but I found myself surrounded by Merlin Rockets and since they were starting 3 minutes before I ended up crossing the line with them, so I had to turn back go around the buoy and cross the line again 3 minutes later.
Unfortunately turning back wasn’t that easy with all the Merlins going straight so by the time I managed to cross the line again it was too ate and all the other Lasers were gone. I didn’t really know what route to follow and I was last. When the first boats started finishing the race, I dropped out because I couldn’t even follow the course. I had done quite some sailing so I thought I better go in and have a drink and come out for the second race.
Before the second race I asked a couple of people about the racing route, start procedure, etc. When it was time for the race I went out stayed close to the other Lasers, I was asking the either Laser helms how much time we had to the start and I started the race with them. Very quickly I was left behind but I was racing with the couple of them. There was not enough wind and it made it too boring. At some point I had to give way to another boat, because I didn’t know if I should or I shouldn’t, and I ended up doing a 360 turn. With that turn I slowed down quite a lot and after that the wind went down too. As a result I was really left behind. Anyway I was officially the last person to finish the race from all classes. I finished though and I am quite happy about it.
A couple of people say it’s quite amazing I started racing with only a Level 1 and a month’s experience. I think it’s funny. The good thing that I get loads of advice from people. You see when there is no wind people have the time to look around and see what you are doing wrong, so later on they can tell you what not to do. So I was told that when there is no wind I shouldn’t be going close to the wind (sailing, towards the wind), I shouldn’t pull the sail in too much, etc. Another good source of advice is the bar. A few people stay until for quite a few hours and have a drink. There you can get some good tips from some very experienced seamen. You can even pick up sailing watches for a fiver! So, now I have a watch for racing and it cost me only £5.
Most probably on Wednesday I will sail with Kelly. Most probably we’ll take out a GP14. I hope she will want to race, otherwise I will take a Laser on my own. Racing is cool!