SUMMER SALE Request a quote (/sails/request-for-quote?

ref=Summer Sale 2022 Ribbon Banner - Pro-Tips: Starts and Getting Up to

Speed&utm_source=website&utm_medium=ribbon&utm_campaign=summer_2022&utm_term=WIT_RFQ&utm_content=RFQ) YOU MIGHT for theALSO LIKE:of the
best pricing
year. *Some restrictions may apply.

ARTICLES

Quantum Cruising Code 0: For

All the Angles In Between
RESOURCES & EXPERTISE

ARTICLES
2

ARTICLES

Six Lessons on Getting to the

Top in the Melges 20 Monaco
Winter ...

PRO-TIPS: STARTS AND GETTING UP TO SPEED +

February 15, 2016

SIGN UP TO GET MORE
ARTICLES
Kerry Klingler, Quantum Sails’ J/Boat Coordinator, raced the 2016 Quantum Key West Race Week GREAT CONTENT
with Iris Vogel and team aboard Vogel’s J/88, Deviation. Klingler discusses the team’s highs and
Trimming on a Reach
lows of the regatta and shares his pro-tips on starts and getting up to speed. SUBSCRIBE

ARTICLES

Eight Tips for Being a

Competitive Corinthian Team in
a Pro Fleet

VIEW ALL (/RESOURCES-AND-

EXPERTISE/ARTICLES)
 YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

ARTICLES

Quantum Cruising Code 0: For

All the Angles In Between

ARTICLES

Six Lessons on Getting to the

Top in the Melges 20 Monaco
Winter ...

2016 Quantum Key West Race Week - Deviation sails to a 2nd place overall finish in the J/88 class. Photo by Sara Proctor.

For the 2016 Key West Race Week, I had the privilege of sailing with Iris Vogel on her J/88, ARTICLES
Deviation. During this regatta, there were things we did very well and other areas that we could
have improved upon. Understanding both the positives and negatives will help us going forward Trimming on a Reach
and sharing them with you will hopefully give you some ideas on how to improve at your next
regatta.  

What we did well: +

We started each day strong and got out to the race course early. Most of the time we were the first
ARTICLES
boat out there.  We sailed full beats, had a good understanding of the wind shifts, and worked on
boat setup and speed. This helped us make confident tactical decisions on the race course.
Eight Tips for Being a
Competitive Corinthian Team in
Practice also helps with boat handling. We had clean sets and take downs, worked out the dance
a Pro Fleet
in the middle of the boat and were able to get the crew work together.  
+
Starts:
VIEW ALL (/RESOURCES-AND-
During our starts our initial placement was good, but our execution was poor. We did not practice EXPERTISE/ARTICLES)
starting enough. Practicing stop and go’s, getting the boat up to speed, and timed runs all could
have improved our starts. I went back to a seminar I did a long time ago and looked at my cliff
notes.  Here are my notes from the seminar:
On the line Checks
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
1. Head to wind check. Sight across the boat, which end is higher or favored?
ARTICLES
2. Where is the next mark?

3. How strong is the fleet? Size/speed of competitors. Quantum Cruising Code 0: For
4. What is the best course for the fastest first beat? All the Angles In Between
5. Check laylines for the starting box – windward & leeward ends.

6. Time the line – know how long it takes to run to each end. 2

The Practice Start

ARTICLES

A practice start helps assure success. A dress rehearsal of our planned approach lets us:
Six Lessons on Getting to the
Top in the Melges 20 Monaco
1. Confirm lines of sight and bearings on the line
Winter ...
2. Check laylines
+
3. Confirm wind direction and close hauled headings

4. Approximate timing for the final approach

ARTICLES
5. Check sail trim for acceleration off the line

6. Confirm crew organization and communications Trimming on a Reach

Setting up

1. Time & distance – you need to know time it takes to get up to full speed, and distance +

needed

2. Set a timed run, away from the line. Turn, return back to the line ARTICLES
3. Boat on boat:
Eight Tips for Being a
Defending the leeward corner, preventing an overlap Competitive Corinthian Team in
Pushing a leader down the line, don’t get an overlap a Pro Fleet

Kill distance & keep speed – snak +

Keeping speed, maneuvering capabilit

Know when to stop, avoiding an OC VIEW ALL (/RESOURCES-AND-

EXPERTISE/ARTICLES)
Safe Starts: Away from traffic, maintain good speed

         4. Crew Help:

Bowman: Call distance to line
 Velocitek:  Distance to line
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
Line sights: One person set to call line, and boat line up. Keep bow even with the competition

ARTICLES
Although these are only cliff notes, the general ideas are clear. We did do most of these things, but
the main thing we could have done was practice runs to the starting line. Most of the time we were
too slow to get the boat up to speed and suffered poor starts. In general, we were slower than our Quantum Cruising Code 0: For
competition in getting the boat up to speed. A Velocitek would have been a great help with speed All the Angles In Between
and distance to the line. 

2
Getting the Boat Up to Speed

There is a key dynamic between the skipper and the mainsail trimmer. The mainsail trimmer has to ARTICLES
be on the ball. They are key to getting the boat up to speed, and when to trim to get the boat to
point. If the boat is going slow and you over trim the main for height you can suffer and never get Six Lessons on Getting to the
the performance you are looking for. In short, you need boat speed first and pointing ability
Top in the Melges 20 Monaco
second. 
Winter ...

The other key is that the mainsail trimmer steers the boat as much if not more than the skipper. If +
the mainsail trimmer is slow on adjustments, then performance suffers. The mainsail trimmer
needs to have a good handle on boat speed and angle. They have to know when to sheet harder to
get the boat to point and when to ease and get the boat up to top speed. Also, the mainsail ARTICLES
trimmer has to use all the tools in order to get the most out of the boat. Adjusting backstay, using
the traveler, setting the vang and Cunningham are all important ingredients to proper main trim Trimming on a Reach
and performance.

Finally, the main trimmer needs to be proactive as opposed to reactive. By being proactive, they
need to coach the skipper and the boat. They need to adjust quickly to changes and be able to get +
the best possible performance out of your sail plan and boat. 

After each regatta, look back at the overall team performance and note what the team did well and ARTICLES

any areas that need improvement. Keep practicing and your team will see the results.
Eight Tips for Being a
Competitive Corinthian Team in
Deviation finished 2nd in the J/88 class at the 2016 Quantum Key West Race Week.
a Pro Fleet

______
+
Kerry Klingler

Quantum Sails

VIEW ALL (/RESOURCES-AND-

J Boat Coordinator

EXPERTISE/ARTICLES)
kklingler@quantumsails.com (mailto:kklingler@quantumsails.com)
 YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

ARTICLES

(http://quantumsails.us11.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=30dd6c35296cae5bb084ea7ff&id=dead471925) Quantum Cruising Code 0: For

All the Angles In Between

SHARE THIS:

THE DISCUSSION ARTICLES

Six Lessons on Getting to the

Type your reply here... Top in the Melges 20 Monaco
Winter ...

ARTICLES

LOGIN TO REPLY Trimming on a Reach

ARTICLES

Eight Tips for Being a

Competitive Corinthian Team in
a Pro Fleet

VIEW ALL (/RESOURCES-AND-

EXPERTISE/ARTICLES)