Mark Rounding
Mark Rounding
What do you change and when.
Here are a few lists of what to change and in which order to change them when going around the various buoys on a course.
Rounding Windward mark to start reaching:
Light winds Heavy Winds
BEFORE MARK (25 metres to go) BEFORE MARK (25 metres to go)
Cleat the Traveller Cleat the Traveller
Mainsheet in hand Mainsheet in hand – UNCLEATED
Turn the corner Turn the corner
Ease the Mainsheet so the boat stays FLAT Ease the Mainsheet so the boat stays FLAT
Ease the Jib Move BACK, Crew Lean out
Jib tracks out Catch the wave and GO
Centreboard up Ease the jib
Leeward stay forward At a break – Jib Tracks out
Maybe Vang off a little Leave Centreboard alone
Outhaul off Ease leeward sidestay
Downhaul off Outhaul off
Downhaul off
Something to think about in Heavy winds is that the Tasar does the ‘reach’ really fast and as you go around the weather mark on a fresh, windy day you can pick up a few places by easing the jib and mainsheet or traveller while remaining hiked out. Lots of people go around the mark and start adjusting all the settings and then lean out again to get going. They have lost a bit of ground in this instance, give it a try to stay powered up and then as soon as you get a chance after the rounding then make all the adjustments.
Rounding a mark from reach to beat:
Light winds Heavy Winds
BEFORE MARK (25 metres) BEFORE MARK (25 metres to go)
*** THREE Boat Lengths coming up - have you got any rights ?
Downhaul on Downhaul on
Outhaul on Outhaul on
Vang off Vang on
Sidestay back Sidestay back
Centreboard down Centreboard stays at deck height
Jib tracks in Jib tracks in to 3 or 4 holes
Reset traveller to centre Reset traveller to centre
Start mainsheet in Set jib slack till boat moving
At mark, Steer course At mark, steer course
Set jib slack till boat moving Pull main on
Set traveller to windward Set traveller to centre or leeward
Check Leech Ribbons Check Leech Ribbons
(Ease/Pull Mainsheet till they flow) (Ease Pull Mainsheet till they flow)
When the winds get really really light you need to start thinking about getting as much breeze as possible to easily flow through the Jib Slot and over the sails. You could try to open the slots two or three holes, you could try flattening the mainsail. Think about how hard is it for the air to Flow over a full main vs a flat main in light airs. The easier it is for air to move across your sail the better it is performing.