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MONSOON MATCH RACING CLINICS - 2008
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This year we broke the trend. Thanks to the Match Racing Association of India (MRAI) and the Indian Naval Watermanship Training Centre (INWTC), we can now say that the sailing season in Mumbai never ends.
The MRAI has been conducting Match Racing Clinics in J24 class of keelboats over every Wednesday and Saturday of the past 2 months and promise to carry on the clinics for as long as possible.
Along with active match racing teams, at least 60 novices have been coming for the clinics and getting exposed to that fastest and most action packed form of sailing: Match Racing.
Match race sailing is easy to follow. A match race consists of two identical boats racing against each other. With effective boat handling and prudent use of wind and currents, a trailing boat can escape the grasp of the leader and pass. The leader uses blocking techniques to hold the other boat back. This one-on-one duel is a game of strategy and tactics. There is only one winner.
In other words, Match Racing is a battle on the water between two teams and their boats. There is a winner and a loser (no second place). Every person on board has a job to do and must concentrate on doing it right. Just like a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link, a match racing team depends on each individual to perform.
The race begins with a warning shot fired by the Race Committee Boat (flying a blue RC flag)ten minutes prior to the official start of the race. Another shot is fired at five minutes prior. The two boats (each flying either a blue or yellow flag) enter the start area from opposite ends of the starting line four minutes prior to the actual start. During the next four minutes, the boats will engage in a furious pre-start battle, in which each will try to gain an advantage over the other.
The goal is to make the other boat cross the starting line early, which is a penalty, or to start legally ahead of the other boat.
The yacht which crosses the starting line first has a decided advantage because it can hinder the other boat by 'covering' it (blocking its wind). The trailing yacht will counter by tacking (altering course from one tack to the other) to gain clear wind. This usually results in a 'tacking duel' between the contestants. If the boats were even at the start, each uses speed and wind shifts to try to pull ahead.
After sailing to the first mark upwind, the boats will round the mark to starboard (clockwise), then set their powerful spinnakers and race downwind, in what is called 'the run' to the second or 'leeward' mark. In second leg however, the trailing boat has the advantage because it is in a position to 'cover' the leader and slow it down by blocking the wind from the leader's sails. The leader must then work to keep its air clear while positioning his/her boat between the trailing boat and the next mark.
Each race is officiated by two umpires in a small power boat who follow each pair of boats and make in-course penalty decisions. When a foul is allegedly committed, the umpire boat will fly one of the following flags: blue the blue boat is penalized, yellow the yellow boat is penalized, or green/green & White there is no penalty. When a boat is penalized, it must complete a full circle or penalty turn. The penalized boat may complete its penalty turn at any time during the race prior to the finish line. If penalties are offsetting, penalty turns need not be completed. Cumulative penalties are indicated by blue and yellow shapes/flags displayed on the umpires' boat. If one boat receives three penalties, it is disqualified and the race is over.
There are 2 safety boats on the water at all times to ensure that nothing untoward takes place. Each individual coming for the clinics has been getting at least 3 races in each session.
Mr. Farokh Tarapore, President and Cdr. R Mahesh, Hon. Secretary of the MRAI have been coaching the sailors as well as joining in for some racing themselves.
The level of Match Racing in India was always among the highest among Asian Countries and I can now tell you it has gone up by at least another couple of Notches thanks solely to these clinics.
For some of the novices, this has been their first exposure to sailing itself and they were all absolutely thrilled by the experience.
These clinics have been excellent opportunity to make all the mistakes we can in a simulated racing environment and learn from them while improving our basic skills. While in the beginning it was easy to get overwhelmed by what might seem as sheer chaos on board at every mark rounding, but once each individual understands what his/her job is onboard, they started to carry out the same in a disciplined manner.
Another important lesson learnt by one and all was not to leave your common sense behind in the changing rooms. Everything done on board has a definite logic to it. One should try and understand why you do what you do and then one never forgets it.
We have been pairing up a couple of seasoned sailors with some novices and make up a team of 5 to ensure that the novices pick up something other than a cold with each session on the water.
I’ve been involved with sailing in India for at least 15 years now and I have never experienced any effort along these lines where so much is achieved in such an informal and friendly environment. Three cheers to the MRAI!