Tips and tricks

Hotlaps at Grant in a 12m

Prestart

Prestart is usually critical for a good 12m time; I don't think this lap's an exception to that rule. Try to position the boat south east of the red buoy that marks the last turn before making your run at the line. Initially, hike slightly to port until the speed has built enough to have the main and jib fully sheeted home before hiking fully to port. Set your course to intercept the line just inside the windward mark. That should see you clear to the first turn with no more steering inputs. Expect speed to peak around 12.5ish, before gradually bleeding off as you close on the first mark.


First mark

Pre-select your genoa; it's one less thing to do at the turn. At the turn, raise the Gen, stay hiked fully to port, sheet out a bunch before sheeting back till she stops luffing. Keep pace with the boat's acceleration, sheet in one click at a time accordingly and sprint for the next buoy. Pre-select the jib for the next turn. Generate a heel angle of 23deg and keep it to the turn.


Second mark

Raise the jib as you make the turn; aim to hit a BTT of around 3deg to port of the next mark. Change your hike to the inner starboard position and trim both sails together till she stops luffing. Let the speed build. If you've laid in the proper course, you should clear a red buoy on its stbd side, but may need a steering correction to port. Don't make that correction till clear of the buoy and make the correction as gentle as you can. Allow the speed to build once more. Aim is to be at the mark with boat speed at 14kts or better. Initiate the next turn as soon as USB beeps. Heel angle for the whole leg is 20deg.


Third mark

Keep the jib deployed, but sheet out/back in once you're on the reach. Don't change your hike position from inner starboard. Sprint for the island and brace for the sim crossing lag.


Fourth mark

Couple of gentle taps to port, bring your hike one click to port, sheet in till she quits luffing and pre-select the Spinnaker. Take a deep breath; next turn's critical and there's a lot to do.


Fifth mark

Raise the chute right before you begin the turn. While still turning, hike fully to starboard. When the chute has deployed, sheet out to bring/keep the chute into play as you execute the turn and don't worry about the main. When you're happy that your hike is correct, course is in the ballpark and the chute is properly trimmed, sheet the main fully home and pray you don't loose too much speed.


Sixth mark

Easy gybe. Pop the button as you turn, change your hike to the oppsite side and crank the chute around till it stops luffing. Let the speed build.


Seventh mark

Gentle turn to port. No change in hike required. Sheet the chute back as you turn to keep it pulling; it should only need 2-3 clicks. Don't cry as the speed bleeds. Pre-select the jib.


Last mark

Raise the jib just as USB beeps, hard turn to port before copying the pre-start sequence re hike and sail trim.