30’ Sailboat Racing

By: Douglas Malat

I always thought you can’t do much with a 30 sailboat but sail around the bays, with an occasional hop to a not so far away harbor. I was wrong.
If you have to go up against the tide in a race, it’s better to stick to the lighter side. When the tide is on your side, you want to keep in the strongest part to gain the most speed you can. Winds work the same way when racing. When in a bay, the closer to shore you are, the warm winds drive the wind onshore. A mere ½ - 3 knots of wind can make all the difference. Being in the middle of the bay could make you lose ground.
When I first started racing, the more experienced racers stole a trophy from me many times. One time, we had a close call pulling past the last buoy to the finish line when a sailboat turned away to find stronger winds and quickly zipped past us. Over time, you learn more and more about racing; where to pick up extra speed and how to put your sails to work for you. My racing days were both exciting and frustrating. Races lasted a few hours to a few days. Always a challenge.
There have been times when the winds turned wild along the race. I’ve witnessed injured sailors being rescued by helicopters. Other times, there was no wind at all. I won a race by drifting along, thanks to my deep keel or wide beam. No matter the conditions, the more you race the more you figure out how to win in any conditions. The key is figuring out your boat’s point of sail – that’s when your boat is most comfortable. That’s when racing becomes effortless for the boat and the crew. Then it’s just like riding a bicycle – you just sit back and enjoy the ride.
I’ve taken my 30 sailboat through some races with very high wind conditions. They might not start that way, but I’ve been in some wild ones where crew on other sailboats had to have helicopters remove them for broken bones and other various things. I have been on a race and won a trophy for third for actually drifting the best during the race; there was no wind for 2 hours and for some reason the current grabbed me better, thanks to my deep keel or wide beam. I was certainly happy to take third place! So the more I raced, the more familiar I became with different wind and sea conditions. Where my 30 sailboat rode the best, pulling top speeds without heavy effort on the crew or the boat! You get to feel that groove where you are ripping yet comfortable. It’s a combination of your boat’s best point of sail, with a mix of using the sailboat’s lines and characteristics to its advantage.



About the Author:

Captain Douglas Malat is a co-creator of YachtAuthority.com where you will find the ideal sailboat for your next sailboat race

Related Articles

Longing for Salt Lake City Discover how to find great rates on details on the best Salt Lake City rooms
A Heart Touching Journey To Jaipur On Palace On Wheels
Sailing Tips Anchoring
Experts Guidelines Helping You With Major Discounts Along With Excursion Trips On Embarking Baltimor
Use the Internet to Find Cheap Flights in Greece
Tour With The Best Tour Operator In Kolkata
Tips For Locating Sanibel Island Boat Rentals
Nile River Cruises Experience Of A Lifetime
Solihull Within Reach Sought After And So Historical
Sailboat Satisfaction with Boat Club
Pinpoint That Perfect Thailand s Capital Pad Befitting For You
Trip to City of Joy Kolkata
The Botswana Wild Life Safaris Are The Most Famous In The World
Get Affordable Hotel Deals in Montauk And Research On Important Watering Holes And Holidays
Places Of Interest In Spain Guadalupe
3 Steps to Impressing Your Incoming Clients with Quality Denver Airport Limousine Service