Angus has an interesting point. I am definitely in the hacker category
as well. I sailed beach boats of various types all my life, never had a
lesson. I crewed an occasional race a couple of times a year when I
moved to Seattle in the 80s. Then when life gave me the opportunity to
buy a boat I skippered my first race at age 40. Even now with a little
more time on my hands I get to sail about 20-30 days a year. I compare
that with my son who has sailed in races or practice 17 days the last
month. There is no substitute for a period of time when one is intensely
involved with developing a skill.
I feel that one of the big mistakes I made getting started in my Tasar was focusing too much on the boat specific details and not enough on sailing basics. It's a problem that lingers to today and I'm sure drifts over to my occasional Laser efforts. When you are a hacker it definitely pays to focus on the basics almost to the exclusion of the details.
So the best mentoring I've gotten this year was Allan Johnson telling me at a party that I was not hitting the start line with enough speed. Since I see a lot of transoms 10 boat lengths off the line this was not huge revelation to me! But it did make me focus on this one basic. Last night, for one race we came off the favored end with good speed but slightly leebowed. We got a little room and footed off into a clear lane and had our best finish of the year. Allan gave us a basic to focus on and we improved.
So I would encourage the top of the fleet not to feel awkward about pointing out the obvious to us hackers. Sometimes there are so many things we feel we need to work on, it takes an outside observation to get us focused on something that will pay the best returns.
Jim Lyle
jim@lyle.com
(206) 979-0809
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-seattle-laser@sailpix.com
[mailto:owner-seattle-laser@sailpix.com] On Behalf Of ANGUS HENDERSON
Sent: Friday, April 18, 2003 11:52 AM
To: kurt@mistychula.net; seattle-laser@sailpix.com
Subject: Re: mentoring
I'm all in favor of any means of getting tips from the better sailors in
the
fleet. The view of the butt-end of the laser fleet is becoming tiresome.
I
personally don't want to commit to any kind of regularly scheduled
session
unless it's at the weekend(I have enough other things going on thru the
week) but would like to get out and practice on an informal basis.
The clinic last year was OK But I felt like it was more geared to
sharpening
up the upper end of the fleet than drumming some basic principles into
hackers like myself.
I have only limited time to put into dinghy sailing but would like to
get
more out of the time I do put in. I'm quite happy to just ask people for
help, but if there's something more organised I'll be grateful. A
hacker's
clinic for example.
Angus Henderson
>From: Kurt Hoehne <kurt@mistychula.net>
>To: Seattle Laser Fleet <seattle-laser@sailpix.com>
>Subject: mentoring
>Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2003 09:04:14 -0700
>
>Hey Laserers,
>
>I'd like to get a discussion, and ultimately a plan of action, going
about
>some kind of mentoring program. We've got a great thing going -- now
the
>trick is to make sure everyone keeps getting better and tighten up the
>fleet. (that helps everyone) Clinics are great, and I'd even recommend
a
>specific training time or two exclusively for the folks who feel
they're
>significantly off the pace.
>
>In the meantime, however, how 'bout copying the Tasars and do a
mentoring
>program? Anybody who wants a mentor is paired up with somebody with a
lot
>of
>experience. The mentor keeps an eye out for them, offers them advice
>setting
>up and tactically before racing, keeps an eye out during the race and
>debriefs between races.
>
>Does anybody in particular want to spearhead this?
>
>
>
>--
>Kurt Hoehne
>524 N. 67th St.
>Seattle, WA 98103
>
>(206) 706-0443
>
>Laser 170690
>
>