Blind Strategies

dingo_rhumbBy ‘blind’ I mean that we’re not looking at the actual forecast, these are basic strategies that do have value in the right situation.

1. The rhumbline
The shortest distance between two points is a line. Point at your waypoint, go max VMG if needed.Pros: you get to your destination eventually.

It’s the shortest route, sort of.
Sometimes the fastest route, if only by accident.

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SSANZ 100 — pre race

At start time, a Low Pressure system is moving east across North Island − crossing the coast at Hokianga Harbour, about 100nm NW of Auckland.
SSANZ100StartWeather00Zpct67This weather system will determine the winds (TWS and TWD) for the fleet throughout the race.

An initial wind forecast of 6 kts out of the east dictates an on-the-wind start.  The sail remains a beat to wind’ard until past the initial Motutapu S mark and into the Motuihe Channel.

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A Bee Line to the Finish!

BeeLineFinish
The Vineyard Finish #1 – “Shortest” route in yellow, WINSTON and javakeda routes in red.

When WINSTON rounded The Cows and headed for the finish line at the end of The Vineyard race I smiled.

WINSTON was headed for the line at an angle.
I was going to do the same thing.
Instead of taking the shortest route to the finish, we were taking the quickest route.

It’s all about VMC

Continue reading A Bee Line to the Finish!

RTW6 — pre-race

RTW6 Rhumb and GC routes
Chart #1 — Rhumb Line and Great Circle Route comparison.

In this race, there are three reasons to head up the east coast of the United States and Canada.

First,  the Great Circle Route goes that way. Despite appearances, the Rhumb Line on Chart #1 is about 165 nm longer than the Great Circle Route arcing to the north side of the rhumb.

But second, and more important, is the Bermuda High.

Continue reading RTW6 — pre-race

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