Yachting World — November 2017

November 2017 95

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How to avoid the situation in the

first place

Interview by Sue Pelling

David ‘Freddie’ Carr (35) is a two-time America’s Cup World Series

winner with Prada Luna Rossa in 2013 and Land Rover BAR in

2015-16. In total Carr has completed four America’s Cup challenges

and competed in five Extreme Sailing Series.

effectively moored up, the sails are still set,

so make sure the crew keeps an eye out for

potential accidental gybes, and keeps hands

and fingers away from the line attaching

the boat to the pin end. There will be a lot of

pressure on that line and it will be virtually

impossible to untangle by hand.

That being the case, with the mooring line

well and truly jammed round the rudder, it

could be time for someone to step up and

knife the mark away. It is a great chance

for a member of the crew to notch up some

hero points, and prepare a good story for

the bar back at the club later. You will not be

particularly popular with the race committee

though, so purchasing the sailing club a new

pin end chain, anchor and line is definitely

something to consider before you get ashore.

On a line with a lot of port bias, the pin end

start could be a race winner if it’s done well.

For it to work, however, it is really important to

make a good plan to avoid being squeezed out.

Ideally, your team should be well practised at

carrying out any type of start. You should be on

the racecourse early enough before every race

to carry out three or four timed runs to the line.

You need a strong transit to work from, and a

good idea of time and distance in the last 60

seconds of the start.

Importantly, you need to keep your crew

informed of your intentions at all times. As a

helmsman it is all very well having a good idea,

but if you fail to communicate your intentions

to your team, the chances of a good start will

be greatly reduced.

Also be very aware that if the breeze is

dropping in the pre-start, everything could

change, meaning you might have to give the

pin layline a fatter approach. Try to ignore the

boats going for a port flyer. If they pull it off,

good for them. Remember though, in light wind

and tidal conditions, as in this photo, it is more

important just to get your boat off the line in

the best spot at 100 per cent VMG.

Paul Wyeth