Manoeuvres Part II: Mark Rounding

Beginning To Sail

National Optimist coach, Diego Figueroa, offers advice that all young sailors can enjoy, regardless of the boat they sail.

Although the most important element of a mark rounding is the tactical aspect, there are some technical points that also need to be mastered. This way you can make sure you don’t loose any speed as you round the mark.

Windward Mark

It is essential to use your bodyweight properly when you round a mark, to be able to control the boat and use the rudder as little as possible. It is very common to see Optimist sailors “fighting” with their boats: heeling to leeward, pulling the rudder all the way and keeping the sail trimmed to the corner. This is all wrong. To do it faster and smoother, the key point is to coordinate body, mainsheet and rudder movement.

1 The first important thing is to hike out more and a little backwards, to get the boat heeled to windward and make the boat head down naturally. By hiking slightly backwards you will lift the bow, which minimises water friction. The pressure on the rudder will be much less.

2 Easing the mainsheet as you turn is the second most important thing, to keep the boat sailing fast and flat and with the bow out of the water. A good way to do it is by stretching the arm that is holding the mainsheet over your head and from there bring your hand down to the blocks gradually as you turn. This way, you make sure that the line is clean and free of knots.

3 If you work your bodyweight and mainsheet properly, the movement of the rudder should be smooth and easy. Remember that the idea is to move the rudder as little as you can. Adjust your sail to the correct position for the next leg and raise your daggerboard as soon as possible. By the time you come out of the two boat lengths of the windward mark you should already be sailing the next angle perfectly.

Reach Mark

To round the reach mark into a downwind leg, the basic movements are the same as in the windward mark: heel the boat to windward using your body, ease the sail as you turn and use the rudder as little as possible. This rounding is going to be easier and faster because the boat will be sailing smoother and with less pressure on the foils.

One important thing is to make sure you open the sail all the way to a 90º angle and, in light air conditions, even a little further. You should also remember to put up the centerboard, higher than in the reach. On the tactical side of things, it is important to know where the gate or next mark is, and to stay with clear air as soon as you round the mark.

Leeward Mark/Gate

The main objective when you round a leeward mark is, once again, to keep the boat moving as fast as possible. The most important thing is to adjust the position of the sail constantly as the boat turns.

The proper way to approach and round a leeward mark is to be wide in the beginning and tight in the end. The idea is not to give away any windward distance as you sail away from the mark and start your upwind leg.

Technically, you will try to use the rudder slightly and make the boat turn smoothly. With your bodyweight you should get the boat flat or with a slight leeward heeling to help the boat head up naturally. But the most important thing is the way you trim in the sail and the timing you have.

The mainsheet has to be trimmed in with both hands gradually as the boat is turning, but never using your mouth.

If you trim in too early, the boat will slow down and the whole rounding will be slow. If you trim in too late, the sail will luff and once again you will loose speed. Always use both hands. This means using the one holding the tiller extension equally with the one trimming the mainsheet and at the same time steering round the mark.

Ideally you will have the sail perfectly adjusted for the different angles you sail as you turn.

It is also important to put the centerboard down at the very last moment, right next to the mark. If you do it too early you will be slowing down your boat for no reason.

Next time you get on the water try practicing your manoeuvres. There is nothing more important than time on the water!