The One-Design Tactician

Scott Nixon from Quantum Atlantic explains what it takes to be a successful tactician.

Everyone knows the names of the best skippers in the fleet by reading the race results at the end of the regatta. But not everyone knows the name of the tactician that helped keep the winning crew and skipper on the right path. All the fame and glory in racing one-design sailboats seems to be associated with the helmsman. But, every great helmsman understands how important it is to have a good tactician who can guide a team to the top. The tactician is in the hot seat from the time they step on the boat until the regatta is over. It’s a high pressure position but one that is very rewarding when everything comes together for a winning performance.

A fast boat always makes the tactician look like a genius; but when things start to go bad tacticians really earn their keep. The crew work can be awesome and the boat speed fine, but if the tactician makes some bad calls the whole team looks to the back of the boat for answers. The key to being a successful tactician is to always be prepared for any situation and focus on the fundamentals.

Winning tacticians seem to have one thing in common - their skill for race preparation. I’m a firm believer that regattas are won long before the first race starts. You must have a plan to succeed in today’s ultra competitive one-design fleets. No longer can we step on a boat, sail out to the start and expect great finishes.

Getting ready

Race preparation begins with homework. Study tide and current charts before you leave for the event. Research the expected weather. Familiarise yourself with the sailing instructions, race courses and any special race committee procedures. Talk to people who have sailed in the event before and try to find a local who is willing to give you current information on a locality. Work on a pre-start checklist to make sure everything is taken care of before the race even starts.

On the water, preparations include getting the team to the boat early so you can be first to the starting area. If possible have the team sail the race course so you can familiarise yourself with the conditions for the day and make the proper sail selection.

Once you arrive to the starting area don’t relax and pop open the brew. Sail upwind to get the port and starboard headings and try to figure out whether the first shift will be to the right or left. Look to see which side has more pressure on it and where the wind might shift at the top of the course. Try to sail next to a cray pot or channel marker to see the strength and direction of the current. Is there relief from the current on one side or the other? All this information will be useful when you put your pre-race plan together.

A good start

A great start in the first race will keep everyone working hard and will make your job as a tactician much easier. Get the whole team involved in finding the favoured end and having a great start. Watch other classes start if you are starting behind another fleet. Make sure your skipper sails to both ends of the line to see if one side is visibly favoured. Remember to double-check your instincts with the sail comp or handheld compass. Remind the bowman to get a line sight so he can keep the boat on the line in the heat of the battle.

All this pre-start work will pay off huge when you hit the line at full speed at the favoured end and head for the first shift.

Once the boat is in race mode keep updating the team with positive feedback. Talk with a steady, upbeat voice to the entire crew. Give each crew member specific tasks when something has to be done and give them plenty of time. The wheels start to fall off the train when people are pushed and manoeuvres are rushed.

Stay calm and try not to panic if you get behind in the race after a mistake. Steadily climb back into the race and don’t try to hit a home run by banging a corner. Huge losses are hardly ever made up in one swift move. Focus on the big picture at all times. Let the little things go. Don’t get into unnecessary tacking or gybing duels or sail off the face of the planet just to cover someone. Keep your team focused on passing boats one at a time and the small rewards will add up.

It’s not over yet

After the race, let the crew relax but remember the day is not over. Keeping your game face on for the entire day is very hard to do, especially during light air postponements and multiple general recalls.

Keep the crew upbeat even if the race was a bad one. Focus on the positive points of the race and discuss the bad breaks so they won’t happen again. Regardless of how much you improve, you will always make mistakes as a team. The team that wins the event will not be the team that has sailed a perfect event, but the team with the fewest mistakes.

Once on shore, the team is free to hit the party; however the good tactician will be checking the notice board for possible protests, sailing instruction amendments, or any changes that may affect the next day’s racing. Also get a copy of the scores to see what has to be done the next day to move up in the standings. Going into the last day of racing, it’s always nice to have a current copy of the scores; when it starts to get tight you know who your team has to clamp on to move up.

Tacticians have different shoes to fill in many different situations. They are the motivators and leaders that strive to keep everyone on a straight path. From prying the team out of the bar at a reasonable hour, to finding that shift on the first beat, it’s a full time job.

You have to be ready to take the heat when the going gets rough, but it is also the best seat in the house to learn more about racing. You hear the struggles of your crew and witness their achievement in boat handling and sail trim. You can also see the big picture and how other teams in the fleet handle the same situations.

It’s lonely when you make a bad call and everyone knows your mistake, but there is nothing like it when it all comes together. The whole boat will perform better and racing will be much more enjoyable if you stick to a game plan and motivate your team to sail its best.