Take a Deep Breath, and Simplify!

by Kim Couranz – originally published on Spinsheet Magazine

Dinghy racing can be a remarkably complex sport. From trying to decide which rig setting to go with to figuring out whether or not you might get a lee-bow effect from the current, it can be pretty mindboggling. In addition, yes, at the highest levels of the sport, you need to nail each one of those decisions to win.

However, taking a deep breath and making sure that you’re not unnecessarily overcomplicating things can not only be a big relief, but can be a way to do pretty darn well, too. Focusing on a few key things can be helpful for newer racers, who are learning to digest the vast amount of information and decision-making involved in sailboat racing. It can also be key for experienced racers who have gotten themselves all spun up and are overthinking things.

So, let’s dial it back a notch. Let the answers to a few questions calm your mind and clear your brain so that you can focus on some of the elemental parts of racing.

Where am I?

Literally, where are you on the racecourse and what are you dealing with? Are you two-thirds of the way up the weather beat, on the right side, having a hard time finding a clean lane? Are you heading downwind, getting toward the Pauline for the gates, but probably not quite there because of strong current? Defining where you are and what you’re dealing with can bring some clarity to you thinking and help you decide your next steps.

Where am I going?

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