Do you fancy watching Olympic sailing but are worried you might not understand it? As a relatively new spectator to this sport, I researched answers to my questions so you can know what you’re looking at. Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing in Marseille, France on 31 July, 2024. Photo: World Sailing \/ Jean-Louis CarliWhat I love about the Olympics is that I find myself leaning forward in anticipation when watching sports I wouldn\u2019t usually do. The Olympics is like a buffet with food from lots of different cultures; we can try things to see if they\u2019re to our taste. And if something doesn\u2019t keep us wanting to return for more, we can try digesting something else. After sitting down to absorb Olympic sailing, I questioned the ingredients of these sports.
\nSo, here are some queries I had and their answers for those who want to get their teeth into Olympic sailing.
\nPhoto: World Sailing \/ Sander van der Borch
\nHow does the start work in Olympic Sailing?
\nAll races have a 5 minute countdown to the start. During this time, competitors slowly jockey for position, aiming to reach the most favourable spot. Depending on conditions, it may look like the boats will not make it to the start line in time! However, I discovered how quickly the sailors can prepare themselves when the timer runs low.
\nThe start is a crucial part of the Olympic Sailing competition.
\nTypically the startline is at a 90 degree angle (perpendicular) to the wind with one end called the \u2018pin end\u2019 and the other the \u2018committee boat end\u2019 or simply \u2018boat end\u2019. The \u2018boat end\u2019 will have a vessel with flags o, which officials raise as they count down to the start. Whereas the \u2018pin end\u2019 is just a small floating buoy or mark.
\nSailing boats can\u2019t sail straight into the wind, so they start zig-zagging towards the first mark, which is directly upwind of the start. At the start, sailors choose whether to be on the course\u2019s left or right side and pick their spot on the startline accordingly.
\nThe startline may be \u2018biased\u2019, with one end slightly closer to the first mark than the other end. Understandably, this bias factors into competitors\u2019 position decision-making.
\nParis 2024 Olympic Sailing in Marseille, France on 1 August, 2024. Photo: World Sailing \/ Sander van der Borch
\nWhy might Olympic Sailing be delayed?
\nSailing is fairly unusual as a sport in that it relies heavily on the wind. Perhaps Olympic surfing is the only other sport at that Games that relies so much on the weather. Due to this symbiotic relationship with the wind, occasionally, organisers delay Olympic sailing events.
\nBoth wind direction stability and wind force can affect whether sailing events occur. Very little wind will mean no one makes a start due to organisers postponing the race. At the other end of the scale, extreme wind is another cause for sailors to wait longer before crossing the starting line. If the wind isn\u2019t flowing in a steady direction, race officials aren\u2019t able to set a course for competition as they require the wind to come from one way. So, wind frequently changing direction causes race delays.
\nThankfully for sailing fans, wide-ranging conditions can allow these races to happen.
\nArticle continues below\u2026<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow to watch Olympic sailing live streams and Olympic Skiff Medal Races today<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAs is often the case for sailing at the Olympics, the sailing is actually taking place away from the main\u2026<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOlympic Sailing boats: Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing events explained<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThere have been many changes to the Olympic Sailing boats \u2013 or Olympic sailing classes \u2013 since the last, Covid\u2026<\/p>\n
How much is enough Knots for a sailing race?
\nSailors typically measure windspeed in Knots. One knot is equal to one nautical mile per hour, which is roughly 1.15 miles per hour (mph) or 1.85 kilometers per hour (kph).
\nDifferent boat types can sail in various weather conditions. However, a rough rule for racing is that a wind below 5 knots is too light, and above 30 knots is too windy.
\nWhat does wind \u201cfilling in\u201d mean?
\nThe wind is a fickle force. It doesn\u2019t flow consistently everywhere, meaning the wind is stronger in certain sailing course areas than others. And these strong wind patches will change.
\nWith the strongest wind comes the potential for boats to sail the fastest. And as sailing races work on a first-to-finish basis, the strong wind is where sailors want to be.
\nPart of the skill of Olympic Sailing is spotting and anticipating where the best wind is. Sailors analyse wind conditions by looking at the water as darker coloured water means more wind, lighter less.
\nPhoto: World Sailing \/ Lloyd Images
\nWhen a commentator says the wind is \u2018filling in\u2019, they usually mean the wind is increasing in a certain section or evening out across the course. So the phrase \u2018the wind is filling in where they are on the left of the course\u2019 refers to the wind becoming stronger there (and therefore, the sailors there will be moving faster).
\nPerhaps slightly confusingly, sailors often refer to the wind as \u2018pressure\u2019. So you might hear a commentator mention, \u2018they are sailing in more pressure here,\u2019 which is saying the competitors are sailing in more wind and, therefore, going faster.<\/p>\n
Why are the boats always changing direction?
\nBoats can\u2019t sail directly into the wind; they zig-zag to make their way upwind (towards the wind). Most races start with the boats zig-zagging upwind from the start to the first mark.
\nA boat will sail \u2018close hauled\u2019 and then tack by steering the boat through the wind before sailing \u2018close hauled\u2019 in the other direction.
\nAfter tacking, boats sail around a series of course marks. The course shape varies. However, usually, competitors sail upwind and then downwind (sailing in the direction the wind is blowing) for a few laps. When boats sail downwind, they usually zig-zag again to sail quickly.
\nDue to the zig-zagging, there is a lot of changing direction in Olympic Sailing. The sailors will mostly find their way to the next mark, choosing the best course area for sailing on. Sailors meet at the marks, all changing direction at the same time.
\nWhat is the sail that disappears?
\nDepending on the wind direction and the type of boat, you may see a colourful sail that is sometimes on the boat and gets pulled back in. This sail is called a spinnaker. At the Olympic Sailing events, the 49er, 49er FX, 470 and Nacra 17 boats all have a spinnaker.
\nPhoto: World Sailing \/ Lloyd Images
\nThis big balloon-shaped sail makes the boats go faster. However, sailors can\u2019t use the spinnaker when the vessels sails upwind (close-hauled). So when athletes turn around a mark and start going downwind, one sailor pulls on a rope that yanks this sail up.
\nWhen the competitors reach the next mark and are about to go upwind again, they tug another rope to haul the sail back into its storage bag inside the boat. It reminds me of a disappearing magician\u2019s handkerchief!
\nWhat is a layline?
\nIn Olympic Sailing racing terms, a layline is an imaginary line extending from the mark closest to the sailors down the course. The layline indicates the point where it\u2019s ideal for a boat to change direction to get to the mark the quickest.
\nWhen a boat is sailing close hauled while zig-zagging upwind (into the wind) they are at about a 45\u00ba angle from the wind. So a layline for a mark upwind extends away from an upwind mark at about 45\u00ba from the wind in either direction.
\nTo reach the mark the fastest and most efficiently, sailors try to tack or gybe (change direction by zig-zagging) at the right point on the layline.
\nCompetitors in the Women\u2019s Skiff (49er FX) class both trapezing. Photo: World Sailing \/ Lloyd Images
\nWhat does trapezing mean?
\nOlympic Sailing classes require the athletes to counter balance the wind on their sails. On a yacht sailors do this with a big, heavy keel under the water. However, there are no yachts in Olympic Sailing, so none have this stability tool. Instead the competitors use their weight to balance against the wind\u2019s force in the sails. The further out from the boat the sailors can get, the more wind they can counter-balance and therefore the faster they go.
\nThere are three primary ways athletes counter-balance, which are:<\/p>\n
Trapezing \u2013 For this manoeuvre, sailors stand on the side of the boat, dangling off ropes from the mast (a vertical pole holding up the sails). Athletes have a special harness with a hook, which they attach to ropes hanging down whenever they change direction. Trapezing is a bit like hiking, however, the rope support allows sailors to get further away from the boat\u2019s middle. Therefore, using this technique sailors can counter balance more wind.
\nHiking \u2013 Where the sailors lean over their vessel\u2019s side with their feet hooked under a strap in the boat. This skill targets the stomach muscles and is highly tiring over lengthy periods. The position is like getting to a sit-up\u2019s middle point and holding it for a long while.
\nDirect counter balance \u2013 This isn\u2019t a commonly used phrase. However, it is a sufficient summary for windsurfing and kitesurfing. Here the athlete attaches the sail, or kite directly to the athlete (either by handles or a harness) and the competitors lean against the sail forces. Again, the more the competitors lean, the more power they can counter balance and faster they travel.<\/p>\n
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Do you fancy watching Olympic sailing but are worried you might not understand it? As a relatively new spectator to this sport, I researched answers to my questions so you can know what you’re looking at. Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing … <\/p>\n