Andy Rice talks to the fastest sailor on earth, Paul Larsen to find out how to maximise your boatspeedFast teams will record, calibrate and analyse settings constantly. Photo: Nico MartinezNot only is Paul Larsen clued in to what makes a boat go fast, he\u2019s just as passionate about getting the best out of every crew. Boatspeed comes down to identifying and then working on your weaknesses, whether it\u2019s a problem with equipment or an issue with the crew work.
\nWhatever your team\u2019s weaknesses are, acknowledge them, and create a process for making improvements. This can be easier said than done, because egos can get in the way and people can become defensive.
\nBut if you can get everyone to buy into a culture of learning and an ability to take constructive criticism, the atmosphere will improve and the boatspeed will go up. Here are Paul Larsen\u2019s five tips for creating a culture committed to going faster.
\n1. Ask the experts
\nDon\u2019t be afraid to ask stupid questions, especially if you\u2019re new to a class. Chances are your questions aren\u2019t stupid, and better to ask than to live in ignorance. Dig out the experts in your fleet. If you\u2019re ordering new sails, get the sailmaker to come out on the boat with you for a couple of hours and help you set up the boat and show you the ropes.
\nOne really useful thing is learning all the crossovers for your boat: when do you change down from the No 1 to the No 2 jib? How close to the wind can you carry the Code 0? All that gear-changing stuff is vital information that could take you a whole season to learn by trial and error. It\u2019s much easier to order someone a drink at the bar in exchange for their hard-earned wisdom.
\nEven the big stars in the sailing world are almost always happy to help you out. Keep hassling until you truly understand the answer, because asking what works and what doesn\u2019t is a sure-fire shortcut to improving your boatspeed.
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2. Get on the same page
\nWhen I step on board a boat for the first time, I listen carefully. Are the lines of communication clear and is it helping everyone get their job done in the most effective manner?
\nIf there\u2019s a shouter or a screamer on board, then that needs dealing with. No boat ever went faster because someone shouted louder. The further up the fleet you go, the quieter and calmer tends to be the mood on board. If you\u2019re back in 48th place and someone\u2019s yelling their head off, maybe that\u2019s a big part of the reason why you\u2019re in 48th!
\nSometimes my most valuable contribution can be simply to help sort out the comms within the team. Everyone on board needs to know exactly what\u2019s happening and what\u2019s expected of them. Once you get systems in place for every manoeuvre and every scenario on the racecourse, the teamwork and the crew atmosphere will improve.
\n3. Measure everything
\nMake sure that you calibrate everything. Put clear marks on all the sheets and halyards, so that every crew member knows what has worked before and can quickly set the sails to the correct trim for a given wind speed, sea state and situation on the race course. It\u2019s all about making your job easier and more repeatable, leaving the minimum room for error.
\nIt\u2019s worth appointing one crew member \u2013 ideally sitting on the rail with not too much else to do \u2013 to use a waterproof notepad and keep notes of all the fast (or slow) settings as you\u2019re going along.
\n4. Film yourself
\nIn the age of the selfie, everyone\u2019s used to being on film. However, it\u2019s still the exception on boats to have cameras running while you\u2019re sailing, but I thoroughly recommend it.
\nYou\u2019ll reap rewards by having just one or two GoPro cameras mounted on the boat, maybe one at the transom and one on the back of the mast, keeping track of the choreography of the crew and how you\u2019re really sailing the boat \u2013 as opposed to how you think you\u2019re sailing the boat. It still needs someone to go back through the recordings, but if you do, the whole crew will learn and improve much more quickly.
\n5. End of day debrief
\nAlways run a crew debrief after every day on the water. This is the time for your human \u2018data logger\u2019 to read off his waterproof notes and share the information. Footage from the cameras can be really useful later for showing people what\u2019s going on in the heat of the moment.
\nMost important of all, it\u2019s vital to create a culture where it\u2019s okay to make mistakes and where you\u2019re encouraged to hold your hand up to them. The quicker and more efficient you can make the feedback loop, the faster you\u2019ll learn and the faster the boat will go.
\nAbout the expert
\nPaul Larsen is the fastest sailor in history. In November 2012 he steered Vestas SailRocket 2 to a 500m speed record of 65.45 knots, and no one has come close since. Larsen is also in demand on the pro circuit, known for his no-nonsense approach to getting the best out of boat and crew.
\nFirst published in the January 2019 issue of Yachting World.
\nThe post Speed sailing record holder Paul Larsen explains how to get your boat up to pace appeared first on Yachting World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Andy Rice talks to the fastest sailor on earth, Paul Larsen to find out how to maximise your boatspeedFast teams will record, calibrate and analyse settings constantly. Photo: Nico MartinezNot only is Paul Larsen clued in to what makes a … <\/p>\n