Pro sailor and match racer Paul Campbell-James shares his top tips for dealing with light winds and strong tides with Andy RiceCompetitors in this year\u2019s La Solitaire Urgo Le Figaro faced exceptionally strong currents combined with light winds while racing off Alderney. Photo: Alexis CourcouxWhen the wind is light and the current is strong, the two components can be equally important as each other. But for those not used to racing in tidal conditions \u2013 or even those who are \u2013 it can be easy to fall the wrong side of the tide.
\nPaul Campbell-James has won his division at Cowes Week a few times in his career, notably on the youth campaign of old aboard the Farr 52 Bear of Britain. Having also been caught out by the current on a number of occasions, Paul applies a few useful rules of thumb.
\nThe thing to ask yourself at all times is if the tidal conveyor belt is working for you or against you. While the usual winning factors like good boatspeed and boat handling are always there, in really light winds it can be far more important to position your boat correctly in relation to the force of the current.
\n1. Starting with the current
\nWhen the current is pushing you up towards the start line, the number one rule is do not be early! It\u2019s just not worth the risk. I\u2019ve heard tale of Fastnet boats which were over early on the Cowes start line taking seven hours to recross because of the current taking them in the wrong direction.
\nI\u2019ve made the mistake a few times myself in match racing. It\u2019s easy to do, you get caught up in the moment, you think you\u2019ve got the start nailed, you pull the trigger a touch too early, and that\u2019s the race gone, right there. Make sure you\u2019ve got your Plan B in place for the worst case scenario, which might be to have the spinnaker ready to hoist to help take you back to the line ASAP.
\n2. Starting against the current
\nWith the current against you, making it hard to reach the line, the approach is completely different. Nail your transits, and if you\u2019re starting on a Blue Peter \u2018P\u2019 flag, then you can even sit above the line and dip down just before the start gun without penalty.
\nThere\u2019s also likely to be a big sag in the middle of the line, so with your transits you can exploit that and you might well be sailing at full speed well before the gun fires. If you\u2019re over early, it will take no time for the current to take you back under the line and you can restart from there. This time the biggest risk is not being early enough.
\n3. Upwind in tide
\nGoing upwind with the current underneath you, remember that your laylines are going to come up very quickly. Even if you slightly under-tack the final approach to the windward mark, you can pinch up a bit more and the current will still carry you up to the mark. Getting into deeper water will increase the strength of the favourable current and the additional apparent wind will also help power up the boat.
\nThe opposite is true with current against you. Seek the shallow water, short tack your way up the shore and only make a break for the deeper water when you\u2019re pretty sure you can lay the mark in one. If the tide is running slightly across the course and there\u2019s a chance of getting your bow above the tide, use the wind shifts to make sure you\u2019re plugging the tide so that you get an extra push underneath the bow.
\n4. Pushed onto a leeward mark
\nWhen the current is taking you downwind you\u2019re going to make rapid progress towards the leeward mark, so gybe early on your laylines. If you\u2019re on a broad reach, go for a Code 0 or similar. This will enable you to sail tighter angles if you need to: the last thing you want is to be fighting the tide if you\u2019re struggling to get back on the rhumbline.
\nAs you approach the mark, drop earlier than usual and start turning the bow up so you are almost on your upwind course as you\u2019re rounding the mark. If someone is inside you at the mark, slow down and give yourself the space to turn inside them. The critical thing is making sure you can hold a high lane out of the mark \u2013 you don\u2019t want to be caught in anyone else\u2019s bad air upwind.
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5. Current pushing you away
\nWith the tide against you as you aim for the leeward mark, this time you want to overstand the laylines so you can approach the mark well below the pack. Coming in hot will build your apparent wind and gives you a lot more control as you approach the mark. If necessary, hold your kite until you\u2019re well past the mark.
\nMost important is to get in and out of the mark rounding zone as quickly as possible. It doesn\u2019t matter if you end up with the spinnaker in a flapping mess because the upwind conveyor belt of the current will be carrying you well away from the windless traffic jam going on behind you.
\nAbout the expert
\nPaul Campbell-James has competed in two America\u2019s Cup campaigns, has twice won the Extreme Sailing Series and been in the top 10 world match racing rankings and the 49er Olympic skiff circuit. But the British sailor\u2019s proudest achievement is 7th at the Optimist World Championship.
\nThe post Light winds and strong currents: How to keep moving in strong tides appeared first on Yachting World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Pro sailor and match racer Paul Campbell-James shares his top tips for dealing with light winds and strong tides with Andy RiceCompetitors in this year\u2019s La Solitaire Urgo Le Figaro faced exceptionally strong currents combined with light winds while racing … <\/p>\n