Yacht racing Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Yacht racing can be broadly divided into two types - offshore racing and harbour (or 'round the cans') racing.
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2 Harbour or Dinghy Racing |
Offshore Racing
Offshore racing is for large keelboats or multihulls and generally involves a fleet of yachts racing over a course that takes them away from the coast and across blue water for considerable distances, even around the world. Some of the most famous offshore races are the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, the Transpacific Yacht Race, the Fastnet race, the Volvo Ocean Race (formerly the Whitbread), the Vendee Globe, and the America's Cup.
When all the yachts in a race are not members of the same class, then a handicap is obtained. The handicap attempts to specify a "normal" speed for that boat. In perfect world, after applying the handicap each boat would have the same finishing time if each was sailed equally well. However, it is difficult to obtain one number,the handicap, that equiably covers all conceivable sailing condition, Still a handicap is used to determine how the boat finish. Each boat is timed over the specified course. After it has finished, the handicap is added to each boats finishing time. The results are based on this sum. The boat with the smallest time + handicap is the winner. This is an Article on Yacht racing. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Yacht racing Harbour or Dinghy Racing
Harbour racing is usually enjoyed by sailors of keelboats, dinghies, catamarans, skiffs, sailboards, and other small craft.Typical Course
Most racing of this type is one or more laps of a triangular course marked by a number of buoys. The course starts from an imaginary line drawn from a 'committee boat' to the designated 'starting' buoy. A number of warning signals are given telling the crews exactly how long until the race starts. The aim of each crew is to cross the start line at full speed exactly as the race starts. A course generally involves tacking upwind to a 'windward' marker or buoy. Then bearing away onto a downwind leg to a second gybe marker. Next another gybe on a second downwind leg to the last mark which is called the 'downwind mark'. At this mark the boats turn into wind once again to tack to the finish line.Classes
Harbour racing can be further subdivided into two categories: One-design and not one-design. In one-design all boats entered in a race must conform to the same standard (class rules ). In this way the boats are as identical as they can be manufactured, thus emphasizing the skill of the skipper and his/her crew. Examples of classes currently active are: Etchells, Snipes, Stars, Thistles, Lightnings, Lasers, J/24, etc. Each class has a detailed set of specifications that must be met for the boat to be considered a member of that class. At important regattas the boats are measured prior to the event to insure that they do conform.