simplified racing rules of Sunfish sailing (video)

Lee Montes keeps putting out great Sunfish sailing videos, and this time he’s helping to explain the racing rules of sailing. honestly – this is probably the biggest thing holding me back from racing with the GDSC or any Sunfish Class event — my lack of understanding of the racing rules of sailing, and worrying that I’d foul another racer and piss them off.

I’ve tried to summarize his main points, but watch the video yourself and see if you catch any other key points I might have missed:

the most important rule: don’t hit any other boats!

1. port (wind goes over the left, sail is on the right) vs starboard tack (wind goes over the right, sail is on the left)… the starboard tack boat USUALLY has right of way, so avoid them, or give them right of way.

2. if overlapped on the same tack, windward vs leeward boat – the leeward boat has right of way (avoid any boat on your sail side of the boat)

3. clear ahead AND on the same tack – the boat overtaking the boat ahead must give way

4. while tacking or jibing, stay clear of other boats

sunfish worlds day 1 video

Lake Garda in Italy is a beautiful venue for sailing!

LaserPerformance is posting video and picture updates on Instagram.

building & sailing a Super Sunfish

Nico posted this video on the Sunfish Forum – his father built the wooden Super Sailfish in their garage, and they sailed it on the Knysna lagoon in South Africa (beautiful waters!).

WATERFUN: 8 things sailing lessons don’t teach you [video]

Lee Montes is back at it again with another great video about Sunfish sailing. this time, he put together his list of 8 things that aren’t always taught or mentioned if you have taken an intro or beginner’s sailing class. and if you’re self-taught (like me), then you might not have heard any of these things yet.

a good visual guide to help if you’re looking for some reading material before the warm weather gets here is the learn to sail in 3 days guide.

here’s a simple breakdown of Lee’s list: WATERFUN, with my thoughts in parentheses:

1. Weather forecast (use a wind forecast app like sailflow or I prefer windfinder)
2. Anticipation (look ahead to keep an eye on others on the water – motorboats, kayakers, swimmers, as well as wind and current changes)
3. Tacks (Sunfish sails a little different on port and starboard tacks due to the lateen sail how it sits on the side of the mast – you can trim the sail further in on a port tack)
4. Education (lessons, clubs, classes)
5. Racing (racing improves your sailing, join the Sunfish Class)
6. Feel (weight/balance as you sit, feel the wind)
7. Upwind first (sail the harder upwind tack first so it is easier to get back home – totally agree with this one, I use this method on Lake Michigan all the time)
8. Never stop sailing (more time on the water = a better sailor)

also… useful for sailing

very clever commercial:

the joy of tiny sailboats

an interesting video about malay jongs – tiny little sailboats.

For centuries the Malays in South East Asia have been racing jongs, or miniature wooden sailing boats. The sport has been dying out in recent years, but volunteers are determined to keep their tradition alive.

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/embed/p06tlgdq/46423181

(I can’t the video to embed here… click the link above to see the video)

h/t: BBC article