Long Distance Offshore Racing

By Francesco De Vita of Ullman Sails South Africa

To say Francesco DeVita is a veteran sailor vastly understates his experience. An America’s Cup sailor, J/24 World Champion and winner of countless long distance offfshore racing events including the Rolex Fastnet Race, the Giraglia Rolex Cup, and the Rolex Middle Sea Race. Francesco knows what it takes to prepare for, and win, long distance offshore races. Here he offers his advice on what you can do to prepare for competitive events that cover over 1,000 nautical miles.

8-12 Months before long distance offshore racingSelecting an Event and Considering Sails
The first step is to decide which regattas you want to attend. While 8-12 months in advance may not seem like a lot of time to prepare, selecting the event at the end of your previous season allows you to carry momentum forward year-to-year. Preparing for a single event over several years often causes teams to lose focus.

There is a huge variety of offshore events, which means that no matter what kind of experience you want, options exist for you. At this stage it is worth researching regatta reputations, histories, and weather. Understanding standard routes and the ratio of upwind beating versus downwind sailing will very likely affect which event and crew you select.

It is also important to know your anticipated routes and wind angles for a given event before you talk to your sailmaker. Having the appropriate sail inventory when you leave the dock can determine whether or not you even have a chance to win the event. You must consider the inventory options for spinnakers, genoa sizes, etc. that you want onboard for the most likely routes and weather.

Having new sails onboard will also make a big difference towards accomplishing your goal of winning long distance offshore racing, providing greater speed, better angles and reduced heel. However, when it comes to actually purchasing sails, that decision may be more based on your budget, the quality of your current sails, and the likelihood you will use the sails in the upcoming event.

Budget, Crew and Schedule
Budgeting is an important next step. For those who are seriously competing in an long distance offshore racing, deciding how large a crew you expect to have onboard and how many of those team members will be professional sailors is extremely important. You must consider the costs associated with paying these individuals (both during training and the event), plus the costs of travel, accommodation and food for the entire crew.

When selecting crew members you should pay special attention to the navigator or tactician. They must either be a local, or have a depth of experience sailing in the event. Ideally this person will also help set your expectations and provide reassurance that the boat will be properly routed. This team member goes a long way towards giving you peace of mind and an edge on the competition. The best of these key individuals are often snatched up early, so if you’re serious about winning make sure you sign someone on as soon as you commit to the event.

Boat Maintenance
Once your crew list is set you need to ensure your boat is 100% ready to go before the next season begins. This means checking your rigging; considering new antifouling bottom paint and sails; ensuring all of your instruments are accurate and in top condition; and double-checking safety and communication devices such as an SSB, AIS, etc. Your onboard computer and electronic charts must be up-to-date. And, you must also have backup systems in place. Having a set of traditional charts and a sextant aboard is a simple solution that can keep you safe if your electronics go out.

Prepare your racing schedule
Further, you should look at the season leading up to your event. Scheduling your practice events, finding venues with similar conditions, and syncing crews’ schedules is a lot of work. Doing this well in advance will provide you with both a more experienced crew and clear expectations on what the season for long shore offshore racing. For more on how to prepare a racing schedule click here.

After gathering your notes on the equipment and crew you expect to have with you for the season, formalize the budget and confirm that you will be able to run your campaign properly. If the numbers don’t add up in a way you like, you still have time to adjust your plan or consider pursuing another event.

Prepare the Crew
Delegation is a key for any successful voyage. Not everyone can do everything, and most assuredly one person trying to take on the responsibilities of seven or more people will result in disaster.

In events that require over 1,000 miles at sea, safety must be a priority. Having at least a third of the crew get offshore sea survival certification is a must. Similarly, at least two people on board should be put in charge of first aid aboard the vessel. These individuals are responsible for knowing what gear should be in the first aid kit and ensuring that it is fully stocked before each event. These individuals should also be kept aware of any special health conditions, allergies, etc. so that all appropriate medicine is kept onboard. Remember, the first help for an emergency during a race is from the boat’s crew.

Catering
Another key responsibility for long distance offshore racing is preparing water and food. The off-season is the appropriate time to either buy a new desalination system, or clean and test your current one. Stress tests may also be necessary for older equipment. Remember, it won’t just be you using the system – it will be you and your entire crew 24/7. The system needs to able to put out a significant amount of water just to keep everyone healthy, let alone to satisfy what is needed for cooking and any luxury uses you may have onboard.

You should also delegate someone to prepare a rationing schedule of what foods will be consumed on what days of the leg. I think we all know that no matter how the race is going – a hungry crew is not a happy crew. A long distance race will require some specialty food; dehydrated food is a very common solution to keep weight down, but leaves many crews in want of flavor. Fresh food is always more desirable in this respect, but will only last for the first couple days aboard.

Another crew responsibility that should be delegated is that of a recorder. Having someone onboard taking notes on successful and unsuccessful tactical decisions, wind angles compared to boat speed at various wind strengths, and how long sail changes and maneuvers take in different conditions will give the crew direction in what they are good at and where they can improve. Taking pictures of sails and videos of maneuvers is often the best way for team members to learn what they can do differently.

3-4 Months before the Race
Physical and Mental Preparation

Long distance offshore racing can be brutal. There is a reason professional sailors often charge a higher rate for these events. The stakes are raised and the risks are greater. A crew that is not fit enough to sail the boat over a long period of time is both a hazard to themselves and to others. A crew that lacks experience to face the mental challenges of the event is just as dangerous.

While much of the physical and mental preparation must take place over a more significant amount of time, logging experience and hours offshore in the months leading up the event is especially important. Setting a schedule for the season that incorporates longer and longer events is an effective way to focus that energy and allow your team to sync with one another. Physical fitness and healthy eating and sleeping habits also help prepare a crew for the stresses they will encounter at sea.

Team Effort
A team consists of a lot of moving parts – it must be able to take care of itself and work through challenges together. Everyone will do better if the entire crew is well rested, hydrated, and well fed. That means deterring team members from over-exerting themselves and allowing those who are off-shift to actually rest.

The most experienced people on the boat should be designated as “Watch Captains” in charge of setting shifts as they are the most able to accurately judge the team’s strengths and weaknesses. Dividing the crew into three shifts is an effective way to do this: On Deck, Stand-By and Sleeping. On Deck individuals are actively sailing the boat; Stand-By sailors can help with sail changes or maneuvers, but are otherwise resting, cooking for the team or eating; and those who are asleep should be left to do just that.

Strictly following the shift cycle and developing habits in the rotation in races leading up to the premier event will result in a smoother and less chaotic offshore experience. It will also give the team members the best opportunity to be mentally prepared for any situation that arises on the racecourse.

The importance of a cohesive team
It is also hard to understate the importance of comradely between team members. Establishing trust and understanding each other’s body language is developed over time. It is ideal if the team can work towards the same philosophy on how to approach the event and how it will be won. Syncing up with your teammates is not something that can be quantified, but is most definitely a contributing factor to a team’s success.

Mistakes will happen during the race – even the winning team will have its fair share. The important thing is to recover from mistakes quickly and avoid repeating them again. Those who forgive themselves, and their teammates, and minimize mistakes are the most likely to win.

Conclusion
Your first priority is to prepare for all the elements within your control – focus on securing the boat, crew and equipment that are physically good enough to win the event. Once that is established, doing everything to increase your team’s adaptability to changing circumstances becomes key. Inevitably some elements of the race will not go as planned. Whether it is an unexpected storm system or a torn sail, improvisation is a key element of offshore sailing. The best way to prepare? Have the crew spend as much time together on the water as possible.

Good luck on the way to winning your next event!

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Does any of this echo your experiences? Is there something we missed? Do you disagree with any of the above? Let us know!