{"id":76017,"date":"2023-08-14T17:16:48","date_gmt":"2023-08-14T21:16:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/?p=76017"},"modified":"2023-08-14T17:16:50","modified_gmt":"2023-08-14T21:16:50","slug":"how-to-communicate-relatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/racing\/how-to-communicate-relatives\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Communicate Relatives"},"content":{"rendered":"\n        <section class=\"hydra-container\">\n\n\t\t\t                <div class=\"hydra-canvas\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/fte-main-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image disable-lazyload\" alt=\"Royal Cup 52 SUPER SERIES\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/fte-main-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/fte-main-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/fte-main-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/fte-main-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/fte-main-50x38.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/fte-main.jpg 2000w\" \/>                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n            <figcaption class=\"caption margin_top_xs full border_1 hydra-figcaption\">\n                <span class=\"hydra-image-caption\">Start calling relatives as soon as possible after the start. This first few minutes is a critical boatspeed part of the race, and the sooner your team can get locked in, the better.<\/span>\n                <span class=\"article_image_credit italic margin_right_xs\">Nico Martinez<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t            <\/figcaption>\n        <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n<p>The importance of comparing your performance to another competitor during a race is an underrated part of sailing a boat competitively. We hear a lot about having good onboard communication about what\u2019s happening on the boat. While that\u2019s true, it\u2019s also important to communicate what\u2019s happening outside the boat and what\u2019s happening relative to your nearest competitors. So, let\u2019s cover some techniques to improve this aspect of your next race. For the purposes of this article, we will focus on calling upwind relatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s best to start calling \u00adrelatives as soon as possible after the start. This first few minutes is a critical boatspeed part of the race, and the sooner your team can get locked in, the better. Oftentimes, the teams that get their performance going the soonest after the start are the teams that emerge from the fray in the best position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }<\/style><div class='embed-container'><iframe src='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FKkxaSm9d0M' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you start calling \u00adrelatives, do so with confidence, announce that you are calling relatives, and identify who or which boat you are calling relatives against. For example, \u201cI have us with (name of boat).\u201d Knowing who you are gauging performance against is&nbsp;important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On a boat with true wind direction displayed somewhere, announce that number. For example, I might say, \u201cStarting wind direction is one-eight-five.\u201d If the wind direction changes during the lineup, this will be valuable information to provide accurate comparisons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If there\u2019s no TWD displayed on your boat, or you don\u2019t have instruments, you can use your compass heading instead and say something like, \u201cStarting heading is one-four-six.\u201d It\u2019s not quite as accurate as TWD, but it\u2019s better than&nbsp;nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Always refer to your boat first. For example, I might say, \u201cHigher, same speed.\u201d To avoid any confusion, don\u2019t refer to them first. If&nbsp;they are higher than you, state, \u201cWe are lower.\u201d Be consistent and always use the same process, no mumbling. Remember, the goal is to let your teammates know how you\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some examples of \u00addescribing clear-cut VMG differences are \u201chigher, faster,\u201d \u201clower, slower,\u201d and \u201csame angle, same speed.\u201d However, if the speed and angle are split, you will need to judge which VMG is superior. For example, I might say, \u201cHigher, slower, VMG them,\u201d or \u201clower, faster, VMG us,\u201d or \u201chigher, slower, VMG even.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Accurately and confidently judging performance and VMG differences takes time and experience, so if you\u2019re new to it, there is no time like the present to start practicing. And speaking of practice: A great opportunity to get in the rhythm of calling relatives is during your pre-race tuning-partner \u00adlineups. (Of course, you do that already,&nbsp;right?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the beginning of an upwind lineup, try this technique: Imagine you were to tack. Where would you end up?&nbsp;Would you&nbsp;be behind them? Would&nbsp;you cross them? Would you hit them at their mainsheet winch? Their front hatch? Start every relative performance call with this information. For example, I might say, \u201cIf we tacked right now, we would miss them by 6&nbsp;meters.\u201d One minute into the lineup, I might say, \u201cIf we tacked right now, we would hit them on their transom; we have gained 6&nbsp;meters since the beginning of the test.\u201d Another minute later, I might say, \u201cIf we tacked right now, we would hit them at their mast; we have gained one boatlength since the start of the&nbsp;test.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are clearly outperforming a competitor above you, or if they are in a compromised position, make the announcement that you are switching relatives to another boat. For example, I might say, \u201c(Name of boat) won\u2019t live there for long, switching to (name of new boat or sail&nbsp;number).\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If there are no boats above you to call relatives with, announce you are going to hike instead. This lets your team know why you\u2019ve gone silent. For example, I say, \u201cNo gauges above us; I am hiking.\u201d Or take it a step further and challenge your teammates to hike even harder. I say, \u201cNo good gauges above; showing the young guys how to hike.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having been a pro sailor and coach for a long time, I\u2019ve experienced my share of situations where a lack of calling relatives or poor calling in general leads to unwanted outcomes. To prevent this from ever \u00adhappening on your boats, let\u2019s run through a few common scenarios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Silence is deadly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What happens: <\/strong>We start the race and nobody says anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The result: <\/strong>We come off the line in a low mode that is not optimal VMG. The boats above us are able to live in an otherwise compromised position all the way to the layline, which costs us a lot of places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The fix: <\/strong>Identify immediately who you\u2019re calling relatives against and make it clear how your team is going against them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Head in the clouds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What happens: <\/strong>We don\u2019t take note of the TWD or heading when we start the relative calls. We state we are losing a lot to&nbsp;the boat above us, oblivious&nbsp;to the fact that the wind has lifted us 15 degrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The result: <\/strong>We start changing settings, away from what we know, to try to improve based on the feedback, but we only perform worse and lose a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The fix: <\/strong>Announce the TWD or heading when you start the relative calls. Then you can allow for TWD\/heading changes in your analysis of performance. For example, \u201cWe are doing well against the boats above considering we\u2019re in a 15-degree lift.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Comms breakdown<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What happens: <\/strong>We say, \u201cThey are lower.\u201d The helmsman puts the bow up to sail a higher mode because he only hears the words \u201care lower\u201d (the other words err out in the wind), and the helmsman and trimmers assume we are the lower boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The result: <\/strong>We sail too high and slow, and get rolled by the boat above us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The fix: <\/strong>Always talk about your boat first, not the other. In this case, we were already higher and should have said, \u201cWe are higher.\u201d Instead, by switching between us and them, we \u00adcreate&nbsp;confusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-stay-on-task\">Stay on task<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What happens: <\/strong>We aren\u2019t going well, so we stop calling relatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The result: <\/strong>At a time when we need to be honest and identify there is an issue with our performance, we go quiet. Nothing is done to address our performance issue, and we go backward because&nbsp;of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The fix: <\/strong>No one wants to be the bearer of bad news or a Negative Nancy, but this is an important part of the race. Be consistent. Be honest. Keep the process the same, rain or shine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lost in translation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What happens: <\/strong>We say, \u201cHigher, slower.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The result: <\/strong>Our skipper responds, \u201cIs that good or bad? Are we gaining or not?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The fix: <\/strong>If the speed and angle are split, finish your call with whether that mode is a gain or a loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Attention deficit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What happens: <\/strong>After a very long lineup, you are unsure as to whether it has been a gain or a loss over all the changes that have come and gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The result: <\/strong>You don\u2019t really know how you have gone over the long term and just make something up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The fix: <\/strong>From the beginning of the lineup, announce where you would be if you tacked. Five minutes later, you will know how you have gone by checking in using the same method. Maybe you haven\u2019t gone well in the last 30 seconds, but overall you have moved forward by two boatlengths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hang up and dial again<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What happens: <\/strong>The boat above you has a poor start, and now they are in your quarter waves going even worse. You keep calling relatives on them because they are closest to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The result: <\/strong>Your team thinks they are going very well based off your calls. But the boat you are calling is compromised. The next boat up is outperforming you, and you have not identified that your team needs to change modes to match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The fix: <\/strong>As soon as the boat you are calling relatives against is compromised or going really badly, look for the next boat above them to keep improving your mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lost in space<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What happens: <\/strong>All the boats above you tack away. There are no other nearby boats to call \u00adrelatives against, so you go&nbsp;silent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The result: <\/strong>Your skipper yells, \u201cPlease keep calling relatives!\u201d and loses focus in the rage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The fix: <\/strong>As soon as there are no boats above you to call relatives against, announce that fact. And hike your butt off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The takeaway from all these scenarios should be that it\u2019s critical to continuously call your relative performance against your competitors, and when you do so, be clear, confident, accurate and consistent. Doing all of the above will help relieve tension on the boat and improve performance. If there is no one left to call relatives against, hike hard and do the rest of your tasks well. Enjoy yourself. And don\u2019t forget to call your mom or dad after racing to tell them how well you went. If anything, it\u2019ll be the most important call of the day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Monitoring and communicating your relative performance in a sailboat race is essential intelligence for your skipper and the speed team.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":76018,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"BS_author_type":"BS_author_is_guest","BS_guest_author_name":"Morgan Trubovich","BS_guest_author_url":"","hydra_display_date":"","hydra_display_updated":false,"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"159","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"How you observe and communicate your relative performance in a sailboat race is essential for your skipper and the speed team.","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","arc_story_id":"","arc_website_url":"","custom_permalink":"","arc_subtype":"","arc_exclude_from_feeds":false,"sponsored":false,"sponsored_label":"Sponsored Content","sponsored_display_label":false,"sponsored_image":false,"post_right_rail":true,"post_right_rail_ad_1":true,"post_right_rail_ad_2":true,"post_right_rail_ad_3":false,"post_right_rail_ad_4":false,"post_right_rail_recirc":true,"fixed_anchor_ad":true,"post_top_ad":true,"post_off_ramp":true,"post_taboola":false,"labels":true,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\"","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":"","ad_settings_ads_on_this_page":true,"ad_settings_automatic_ad_injection_into_the_content":true,"ad_targeting":"","sponsored_url":"","social_share":true},"categories":[159],"tags":[271,2812,2911,177,178,235],"class_list":["post-76017","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-racing","tag-boatspeed","tag-how-to-2","tag-print-may-2023","tag-racing","tag-sailboat-racing","tag-tactics"],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76017","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=76017"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76017\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/76018"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=76017"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=76017"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=76017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}