Stay tuned for more details as we receive them regarding ILYA’s junior sailing program. This time of year, we see the I-LYA Junior Sail Regatta where Junior Sailors compete for points towards national competition in various racing classes. There is also the Deep Water Sailing Races where skippers compete by classes at Put-in-Bay.
Finally there is the I-LYA Senior Sailing Races which have been held for over 100 years with racers gathering at Put-in-Bay to race off the Western Shore. Races can be watched from the shore of Put-in-Bay. Stop by the downtown harbor for a colorful display of sails, and sleek racing craft. Festivities are usually centered around the Yacht Club during the junior sailing regatta.
Put-in-Bay has plenty of lodging for those who wish to stay overnight and enjoy more of their island time. Find a Put-in-Bay hotel room, or maybe a rental home or condo to spend the night.
A Short and Sweet History of Junior Sailing Terminology
Match Racing while team racing:
Pull position: Leading an opponent into the start, sailing low to sucker opponent to windward but not sailing so low as to be late.
Push position: Following opponent into start, sailing low to get to leeward or to force opponent to be early or late.
Dialing up, Dialing down: Changing course while aiming at your opponent on the opposite tack to force them away since 16.2 does not apply before the start.
Pick: Using r-o-w to force an opponent away from your teammate.
First beat tactics:
Pairs: One boat from each team sailing near each other. Usually one boat is leading the pair while covering.
Breaking ties: Tacking on an opponent in a tied pair so your teammate can lead that pair.
Conversions: As the fleet converges on the first mark, turning two or three pairs into a combo.
Reach Leg Tactics:
Hi-Lo: Two teammates attack the opponent ahead by having the lead teammate sail high, causing the opponent to sail high to defend while the trailing teammate sails low to pass or, at least gain an overlap on the opponent.
Hooking: Really a match racing term; acquiring luffing rights on an opponent.
Mark Traps: Pass Back mark trap: Maneuver against an opponent at a mark until your Teammate passes.
Compression mark trap: Maneuver against two or more opponents until your teammates catch up.
Last windward leg tactics in Junior Sailing:
Pass Back (slow): Take the wind of an opponent continuously by blanketing that opponent while slowing yourself down until your teammate passes.
Ragging jib: Letting the jib luff to slow down in order to aim your mainsail wind shadow on the slowing opponent.
Windward trim: Trimming the jib (and/or main) all the way to windward to slow down while increasing your wind shadow.
Speed pass back: Momentarily blanketing an opponent without slowing yourself down which is hopefully just enough for your teammate to pass your opponent.
Gapping: 5th of a 1-4-5 holds 6th well back to increase the gap between teammates in 4-5; in order to make it harder for the opponents to achieve their combo.
Ungapping: 2nd and 3rd of a 2-3-6 double teaming to hold back the opponent in 4th until they are so close to the other opponent in 5th that 2 and 3 can split up to attack both without losing 3rd place.
Windward leg double team jargon:
Front door: Teammate that blankets opponent and prevents opponent from sailing out to leeward and ahead.
Back door: Teammate that prevents opponent from tacking.
Ladder rungs: Lines of position on a windward leg perpendicular to the wind direction.
Lanes: Tacking lanes parallel to the wind direction. Different from close hauled lanes (diagonal)in a fleet race.
Pinning: Preventing an opponent from tacking toward the finish. Carries a high risk of fouling or otherwise losing the opponent.
Learn more on the ILYA website
*** This is a tentative date ***