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Step 1
Perform a complete test of the entire sailboat’s safety, navigation and communication equipment. Reconfigure, replace or repair any devices that are functioning at less-than-optimal levels.
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Step 2
Replenish your supplies. Restock your snack supply; high-carbohydrate, high-protein snacks are great for captain and crew during a harbor race because they’re quick and easy – and they get the job done. Make sure you have plenty of drinking water and sports drinks, and don’t forget to hit the water dock on your way out.
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Step 3
Learn the course. It is important to be as familiar as you can with the course. This will help you to avoid underwater hazards such as sandbars and boulders and where they sit in relation to the buoys, checkpoints and other racing requirements. Planning ahead to avoid such obstacles allows you to determine the fastest route from buoy to buoy, giving you an advantage.
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Step 4
Check the weather the night before the race. A forecast is never definite, but it is useful for the captain and crew to have an idea of the direction the wind is predicted to come from. If there is a slight shift in wind on the day of the race, it will be easier to adjust your course. Drastic changes in weather and wind conditions are less likely to occur, but more important, they will affect all sailboat racing teams equally if they do. This is why checking the forecast affords you a significant advantage.
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Step 5
Strategize. Meet with your harbor racing team the evening before the race. Distribute copies of the course. Designate specific responsibilities so that each individual crew member understands his duties during the sailboat race. Discuss the details of your strategy. Double-check to make sure all team members understand the strategy, racing course and their duties. And don’t forget to get a good night’s sleep.
