Heinz manages to make impact at Howth YC

Howth Yacht Club has appointed James Heinz as racing manager, the sailing equivalent to golf's "club pro". Heinz fits that label having been a professional sailor on the international circuit for years. He was also an Olympic coach for the Sydney 2000 Games.

His arrival at the country's largest club marks a distinct effort at turning up the heat among club level keelboat sailors. Under his charge, HYC sent eight boats to Tarbert last week with improvements reported all round, including a second place in the 1720 class.

But what about other clubs not yet able to appoint a full-time coach? Although a scheme has been in place for three years enabling a recognised standard with proper supports for a nationwide coaching system, take-up from keelboat sailors has been relatively modest.

Club-level racing stands to gain considerably from a structured approach to improving performance. Having sailed at Admiral's Cup level and local regattas, Heinz has first-hand knowledge of where smaller keelboats and cruiser/racers can start, even with occasional support from a coach.

Above all, he recommends, know the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS). By doing this, you can play on the rules. This season anecdotal stories are emerging of boats having taken an advantage as a result of the latest rule changes that have taken place in their four-year cycle.

Next, Heinz says, focus on starting. Getting on the front row is key, as is knowing where the favoured end of the line is. Racing with the correct sail combination is vital but again, Heinz points to a regular error at club level where an owner might spend up to £1000 on a new headsail but doesn't receive instruction as to how best to trim it.

Communication between the crew is vital so one person should have the responsibility of informing the crew of what is happening on board. This is especially important with regard to boat trim and weight distribution, especially when sailing upwind and keeping maximum weight on the weather rail in heavier conditions.

Getting a reliable forecast for the day and what wind to expect is part of regatta preparation. At sea, boats in smaller classes, such as Class III and one-designs, can watch how other larger fleets are faring in the initial stages of their race. Good equipment that is well-maintained will pay dividends.

Above all, it never hurts to ask for advice from experienced sailors. Finally, Heinz says, a regular crew participating in a practice sail with a coach is a surefire way towards better results.

Meanwhile, this week's Bell Lawrie Scottish Series witnessed the participation of such a large Irish contingent some commentators are suggesting Ireland may be leading the field in offshore racing, at least in the Irish Sea region. This may be true, with Colm Barrington's Gloves Off leading the Class One field for the second consecutive year.