Mirror Class Association Race Training Syllabuses
(details and assessments will be found in the MCA race training logbook)

Start Racing (min. 2 days) - Tuition by RYA Race Instructor or Race Coach.The instruction afloat will be without an instructor onboard.

This course is designed to give confidence, skills and knowledge in order to take part in club racing in good conditions (wind F.3). Confidence is essential for the sailor to enjoy racing.
It is assumed that every student has already mastered the practical skills and absorbed the background knowledge required for NSS basic skills level 3 either from a previous course or from sailing experience.
Tuition will be given by a Race Instructor or Club Race Coach in Mirror dinghies at an approved RYA training centre or affiliated sailing club.

Theory and background
  • Insurance and measurement certificates -
  • Race organization and handicap systems -
  • Course and starting systems: simple sailing instructions - typical courses - starting sequences - flags, recall and shorten course

Personal preparation: Clothing and equipment

Boat preparation:

  • Rigging and equipment -
  • Optimising settings - Hull and foils finish -
  • Control line

Boat Tuning:

  • Tuning guides -
  • Demonstrate boat tuning controls

Boat handling:

  • Using the five essentials -
  • Rounding marks - Slow speed manoeuvres -
  • Dealing with a capsize

Race Strategy:

  • Sailing upwind: Clear air - gusts and lulls - headers, lifts, use of telltales - effect of topography on the course Effect of tidal flow
  • Sailing downwind: Reaching and running Choosing the fastest course
  • Finishing: How to pick the right end of the line

 

 

Starting

  • Use of transits
  • Choosing the right end of the line - Reaching or head-to-wind
  • Clear wind with gap to leeward
  • Involving crew to best effect

Racing Rules of Sailing

  • Introduction to Racing Rules of Sailing, including Fundamental Rules (part 1)
  • When boats meet - Port and starboard - Windward boat - Two boat lengths at marks - Overlaps - Penalties

Practical exercises

Training exercises should form a large part of the course

  • Starting practice
  • Windward and leeward courses
  • Triangle courses
  • Mark rounding - windward/leeward
  • Boat-on-boat tactics

Certificates

For start racing will be authorized by the duly appointed and qualified race coach on completion of the course and evidence of finishing in at least 3 club races after the course. Certificates will be issued by the RYA on receiving the coach's course report.

 

 

 

 

Mirror race training logbooks can be obtained on repayment by individuals or clubs
on application to the Class Association or from the course appointed coach

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Intermediate Racing (min 6 days) - Tuition by RYA Club Race Coach
The intermediate course is designed to develop and improve the racing skills for those with club racing experience to progress with conf-idence to club open meetings on the traveller circuit. It is essential for sailors hoping to join zone squads in the autumn. Instruction will be given in Mirror dinghies at a ratio of 6 - 8 boats per coach. The course will require 6 days tuition to the syllabus plus 3 club opens.

Mental preparationHas basic understanding of how stress affects sailing performance and understands how to: Set a goal each time the sailor goes out and can recognise when he/she gets excited, stressed or nervous around the course

Physical preparationHas knowledge of the importance of: Warm up exercises on the water - Stretching exercises used after racing - Hydration and nutrition during racing - Keeping fit - Can match the clothing to the conditions and carry suitable spare clothing as well as water and food

Boat preparationHas knowledge of and understands how to prepare a boat for club racing to include: hull, spars, sails, foils, fittings, rigging andcontrol lines

Can conduct a boat check for condition of: hull, spars, sails, foils, fittings, rigging and control lines

Store a boat and equipment between racing

Demonstrate fig 8 knot, bowline, thumb knot and understand their uses.

Boat handling (speed when changing direction) Has knowledge of: How to steer a boat without a rudder - Understands the principles involved in slow speed boat handling including, stopping, accelerating and sailing backwards - How to perform a range of exercises that will allow the sailor to train by him/herself or with others - Can: apply the 5 essential around the course - roll tack and gybe in light to moderate winds - round windward/leeward marks efficiently - demonstrate methods of spinnaker hoist - sail upwind and downwind in gusty conditions

Boat speed (speed in a straight line)

Has knowledge of: Basic aerodynamics of how a sail works - How to "power up" and "de-power" the rig - Weather helm and lee helm

Understands: How to measure mast rake and rig tension - How to calibrate controls - How to use controls in varying conditions i.e. centreboard, kicker, outhaul, cunningham, halyard tension, sheet angle and tension, pole height and angle -What is meant by the "slot"

Can: Set up the boat for a range of conditions Set a sail by using telltales or shape (spinnaker)

Teamwork and Communication (double-hander) Has knowledge of, understands how and can: Encourage or calm down other members of the crew - Analyse the race performance - Divide up the roles around the course - Divide up the jobs in the boat - Pass relevant information during the race - Can conduct a de-brief between helm and crew after a race training session

Strategy and Meteorology

Has knowledge of weather systems in the UK and understands: Clear air, gusts and lulls, use of telltales, The effect of topographical features around the course, The effect of tidal flow, How to assess laylines, How to use a compass to identify lifts and headers, How to pick the right end of the finishing line

Can identify a header and lift and choose a simple race strategy considering key factors around the course

Racing Rules of Sailing

Has knowledge of: Fair sailing (part 1 of the racing rules) - The difference in the rules before the start - What to do at an obstruction

Understands key definitions: Keeping clear - The importance of avoiding a collision - Proper course - Giving room

Understands the basic interpretation of rules: rule 10 - port and starboard: rule 11 - windward/leeward: rule 18.2 - mark rounding: rule 13 - keeping clear while tacking, and how to initiate a penalty

Can: complete a race complying with the basic rules complete a penalty turn correctly

Tactics (route around the course avoiding other boats) - the aim is to know how to decide a route around thecourse, focusing on "clear air" and avoiding crowded situations.

Understands: Boat-on-boat tactics - Lee bow situation - How to cover and break cover - The importance of clear air

Can: Demonstrate both port and starboard approach to a windward mark

Starting Has knowledge of: Protecting a gap to leeward - Holding the boat on line (hovering) - How to accelerate off the start line - Pre-start rules (know the difference)

Understands: line bias and how to assess it - how to use transits - start sequences, recall signals and starting penalties

Miscellaneous Understands: Legality of insurance and measurement certificate - Safety equipment required when racing - Safety considerations when racing

Syllabus from coaching workbook and RYA website

Certificate awarded by a Mirror club racing coach at an RYA affiliated club from the RYA website

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Advanced Racing (min 6 days) - Tuition by RYA Class Race Coach
The advanced course is designed to develop and improve techniques and knowledge for those with regular club open racing experience to progress to class open meetings on the championship circuit. It is essential for sailors hoping to join the national squad in the autumn. Instruction will be given in Mirror dinghies at a ratio of 6 - 8 boats per coach. The course will require 6 days tuition plus 3 class opens.


Mental preparation Has knowledge of, visualization of and the process to procure the outcome of goals.

Understands how to: Control stress during a race - Profile strengths and weaknesses - Concentrate during a race

Can: Set specific goals for training and racing - Control excitement and nerves prior to and during a race - Use key words to help focus attention around the course

Physical preparation Has knowledge of how to design a physical fitness regime

Understands the importance of: Hydration and nutrition before, during and after racing -Tthe effects of alcohol and sleep deprivation on performance

Can: Demonstrate warm up exercises on the water - Demonstrate stretching exercises after sailing

Boat preparation Understands how to: Improve foil finish - Optimize boat to class rules - Use a tuning guide - Check trailers, wheel bearings, legality and safety before traveling and towing

Can: Complete routine boat maintenance - Make class specific modifications

Boat handling (speed when changing direction) Understands the importance of Teamwork and co-ordination - How to race train with another boat and by oneself - The principles of steering with sails and balance - Can demonstrate these principles in taking a penalty turn

Can : Demonstrate slow speed boat handling around the course including stopping, accelerating, sailing backwards, hovering - Demonstrate good tacks and gybes in all wind strengths and, when relevant, roll tacks and gybes - Sail with tethered rudder around the course (wind F3)

Boat speed (speed in a straight line) Understands: the relevance of Tall sail contols and their effects on the sail - How to change "gear" in different conditions on the water - How to vary the tuning guide for different conditions - How to create a tuning guide and post-race analysis sheet

Can: Fine tune using the "feel" of the boat - Two-boat tune - Use a tuning guide to set up the rig - Demonstrate "footing" and "stuffing" - Set the boat up for all conditions

Teamwork and Communications (double-hander) Has knowledge of crew profile pro-forma

Understands effective race analysis and training goals

Can: Communicate effectively and react to changing situations - Create key words for communicating jobs and information - Demonstrate calming and encouraging techniques - nvolve crew's feedback of the helm in the de-brief

Strategy and Meteorology Understands and can: Create a race strategy for wind and tide prior to going afloat based on weather forecast, tide tables etc - Create a race strategy during the pre-start - Prioritise 3 key factors for a race strategy - Review progress throughout the race - Use headers and lifts to good advantage - Use tidal flow to good advantage - Select and judge a layline the majority of the time - Choose the correct end of the fininshing line

Racing Rules of Sailing Has knowledge of protest hearings and procedures (part 5 of the racing rules) and understands all key sections of the current rule book

Understands: All part 2 rules around the race course - How to use the basic rules to his/her advantage -

Can: complete a race demonstrating knowledge of the rules Initiate a protest hearing

Tactics (route around the course avoiding other boats) Has knowledge of: Holding a lane upwind - Boat-on-fleet tactics - Attacking and defending - Controlling situations

Understands: Boat-on-group tactics - Overtaking and defending tactics - Covering - Different approaches to marks - When to do a gybe or bear away set

Can demonstrate: Boat-on-boat tactics - Lee bow situation - How to cover and break cover

Starting Understands the pre-start rules

Can demonstrate: How to protect a gap to leeward - How to hold the boat on the line (hovering) - How to accelerate off the start line - Different methods of how to assess line bias - How to use transits - Knowledge of various starting sequences, recall signals and starting penalties - Holding a lane upwind

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