Habits, even superstitions, support dinghy sailor success on the racecourse.
There’s comfort in routine. Especially when routines have been well thought out and developed to ensure that everything you need to do is included. Successful dinghy sailors develop routines for many things. Checking the weather. Packing their sailing gear (my gloves always go in my lifejacket pocket so that I know they’re there). Getting knowledge about the starting line. But some sailors have habits that step farther than mere routine into “superstition.”
And honestly, superstitions can come in handy, too. They can provide a sense of control, which can be helpful, especially in chaotic situations. Those pop up a lot on the racecourse! For the most part, superstitions can be a quirky and fun way to bolster your frame of mind. Just make sure to maintain balance and have a ritual to fall back on if you’re not able to realize your superstition(s) on race day.
I asked a handful of talented small-boat racers if they have any habits or superstitions that support their success.
Preparation and humor go a long way.
Preparation and keeping things on an even keel are keys to success for the Snipe team of Gavin and Holly O’Hare. They share a theme of “calm” and “preparedness,” highlighting that it’s important for teammates to be on the same wavelength.
“A couple of routines to keep me healthy and prepared: stretch/yoga weekly to avoid injury, and check windy.com the day before an event to be prepared gear-wise and know what direction to look for on the water,” Gavin said.
Holly highlighted how planning can result in a good (fast) state of mind: “Gavin and I do our best when we talk the least. We map out our plan before the start. If we don’t stick to it, it usually does not go well. We have been married for 27 years and sailed together for 30 years. We rarely argue (anymore) when racing because it impacts our finishes,” Holly noted, emphasizing that “a calm boat is a fast boat.”
The O’Hares aren’t the only sailors who benefit from a calm, positive mindset. 2004 Olympian Carol Cronin finds maintaining a habit of early mornings peaceful: “I like to get to the boat park early and enjoy the quiet before everyone else arrives.”
Successful sailors also find that humor can be speedy. Carol also prioritizes “sharing a silly joke or wordplay with my teammate on the sail out to the course.”
Positivity was a common thread in responses. Rockstar Snipe crew Taylor Scheuermann supports everyone’s day through her habit: “I simply cannot forget to acquire any available and massive hugs before launching. Then, it’s really go time!”
From habit to superstition.
Now, let’s bridge the gap between habit and superstition. Versatile crew Nikki Bruno has a hard-and-fast rule with a strict time protocol: “All crew members must fist-bump between the warning and the prep flag guns.” What a fun way to shake out some extra nerves while also getting everyone focused on the team’s success.
“As a teenager, I absorbed a superstition that one should not wear the regatta-supplied gear (T-shirt, hat) until the regatta is over. My family of active dinghy sailors still follows this guidance closely. Perhaps there is something to this, about bringing everything a sailor needs to the event, and not counting on a prize or whatever,” said Luke Shingledecker, who frequently races ILCA7s and is dad to up-and-coming Opti-and-beyond sailors. I think this practice also provides a nice incentive to sail the entire event so that you can be able to say, “Yes, I sailed this regatta.”
Brett Davis is a master of several kinds of racing, including team racing, Snipe sailing, and windsurfing. He’s also a numbers guy: “It will not surprise you that I have an odd routine. I have been doing this forever. I don’t even remember the origin story at this point. I only team race on prime-numbered boats. When all the supplied boats are technically exactly the same, it is hard to get an edge. Prime boats are clearly faster, so I make sure I am always on one. This technique has served me amazingly well, including back-to-back wins at the Hinman Masters. My Snipe sail, 31391, is prime, and my windsurfer number, 13, is prime too.”
The right routine or superstition is the one that works for you.
However hardcore you wish to go on habits and/or superstitions, make sure your routine is right for you.
“When racing locally I like to keep things simple; I check the Weather Channel forecast for Annapolis. If I’m feeling adventurous, I’ll review the marine forecast,” says Ted Morgan, who has had a lot of success in the ILCA7 over a bunch of years. But he knows other people use different approaches.
“My wife dives a lot deeper than I do. She checks on the tides, current strength, water temperature, and whether the Conowingo Dam has been opened recently. Her approach tends to clog my little brain and disrupt my simple routine. All that information throws my game off, so I try to avoid her on race mornings. But, and this is a really important point, she has a tendency to win. Maybe it’s time I start to reevaluate my routine.”
I’m that wife, so now you know my routine, too. I may take it a little far, but it’s comfortable for me!
by Kim Couranz
About the Author: Kim Couranz has earned several national and world titles in Laser Radials (ILCA 6), Snipes, and Lightnings. She has also raced J/22s, J/24s, and Ynglings on an international level.
