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Sailing Fireflies - Coaching Tips
A few things to keep in mind when sailing Fireflies
Below are a few key tips that we have put together for helms and crews as a result of starting to sail the new Firefly dinghies. If helms and crews take a few moments to read through them and talk through them together it would be helpful.
Crews Face Backwards!
Crews need to face backwards because;
- this helps keep the weight forward
- it fits with the kicking strap
- it makes the jib fairleads more accessible as they are a long way aft.
Facing backwards - looking forwards!
The Helm Shuffle!
Helms need to shuffle forwards until they feel the thwart on their front leg. If they don't they are sitting too far back (unless they are using the toe straps).
Dynamic tacking!
In light winds helm & crews need to be very dynamic in the tacks. Crews often need to bounce weight onto the side deck to initiate the roll tack
Using the mainsail in the Tack
Helms should keep the mainsails in tight as they start a tack as this will;
- help the boat luff into the wind, thereby requiring less rudder movement
- help keep the boat driving forwards until you are head to wind
Sail it Flat Upwind!
Upwind balance - unless it is very light (drifter) Fireflies need to be sailed very upright. Heeling is only OK momentarily and you need to get the boat flat again quickly by;
- getting more weight outboard
- easing the sheets
- steering up into the wind (feathering)
The Windward Mark
As you go around the windward mark don't forget to raise the centreboard halfway and consider adjusting the kicking strap and cunningham if you had them tight upwind.
Run to Run Gybing
For 'run to run' gybes a little bit of boat roll and a flick of the mainsheet will enable you to steer through a smaller angle, thereby keeping the boat pointing near where you want to go.
Bailers
Need to make sure you have a bailer in your boat before launching as you are likely to ship some water and will rarely have enough speed to use the self bailers.
Using the Main Halyard
In light winds don't pull the main halyard too tight as it has the same effect as the cunningham flattening the front of the sail.
The Kicking Strap in the Gybe
If the kicking strap is very slack the boom is likely to come off the gooseneck in a gybe.
Useful Coaching footage and websites