Upwind Tactics: Motorsailing vs Rowing

​

Given the predominant westerly winds you can expect a fair bit of upwind sailing during the Raid Extreme and some of it through narrow channels to make it more exciting.
You will need an average VMG of 3kn to cover 52km or 28nm to collect all six tokens.
Not a problem for the faster boats but quite a challenge for the smaller boats since 30-50% of the course requires beating to windward. 

Here are some tactical considerations for (slower) boats that can be paddled or rowed as well.

​

First of all look up your VMG in the table below when sailing upwind.

​

Now consider your alternatives to sailing:

• Motor sailing (single paddle) adds 1kn and helps you point 5 degrees higher. Useful to force your way upwind through a narrow channel. Very tiring though.

• Rowing with a single pair of oars and the mast down you may reach 2,5kn for many miles if there aren’t too many waves. 

• Doublehanded paddling with the rig down gives you about 3,5kn depending on fitness and hull shape.

​

A small example of tactical considerations on board Hatseflats (tacking through 100 degrees, 2 crew, single pair of oars, single paddle)

• We lose about a third of our SOG when sailing upwind (at 50 degrees to the wind)

• lowering and raising the rig takes 5 minutes if we are quick.

• Motor sailing at a boat speed of 3,5kn requires the helm to fully hike out - very uncomfortable. 

​

Our decisions for the Raid Extreme would be:

• Motor sailing upwind in the channel between Booze Wijf and Hoek vd Bant always pays off.

• Rowing upwind through the channel at Ezumazijl always pays off.

• Rowing upwind through the narrow passages at Lunegat and Hunzegat always pays off.

• Rowing beats sailing upwind at low speeds on longer stretches.
  On Hatseflats this is after about 50 minutes or 1,86 miles with an upwind boatspeed of at 3.5kn.
  (we are taking into account 5 minutes to change from sailing to rowing and back again).

​

Hope this helps you with your upwind tactics!