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Scalloping

© Anne Schwab

Racing scows on local lakes, everyone is out for the same thing - to be the fastest boat out there.

Oh sure, you also need the technical know how to make the boat work, and that sixth sense to know where the wind will be, but to combine those elements with speed, then you have the winning boat.

One way to increase upwind speed is by scalloping.

Scalloping is taking the boat up into the wind and back out again, while maintaining a constant fullness in the sail.

The tricky part is to bring it up far enough into the wind to get the best point to the mark, but not too far so the sails begin to luff.

By scalloping, you help your boat position when you're heading up, and you increase the speed when you take it back down.

When you begin to try this maneuver, think in terms of the width of a dollar bill. That's all the further you need to push or pull the tiller as you head up and back down again.

Push your bow up towards the wind, pointing as far up as you can, but be careful! Watch your sails. At the slightest indication of a luff, take it back down - but not too much.

A good indication you've gone up far enough, is when you see that telltale bubble begin in the main sail. When that starts, slowly push the boat back out of the extreme, and gather up speed again.

The more you do this the higher you will end up pointing, if you remember one simple thing. Try to always push the boat farther up towards the wind that you pull it back out.

For example, if you head up an extra six inches into the wind when you pull back out of it, only head down four inches. Then the next time you take it up towards the wind, you'll be surpassing the old mark, even as you take it up the same amount.

This will ultimately improve boat position, while maintaining a constant speed at worst, and increasing your speed at best.

This is a great technique if your are attempting to edge someone out at a mark, or even if you are trying to make the lay line.

Imagine you are coming in to the mark on a port tack, and there's a competitor coming at you on starboard. If you can just keep your boat pointed high enough, you'll make it to the mark in time to call room on them, if you can't keep your bow up, you'll be forced to dip way down to duck them. By scalloping your boat, you should be able to gain those precious few inches, and most probably force your opponent to tack to make the mark.

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