Andy Rice

What’s the key to victory on the race course? It’s simpler than you might think, says one Olympic medalist - but you do have to go back in time

According to one sailor who’s stood on that hallowed podium, there are three ‘non-negotiables’ that you must achieve if you’re to win an Olympic medal. spinnaker speed to burn in their Yngling keelboat that, by Morgan’s recollection, they overtook a staggering 45 boats on the downwind legs across all races of the Olympic regatta. Except for the last race

Or any other major fleet racing regatta for which they missed out because they’d that matter. After winning Olympic silver already taken gold with a day to spare. in the 470 at the Barcelona Games in 1992, Morgan’s analysis of some pretty

American sailor Morgan Reeser has gone basic data, just mark rounding on to win numerous world titles in a variety positions, has led to a pretty smart of classes, both as a sailor and a coach. formula that has guided his career

It was some years ago that Morgan ever since, and those of the other happened across a simple formula that sailors he has coached to Olympic he believes is the key to victory on the and world championship success. race course. Now, the gospel according Since then, data has proliferated like to Morgan goes like this. In order to crazy, with GPS tracking showing us the win an Olympic medal you must: winning moves by the top sailors. How 1. Achieve an average first mark rounding fast were they? How many manoeuvres did position in the top 30% of the fleet 2. Overtake one boat or more after the windward mark through to the finish “It begs the question, how much data should you be they make? What course did they sail? Did they play the wind shifts better than the rest or were there other factors in play? 3. Keep unwanted letters out of your scores, e.g. DSQ, OCS, etc allowed while racing?” We’ve seen Strava revolutionise cycling, with road bikers able to compare their

In the lead-up to the Athens 2004 Games, performance with friends and other bikers

Morgan was hired as a coach by Greek 470 duo Sofia Bekatorou ABOVE they’ve never even met. If you’ve ever taken part in the Saturday and Emilia Tsoulfa. Sofia suffered a major back problem in The most successful morning 5k ritual of Park Run, you’ll know how motivating the final year before her Games on home waters. Aside from sailor in Olympic history, Sir Ben the data can be. In sailing there are the GPS tracking options the crippling physical effects of her injury, which limited her Ainslie, winning his that are handed out at competitions for spectator purposes and training time in the boat, the former World Champion was fourth Olympic gold at London 2012 post-race analysis for the competitors. SailRacer and TracTrac also suffering a crisis of confidence. Would her lack of training are two popular examples, and the gold standard is SAP Sailing limit her ability to perform when it mattered the most? Analytics. Looking back through the tracking data of past

Morgan came up with an ingenious solution to Sofia’s lack competitions is a staggeringly good venue research tool. of belief. He started poring through all the old mark rounding Then there are the personal data options, such as Garmin, data from previous Olympic Regattas going back to 1992. Vakaros and Sailmon, where you can analyse your data on the fly,

This is where he came across these three vital ingredients actually sailing to the numbers and adjusting your steering, your for reaching the podium. When he showed this to Sofia, it sail trim or your tactics and strategy based on what the data is made an unsurmountable challenge look quite achievable. telling you. This is the controversial end of the market, because it

Not that #1 is easy. Rounding consistently in the top 30% is begs the question, how much data should you be allowed while still quite demanding. But it takes the pressure off feeling like you racing? Of course, you can use whatever you want in training; it’s need to be pushing the edges of the course, or needing to be the using an electronic instrument for a competitive advantage that absolute fastest boat. You don’t have to be winning races, just be is the area with a big question mark over it. The ability to ping in the hunt at the top mark. From then on, if you can maintain both ends of the start line, see how fast you’re going through the your position or pick off a couple of boats, that’s all you need. water and compare with speed over ground, monitoring your

Provided of course you keep those letters out of your scores. heel angle and so on. Generally sportsboats and keelboats tend

Sofia and Emilia would go on to win Olympic gold in the 470, to permit the use of advanced instrumentation in racing. It’s becoming the darlings of their nation. It’s notable that others becoming part of the furniture. Now the technology is becoming who won gold at Athens 2004 more than ticked the box for #2, small enough and affordable enough to be used on dinghies too. overtaking boats after the first mark. Both the Laser and Finn ANDY RICE Different classes have varying attitudes to the adoption of such gold medallists, respectively Brazil’s Robert Scheidt and Britain’s As a sailing journalist technology. Some of the objections are cost-based, others on

Ben Ainslie, had downwind speed in spades. It was always and TV commentator Andy has unparalleled maintaining the purity of the sport and keeping electronics to a their get-out-of-jail move if they found themselves struggling knowledge of the minimum. For me, the relevant question in such a debate is to ask, after a bad start. In the case of GBR’s three blondes in a boat, performance racing scene, from grassroots will it encourage or discourage greater participation in the sport?

Shirley Robertson, Sarah Ayton and Sarah Webb had so much to elite level It’s an interesting question, and I really don’t know the answer!